Working Together: Clusters of Artisans in the Roman City

Roman cities commonly featured clusters of artisans, driven by landlords' strategic allocation of space to optimize economic and social interests. This study identifies spatial clustering patterns in three Roman sites—Pompeii, Timgad, and Silchester—through archaeological evidence and textual analysis, revealing a phenomenon akin to modern urban economic clustering. The research suggests that elite landlords facilitated market-driven artisan grouping, aligning with their broader objectives. By comparing these cases, the study underscores the prevalence of such clustering in Roman urban landscapes.

Goodman, P. (2016). Working Together: Clusters of Artisans in the Roman City. Urban Craftsmen and Traders in the Roman World, 301–333. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198748489.003.0014