SimFeodal: an agent-based model to explore the combined effects of social and demographic changes on the hierarchy of rural settlement patterns in North-Western Europe during the Middle Ages
Cécile Tannier|Robin Cura|Samuel Leturcq|Élisabeth Zadora-Rio
In North-Western Europe, regional settlement patterns that were dispersed in 800 CE became much more concentrated and hierarchical 1200 (Tannier et al. 2014). This phenomenon occurred all regions but the resulting level of concentration hierarchy differed notably among regions. Several processes jointly explain this major transition (Cura 2017). 
•The dismantling Carolingian Empire dissipation powers induced struggles lords thus a rise violence. The result was creation castles as well an increase need protection for peasant households
•The militarisation society mentioned previously also intensified money their fighters. From originated so-called “feudal revolution” 11th century during which ever smaller appropriated various administrative, fiscal judicial rights themselves vassals. As result, usage fees rents paid by households to increased lot.
•Peasant created villager communities productivity counterbalance power lords. religious control lot (especially Gregorian reform). resulted great upwelling piety devotion, number parish churches, Church.

At analysis level, how these reinforce or each other finally remains still unknown. Our interdisciplinary group, made up geographers, archaeologists historians assumes four variables may have crucial impact on given pattern: inhabitants CE, size villages demographic growth whole time period, proportion being so highly dependent lord they can not leave his grounds (serfs, slaves).

The agent-based model SimFeodal (https://simfeodal.github.io/) has been with GAMA platform (Taillandier 2018) explore combined effects relocation agricultural holdings (farms) course time. A simulation begins ends CE. step represents length twenty years, corresponds average life duration generation at period under consideration, goes steps. (400 years) is long enough be able verify if simulated dynamics are lasting not. main progressive appearance enduring population clusters located around churches. Population (hamlets, villages, small towns) become numerous; many them grow (i. e. increases concentrate within them) some than others. 
The aim our presentation show values quoted above influene results, especially rank-size distribution clusters. Thus we expect better understand effect variable spatial rural systems Europe Middle Ages.
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)|HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)