Network studies follow an explicit form, from framing questions and gathering data, to processing those data and drawing conclusions. And data processing leads to new questions, leading to new data and so forth. Network studies follow a repeating lifecycle. Yet along the way, many different choices will confront the researcher, who must be mindful of the choices they are making with their data and the choices of tools and techniques they are using to study their data. In this chapter, we describe how studies of networks begin and proceed, the life-cycle of a network study

Chapter One: Counting Change presents the theoretical models and methodologies used in preparing coin finds for this kind of examination. This chapter should be read in conjunction with Appendix 1, which provides a more technical description and examples of how the dataset was collected and examined digitally.

This chapter introduces readers to the study of ancient Antioch. It not only surveys the long-standing interest in the city but also critiques traditional characterizations of Antioch as a prominent, yet static, capital for the Seleucid and Roman empires. This is understandable considering the perceived limitations of both the textual and archaeological evidence. However, full examination of the coin evidence for Antioch helps challenge monolithic descriptions by revealing the different civic, provincial, and imperial authorities making use of the city. More specifically, this chapter introduces the approach of applied numismatics, digital mapping, and Exploratory Data Analysis to study the iconography, distribution, and likely circulation of the coins minted at Antioch. More than a coin study, however, the primary goal of this book is to encourage a better integration of material often left to specialists into a deep and comprehensive history of the people at and in relationship with the ancient city.

Chapter Two: Imperial Beginnings (300–129 BCE) traces Antioch’s gradual promotion to Seleucid capital and the degree to which this role and the policies of the kings shaped life within the city and its status and connections in the wider region. The civic population developed alongside in both its agency and identity, but only emerged from the shadow of the Seleucids intermittently.