Introduction to concepts

1. Basic concepts of quantitative modeling are introduced.
2. What can be modeled?
3. How accurate are such models?
4. Examples of simple models
   • Linear
   • Quadratic
   • Exponential Growth, Logistic, EDEG.

Introduction to tools

• Pen on paper
• MS Excel
• Simulations.
  • Basic calculations.
  • Ruby.
• Image processing.
  • Image and File Types.
  • Python.
• R
• Wolfram Alpha.
• Processing.
• Animations
  • World history simulation video.
  • SVG (W3 School tutorial)
  • D3 (video of example)
• GIS (QGIS, TNT)

Projects

On paper simulations

• Anecdotal plots
• A few simple calculations and plots

Example Files to Download

Download 6H_Workshop_Files.

MS Excel: Simulating dynasties

• Creating an EDEG curve to simulate the power progression of a dynasty using Excel.
• Plotting the results.
• See page.

History Lab

• Run-through of history lab procedure.

Demonstration of advanced tools

• Run-through of history lab procedure.
• Online window to run code.
• Simulations with Ruby (lessons):
  1. Getting Started with Ruby.
  2. Ruby Hello World!
  3. Ruby Programming, Pseudocode and Comments.
  4. Ruby Variables.
  5. Ruby Operators and Simple Math.
  6. Ruby Basic Output.
• Image processing with Python.
  • Python code for Ghent image processor.
• Make a plot with R.
• Ask Wolfram Alpha a question.