| Variable | Definition |
|---|---|
| Polity | The Seshat Polity ID |
| Year(s) | The years for which we have the data. [negative = BCE] |
| Tag | [Evidenced, Disputed, Suspected, Inferred, Unknown] |
| Verified | A Seshat Expert has approved this piece of data. |
| Variable | Definition |
|---|---|
| polity_population_from | The lower range of polity population for a polity. |
| polity_population_to | The upper range of polity population for a polity. |
| # | Polity | Year(s) | Polity Population from | Polity Population to | Description | Edit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 301 |
(Axum II) |
Full Year Range of Axum II is assumed. [350, 599] |
500000 |
600000 |
People. Note: might the scale of the monumental construction suggest a total population larger than this estimate from 1970s? With respect to the population of the city of Askum Phillipson (2012) says: "Michel's figure for Aksum's maximum population was significantly underestimated". [Connah 2015, p. 143] "Kobishchanov (1979: 122-5), in his discussion about Aksumite population ... the population of the whole Aksumite kingdom without Arabia and Nubia, was 'at the outside half a million'. This was presumably based on available archaeological evidence." [Munro-Hay 1991, p. 166] This early estimate might be too conservative. "Aksum was cosmopolitan, with a diverse population of Ethiopians, Nubians, Sudanese, Hebrews, Arabs, Indians, and Egyptians. Aksum's faiths included Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Judaism, as well as Greek polytheism and animist beliefs." [Murray 2009] "Using geoarchaeological evidence, Karl Butzer suggested that Aksumite culture flourished at a time of better spring rains that at present, and declined when land pressure and erratic rainfall caused soil destruction during the seventh and eighth centuries (Butzer 1981: 471). Bard et al. (2000: 80-1) supported this interpretation, identifying a humid episode from the mid-first millennium BC to the mid-first millennium AD during which agricultural activity was intensified to sustain a state-level urban society. Consequently, demographic pressure increased, reaching a peak in the mid-first millennium AD and causing progressive soil degradation that led to environmental deterioration by the seventh and eighth centuries AD and famine in the ninth century." [Connah 2015, p. 142] Bubonic plague in the 6th century CE. [Connah 2015, p. 141] |
|
| 303 |
(Chaulukya Dynasty) |
Full Year Range of Chaulukya Dynasty is assumed. [941, 1245] |
None |
None |
People. "Although it is not possible to estimate figures, the increase in settlements indicates that the population must have grown considerably from the eleventh century onwards." [Sheikh 2003, p. 25] | |
| 304 |
(Chu Kingdom - Spring and Autumn Period) |
Full Year Range of Chu Kingdom - Spring and Autumn Period is assumed. [-740, -489] |
None |
None |
706-690 BCE Annexed Hanxi states "Quan and, perhaps, Ran". [Major_Cook 1999, p. 15] "The first objective was to create a sphere of influence around the Bend of the Han, a task that was completed by the early seventh century. Chu then immediately set out to gain control of the Nanyang Basin and the approaches to it (Fangcheng Wai)." [Major_Cook 1999, p. 20] 688-656 BCE "pushed into the Nanyang Basin and carved out a zone beyond it in Fangcheng Wai." [Major_Cook 1999, p. 15] 655-585 BCE Expansion into Huai region. Took Xuan, Huang, and Ying (Yingshi). Long war with Jin after the defeat at battle of Chengpu (632 BCE). Took Jiang 623 BCE, Jyang ? and then Fan and Lyao 622 BCE. Xaio taken 597 BCE, Zhoulai taken before 585 BCE. [Major_Cook 1999, p. 16] 584-508 BCE Wu gains at Chu expense in Middle Huai. [Major_Cook 1999, p. 16] Major defeat to Jin and allies at Yanling (575 BCE). [Major_Cook 1999, p. 16] Gained Shu 574 BCE, lost Xyu and Zhoulai in 519 BCE to Wu. [Major_Cook 1999, pp. 16-17] 507-400 BCE Renewed expansion. Re-occupation of Upper and Middle Huai. [Major_Cook 1999, p. 17] 400-223 BCE "After the accommodation with Jin in 546, Chu had for the most part been able to keep the states in and bordering the Fangcheng Wai area under its control. With Han and Wei now centered below the Yellow River (Huanghe), this was no longer the case." [Major_Cook 1999, p. 17] With the loss of Fangcheng Wai, Chu expansion focused on the east before the gradual conquest by the Qin. [Major_Cook 1999, p. 20] |
|
| 305 |
(Early Greater Coclé) |
Full Year Range of Early Greater Coclé is assumed. [200, 700] |
None |
None |
People. 'Population estimates are lacking for most of the region, but it seems likelythat the maximum community size prior to 1200 B.P. was no more than a thousand people.' [Hoopes_Peregrine_Ember 2001, p. 102] | |
| 306 |
(Early Wagadu Empire) |
Full Year Range of Early Wagadu Empire is assumed. [250, 700] |
None |
None |
People. Sahel states = Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad. "Before the introduction of agriculture and animal husbandry the population of the area of the present-day Sahel states is unlikely to have exceeded 50,000: once pastoralism and agriculture had become well-established the population can hardly have been less than half a million. The chronology of the transition is as yet totally obscure, but there is no reason to postulate anything above the 50,000 line before 3000 BC or place the achievement of the half million later than 1000 BC. From this latter point a low rate of increase is all that is needed to bring the total to 1m by AD 1 and 2m by AD 1000." [McEvedy_Jones 1978, p. 238] |
|
| 308 |
(Karkota Dynasty) |
Full Year Range of Karkota Dynasty is assumed. [625, 1339] |
None |
None |
People. "There is unfortunately no record of the number of people inhabiting the Valley during any period of the Hindu rule. But the large number of administrative sub-divisions which goes back to an early date, may be taken as an indication of the dense population of the Valley. There is every reason to believe that even at a later period it was fairly large. The existence of a large number of village sites in all parts of the Valley, remains an extensive system of irrigation, the number of temple ruins and the uniform tradition of the people--all point to the same conclusion." [Bamzai 1962, p. 185] | |
| 309 |
(Kingdom of Sicily - Hohenstaufen and Angevin dynasties) |
Full Year Range of Kingdom of Sicily - Hohenstaufen and Angevin dynasties is assumed. [1194, 1281] |
500000 |
700000 |
None | |
| 310 |
(La Mula-Sarigua) |
Full Year Range of La Mula-Sarigua is assumed. [-1300, 200] |
None |
None |
People. 'Population estimates are lacking for most of the region, but it seems likelythat the maximum community size prior to 1200 B.P. was no more than a thousand people.' [Hoopes_Peregrine_Ember 2001, p. 102] |