Section: Social Complexity
Subsection: Social Scale

Population of the Largest Settlement

population of the largest settlement is the estimated population of the largest settlement of the polity. note that the largest settlement could be different from the capital (coded under general variables). if possible, indicate the dynamics (that is, how population changed during the temporal period of the polity). note that we are also building a city database - you should consult it as it may already have the needed data.   (See here)
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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
population_of_the_largest_settlement_from The lower range of population of the largest settlement for a polity.
population_of_the_largest_settlement_to The upper range of population of the largest settlement for a polity.

# Polity Year(s) Population of the Largest Settlement from Population of the Largest Settlement to Description   Edit
281
(Proto-French Kingdom)
Full Year Range of Proto-French Kingdom is assumed.
[987, 1150]
25000
25000
None
282
(Kingdom of the Huns)
Full Year Range of Kingdom of the Huns is assumed.
[376, 469]
500
1000
None
283
(Bulgaria - Early)
Full Year Range of Bulgaria - Early is assumed.
[681, 864]
None
None
None
284
(Jenne-jeno IV)
Full Year Range of Jenne-jeno IV is assumed.
[900, 1300]
20000
30000
None
285
(Cahokia - Late Woodland I)
Full Year Range of Cahokia - Late Woodland I is assumed.
[300, 450]
30
50
None
286
(Neolithic Middle Ganga)
Full Year Range of Neolithic Middle Ganga is assumed.
[-7000, -3001]
None
None
None
287
(Southern Mesopotamia Neolithic)
Full Year Range of Southern Mesopotamia Neolithic is assumed.
[-9000, -5501]
None
None
None
288
(Early Classic Tikal)
Full Year Range of Early Classic Tikal is assumed.
[250, 554]
7000
28000
Estimates for the population of Tikal vary widely, and have tended to be revised downwards in recent decades. In his monograph on Tikal's population, David Webster draws on the work of Culbert et al. and revisions by Fry to suggest an upper bound of c. 28,000 people for central Tikal and its sustaining area during the Manik phase (250-600 CE). [Webster 2018, pp. 40-41] However, Michael E. Smith uses a much lower figure for Classic Maya Tikal (precise date unspecified), citing a forthcoming book chapter: "I use a new population estimate for Tikal as described in Dennehy et al. (n.d.). Based on the density categories of settlement at Maya cities published by Canuto et al. (2018), we estimate a population of 7,000 for an area of 1,127 hectares that comprises the urban core, urban, and periurban zones (rural and vacant areas are not included). This area is much smaller than traditional estimates, of which 12,000 hectares (120 square kilometers) is typical (Culbert 1991)." [Smith 2023, p. 251]
289
(Lombard Kingdom)
Full Year Range of Lombard Kingdom is assumed.
[568, 774]
None
None
None
290
(Zagwe)
Full Year Range of Zagwe is assumed.
[1137, 1269]
None
None
None
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