Section: Social Complexity
Subsection: Hierarchical Complexity

Settlement Hierarchy

settlement hierarchy records (in levels) the hierarchy of not just settlement sizes, but also their complexity as reflected in different roles they play within the (quasi)polity. as settlements become more populous they acquire more complex functions: transportational (e.g. port); economic (e.g. market); administrative (e.g. storehouse, local government building); cultural (e.g. theatre); religious (e.g. temple), utilitarian (e.g. hospital), monumental (e.g. statues, plazas). example: (1) large city (monumental structures, theatre, market, hospital, central government buildings) (2) city (market, theatre, regional government buildings) (3) large town (market, administrative buildings) (4) town (administrative buildings, storehouse)) (5) village (shrine) (6) hamlet (residential only). in the narrative paragraph explain the different levels and list their functions. provide a (crude) estimate of population sizes. for example, large town (market, temple, administrative buildings): 2,000-5,000 inhabitants.   (See here)
Contributors:

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
settlement_hierarchy_from The lower range of settlement hierarchy for a polity.
settlement_hierarchy_to The upper range of settlement hierarchy for a polity.

# Polity Year(s) Settlement Hierarchy from Settlement Hierarchy to Description   Edit
231
(Timurid Empire)
Full Year Range of Timurid Empire is assumed.
[1370, 1526]
6
6
None
232
(Neolithic Yemen)
Full Year Range of Neolithic Yemen is assumed.
[-3500, -1201]
1
2
None
233
(Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty)
Full Year Range of Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty is assumed.
[1637, 1805]
3
3
None
234
(Rasulid Dynasty)
Full Year Range of Rasulid Dynasty is assumed.
[1229, 1453]
4
4
None
235
(Kingdom of Saba and Dhu Raydan)
Full Year Range of Kingdom of Saba and Dhu Raydan is assumed.
[-110, 149]
2
4
None
236
(Yemen - Era of Warlords)
Full Year Range of Yemen - Era of Warlords is assumed.
[1038, 1174]
3
5
None
237
(Kidarite Kingdom)
Full Year Range of Kidarite Kingdom is assumed.
[388, 477]
4
4
None
238
(Eastern Han Empire)
Full Year Range of Eastern Han Empire is assumed.
[25, 220]
6
6
None
239
(Kingdom of Congo)
Full Year Range of Kingdom of Congo is assumed.
[1491, 1568]
4
4
None
240
(Anurādhapura II)
Full Year Range of Anurādhapura II is assumed.
[70, 428]
4
4
None
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