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
241
(Dutch Empire)
Full Year Range of Dutch Empire is assumed.
[1648, 1795]
7
7
None
242
(Russian Empire, Romanov Dynasty II)
Full Year Range of Russian Empire, Romanov Dynasty II is assumed.
[1776, 1917]
8
8
None
243
(Kingdom of Saloum)
Full Year Range of Kingdom of Saloum is assumed.
[1490, 1863]
3
3
None
244
(Anurādhapura III)
Full Year Range of Anurādhapura III is assumed.
[428, 614]
4
4
None
245
(Early Xiongnu)
Full Year Range of Early Xiongnu is assumed.
[-1400, -300]
1
1
None
246
(Kalachuris of Kalyani)
Full Year Range of Kalachuris of Kalyani is assumed.
[1157, 1184]
4
4
levels.
Because "[t]he Kalachuris continued the administrative system of the Chalukyas" [Kamath 1980, p. 118] , and because settlement hierarchy usually reflects administrative hierarchy, it seems likely that the Kalachuris would have had similar settlement hierarchy to the Chalukyas. Three types of "settlements" are mentioned for the Chalukyas REFERENCE:
1. Capital
2. Towns
3. Villages
247
(Early Maravi)
Full Year Range of Early Maravi is assumed.
[1400, 1499]
4
4
levels. Inferred from the following: "Mankhamba was more than a large village — it was a town, with its own satellite villages. It was both the capital of the Maravi and a major trading centre of local and imported products." [Juwayeyi 2020] QUOTE ABOUT SHRINES?
1. Mankhamba
2. Ritual centers3. Large villages4. Small villages
248
(Polonnaruwa)
Full Year Range of Polonnaruwa is assumed.
[1070, 1255]
5
5
None
249
(Anurādhapura IV)
Full Year Range of Anurādhapura IV is assumed.
[614, 1017]
5
5
None
250
(Akan - Pre-Ashanti)
Full Year Range of Akan - Pre-Ashanti is assumed.
[1501, 1701]
3
3
None
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