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
291
(Formative Period)
Full Year Range of Formative Period is assumed.
[-7200, -7000]
1
1
None
292
(Sasanid Empire II)
Full Year Range of Sasanid Empire II is assumed.
[488, 642]
6
6
None
293
(Elam - Late Sukkalmah)
Full Year Range of Elam - Late Sukkalmah is assumed.
[-1700, -1500]
3
5
None
294
(Susa I)
Full Year Range of Susa I is assumed.
[-4300, -3800]
2
3
None
295
(Latium - Bronze Age)
Full Year Range of Latium - Bronze Age is assumed.
[-1800, -900]
1
1
None
296
(Latium - Iron Age)
Full Year Range of Latium - Iron Age is assumed.
[-1000, -580]
1
1
None
297
(Papal States - High Medieval Period)
Full Year Range of Papal States - High Medieval Period is assumed.
[1198, 1309]
4
4
None
298
(Exarchate of Ravenna)
Full Year Range of Exarchate of Ravenna is assumed.
[568, 751]
6
6
None
299
(Roman Kingdom)
Full Year Range of Roman Kingdom is assumed.
[-716, -509]
2
3
None
300
(Western Roman Empire - Late Antiquity)
Full Year Range of Western Roman Empire - Late Antiquity is assumed.
[395, 476]
6
6
None
Copyright © 2024, Seshat: Global History Databank.
Stay in touch with us: