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
311
(Chenla)
Full Year Range of Chenla is assumed.
[550, 825]
3
4
None
312
(Andronovo)
Full Year Range of Andronovo is assumed.
[-1800, -1200]
1
2
None
313
(Saadi Sultanate)
Full Year Range of Saadi Sultanate is assumed.
[1554, 1659]
4
4
None
314
(Bamana kingdom)
Full Year Range of Bamana kingdom is assumed.
[1712, 1861]
4
4
None
315
(Archaic Basin of Mexico)
Full Year Range of Archaic Basin of Mexico is assumed.
[-6000, -2001]
1
1
None
316
(Northern Song)
Full Year Range of Northern Song is assumed.
[960, 1127]
7
7
None
317
(Northern Wei)
Full Year Range of Northern Wei is assumed.
[386, 534]
5
6
None
318
(Susa III)
Full Year Range of Susa III is assumed.
[-3100, -2675]
2
3
None
319
(Western Han Empire)
Full Year Range of Western Han Empire is assumed.
[-202, 9]
6
6
None
320
(Peiligang)
Full Year Range of Peiligang is assumed.
[-7000, -5001]
1
1
None
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