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
411
(Jenne-jeno II)
Full Year Range of Jenne-jeno II is assumed.
[50, 399]
2
2
None
412
(Middle Wagadu Empire)
Full Year Range of Middle Wagadu Empire is assumed.
[700, 1077]
4
4
None
413
(Khmer Kingdom)
Full Year Range of Khmer Kingdom is assumed.
[1432, 1594]
6
6
None
414
(Funan I)
Full Year Range of Funan I is assumed.
[225, 540]
3
3
None
415
(Funan II)
Full Year Range of Funan II is assumed.
[540, 640]
3
4
None
416
(Indo-Greek Kingdom)
Full Year Range of Indo-Greek Kingdom is assumed.
[-180, -10]
2
3
None
417
(Mali Empire)
Full Year Range of Mali Empire is assumed.
[1230, 1410]
4
4
None
418
(Segou Kingdom)
Full Year Range of Segou Kingdom is assumed.
[1650, 1712]
4
4
None
419
(Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty)
Full Year Range of Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty is assumed.
[1493, 1591]
4
4
None
420
(Mongol Empire)
Full Year Range of Mongol Empire is assumed.
[1206, 1270]
5
5
None
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