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
421
(Late Mongols)
Full Year Range of Late Mongols is assumed.
[1368, 1690]
2
3
None
422
(Second Turk Khaganate)
Full Year Range of Second Turk Khaganate is assumed.
[682, 744]
2
2
None
423
(Xiongnu Imperial Confederation)
Full Year Range of Xiongnu Imperial Confederation is assumed.
[-209, -60]
2
3
None
424
(Cahokia - Middle Woodland)
Full Year Range of Cahokia - Middle Woodland is assumed.
[-150, 300]
1
1
None
425
(Zungharian Empire)
Full Year Range of Zungharian Empire is assumed.
[1670, 1757]
2
3
None
426
(Later Wagadu Empire)
Full Year Range of Later Wagadu Empire is assumed.
[1078, 1203]
4
4
None
427
(Monte Alban Late I)
Full Year Range of Monte Alban Late I is assumed.
[-300, -100]
4
4
None
428
(Monte Alban III)
Full Year Range of Monte Alban III is assumed.
[200, 500]
4
4
None
429
(Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period)
Full Year Range of Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period is assumed.
[-1300, -500]
1
2
None
430
(Early Formative Basin of Mexico)
Full Year Range of Early Formative Basin of Mexico is assumed.
[-1200, -801]
2
3
None
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