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
511
(Early Mongols)
Full Year Range of Early Mongols is assumed.
[1000, 1206]
1
1
None
512
(Rouran Khaganate)
Full Year Range of Rouran Khaganate is assumed.
[300, 555]
1
2
None
513
(Uigur Khaganate)
Full Year Range of Uigur Khaganate is assumed.
[745, 840]
3
3
None
514
(Early Monte Alban I)
Full Year Range of Early Monte Alban I is assumed.
[-500, -300]
2
3
None
515
(Monte Alban II)
Full Year Range of Monte Alban II is assumed.
[-100, 200]
4
4
None
516
(Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period)
Full Year Range of Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period is assumed.
[-3200, -2500]
2
3
None
517
(Monte Alban V)
Full Year Range of Monte Alban V is assumed.
[900, 1520]
2
3
None
518
(Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico)
Full Year Range of Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico is assumed.
[-100, 99]
3
4
None
519
(Oaxaca - Rosario)
Full Year Range of Oaxaca - Rosario is assumed.
[-700, -500]
3
3
None
520
(Cuzco - Early Intermediate I)
Full Year Range of Cuzco - Early Intermediate I is assumed.
[200, 499]
3
3
None
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