| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 551 |
(Sena Dynasty) |
Full Year Range of Sena Dynasty is assumed. [1095, 1245] |
None |
None |
levels. (1) Capital city (2) TownTowns were often emporiums of trade as well as political centres. What distinguished them from villages, according to Majumdar, was that while they may also have had some agricultural activity, they served a “wide variety of functions, commercial, industrial, political, judicial and military.” But the greatest distinction was the luxury and wealth of the towns and it’s citizens, which the Ramacharita describes as “a city of rows of palaces” and as possessing ‘an immense mass of gems’.” [Majumdar 1943] “the archaeological record indicates that urban centres came up as early as the fifth century bce. During the following centuries large towns would develop along major rivers rather than on the exposed sea coast.” [van_Schendel 2009] (3) VillageMajumdar writes that since the beginning of historical record for Bengal, there have been well-established villages, in which the fields, meadows and woodlands have been organised to serve the population’s needs. They varied in size but people tended to live in compact groups within them They would all generally include livestock. The villages also contained “pits and canals (garta and nala) which might have served the purpose of drainage, barren tracts (ushara), tanks, reservoirs and temples, besides cattle-tracks and ordinary roads and paths.” [Majumdar 1943] (4) Hamlet [Furui 2020] |
|
| 552 |
(Axum II) |
Full Year Range of Axum II is assumed. [350, 599] |
4 |
4 |
levels. Population rise throughout this period. 1. Capital - city 2. Towns Many specialist workers "must have been urban dwellers, living in towns and cities that apparently did not need protection by surrounding walls ..." [Connah 2015, p. 141] "Intermediate-sized houses excavated at Matara would indicate that there were also people who belonged to neither the elite nor the peasantry, at least in Aksumite times." [Connah 2015, p. 141] Adulis known before the city of Aksum. [Kobishanov 1981, p. 381] 3. Village First century CE. "Where there used to be only villages, small towns and cities are now developing." [Anfray 1981, p. 376] 4. Hamlets Towns, villages and isolated hamlets. [Uhlig 2017, p. 94] "In central Tegray the ancient landscape was characterized by a clearly-cut hierarchy in size of the settlements, ranging from the city of Aksum, over 100ha in size, to small compounds less than 1ha in area, and included large and small villages, elite residences, residential compounds, farming hamlets and workshops. Large settlements, ranging from 7ha to over 11ha in area, were located mainly at the base or sometimes on the top of the hills. Isolated elite palaces were often scattered in the open plain. Villages, hamlets and compounds were located on the top or along the slopes of the hills." [Uhlig 2017, p. 96] |
|
| 553 |
(Axum III) |
Full Year Range of Axum III is assumed. [600, 800] |
4 |
4 |
levels. 1. Capital - city 2. Towns Many specialist workers "must have been urban dwellers, living in towns and cities that apparently did not need protection by surrounding walls ..." [Connah 2015, p. 141] "Intermediate-sized houses excavated at Matara would indicate that there were also people who belonged to neither the elite nor the peasantry, at least in Aksumite times." [Connah 2015, p. 141] Adulis known before the city of Aksum. [Kobishanov 1981, p. 381] 3. Village First century CE. "Where there used to be only villages, small towns and cities are now developing." [Anfray 1981, p. 376] 4. Hamlets Towns, villages and isolated hamlets. [Uhlig 2017, p. 94] "In central Tegray the ancient landscape was characterized by a clearly-cut hierarchy in size of the settlements, ranging from the city of Aksum, over 100ha in size, to small compounds less than 1ha in area, and included large and small villages, elite residences, residential compounds, farming hamlets and workshops. Large settlements, ranging from 7ha to over 11ha in area, were located mainly at the base or sometimes on the top of the hills. Isolated elite palaces were often scattered in the open plain. Villages, hamlets and compounds were located on the top or along the slopes of the hills." [Uhlig 2017, p. 96] |
|
| 554 |
(Bulgaria - Middle) |
Full Year Range of Bulgaria - Middle is assumed. [865, 1018] |
3 |
4 |
levels. 1. Capital 2. Town 3. Village 4. ? |
|
| 555 |
(Chaulukya Dynasty) |
Full Year Range of Chaulukya Dynasty is assumed. [941, 1245] |
None |
None |
levels. Capital Somanatha religious centre Three important ports Other important cities "The villages formed the basic unit of administration." [Majumdar 1956, p. 208] |
|
| 556 |
(Chu Kingdom - Spring and Autumn Period) |
Full Year Range of Chu Kingdom - Spring and Autumn Period is assumed. [-740, -489] |
4 |
4 |
1. Capital 2. Town 3. Feudal estate 4. Village |
|
| 557 |
(Chu Kingdom - Warring States Period) |
Full Year Range of Chu Kingdom - Warring States Period is assumed. [-488, -223] |
4 |
5 |
Inferred from contemporary polities. pre-reforms (fifth c bce): 1. Capital city 2. town 3. feudal estates (?) 4. village post-reforms (fifth c bce): 1. Capital city 2. Commandery capital 3. County 4. town 5. village |
|
| 558 |
(Duchy of Aquitaine I) |
Full Year Range of Duchy of Aquitaine I is assumed. [602, 768] |
4 |
4 |
levels. | |
| 559 |
(Early Nyoro) |
Full Year Range of Early Nyoro is assumed. [900, 1449] |
2 |
2 |
levels. "Polities during this period seem to have been no more than small chiefdoms, presumably comprising a chiefly settlement and neighbouring villages." [Taylor_Robertshaw 2000, p. 17] |
|
| 560 |
(Early Wagadu Empire) |
Full Year Range of Early Wagadu Empire is assumed. [250, 700] |
None |
None |
None |