Section: Social Complexity
Subsection: Hierarchical Complexity

Settlement Hierarchy

Talking about hierarchical complexity, 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
131
(Qajar)
Full Year Range of Qajar is assumed.
[1794, 1925]
5
5
None
132
(The Old Palace Crete)
Full Year Range of The Old Palace Crete is assumed.
[-1900, -1700]
1
6
None
133
(Formative Period)
Full Year Range of Formative Period is assumed.
[-7200, -7000]
1
1
None
134
(Yemen - Era of Warlords)
Full Year Range of Yemen - Era of Warlords is assumed.
[1038, 1174]
3
5
None
135
(Ur - Dynasty III)
Full Year Range of Ur - Dynasty III is assumed.
[-2112, -2004]
4
4
None
136
(Jin)
Full Year Range of Jin is assumed.
[-780, -404]
4
4
None
137
(Kingdom of Saba and Dhu Raydan)
Full Year Range of Kingdom of Saba and Dhu Raydan is assumed.
[-110, 149]
2
4
None
138
(Rasulid Dynasty)
Full Year Range of Rasulid Dynasty is assumed.
[1229, 1453]
4
4
None
139
(Neo-Babylonian Empire)
Full Year Range of Neo-Babylonian Empire is assumed.
[-626, -539]
5
5
None
140
(Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty)
Full Year Range of Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty is assumed.
[1637, 1805]
3
3
None
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