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
141
(Kidarite Kingdom)
Full Year Range of Kidarite Kingdom is assumed.
[388, 477]
4
4
None
142
(Eastern Han Empire)
Full Year Range of Eastern Han Empire is assumed.
[25, 220]
6
6
None
143
(Hmong - Late Qing)
Full Year Range of Hmong - Late Qing is assumed.
[1701, 1895]
2
2
None
144
(Northern Song)
Full Year Range of Northern Song is assumed.
[960, 1127]
7
7
None
145
(Northern Wei)
Full Year Range of Northern Wei is assumed.
[386, 534]
5
6
None
146
(Susa III)
Full Year Range of Susa III is assumed.
[-3100, -2675]
2
3
None
147
(Peiligang)
Full Year Range of Peiligang is assumed.
[-7000, -5001]
1
1
None
148
(Early Qing)
Full Year Range of Early Qing is assumed.
[1644, 1796]
7
7
None
149
(Neo-Babylonian Empire)
Full Year Range of Neo-Babylonian Empire is assumed.
[-626, -539]
5
5
None
150
(Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty)
Full Year Range of Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty is assumed.
[1637, 1805]
3
3
None
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