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
151
(Kingdom of Saba and Dhu Raydan)
Full Year Range of Kingdom of Saba and Dhu Raydan is assumed.
[-110, 149]
2
4
None
152
(Anglo-Saxon England I)
Full Year Range of Anglo-Saxon England I is assumed.
[410, 926]
6
6
None
153
(Rasulid Dynasty)
Full Year Range of Rasulid Dynasty is assumed.
[1229, 1453]
4
4
None
154
(Antebellum US)
Full Year Range of Antebellum US is assumed.
[1776, 1865]
7
7
None
155
(Tudor and Early Stuart England)
Full Year Range of Tudor and Early Stuart England is assumed.
[1486, 1689]
5
5
None
156
(Ubaid)
Full Year Range of Ubaid is assumed.
[-5500, -4201]
2
2
None
157
(Tang Dynasty II)
Full Year Range of Tang Dynasty II is assumed.
[763, 907]
3
6
None
158
(Western Han Empire)
Full Year Range of Western Han Empire is assumed.
[-202, 9]
6
6
None
159
(Neo-Babylonian Empire)
Full Year Range of Neo-Babylonian Empire is assumed.
[-626, -539]
5
5
None
160
(Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty)
Full Year Range of Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty is assumed.
[1637, 1805]
3
3
None
Copyright © 2024, Seshat: Global History Databank.
Stay in touch with us: