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
171
(Uruk)
Full Year Range of Uruk is assumed.
[-4000, -2900]
4
4
None
172
(Naqada II)
Full Year Range of Naqada II is assumed.
[-3550, -3300]
2
3
None
173
(Napoleonic France)
Full Year Range of Napoleonic France is assumed.
[1816, 1870]
6
6
None
174
(Austro-Hungarian Monarchy)
Full Year Range of Austro-Hungarian Monarchy is assumed.
[1867, 1918]
5
5
None
175
(Holy Roman Empire - Ottonian-Salian Dynasty)
Full Year Range of Holy Roman Empire - Ottonian-Salian Dynasty is assumed.
[919, 1125]
5
5
None
176
(British Empire IIIIIIIIII)
Full Year Range of British Empire IIIIIIIIII is assumed.
[1850, 1968]
6
6
None
177
(Qasimid Dynasty XXXXXXX)
Full Year Range of Qasimid Dynasty XXXXXXX is assumed.
[1637, 1805]
3
3
None
178
(Egypt - New Kingdom Thutmosid Period)
Full Year Range of Egypt - New Kingdom Thutmosid Period is assumed.
[-1550, -1293]
5
5
None
179
(Achaemenid Empire)
Full Year Range of Achaemenid Empire is assumed.
[-550, -331]
5
6
None
180
(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: