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
201
(Proto-Carolingian)
Full Year Range of Proto-Carolingian is assumed.
[687, 751]
4
4
None
202
(Middle Merovingian)
Full Year Range of Middle Merovingian is assumed.
[543, 687]
4
4
None
203
(La Tene A-B1)
Full Year Range of La Tene A-B1 is assumed.
[-475, -325]
2
3
None
204
(Japan - Initial Jomon)
Full Year Range of Japan - Initial Jomon is assumed.
[-9200, -5300]
1
2
None
205
(Susiana A)
Full Year Range of Susiana A is assumed.
[-6000, -5700]
1
1
None
206
(French Kingdom - Early Valois)
Full Year Range of French Kingdom - Early Valois is assumed.
[1328, 1450]
5
5
None
207
(French Kingdom - Late Valois)
Full Year Range of French Kingdom - Late Valois is assumed.
[1450, 1589]
6
6
None
208
(British Empire II)
Full Year Range of British Empire II is assumed.
[1850, 1968]
6
7
None
209
(Archaic Crete)
Full Year Range of Archaic Crete is assumed.
[-710, -500]
1
5
None
210
(Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty)
Full Year Range of Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty is assumed.
[1637, 1805]
3
3
None
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