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
211
(Hellenistic Crete)
Full Year Range of Hellenistic Crete is assumed.
[-323, -69]
1
5
None
212
(Japan - Early Jomon)
Full Year Range of Japan - Early Jomon is assumed.
[-5300, -3500]
1
2
None
213
(Monopalatial Crete)
Full Year Range of Monopalatial Crete is assumed.
[-1450, -1300]
1
6
None
214
(New Palace Crete)
Full Year Range of New Palace Crete is assumed.
[-1700, -1450]
1
6
None
215
(Japan - Late Jomon)
Full Year Range of Japan - Late Jomon is assumed.
[-2500, -1200]
2
2
None
216
(Yemen Ziyad Dynasty)
Full Year Range of Yemen Ziyad Dynasty is assumed.
[822, 1037]
3
3
None
217
(Postpalatial Crete)
Full Year Range of Postpalatial Crete is assumed.
[-1300, -1200]
4
4
None
218
(Nara Kingdom)
Full Year Range of Nara Kingdom is assumed.
[710, 794]
4
4
None
219
(Kansai - Yayoi Period)
Full Year Range of Kansai - Yayoi Period is assumed.
[-300, 250]
2
2
None
220
(Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty)
Full Year Range of Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty is assumed.
[1637, 1805]
3
3
None
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