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
241
(Buyid Confederation)
Full Year Range of Buyid Confederation is assumed.
[932, 1062]
4
5
None
242
(Elymais II)
Full Year Range of Elymais II is assumed.
[25, 215]
4
4
None
243
(Elam - Igihalkid Period)
Full Year Range of Elam - Igihalkid Period is assumed.
[-1399, -1200]
4
4
None
244
(Papal States - Medieval Period II)
Full Year Range of Papal States - Medieval Period II is assumed.
[1648, 1809]
4
4
None
245
(Latium - Copper Age)
Full Year Range of Latium - Copper Age is assumed.
[-3600, -1800]
1
1
None
246
(Elam I)
Full Year Range of Elam I is assumed.
[-900, -744]
3
5
None
247
(Jenne-jeno I)
Full Year Range of Jenne-jeno I is assumed.
[-250, 49]
1
1
None
248
(Pre-Ceramic Period)
Full Year Range of Pre-Ceramic Period is assumed.
[-7800, -7200]
1
1
None
249
(Safavid Empire)
Full Year Range of Safavid Empire is assumed.
[1501, 1722]
4
5
None
250
(Seleucids)
Full Year Range of Seleucids is assumed.
[-312, -63]
6
6
None
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