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
81
(Roman Kingdom)
Full Year Range of Roman Kingdom is assumed.
[-716, -509]
2
3
None
82
(Western Roman Empire - Late Antiquity)
Full Year Range of Western Roman Empire - Late Antiquity is assumed.
[395, 476]
6
6
None
83
(Ashikaga Shogunate)
Full Year Range of Ashikaga Shogunate is assumed.
[1336, 1467]
6
6
None
84
(Asuka)
Full Year Range of Asuka is assumed.
[538, 710]
4
4
None
85
(Japan - Incipient Jomon)
Full Year Range of Japan - Incipient Jomon is assumed.
[-13600, -9200]
1
1
None
86
(Chalukyas of Kalyani)
Full Year Range of Chalukyas of Kalyani is assumed.
[973, 1189]
3
3
None
87
(Japan - Middle Jomon)
Full Year Range of Japan - Middle Jomon is assumed.
[-3500, -2500]
2
2
None
88
(Kansai - Kofun Period)
Full Year Range of Kansai - Kofun Period is assumed.
[250, 537]
3
3
None
89
(Warring States Japan)
Full Year Range of Warring States Japan is assumed.
[1467, 1568]
4
6
None
90
(Sasanid Empire I)
Full Year Range of Sasanid Empire I is assumed.
[205, 487]
5
6
None
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