When historians estimate population of ancient or medieval cities, do they refer solely to the built-up urban core/sprawl or do they include the population of the immediate countryside?

r/AskHistorians

I always wonder if the estimated 1000000 population of Rome at its peak only includes the population within the wall plus the urban sprawl immediately outside or does it include the population of the villages surrounding it. The same for medieval Kyoto’s estimated 400000 population.

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When historians estimate population of ancient or medieval cities, do they refer solely to the built-up urban core/sprawl or do they include the population of the immediate countryside?

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