Home Region:  Levant (Southwest Asia)

Phoenician Empire

1200 BCE 332 BCE
D G SC WF RG CC EQ 2020  lb_phoenician_emp / LbAcPho
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
2000 BCE 1175 BCE Canaan (il_canaan)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.

Displayed: 570 BCE

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  General Description   The term ’Phoenicia’ refers to a group of allied cities - rather than a politically centralized state - located in the southern Levant, in present-day Lebanon and northern Israel. It is difficult to assign exact dates to this quasi-polity, [1] but here we focus on the period between c. 1200 BCE and 332 BCE, when the Phoenician city of Tyre fell to Alexander the Great. [2] The Phoenicians were skilled traders and seafarers. [3]
Population and political organization
The ruler of a Phoenician city was somewhere between human and divine. He was not a god, but was the highest priest with a privileged relationship to the city’s patron deity. [4] However, his power was not unlimited: merchant families also wielded considerable influence in public affairs and, at least in Byblos, Sidon, and possibly Tyre, the king was assisted by a council of elders. In Tyre, between 605 and 561 BCE, the monarchy was replaced with a republic, in which the government was led by a series of judges known as suffetes, who ruled for only short terms. [5]
Reliable population figures for the Phoenician cities are lacking.

[1]: (Röllig 1983) Röllig, Wolfgang. 1983. “The Phoenician Language: Remarks on the Present State of Research.” In Atti Del I. Congresso Internazionale Di Studi Fenici E Punici: Roma, 5-10 Novembre 1979, 375-85. Rome: Istituto per la Civiltà Fenicia e Punica. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/KKX2FPFB.

[2]: (Briant 2010, 9) Briant, Pierre. 2010. Alexander the Great and His Empire: A Short Introduction. Translated by Amélie Kuhrt. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/2BWW9KRM.

[3]: (Kaufman 2014, 3-4) Kaufman, Bret. 2014. “Empire without a Voice: Phoenician Iron Metallurgy and Imperial Strategy at Carthage.” PhD Dissertation, Los Angeles, CA: UCLA. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/6HWAI37J.

[4]: (Bonnet 2004, 102) Bonnet, Corinne. 2004. I Fenici. Rome: Carocci. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/CHKFPEHR.

[5]: (Etheredge 2011, 122) Etheredge, Laura. 2011. Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. New York: Britannica Educational Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/B8B3HGFK.

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp) was in:
 (1180 BCE 1031 BCE)   Galilee
Home NGA: Galilee
General Variables
Identity and Location Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 36 S Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Original Name Phoenician Empire Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Capital Tyre Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Capital Sidon Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Capital Tyre Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Capital Sidon Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Alternative Name Tyre Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Alternative Name Sidon Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Alternative Name Phoenicia Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Alternative Name Fnkhw Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Alternative Name Phoiniki Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years 570 BCE Confident Expert
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Duration [1200 BCE ➜ 332 BCE] Confident Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations none Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Suprapolity Relations vassalage to [---] Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Suprapolity Relations none Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Suprapolity Relations vassalage to [---] Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Supracultural Entity Phoenician Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Succeeding Entity Macedonian Empire Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction [8,000 to 10,000] km2 Confident Expert 1200 BCE 801 BCE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction [20,000 to 40,000] km2 Confident Expert 800 BCE 332 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Preceding Entity
2000 BCE 1175 BCE
Canaan (il_canaan)   [continuity]  Confident Expert
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Degree of Centralization quasi-polity Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Language Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Semitic Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Language Phoenician Confident Expert 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Religion Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement [40,000 to 60,000] people Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Polity Territory [8,000 to 10,000] km2 Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Polity Population [10,000 to 60,000] people Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy [5 to 7] Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Religious Level [5 to 6] Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Military Level [4 to 8] Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Administrative Level - Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Professions Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Professional Priesthood Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Professional Military Officer Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Merit Promotion Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Examination System Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Law Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Judge Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
Court Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Irrigation System Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Food Storage Site Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Port Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Canal Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Bridge Absent Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Information / Writing System Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Script Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Nonwritten Record Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Mnemonic Device Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Sacred Text Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Religious Literature Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Practical Literature Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Philosophy Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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History Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Fiction Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Calendar Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Information / Money Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Token Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Precious Metal Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Paper Currency Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Indigenous Coin Absent Confident 1200 BCE 461 BCE
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Indigenous Coin Present Confident 460 BCE 332 BCE
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Foreign Coin Absent Confident 1200 BCE 599 BCE
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Foreign Coin Present Confident 598 BCE 332 BCE
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Article Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Information / Postal System Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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General Postal Service Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Courier Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Moat Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Fortified Camp Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Earth Rampart Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Ditch Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Complex Fortification Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Long Wall absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Military use of Metals Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Iron Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Copper Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Bronze Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Projectiles Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Sling Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Self Bow Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Javelin Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Crossbow Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Composite Bow Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Atlatl Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Handheld weapons Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Sword Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Spear Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Polearm Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Dagger Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Battle Axe Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Elephant Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Donkey Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Camel Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Armor Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Unknown Suspected 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Shield Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Scaled Armor Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Limb Protection Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Leather Cloth Present Inferred 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Laminar Armor Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Helmet Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Chainmail Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Breastplate Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Naval technology Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Unknown Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Present Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Absent Confident 1200 BCE  332 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Phoenician Empire (lb_phoenician_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
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