Home Region: Iran (Southwest Asia)

Seleucid Empire

312 BCE 63 BCE

D G SC WF R CC

EQ 2020 ir_seleucid_emp / IrSeleu

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

330 BCE 312 BCE Macedonian Empire (gr_macedonian_emp) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:

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General Description

The Seleucid Empire arose in the years following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE and the subsequent division of his empire. Alexander’s generals each ruled part of the empire, including Seleucus I who became leader of the Babylonian territory in 319 BCE as a reward for having helped Alexander eliminate the regent Perdiccas ^[1] . This date does not however mark the start of the Seleucid Empire as Seleucus was ousted by the rival Antigonus in 315 BCE and did not return to power until 312 BCE, after which the Seleucid Empire truly began as Seleucus began to extent his domain to create an empire large enough to include territories in the Central Asian steppe to European Thrace ^[2] . Seleucus’ territorial achievements were matched by only one of his successors, Antiochus III, whose rule began 60 years later. The last rulers of the empire could not match the charisma and drive of these earlier rulers, especially in the face of growing powers to the west and east of the empire (Rome and Parthia respectively). The empire declined in size and influence until it was taken over by Rome in 63 BCE.
The Seleucid Empire continued to exert the Hellenistic influences of Alexander the Great’s empire, but like Alexander, the rulers of the Seleucid Empire generally allowed other religions and languages to continue and flourish (a notable exception being the persecution of the Jews by Antiochus IV) ^[3] . Most written documents are in Greek and contain valuable information about the empire, the battles fought and the kings who ruled. The documents are however far from complete and many aspects of the empire are either inferred from other sources or remain unknown. Overall it can be surmised that the Seleucid Empire was ruled by one king at a time who held central authority, but who exerted that authority through his commanders, or satraps, in the various territories of the empire ^[4] . This both gave the king a great amount of power but also made him vulnerable to the ambitions of his satraps, the most notable example being the betrayal of the general Achaios who in 220 BCE took the territories of Asia Minor for himself after conducting campaigns there on behalf of Antiochus III ^[5] .

[1]: (Sherwin-White and Kurht 1993, 10) S Sherwin-White. A Kurht. 1993. From Samarkhand to Sardis; A new approach to the Seleucid empire. London: Duckworth.

[2]: (Kosmin 2013, 678) P J Kosmin. 2013. Alexander the Great and the Seleucids in Iran. In, Potts, D. T (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Iran. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.671-689.

[3]: (Kosmin 2013, 684-685) P J Kosmin. 2013. Alexander the Great and the Seleucids in Iran. In, Potts, D. T (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Iran. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.671-689.

[4]: (Kosmin 2013, 680) P J Kosmin. 2013. Alexander the Great and the Seleucids in Iran. In, Potts, D. T (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Iran. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.671-689.

[5]: (Ager 2012, 421) S L Ager. 2012. The Alleged Rapprochement between Achaios and Attalos I in 220 BCE. Historia. 61 (4), pp. 421-429.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

1 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

2 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Scale of Supracultural Interaction

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

2 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

1 Religion Genus

1 Religion Family

1 Alternate Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

2 Polity Territory

2 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

Military use of Metals

2 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases

1 Crisis Consequence

Power Transitions

28 Power Transition

Instability Events

61 Instability Event

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp) was in:
(312 BCE 300 BCE)	Southern Mesopotamia / Susiana
(300 BCE 281 BCE)	Southern Mesopotamia / Susiana / Sogdiana
(281 BCE 249 BCE)	Southern Mesopotamia / Susiana / Konya Plain / Sogdiana
(249 BCE 200 BCE)	Southern Mesopotamia / Susiana / Konya Plain
(200 BCE 190 BCE)	Southern Mesopotamia / Susiana / Galilee / Konya Plain
(190 BCE 144 BCE)	Southern Mesopotamia / Susiana / Galilee
(144 BCE 104 BCE)	Galilee

Home NGA: Southern Mesopotamia

General Variables

Identity and Location Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	37 S	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Original Name	Seleucid Empire	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Capital	Seleucid-on-the-Tigris	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Alternative Name	Seleukid	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	281 BCE
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Peak Years	190 BCE
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Duration	[312 BCE ➜ 63 BCE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	ir_seleucid_emp nominal allegiance to it_roman_rep_2	204 BCE 192 BCE
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Supracultural Entity	Greek	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Succeeding Entity	Parthian Empire I	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction	[4,500,000 to 5,000,000] km²	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Preceding Entity 330 BCE 312 BCE	Macedonian Empire (gr_macedonian_emp) [continuity]
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Degree of Centralization	unitary state	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Degree of Centralization	confederated state	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Language Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Indo-European	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Language	Greek	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Religion Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Religion Genus	Hellenistic Religions	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Religion Family	Seleucid Religion	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Alternate Religion	Uncoded Undecided	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[50,000 to 100,000] people	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Polity Territory	3,600,000 km²	312 BCE 201 BCE
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Polity Territory	[2,300,000 to 475,000] km²	200 BCE 147 BCE
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Polity Population	30,000,000 people Disputed	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Polity Population	16,000,000 people Disputed	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	6	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Religious Level	4	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Military Level	5	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Administrative Level	[5 to 6]	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Professions Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Professional Priesthood	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Professional Military Officer	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Merit Promotion	Uncoded Undecided	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Examination System	Uncoded Undecided	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Law Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Judge	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Formal Legal Code	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Court	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Irrigation System	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Food Storage Site	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Port	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Canal	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Bridge	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Information / Writing System Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Script	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Nonwritten Record	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Absent	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Mnemonic Device	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Sacred Text	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Religious Literature	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Practical Literature	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Philosophy	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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History	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Fiction	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Calendar	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Information / Money Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Precious Metal	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Paper Currency	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Indigenous Coin	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Foreign Coin	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Article	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Information / Postal System Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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General Postal Service	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Courier	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Moat	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Fortified Camp	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Earth Rampart	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Ditch	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Complex Fortification	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Military use of Metals Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Present Uncertain	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Steel	Absent Uncertain	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Iron	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Copper	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Bronze	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Projectiles Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Sling	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Self Bow	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Javelin	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Crossbow	Absent Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Composite Bow	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Atlatl	Absent	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Handheld weapons Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Sword	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Spear	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Polearm	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Dagger	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Battle Axe	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Elephant	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Donkey	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Dog	Absent Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Camel	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Armor Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Shield	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Scaled Armor	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Plate Armor	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Limb Protection	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Leather Cloth	Present Inferred	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Laminar Armor	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Helmet	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Chainmail	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Breastplate	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Naval technology Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Unknown Suspected	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Present	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent	312 BCE 63 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Seleucid Empire (ir_seleucid_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More