Home Region:  Mexico (North America)

Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico

100 BCE 99 CE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  mx_basin_of_mexico_6 / MxFormT
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
400 BCE 101 BCE Late Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_5)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.


  General Description   The Basin or Valley of Mexico is a highlands plateau in central Mexico roughly corresponding to modern-day Mexico City. Here, we are interested in the phase of its prehistory known as the Terminal Formative period (c. 100 BCE-99 CE). The most notable aspect of this period is the emergence of Teotihuacan as the largest and most populous city in the New World: by 150 CE, it had a population ranging between 60,000 to 80,000 inhabitants distributed across an area of about 20 kilometers. [1]
Political power was inherently theocratic; [2] [3] [4] beyond that, the exact administrative mechanisms prevalent at the time remain unclear.

[1]: (Sugiyama 2005: 1) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/P56I2R2H

[2]: Barba de Piña Chán, Beatriz. (1980). Tlapacoya: Los Principios de la Teocracia en la Cuenca de Mexico. Biblioteca Enciclopedica del Estado de Mexico, p.13-42, 95-142.

[3]: Plunket, Patricia and Gabriela Uruñuela. (2012). "Where East Meets West: The Formative in Mexico’s Central Highlands." Journal of Archaeological 20(1): 1-51

[4]: Carballo, David M. (2016). Urbanization and Religion in Ancient Central Mexico. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.73-215.

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 Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6) was in:
 (100 BCE 99 CE)   Basin of Mexico
Home NGA: Basin of Mexico
General Variables
Identity and Location Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 14 Q Confident Expert 100 BCE  99 CE
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Original Name Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico Confident Expert 100 BCE  99 CE
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Alternative Name NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI Confident Expert 100 BCE  99 CE
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Temporal Bounds Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [100 BCE ➜ 99 CE] Confident Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations unknown [---] Suspected Expert 100 BCE  99 CE
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Supracultural Entity Central Highland Mesoamerican Late-Terminal Formative Confident Expert 100 BCE  99 CE
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Succeeding Entity MxClass Confident Expert 100 BCE  99 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 40,000 km2 Confident Expert 100 BCE  99 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Confident Expert 100 BCE  99 CE
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Preceding Entity
400 BCE 101 BCE
Late Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_5)   [continuity]  Confident Expert
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Degree of Centralization quasi-polity Confident Expert 100 BCE  99 CE
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Language Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Otomanguean Confident Expert 100 BCE  99 CE
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Linguistic Family Mixe-Zoquean Confident Expert 100 BCE  99 CE
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Language Genus uncoded Undecided Expert 100 BCE  99 CE
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Language unknown Suspected Expert 100 BCE  99 CE
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Religion Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 20,000 people Confident 100 BCE 1 BCE
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Population of the Largest Settlement [40,000 to 60,000] people Confident 0 CE 99 CE
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Polity Territory - Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Polity Population - Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy [3 to 4] Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Religious Level 2 Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Military Level - Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Administrative Level - Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Professions Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Professional Priesthood Present Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Professional Military Officer Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Present Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Merit Promotion Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Examination System Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Law Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Judge Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Absent Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
Court Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Present Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Irrigation System Present Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Food Storage Site Absent Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System Present Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Port Absent Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Canal Absent Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Bridge Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Other Special Purpose Site Uncoded Undecided 100 BCE  99 CE
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Information / Writing System Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Script Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Nonwritten Record Present Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Mnemonic Device Present Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Sacred Text Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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History Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Fiction Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Calendar Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Information / Money Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Token Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Precious Metal Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Paper Currency Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Indigenous Coin Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Foreign Coin Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Article Present Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Information / Postal System Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Measurement System Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Present Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Present Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Moat Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Fortified Camp Absent Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Earth Rampart Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Ditch Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Complex Fortification Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Long Wall absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Military use of Metals Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Iron Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Copper Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Bronze Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Projectiles Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Sling Present Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Self Bow Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Javelin Absent Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Crossbow Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Composite Bow Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Atlatl Present Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Handheld weapons Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Sword Absent Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Spear Present Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Polearm Absent Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Dagger Present Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Battle Axe Absent Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Animals used in warfare Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Elephant Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Donkey Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Dog Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Camel Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Armor Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Shield Present Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Scaled Armor Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Limb Protection Absent Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Leather Cloth Absent Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Laminar Armor Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Helmet Absent Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Chainmail Absent Confident 100 BCE  99 CE
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Breastplate Absent Inferred 100 BCE  99 CE
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Naval technology Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Small Vessels Canoes Etc Unknown Suspected 100 BCE  99 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Absent Confident Disputed 100 BCE  99 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Absent Confident Disputed 100 BCE  99 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Absent Confident Disputed 100 BCE  99 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Absent Confident Disputed 100 BCE  99 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Absent Confident Disputed 100 BCE  99 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Absent Confident Disputed 100 BCE  99 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Absent Confident Disputed 100 BCE  99 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Absent Confident Disputed 100 BCE  99 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Absent Confident Disputed 100 BCE  99 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Absent Confident Disputed 100 BCE  99 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Absent Confident Disputed 100 BCE  99 CE
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Human Sacrifice Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_6)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions