Home Region:  West Africa (Africa)

Ashanti Empire

1701 CE 1895 CE
D G SC WF RG CC EQ 2020  gh_ashanti_emp / GhAshnL
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
1501 CE 1701 CE Akan - Pre-Ashanti (gh_akan)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:
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Displayed: 1800 CE

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  General Description   The gold-producing region between the Comoé and Volta rivers has been inhabited by Akan-speaking people since the 13th century CE. This region has seen the emergence of various autonomous states, including Bono, Djomo, Akwamu, Fante, and Asante. Later in its history, the founders of the Ga and Ewe states arrived from what is now Nigeria. [1] In 1471, Portuguese sailors reached this stretch of coast and quickly established trade with the coastal Akan states, exchanging European goods for gold. [1] Trade routes soon connected the coast to the Niger bend region, along which descendants of the former Bonda and Kumbu kingdoms founded the Akyerekyere and Akumu-Akoto kingdoms respectively. The Portuguese referred to this latter kingdom as the ’Acanes’, which is the source of the name Akan. [2]
In 1701, the Asante rebelled against the dominant Denkyira state and formed a confederacy of Akan states who accepted Asante rule. This confederacy began to conquer the surrounding polities, and by 1764 the Greater Asante controlled an area nearly the size of present-day Ghana. [2]
Europeans continued to be drawn to the Ghanaian coast in search of gold and, by the 19th century, the British were the strongest European power in the region. In 1827, British-led troops defeated an Asante army at Katammanso. [2] In 1831, the British and Asante signed a peace treaty that allowed trade in all ports, and by 1844 the British gained control over criminal matters in the areas around trade forts. By 1872, the British had complete control of the coast, and when they did not recognize Asante sovereignty, the Asante attacked. The British were victorious, and after another war in 1895, the Asante king and chiefs were exiled. The entire region was declared a British territory in 1901. [2]
Population and political organization
During the pre-Asante period, each Akan state consisted of a single kingdom ruled by an omanhene, which literally translates to ’state-chief’. [2] This king came from a royal clan, and was elected by various officials, most notably the ohemmaa (’queen-mother’), who was a senior woman of the clan. The king was a sacred person who could not be observed eating or drinking; nor could he be heard to speak or be spoken to. [2]
After 1701, political organization within the region became far more bureaucratic and specialized. Kumasi became the capital of the union of Asante states and the seat of the empire. Appointed officials began to replace those wielding hereditary authority, and a treasury partly operated by literate Muslims was created. [3] However, while bureaucrats ran many of the day-to-day operations of the empire, the authority of the king was still absolute. [4]
Population estimates are not available for the pre-Asante period. The population of the entire Asante union in 1874 is estimated at three million people. [5]

[1]: (Fage et al. 2017) Fage, John D., Ernest Amano Boateng, Donna J. Maier, and Oliver Davies. 2017. "Ghana." Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Ghana. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/XFKDKSW3.

[2]: (Gilbert, Lagacé and Skoggard 2000) Gilbert, Michelle, Robert O. Lagacé, and Ian Skoggard. 2000. "Culture Summary: Akan." eHRAF World Cultures. http://ehrafworldcultures.yale.edu/document?id=fe12-000. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ZJ844XUN.

[3]: (McLeod 1981) McLeod, M. D. 1981. The Asante. London: British Museum Publications. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/RS692TAZ.

[4]: (Arhin 1986, 165-66) Arhin, Kwame. 1986. "The Asante Praise Poems: The Ideology of Patrimonialism." Paideuma, no. 32: 163-97. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/87N692IT.

[5]: (Obeng 1996, 20) Obeng, J. Pashington. 1996. Asante Catholicism: Religious and Cultural Reproduction among the Akan of Ghana. Leiden: E. J. Brill. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/P8MFGRGQ.

General Variables
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)
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 Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp) was in:
 (1702 CE 1895 CE)   Ghanaian Coast
Home NGA: Ghanaian Coast
General Variables
Identity and Location Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 30 N Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Original Name Ashanti Empire Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Capital Kumasi Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Capital Kumase Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Alternative Name Ashante Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Alternative Name Asante Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Alternative Name Asanteman Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Alternative Name Asantemanso Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Temporal Bounds Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years [1800 CE ➜ 1824 CE] Confident
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Duration [1701 CE ➜ 1895 CE] Confident
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Political and Cultural Relations Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations none Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Supracultural Entity West Africa Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Succeeding Entity British Empire Gold Coast Colony Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 5,112,903 km2 Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Preceding Entity
1501 CE 1701 CE
Akan - Pre-Ashanti (gh_akan)   [continuity]  Confident
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Degree of Centralization confederated state Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Language Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Niger-Congo Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Linguistic Family Kwa Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Language Akan Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Language Twi Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Religion Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 13,500 people Confident Disputed 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement 22,500 people Confident Disputed 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Polity Territory 259,000 km2 Confident 1874 CE
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Polity Population 3,000,000 people Confident 1874 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 4 Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Religious Level 4 Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Military Level 6 Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Administrative Level 6 Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Professions Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Professional Priesthood Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Professional Military Officer Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Unknown Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Merit Promotion Unknown Suspected 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Examination System Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Law Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Judge Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Absent Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
Court Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Irrigation System Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Food Storage Site Present Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Port Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Canal Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Bridge Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Information / Writing System Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Script Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Nonwritten Record Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Mnemonic Device Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Sacred Text Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Religious Literature Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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History Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Fiction Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Calendar Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Information / Money Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Token Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Precious Metal Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Paper Currency Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Indigenous Coin Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Foreign Coin Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Article Present Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Information / Postal System Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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General Postal Service Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Courier Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Information / Measurement System Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Absent Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Absent Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Absent Confident 1701 CE 1820 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Present Confident 1821 CE 1874 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Absent Confident 1875 CE 1897 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Unknown Suspected 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Moat Absent Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Fortified Camp Absent Confident 1701 CE 1820 CE
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Fortified Camp Present Confident 1821 CE 1874 CE
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Fortified Camp Absent Confident 1875 CE 1897 CE
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Earth Rampart Absent Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Ditch Absent Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Complex Fortification Unknown Suspected 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Long Wall absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Military use of Metals Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Iron Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Copper Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Bronze Absent Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Projectiles Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Sling Unknown Suspected 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Self Bow Present Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Javelin Present Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Handheld Firearm Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Crossbow Present Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Composite Bow Unknown Suspected 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Atlatl Absent Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Handheld weapons Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Sword Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Spear Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Polearm Absent Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Dagger Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Battle Axe Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Animals used in warfare Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Elephant Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Donkey Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Dog Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Camel Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Armor Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Shield Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Scaled Armor Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Limb Protection Unknown Suspected 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Leather Cloth Present Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Laminar Armor Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Helmet Present Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Chainmail Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Breastplate Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Naval technology Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Absent Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Absent Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Absent Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Present Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Present Inferred 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Present Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Absent Confident 1701 CE  1895 CE
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Human Sacrifice Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Instability Data
Power Transitions