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.
none |
West Africa |
British Empire Gold Coast Colony |
5,112,903 km2 |
continuity |
Preceding: Akan - Pre-Ashanti (gh_akan) [continuity] |
confederated state |
inferred Absent |
inferred Absent |
Absent | 1701 CE 1820 CE |
Present | 1821 CE 1874 CE |
Absent | 1875 CE 1897 CE |
Unknown |
Absent |
inferred Absent |
Absent | 1701 CE 1820 CE |
Present | 1821 CE 1874 CE |
Absent | 1875 CE 1897 CE |
inferred Absent |
inferred Absent |
Unknown |
absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Unknown |
inferred Present |
inferred Present |
Present |
inferred Absent |
inferred Present |
Unknown |
inferred Absent |
Year Range | Ashanti Empire (gh_ashanti_emp) was in: |
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(1702 CE 1895 CE) | Ghanaian Coast |
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More |
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Mines or Quarry | Present | Confident | 1701 CE 1895 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More |
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More |
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