Home Region:  Northern Europe (Europe)

Icelandic Commonwealth

930 CE 1262 CE
EQ 2020  is_icelandic_commonwealth / IsCommw
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
[continuity; Early Settlers] [continuity]   Update here

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
1262 CE 1396 CE Kingdom of Norway II (no_norway_k_2)    [continuity]

Displayed: 936 CE

93697310101048108511221159119712341271


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  General Description   Settlers arrived in Iceland in significant numbers starting from the late 9th century CE, mostly from Norway and the Norse colonies in Scotland and Ireland, bringing with them many people indigenous to the latter. However, language and culture were strongly Norse.
The Icelandic Commonwealth (Icel. íslenska þjóðveldið), occasionally called ’free state’ or ’republic’ (not to be confused with the modern republic) was established in 930 CE according to 12th-century historical documents. It was the first polity to cover the whole of Iceland and the smaller surrounding islands. Its territory did not change during its lifetime.
Icelandic society during the Commonwealth was strongly rural and never developed significant urbanization. However, centres of power, wealth and learning gradually emerged in the two bishoprics, monasteries and the homes of the greatest secular lords.
Iceland was mostly pagan in the early period but Christianity was accepted in 1000 and the first bishopric established in 1056. This not only brought Iceland closer to Europe but also introduced European culture and learning, and from the early 12th century the Icelanders started to produce significant works of literature in the vernacular but written in the Latin alphabet (sagas). The sagas are usually (at least recently) considered the greatest achievement of the Commonwealth and they flourished in the 13th century (both before and after 1262). However, this was also a time of war and loss of independence, making it difficult to assign it a ’peak’ status.
Population and political organization
There are no reliable figures for the total population in Iceland during this period. Common estimates range from 5,000-20,000 in 930 to 40,000-70,000 at the end. The only statistic that is somewhat reliable states that the number of tax-paying farmers around 1100 AD was 4,560. The relationship between this number and the whole population is uncertain.
The Commonwealth functioned as a federation of smaller political units with no fixed borders, the godords/chieftaincies (goðorð), with alliances between households led by a chieftain (goði or goðorðsmaður). Laws were common to all and there was a common judiciary system. In Lögrétta leaders of all the godords met once a year to decide on laws, forming the most important part of the proceedings of the Alþingi (’general assembly’), held in summer at Thingvellir. However, there was no common executive branch of government, leaving the godords quite autonomous.
The godords started to congeal into territorial lordships with fixed borders in the 12th century (the first one perhaps in the late 11th century), but this process was most rapid around 1200 CE and by 1220 they covered most of Iceland. These lordships functioned as practically independent tiny polities (or ’proto-states’) and proceeded to fight each other for supremacy. The ensuing civil wars (Sturlungaöld) ended in 1262 when the Icelanders swore allegiance to the Norwegian crown.
This description was provided by Axel Kristinsson and edited by Jenny Reddish.

General Variables
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
1 930 CE 1050 CE
2 1051 CE 1200 CE
3 1201 CE 1262 CE
1 930 CE 1055 CE
2 1056 CE 1262 CE
2 930 CE 1200 CE
3 1201 CE 1262 CE
4
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Absent 930 CE 1100 CE
Present 1101 CE 1262 CE
Absent 930 CE 1000 CE
Present 1001 CE 1262 CE
Absent 930 CE 1000 CE
inferred Present 1001 CE 1100 CE
Present 1101 CE 1262 CE
Absent 930 CE 1100 CE
inferred Present 1101 CE 1262 CE
Absent 930 CE 1100 CE
Present 1101 CE 1262 CE
Absent 930 CE 1000 CE
Present 1001 CE 1262 CE
Absent 930 CE 1100 CE
Present 1101 CE 1262 CE
Absent 930 CE 1100 CE
Present 1101 CE 1262 CE
inferred Absent 930 CE 1000 CE
Present 1001 CE 1262 CE
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 Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth) was in:
 (930 CE 1261 CE)   Iceland
Home NGA: Iceland
General Variables
Identity and Location Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 27 W Confident Expert 930 CE  1262 CE
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Original Name Icelandic Commonwealth Confident Expert 930 CE  1262 CE
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Capital None (Absent Capital) Confident Expert 930 CE  1262 CE
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Alternative Name Icelandic Free State Confident Expert 930 CE  1262 CE
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Temporal Bounds Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
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Duration [930 CE ➜ 1262 CE] Confident Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations none Confident Expert 930 CE  1262 CE
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Supracultural Entity Norden Confident Expert 930 CE  1262 CE
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Supracultural Entity Scandinavia Confident Expert 930 CE  1262 CE
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Supracultural Entity Latin Christendom Confident Expert 930 CE  1262 CE
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Succeeding Entity Kingdom of Norway Confident Expert 930 CE  1262 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 3,400,000 km2 Confident Expert 930 CE 1050 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 5,600,000 km2 Confident Expert 1051 CE 1262 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Confident Expert 930 CE  1262 CE
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Succeeding Entity
1262 CE 1396 CE
Kingdom of Norway II (no_norway_k_2)   [continuity]  Confident Expert
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Preceding Entity
CE
continuity; Early Settlers [continuity]    Update here
Confident Expert
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Degree of Centralization nominal Confident Expert 930 CE  1262 CE
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Language Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Germanic Confident Expert 930 CE  1262 CE
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Language Old Norse Confident Expert 930 CE  1262 CE
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Religion Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement [200 to 300] people Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Polity Territory 103,000 km2 Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Polity Population [5,000 to 20,000] people Confident 930 CE
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Polity Population 30,000 people Confident 1100 CE
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Polity Population [30,000 to 50,000] people Confident 1200 CE
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Polity Population [50,000 to 60,000] people Confident 1262 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 1 Confident 930 CE 1050 CE
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Settlement Hierarchy 2 Confident 1051 CE 1200 CE
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Settlement Hierarchy 3 Confident 1201 CE 1262 CE
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Religious Level 1 Confident 930 CE 1055 CE
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Religious Level 2 Confident 1056 CE 1262 CE
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Military Level 2 Confident 930 CE 1200 CE
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Military Level 3 Confident 1201 CE 1262 CE
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Administrative Level 4 Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Professions Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Absent Inferred 930 CE 1200 CE
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Professional Soldier Present Confident 1201 CE 1262 CE
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Professional Priesthood Absent Confident 930 CE 1055 CE
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Professional Priesthood Present Confident 1056 CE 1262 CE
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Professional Military Officer Absent Confident 930 CE 1200 CE
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Professional Military Officer Present Confident 1201 CE 1262 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Law Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Judge Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
Court Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Irrigation System Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Food Storage Site Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Port Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Canal Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Bridge Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Information / Writing System Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent Confident 930 CE 1100 CE
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Written Record Present Confident 1101 CE 1262 CE
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Script Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Nonwritten Record Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Mnemonic Device Unknown Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Absent Confident 930 CE 1100 CE
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Scientific Literature Present Confident 1101 CE 1262 CE
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Sacred Text Absent Confident 930 CE 1000 CE
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Sacred Text Present Confident 1001 CE 1262 CE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 930 CE 1000 CE
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Religious Literature Present Inferred 1001 CE 1100 CE
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Religious Literature Present Confident 1101 CE 1262 CE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 930 CE 1100 CE
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Practical Literature Present Inferred 1101 CE 1262 CE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 930 CE 1100 CE
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Philosophy Present Confident 1101 CE 1262 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 930 CE 1000 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Present Confident 1001 CE 1262 CE
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History Absent Confident 930 CE 1100 CE
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History Present Confident 1101 CE 1262 CE
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Fiction Absent Confident 930 CE 1100 CE
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Fiction Present Confident 1101 CE 1262 CE
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Calendar Absent Inferred 930 CE 1000 CE
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Calendar Present Confident 1001 CE 1262 CE
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Information / Money Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Token Absent Inferred 930 CE  1262 CE
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Precious Metal Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Paper Currency Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Indigenous Coin Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Foreign Coin Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Article Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Information / Postal System Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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General Postal Service Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Courier Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Information / Measurement System Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Absent Inferred 930 CE  1262 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Present Inferred 930 CE  1262 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Moat Unknown Suspected 930 CE  1262 CE
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Fortified Camp Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Earth Rampart Absent Inferred 930 CE  1262 CE
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Ditch Unknown Suspected 930 CE  1262 CE
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Complex Fortification Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Long Wall absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Military use of Metals Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Unknown Suspected 930 CE  1262 CE
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Iron Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Projectiles Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Sling Present Inferred 930 CE  1262 CE
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Self Bow Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Javelin Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Crossbow Absent Confident 930 CE 1100 CE
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Crossbow Present Confident 1101 CE 1262 CE
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Composite Bow Present Inferred 930 CE  1262 CE
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Atlatl Absent Inferred 930 CE  1262 CE
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Handheld weapons Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Unknown Suspected 930 CE  1262 CE
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Sword Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Spear Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Polearm Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Dagger Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Battle Axe Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Animals used in warfare Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Elephant Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Donkey Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 930 CE  1262 CE
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Camel Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Armor Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Unknown Suspected 930 CE  1262 CE
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Shield Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Scaled Armor Present Inferred 930 CE  1262 CE
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Plate Armor Absent Inferred 930 CE  1262 CE
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Limb Protection Unknown Suspected 930 CE  1262 CE
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Leather Cloth Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Laminar Armor Unknown Suspected 930 CE  1262 CE
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Helmet Present Inferred 930 CE  1262 CE
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Chainmail Present Inferred 930 CE 1200 CE
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Chainmail Present Confident 1201 CE 1262 CE
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Breastplate Unknown Suspected 930 CE  1262 CE
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Naval technology Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Absent Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent Inferred 930 CE  1262 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Absent Confident 930 CE 1000 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Present Confident 1001 CE 1262 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Absent Confident 930 CE 1000 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Present Confident 1001 CE 1262 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Present Confident 930 CE  1262 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Absent Confident 930 CE 1000 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Present Confident 1001 CE 1262 CE
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Human Sacrifice Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Instability Data
Power Transitions