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state’ or ’republic’ (not to be confused with the modern republic) was established in 930 CE according to 12th-century historical documents.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.
none |
Norden | |
Scandinavia | |
Latin Christendom |
Kingdom of Norway |
3,400,000 km2 | 930 CE 1050 CE |
5,600,000 km2 | 1051 CE 1262 CE |
continuity |
Succeeding: Kingdom of Norway II (no_norway_k_2) [continuity] | |
UNCLEAR: [continuity] |
nominal |
[200 to 300] people |
103,000 km2 |
[5,000 to 20,000] people | 930 CE |
30,000 people | 1100 CE |
[30,000 to 50,000] people | 1200 CE |
[50,000 to 60,000] people | 1262 CE |
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 |
inferred Absent | 930 CE 1200 CE |
Present | 1201 CE 1262 CE |
Absent | 930 CE 1055 CE |
Present | 1056 CE 1262 CE |
Absent | 930 CE 1200 CE |
Present | 1201 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 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 |
inferred Absent |
Present |
Absent |
inferred Present |
Absent |
Unknown |
Absent |
inferred Absent |
Unknown |
Absent |
absent |
Absent |
Absent |
inferred Present |
Present |
Present |
Absent |
Absent |
Absent | 930 CE 1100 CE |
Present | 1101 CE 1262 CE |
inferred Present |
inferred Absent |
Unknown |
Present |
inferred Present |
inferred Absent |
Unknown |
Present |
Unknown |
inferred Present |
inferred Present | 930 CE 1200 CE |
Present | 1201 CE 1262 CE |
Unknown |
Year Range | Icelandic Commonwealth (is_icelandic_commonwealth) was in: |
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(930 CE 1261 CE) | Iceland |
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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
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Kingdom of Norway II (no_norway_k_2) [continuity] | Confident Expert | |||||||||
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Preceding Entity
CE
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continuity; Early Settlers [continuity] Update here
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Degree of Centralization | nominal | Confident Expert | 930 CE 1262 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 | [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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Mines or Quarry | Absent | Confident | 930 CE 1262 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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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 | 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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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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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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More |
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