Home Region:  Afghanistan (Central and Northern Eurasia)

Hephthalite Empire

408 CE 561 CE
D G SC WF EQ 2020  af_hephthalite_emp / AfHepht
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
[elite migration; Sassanid Empire I] [elite replacement]   Update here

Succeeding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.

Displayed: 509 CE

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  General Description   The Hepthalites were one group of a series of nomadic tribal confederations that are sometimes referred to as the White Huns. The evidence seems to indicate that they were a second wave of Hunnish migration. [1] Despite the name, some scholars think the White Huns were in fact not a Turkic people, but rather the easternmost group of Iranian nomads. [2]
At their peak territorial coverage the Hephthalite lands may have enclosed 26 million people but most subjects likely had a great deal of autonomy. As a nomadic confederation, the Hepthalites may not have possessed a central administration, although evidence indicates at least the adoption of local administrations for the purposes of exacting tribute. [3] During the peak of their power, they seem to have become increasingly sedentary, and this may have increased the degree of centralization. Coins show Hephthalites practiced skull deformation [4] which may provide indirect evidence for strong social hierarchy and status competition.
Commentators at the time differed in their opinions as to what the structure of the group was and to what degree they differed from the other nomadic peoples of the area. The Byzantian commentator Procopius of Caesarea stressed that, ’They are not nomadic like the other Hunnish peoples, but have long since settled on fertile land.’ He further explained that unlike the other peoples of central asia, the Hepthalites were,’ruled by one king and possess a legal state structure, observing justice among themselves and with their neighbours in no lesser measure than the Byzantines and Persians.’ [1]

[1]: http://en.unesco.org/silkroad/sites/silkroad/files/knowledgebankarticle/vol_III%20silk%20road_the%20hephthalite%20empire%20BIS.pdf p. 140

[2]: Docherty, Paddy. The Khyber Pass: a history of empire and invasion. Union Square Press, 2008. p. 105

[3]: encyclopedia iranica vol. XII, HAREM I - ILLUMINATIONISM, 2004. Fasc. 2, pp. 198-201

[4]: (West 2009, 276) West, B A. 2009. Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania. Infobase Publishing.

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 Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp) was in:
 (473 CE 496 CE)   Sogdiana
 (496 CE 531 CE)   Sogdiana     Kachi Plain
 (531 CE 563 CE)   Sogdiana
Home NGA: Sogdiana
General Variables
Identity and Location Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 42 N Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Original Name Hepthalite Empire Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Capital Balkh Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Capital Pendjikent Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Capital Sakala Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name Hepthalite Huns Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name Ye-Ta Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name Cao Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name Ephthalites Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name Hayathelaites Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name Hephtal Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name He-ta Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name Hoa Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name Hoa-Tun Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name Hunas Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name Iranian Huns Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name the people of Hua Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name White Huns Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name Yeda Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name Ye-tai Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternative Name Ye-ti-i-li-do Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Temporal Bounds Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years [509 CE ➜ 522 CE] Confident
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Duration [408 CE ➜ 561 CE] Confident
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Political and Cultural Relations Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations af_hephthalite_emp alliance with ir_sassanid_emp_1 Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Supracultural Entity Steppe nomads Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Succeeding Entity First Turk Khaganate Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction [7,500,000 to 8,000,000] km2 Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity elite migration Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Preceding Entity
CE
elite migration; Sassanid Empire I [elite replacement]    Update here
Confident
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Degree of Centralization nominal Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Degree of Centralization confederated state Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Language Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Indo-European Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Language Bactrian Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Religion Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Religion Genus Hephthalite Religions Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Alternate Religion Uncoded Undecided 408 CE  561 CE
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement - Undecided 408 CE  561 CE
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Polity Territory 1,000,000 km2 Confident 450 CE
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Polity Territory [2,750,000 to 3,000,000] km2 Confident 500 CE
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Polity Population 26,500,000 people Confident 500 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy [2 to 3] Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Religious Level 1 Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Military Level 4 Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Administrative Level [4 to 5] Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Professions Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Professional Priesthood Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Professional Military Officer Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Merit Promotion Absent Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Present Confident Disputed 408 CE  561 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Absent Confident Disputed 408 CE  561 CE
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Examination System Absent Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Law Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Uncoded Undecided 408 CE  561 CE
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Judge Uncoded Undecided 408 CE  561 CE
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Uncoded Undecided 408 CE  561 CE
Court Uncoded Undecided 408 CE  561 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Irrigation System Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Food Storage Site Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System Unknown Suspected 408 CE  561 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Port Unknown Suspected 408 CE  561 CE
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Canal Unknown Suspected 408 CE  561 CE
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Bridge Unknown Suspected 408 CE  561 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Unknown Suspected 408 CE  561 CE
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Information / Writing System Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Script Absent Confident 408 CE 487 CE
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Script Present Confident 488 CE 561 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Mnemonic Device Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Sacred Text Absent Confident 408 CE 487 CE
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Sacred Text Present Confident 488 CE 561 CE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 408 CE 487 CE
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Religious Literature Present Confident 488 CE 561 CE
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Practical Literature Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Philosophy Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 408 CE 487 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Present Confident 488 CE 561 CE
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History Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Fiction Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Calendar Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Information / Money Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Token Uncoded Undecided 408 CE  561 CE
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Precious Metal Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Paper Currency Absent Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Indigenous Coin Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Foreign Coin Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Article Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Information / Postal System Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Uncoded Undecided 408 CE  561 CE
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General Postal Service Uncoded Undecided 408 CE  561 CE
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Courier Unknown Suspected 408 CE  561 CE
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Information / Measurement System Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Unknown Suspected 408 CE  561 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Moat Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Fortified Camp Unknown Suspected 408 CE  561 CE
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Earth Rampart Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Ditch Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Complex Fortification Unknown Suspected 408 CE  561 CE
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Military use of Metals Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Iron Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Copper Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Bronze Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Projectiles Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Sling Absent Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Self Bow Absent Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Javelin Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Crossbow Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Composite Bow Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Atlatl Absent Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Handheld weapons Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Sword Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Spear Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Polearm Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Dagger Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Battle Axe Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Animals used in warfare Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Elephant Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Donkey Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 408 CE  561 CE
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Camel Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Armor Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Shield Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Scaled Armor Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Plate Armor Unknown Suspected 408 CE  561 CE
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Limb Protection Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Leather Cloth Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Laminar Armor Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Helmet Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Chainmail Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Breastplate Present Inferred 408 CE  561 CE
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Naval technology Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Absent Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Present Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent Confident 408 CE  561 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Human Sacrifice Hephthalite Empire (af_hephthalite_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions