Home Region:  Mesopotamia (Southwest Asia)

Abbasid Caliphate I

750 CE 946 CE
EQ 2020  iq_abbasid_cal_1 / IqAbbs1
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
661 CE 750 CE Umayyad Caliphate (sy_umayyad_cal)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
932 CE 1062 CE Buyid Confederation (ir_buyid_confederation)    [elite replacement]
819 CE 999 CE Samanid Empire (uz_samanid_emp)    [continuity]
822 CE 1037 CE Yemen Ziyadid Dynasty (ye_ziyad_dyn)    [None]
909 CE 1171 CE Fatimid Caliphate (tn_fatimid_cal)    [elite replacement]
1171 CE 1250 CE Ayyubid Sultanate (eg_ayyubid_sultanate)    [continuity]

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  General Description  
In 750 CE, following a revolt, Abbasid rulers took power from the Umayyad Dynasty under Abu al-’Abbas al-Saffah. To secure his rule, Abu al-’Abbass al-Saffah sought to destroy the male line descending from Fatima and Ali, [1] and had about 300 members of the Umayyad family killed. [2] The last 80 Umayyads were tricked into attending a banquet with their hosts in Damascus and massacred there. [3] (One twenty-year-old prince, Abd al-Rahman, famously managed to escape this fate: he dodged assassins all the way to Spain, where he founded an Umayyad Emirate). The First Abbasid Caliphate Period ended in 946 CE when the Daylamite Buyids from northwestern Iran reduced the caliph to a nominal figurehead. Ironically, given the bloody manner in which the dynasty began, the final Abbasid caliph was rolled up in his own carpet and trampled to death by Mongol horsemen in 1258 CE. [4] The zenith of the Abbasid period is considered to be the reign of Harun al Rashid (763-809 CE), whose rule is described in The Thousand and One Nights. [5]
Population and political organization
The capital of the Abbasid Caliphate eventually settled at Baghdad, but in the earlier years the central administration was run from Kufa (750-762 CE), Al-Raqqah (796-809 CE), Merv (810-819 CE), [6] and Samarra (836-870 CE). [7] [8] The Abbasid caliph, spiritual leader of the Sunni Muslim world and commander-in-chief of its army, left the day-to-day administration to his vizier and heads of the diwans in the complex bureaucracy.
The departments were divided into three main areas of responsibility: the chancery (diwan-al-rasa’il); tax collection (diwan al-kharif); and army administration (diwan al-jaysh). [9] Professional officials and soldiers were paid both in cash and in kind. [10] The task of organizing the ’collection and payment of revenues’ fell to the Abbasid military. [11] However, while it was a professional institution, it lacked a rigid hierarchy or a well-defined officer class. [11] Below the caliph himself, the top military rulers were the provincial governors in Iraq, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Syria, Western Iran and Khuzistan. In Iraq and Egypt, local government was divided into a hierarchy of districts, with subdivisions (kura, tassuj and rustaq) used for assessing taxation, which was passed to the governor. [12] Within the Abbasid Caliphate there were also relatively independent vassals, who were required to pay tribute to the central government at Baghdad. [12] The law code was based largely on sharia law and the ijma’ (legal opinions of religious scholars). [13]
The Abbasid state provided centres of medical care, built ornate public markets, often with drinking fountains, and furnished welfare for the poor. [14] As paper technology diffused from China, libraries became a common fixture in the cities of the caliphate. In Baghdad, the Khizanat al-Hikma, or ’treasury of wisdom’, became a refuge for scholars, providing access to a large collection as well as free lodgings and board. [15] Each important city included an official called the saheb al-sorta, who was responsible for maintaining public order, and the amir al-suq, in charge of regulating the bazaar. [16]
The territory possessed by the caliphate was lost in dramatic fashion, shrinking from 11.1 million square kilometres in 750 CE, to 4.6 million around 850 CE, to just 1 million square kilometres half a century later as Egypt, Afghanistan and Central Asia were all lost. [17] Nevertheless, in 900 CE the core region of Abbasid control in the Middle East still had a substantial population of about 10 million people. [18] Over 300,000 (or maybe 900,000) of these lived in Baghdad, [17] which by this date had probably outgrown Byzantine Constantinople.

[1]: (Zayzafoon 2005, 139) Lamia Ben Youssef Zayzafoon. 2005. The Production of the Muslim Woman: Negotiating Text, History, and Ideology. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

[2]: (Uttridge and Spilling, eds. 2014, 186) S. Uttridge and M. Spilling, eds. 2014. The Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare. London: Amber Books.

[3]: (Schwartzwald 2015, 24) Jack L. Schwartzwald. 2016. The Collapse and Recovery of Europe, AD 476-1648. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company.

[4]: (Kennedy 2001, 164) Hugh N. Kennedy. 2001. The Armies of the Caliphs: Military and Society in the Early Islamic State. London: Routledge.

[5]: (Esposito, ed. 2003, 699) John L. Esposito, ed. 2003. The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[6]: (Starr 2013, xxxii) S. Frederick Starr. 2013. Lost Enlightenment: Central Asia’s Golden Age from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

[7]: (Lapidus 2002, 53-54) Ira M. Lapidus. 2002. A History of Islamic Societies. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[8]: (Lapidus 2012, 106) Ira M. Lapidus. 2012. Islamic Societies to the Nineteenth Century: A Global History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[9]: (Kennedy 2001, 60-66) Hugh N. Kennedy. 2001. The Armies of the Caliphs: Military and Society in the Early Islamic State. London: Routledge.

[10]: (Lapidus 2012, 250) Ira M. Lapidus. 2012. Islamic Societies to the Nineteenth Century: A Global History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[11]: (Kennedy 2001, 21) Hugh N. Kennedy. 2001. The Armies of the Caliphs: Military and Society in the Early Islamic State. London: Routledge.

[12]: (Lapidus 2002, 61) Ira M. Lapidus. 2002. A History of Islamic Societies. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[13]: (Zubaida 2005, 74-84) Sami Zubaida. 2005. Law and Power in the Islamic World. London: I. B. Tauris.

[14]: (Pickard 2013, 431) John Pickard. 2013. Behind the Myths: The Foundations of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse.

[15]: (Bennison 2009, 180) Amira K. Bennison. 2009. The Great Caliphs: The Golden Age of the Abbasid Empire. London: I. B. Tauris.

[16]: (Lambton 2011) Ann K. S. Lambton. 2011. ’Cities iii: Administration and Social Organization’, in Encyclopedia Iranica V/6, 607-23; an updated version is available online at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/cities-iii (accessed 2 April 2017).

[17]: Christopher Chase-Dunn 2001, personal communication.

[18]: (Blankinship 1994, 37-38) Khalid Y. Blankinship. 1994. The End of the Jihad State: The Reign of Hisham Ibn ’Abd Al-Malik and the Collapse of the Umayyads. Albany, NY: SUNY Press.

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1) was in:
 (750 CE 751 CE) Upper Egypt   /   Southern Mesopotamia   /   Susiana   /   Sogdiana   /   Kachi Plain
 (751 CE 861 CE) Upper Egypt   /   Southern Mesopotamia   /   Susiana   /   Yemeni Coastal Plain   /   Sogdiana   /   Kachi Plain
 (861 CE 867 CE) Upper Egypt   /   Southern Mesopotamia   /   Susiana   /   Yemeni Coastal Plain   /   Sogdiana
 (867 CE 868 CE) Southern Mesopotamia   /   Susiana   /   Yemeni Coastal Plain   /   Sogdiana
 (868 CE 875 CE) Southern Mesopotamia   /   Susiana   /   Sogdiana
 (875 CE 946 CE) Southern Mesopotamia   /   Susiana
Home NGA: Southern Mesopotamia

General Variables
Identity and Location Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 38 S 750 CE  946 CE
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Original Name Abbasid Caliphate I 750 CE  946 CE
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Capital 750 CE  946 CE
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Capital 750 CE  946 CE
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Capital 750 CE  946 CE
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Capital 750 CE  946 CE
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Capital 750 CE  946 CE
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Capital 750 CE  946 CE
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Alternative Name 750 CE  946 CE
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Alternative Name 750 CE  946 CE
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Alternative Name 750 CE  946 CE
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Temporal Bounds Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
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Peak Years
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations none 750 CE  946 CE
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Suprapolity Relations 822 CE  1037 CE
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Supracultural Entity 750 CE  946 CE
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Succeeding Entity Buyid Confederation 750 CE  946 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 750 CE  946 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity 750 CE  946 CE
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Preceding Entity
661 CE 750 CE
Umayyad Caliphate (sy_umayyad_cal)   [continuity] 
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Succeeding Entity
932 CE 1062 CE
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Succeeding Entity
819 CE 999 CE
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Succeeding Entity
822 CE 1037 CE
Yemen Ziyadid Dynasty (ye_ziyad_dyn)   [None] 
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Succeeding Entity
868 CE 969 CE
Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)   [continuity] 
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Succeeding Entity
909 CE 1171 CE
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Succeeding Entity
1171 CE 1250 CE
Ayyubid Sultanate (eg_ayyubid_sultanate)   [continuity]  Expert
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Degree of Centralization 750 CE  946 CE
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Degree of Centralization 750 CE  946 CE
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Language Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
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Linguistic Family Afro-Asiatic 750 CE  946 CE
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Language 750 CE  946 CE
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Religion Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
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Religion Genus Islam 750 CE  946 CE
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Religion Family Sunni 750 CE  946 CE
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Religion Hanafi 750 CE  946 CE
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Alternate Religion Genus Islam 750 CE  946 CE
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Alternate Religion Family Shia 750 CE  946 CE
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Alternate Religion Uncoded Undecided 750 CE  946 CE
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 800 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement 900 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement 900 CE
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Polity Territory 800 CE
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Polity Territory 900 CE
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Polity Population 800 CE
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Polity Population 900 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 750 CE  946 CE
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Religious Level 750 CE  946 CE
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Military Level 750 CE  946 CE
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Administrative Level 750 CE  946 CE
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Professions Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier 750 CE  946 CE
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Professional Priesthood 750 CE  946 CE
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Professional Military Officer Present 750 CE  946 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 750 CE  946 CE
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Merit Promotion 750 CE  946 CE
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Merit Promotion 750 CE  946 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 750 CE  946 CE
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Examination System 750 CE  946 CE
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Law Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer 750 CE  946 CE
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Judge 750 CE  946 CE
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Judge 750 CE  946 CE
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750 CE  946 CE
Court 750 CE  946 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Market 750 CE  946 CE
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Irrigation System 750 CE  946 CE
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Food Storage Site 750 CE  946 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System 750 CE  946 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road 750 CE  946 CE
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Port 750 CE  946 CE
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Canal 750 CE  946 CE
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Bridge 750 CE  946 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present Inferred 750 CE  946 CE
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Information / Writing System Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record 750 CE  946 CE
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Script 750 CE  946 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing 750 CE  946 CE
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Nonwritten Record 750 CE  946 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent 750 CE  946 CE
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Mnemonic Device 750 CE  946 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature 750 CE  946 CE
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Sacred Text 750 CE  946 CE
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Religious Literature 750 CE  946 CE
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Practical Literature 750 CE  946 CE
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Philosophy 750 CE  946 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification 750 CE  946 CE
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History 750 CE  946 CE
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Fiction 750 CE  946 CE
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Calendar 750 CE  946 CE
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Information / Money Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Token Unknown Suspected 750 CE  946 CE
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Precious Metal Present Inferred 750 CE  946 CE
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Paper Currency Absent 750 CE  946 CE
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Indigenous Coin 750 CE  946 CE
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Foreign Coin 750 CE  946 CE
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Article Present 750 CE  946 CE
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Information / Postal System Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station 750 CE  946 CE
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General Postal Service 750 CE  946 CE
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Courier 750 CE  946 CE
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Information / Measurement System Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade 750 CE  946 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Unknown Suspected 750 CE  946 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared 750 CE  946 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Present 750 CE  946 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent 750 CE  946 CE
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Moat 750 CE  946 CE
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Fortified Camp Unknown Suspected 750 CE  946 CE
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Earth Rampart 750 CE  946 CE
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Ditch 750 CE  946 CE
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Complex Fortification 750 CE  946 CE
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Military use of Metals Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel 750 CE  946 CE
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Iron 750 CE  946 CE
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Copper Absent Inferred 750 CE  946 CE
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Bronze Absent Inferred 750 CE  946 CE
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Projectiles Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
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Tension Siege Engine 750 CE  946 CE
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Sling Siege Engine 750 CE  946 CE
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Sling 750 CE  946 CE
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Self Bow 750 CE  946 CE
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Javelin 750 CE  946 CE
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Handheld Firearm 750 CE  946 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 750 CE  946 CE
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Crossbow 750 CE  946 CE
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Composite Bow 750 CE  946 CE
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Atlatl 750 CE  946 CE
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Handheld weapons Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 750 CE  946 CE
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Sword 750 CE  946 CE
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Spear 750 CE  946 CE
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Polearm 750 CE  946 CE
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Dagger 750 CE  946 CE
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Animals used in warfare Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
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Horse 750 CE  946 CE
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Elephant 750 CE  946 CE
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Donkey 750 CE  946 CE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 750 CE  946 CE
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Camel 750 CE  946 CE
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Armor Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc 750 CE  946 CE
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Shield 750 CE  946 CE
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Scaled Armor 750 CE  946 CE
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Plate Armor 750 CE  946 CE
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Limb Protection 750 CE  946 CE
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Leather Cloth 750 CE  946 CE
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Laminar Armor 750 CE  946 CE
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Helmet 750 CE  946 CE
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Chainmail 750 CE  946 CE
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Breastplate 750 CE  946 CE
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Naval technology Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel 750 CE  946 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc 750 CE  946 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service 750 CE  946 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 750 CE  946 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 750 CE  946 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 750 CE  946 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 750 CE  946 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 750 CE  946 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Present 750 CE  946 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 750 CE  946 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 750 CE  946 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Present 750 CE  946 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 750 CE  946 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 750 CE  946 CE
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Human Sacrifice Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)
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Instability Data
Power Transitions