Home Region:  Northeast Asia (East Asia)

Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama

1568 CE 1603 CE
EQ 2020  jp_azuchi_momoyama / JpAzMom
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
[continuity; Japan - Sengoku Jidai] [continuity]   Update here

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
1603 CE 1868 CE Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)    [continuity]

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  General Description  
The Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1603 CE), also known as the Shokuho period, is named for the castles built by the warrior rulers Oda Nobunaga (Azuchi) and Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Momoyama). [1] The Azuchi-Momoyama period marked the beginning of a process of national unification after the disorder of the Warring States period. [2] The period starts with the rise to power of the military commander and regional lord Oda Nobunaga. With his defeat of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki, he set about bringing the lesser daimyō (lords) under the control of a single military command. [3] [1] In 1568 Nobunaga marched on, and occupied, the imperial capital of Kyoto, gaining effective control of the government. [1]
After the death of Nobunaga in 1582, his general Toyotomi Hideyoshi continued this process, gaining control of most of Japan by 1590 CE. In an attempt to expand Japan’s territory overseas, Hideyoshi led two unsuccessful invasions of Korea in 1592 and 1597. [1] Hideyoshi’s death in 1598, leaving a council of lords in charge until his young son came of age, sparked off a succession struggle. The general Tokugawa Ieyasu, a former ally of Oda Nobunaga, emerged victorious from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, cementing his power. After his victory, he was appointed shogun in 1603, founding the Tokugawa Shogunate which would dominate Japan for the next 200 years. [4]
Population and political organization
While the generals Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu consolidated power into a military confederation, the emperor remained the nominal head of state throughout the period. [5] Although the older social order remained largely intact, with peasants subservient to feudal lords, Oda Nobunaga’s policy of annexing lands and awarding them to his loyal retainers reshaped the power relations between lords and enabled the consolidation of his own power. [3] Toyotomi Hideyoshi was instrumental in creating a strict and finely graded social hierarchy of warriors, farmers, artisans, and merchants, a structure that would be institutionalized in the succeeding Tokugawa period. [2]
Population estimates for the area under Azuchi-Momoyama control range from roughly 17 million in 1500 CE to 22 million in 1600 CE. [6] The imperial capital, Kyoto, remained the largest settlement with approximately 300,000 inhabitants. [7]

[1]: (Deal 2005, 11) William E. Deal. 2005. Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[2]: (Deal 2005, 12) William E. Deal. 2005. Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[3]: (Hall 2008, 1) John Whitney Hall. 2008. ’Introduction’, in The Cambridge History of Japan, Vol. 4: Early Modern Japan, edited by Kozo Yamamura, 1-39. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[4]: (Deal 2005, 12, 17) William E. Deal. 2005. Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[5]: (Deal 2005, 3) William E. Deal. 2005. Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[6]: (McEvedy and Jones 1978, 181) Colin McEvedy and Richard Jones. 1978. Atlas of World Population History. London: Penguin Books.

[7]: (Chandler 1987) Tertius Chandler. 1987. Four Thousand Years of Urban Growth: An Historical Census. Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press.

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

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama) was in:
 (1568 CE 1602 CE) Kansai
Home NGA: Kansai

General Variables
Identity and Location Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 53 S 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Original Name Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Capital 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Alternative Name 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Alternative Name 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Alternative Name 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Temporal Bounds Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Duration [1568 CE ➜ 1603 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Suprapolity Relations none 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Supracultural Entity Japanese 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Succeeding Entity Tokugawa Shogunate 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Succeeding Entity
1603 CE 1868 CE
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Preceding Entity
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Degree of Centralization 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Degree of Centralization 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Language Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Linguistic Family Japonic 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Language 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Religion Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Population of the Largest Settlement 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Polity Territory 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Polity Population 1568 CE 1600 CE
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Polity Population 1600 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Settlement Hierarchy 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Religious Level 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Military Level 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Administrative Level 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Professions Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Professional Soldier 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Professional Priesthood 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Professional Military Officer 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Specialized Government Building Present 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Law Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Professional Lawyer 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Judge Unknown Suspected 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Court 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Market 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Irrigation System 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Food Storage Site Present 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Road 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Port 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Canal 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Bridge 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Mines or Quarry 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Information / Writing System Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Written Record Present 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Script 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Mnemonic Device Unknown 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Scientific Literature 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Sacred Text 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Religious Literature 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Practical Literature Present 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Philosophy 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification 1568 CE  1603 CE
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History 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Fiction 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Calendar 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Information / Money Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Token Unknown 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Precious Metal 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Paper Currency Absent 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Indigenous Coin Absent 1568 CE 1587 CE
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Indigenous Coin Present 1588 CE 1603 CE
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Foreign Coin 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Article Present 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Information / Postal System Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Postal Station 1568 CE  1603 CE
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General Postal Service Unknown Suspected 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Courier 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Information / Measurement System Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Present 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Modern Fortification 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Moat 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Fortified Camp 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Earth Rampart 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Ditch 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Complex Fortification 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Long Wall unknown Suspected 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Military use of Metals Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Steel 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Iron 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Copper 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Bronze 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Projectiles Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Tension Siege Engine 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Sling Siege Engine 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Sling 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Self Bow 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Javelin 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Handheld Firearm 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Crossbow 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Composite Bow 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Atlatl 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Handheld weapons Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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War Club 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Sword 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Spear 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Polearm 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Dagger 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Battle Axe 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Animals used in warfare Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Horse 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Elephant 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Donkey 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Dog 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Camel 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Armor Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Wood Bark Etc Unknown Suspected 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Shield Present 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Scaled Armor 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Plate Armor 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Limb Protection 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Leather Cloth 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Laminar Armor 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Helmet 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Chainmail 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Breastplate 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Naval technology Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Specialized Military Vessel 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Present 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Unknown Suspected 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 1568 CE  1603 CE
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Human Sacrifice Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)
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Instability Data
Power Transitions