Home Region:  Southern Europe (Europe)

Ostrogothic Kingdom

489 CE 554 CE
EQ 2020  it_ostrogoth_k / ItOstrg
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  General Description  
Beginning with the Emperor Honorius (r. 393-423 CE), the Western Empire experienced a continuous decline and a series of invasions at the hands of Germanic, Vandal, Alan, and Hun forces throughout the 5th century. In 476 CE, a Roman military officer of likely Germanic decent (though his exact ancestry is not certain) named Odoacer led a revolt against the western emperor Romulus Augustus (r. 475-476 CE), a child whose rule was overseen by his father, a high-ranking general named Orestes. Odoacer and his fellow soldiers killed Orestes and effectively deposed Romulus Augustus, and Odoacer’s authority was recognized by the Eastern Roman emperor at the time, Zeno, although he was not proclaimed Emperor in the West. In 480 CE, after the death of Julius Nepos, whom Zeno recognized as the legitimate Western Emperor, Zeno abolished the co-emperorship, claiming to rule over both halves of the Empire, although much of the Western Empire had already been lost and Italy itself remained under the control of Odoacer, who ruled as king. [1] [2]
In 488 CE, the Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno convinced Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths (r. 475-526), to invade Italy and remove Odoacer from power. [3] Theodoric and his Ostrogoths were successful, expelling Odoacer from Italy and establishing an Ostrogothic Kingdom over most of Italy, which lasted from 489 to 554 CE. Theodoric’s agreement with Zeno, which may have been written down but no longer exists, [4] led Theodoric’s rule to be officially recognized by the Eastern Empire in Constantinople. [5]
The period ends with Ostrogothic Italy’s defeat at the hands of the Byzantine/Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I in 455 CE. Justinian managed to reassert Roman rule and institutions over much of Italy, though this quickly evaporated in the face of invasions by Salvic, Turkic, and Germanic tribes. Only central and some parts of southern Italy remained under Byzantine authority into the later half of the 5th century CE. [6]
Population and political organization
The Ostrogothic Kingdom was essentially split between three separate power centres: Constantinople, Ravenna and Rome. The Ostrogothic king, traditionally elected by a Gothic military elite, [3] but made hereditary after Theodoric, made high-level administrative appointments to a court based in Ravenna and to the northern Italian cities of Pavia and Verona. [7] The Ostrogothic King was, however, in principle under the authority of the Byzantine/Eastern Roman Empire in Constantinople, on whose invitation Theodoric had invaded Odoacer’s Italy. The emperors in Constantinople retained the right to name senators, consuls, and other high-ranking officials for the West, [8] while Rome remained an influential symbolic, economic, and ecclesiastical centre. [7] The Roman Senate at Rome functioned as a local governing centre; [9] many wealthy Romans found traditional positions of authority and prestige in the administration at Ravenna. [10] [9] Ostrogothic kings kept the existing late Roman governmental structure relatively unchanged, [11] but reduced in size [12] and more tightly centred on the royal court. [13]
The king’s administrative and advisory council was made up of both Gothic and Roman officials. [14] [15] This period also saw a ’blurring of the boundaries between civil and military functions’. [13] The praetorian prefect was the most powerful individual in the kingdom below the king; he was responsible for enforcing the king’s laws, had some power to issue his own edicts and set taxation rates, received the taxes from all provinces, paid military and administrative salaries, made personnel recommendations to the king and had the right of dismissal. [16] He also commanded the largest branches of the bureaucracy, was responsible for the public food supply, and was the final judge of appeal. [16]
The Ostrogothic Kingdom reached a population of approximately 5.5 million people and witnessed a revival in economic fortunes for the region of Italy. Apart from the many Roman institutions, the Roman aristocracy and their privileges that were maintained, tax receipts were spent on public services [17] and Theodoric commanded that money be set aside for the restoration of walls and monuments in several Roman cities. [18] Theodoric also oversaw the construction of baths and an amphitheatre, and restored aqueducts from Ravenna to Rome - the latter had seen its population fall to around 100,000-200,000 inhabitants - and built churches such as the Arian Saint Theodor, the palatial San Apollinare Nuovo, and the San Andrea dei Gothi. [19]

[1]: (Cameron 1993) Averil Cameron. 1993. The Later Roman Empire, A.D. 284-430. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

[2]: (Burns 1991, 74) Thomas S. Burns. 1991. A History of the Ostrogoths. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

[3]: (Heydemann 2016, 21) Gerda Heydemann. 2016. ’The Ostrogothic Kingdom: Ideologies and Transitions’, in A Companion to Ostrogothic Italy, edited by Jonathan J. Arnold, Shane M. Bjornlie and Kristina Sessa, 15-46. Leiden: Brill.

[4]: (Heydemann 2016, 20) Gerda Heydemann. 2016. ’The Ostrogothic Kingdom: Ideologies and Transitions’, in A Companion to Ostrogothic Italy, edited by Jonathan J. Arnold, Shane M. Bjornlie and Kristina Sessa, 15-46. Leiden: Brill.

[5]: (Stearns, ed. 2001, 169) Peter N. Stearns, ed. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern. 6th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

[6]: (Burns 1991, 215) Thomas S. Burns. 1991. A History of the Ostrogoths. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

[7]: (Barnish 2007, 327) Sam J. Barnish. 2007. ’Cuncta Italiae Membra Componere: Political Relations in Ostrogothic Italy’, in The Ostrogoths from the Migration Period to the Sixth Century: An Ethnographic Perspective, edited by Sam J. Barnish and Federico Marazzi, 317-37. Woodbridge: Boydell Press.

[8]: (Wolfram and Dunlap 1990, 287-88) H. Wolfram and T. J. Dunlap. 1990. History of the Goths. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

[9]: (Arnold, Bjornlie and Sessa 2016, 8) Jonathan J. Arnold, Shane M. Bjornlie and Kristina Sessa. 2016. ’Introduction’, in A Companion to Ostrogothic Italy, edited by Jonathan J. Arnold, Shane M. Bjornlie and Kristina Sessa, 1-13. Leiden: Brill.

[10]: (Heydemann 2016, 25) Gerda Heydemann. 2016. ’The Ostrogothic Kingdom: Ideologies and Transitions’, in A Companion to Ostrogothic Italy, edited by Jonathan J. Arnold, Shane M. Bjornlie and Kristina Sessa, 15-46. Leiden: Brill.

[11]: (Bjornlie 2016, 59) Shane M Bjornlie. 2016. ’Governmental Administration.’ in A Companion to Ostrogothic Italy edited by Jonathan J Arnold, Shane M Bjornlie, Kristina Sessa. Leiden: BRILL.

[12]: (Bjornlie 2016, 53) Shane M. Bjornlie. 2016. ’Governmental Administration’, in A Companion to Ostrogothic Italy, edited by Jonathan J. Arnold, Shane M. Bjornlie and Kristina Sessa, 47-72. Leiden: Brill.

[13]: (Heydemann 2016, 26) Gerda Heydemann. 2016. ’The Ostrogothic Kingdom: Ideologies and Transitions’, in A Companion to Ostrogothic Italy, edited by Jonathan J. Arnold, Shane M. Bjornlie and Kristina Sessa, 15-46. Leiden: Brill.

[14]: (Bjornlie 2016, 58) Shane M. Bjornlie. 2016. ’Governmental Administration’, in A Companion to Ostrogothic Italy, edited by Jonathan J. Arnold, Shane M. Bjornlie and Kristina Sessa, 47-72. Leiden: Brill.

[15]: (Barnish 2007, 322) Sam J. Barnish. 2007. ’Cuncta Italiae Membra Componere: Political Relations in Ostrogothic Italy’, in The Ostrogoths from the Migration Period to the Sixth Century: An Ethnographic Perspective, edited by Sam J. Barnish and Federico Marazzi, 317-37. Woodbridge: Boydell Press.

[16]: (Bjornlie 2016, 61) Shane M. Bjornlie. 2016. ’Governmental Administration’, in A Companion to Ostrogothic Italy, edited by Jonathan J. Arnold, Shane M. Bjornlie and Kristina Sessa, 47-72. Leiden: Brill.

[17]: (Wolfram and Dunlap 1990, 296) H. Wolfram and T. J. Dunlap. 1990. History of the Goths. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

[18]: (Purton 2009, 14) Peter Purton. 2009. A History of the Early Medieval Siege, c. 450-1220. Woodbridge: Boydell Press.

[19]: (Burns 1991, 129) Thomas S. Burns. 1991. A History of the Ostrogoths. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

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

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k) was in:
 (493 CE 554 CE) Latium
Home NGA: Latium

General Variables
Identity and Location Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 33 T 489 CE  554 CE
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Original Name 489 CE  554 CE
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Capital 489 CE  554 CE
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Alternative Name 489 CE  554 CE
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Alternative Name 489 CE  554 CE
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Alternative Name 489 CE  554 CE
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Alternative Name 489 CE  554 CE
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Temporal Bounds Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations 489 CE  554 CE
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Suprapolity Relations 489 CE  554 CE
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Succeeding Entity East Roman Empire 489 CE  554 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity 489 CE  554 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity 489 CE  554 CE
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Preceding Entity
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Degree of Centralization 489 CE  554 CE
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Degree of Centralization 489 CE  554 CE
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Language Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Indo-European 489 CE  554 CE
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Language 489 CE  554 CE
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Language 489 CE  554 CE
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Religion Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Religion Genus Christianity 489 CE  554 CE
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Religion Family Arian 489 CE  554 CE
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Alternate Religion Genus Christianity 489 CE  554 CE
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Alternate Religion Family Catholic 489 CE  554 CE
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Alternate Religion Roman Catholic 489 CE  554 CE
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 489 CE  554 CE
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Polity Territory 489 CE  554 CE
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Polity Population 500 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 489 CE  554 CE
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Religious Level 489 CE  554 CE
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Military Level 489 CE  554 CE
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Administrative Level 489 CE  554 CE
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Professions Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier 489 CE  554 CE
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Professional Priesthood Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Professional Military Officer 489 CE  554 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Merit Promotion Absent Inferred 489 CE  554 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 489 CE  554 CE
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Examination System Absent Inferred 489 CE  554 CE
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Law Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer 489 CE  554 CE
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Judge 489 CE  554 CE
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489 CE  554 CE
Court 489 CE  554 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Market 489 CE  554 CE
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Irrigation System Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Food Storage Site 489 CE  554 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System 489 CE  554 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road 489 CE  554 CE
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Port 489 CE  554 CE
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Canal 489 CE  554 CE
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Bridge 489 CE  554 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Information / Writing System Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record 489 CE  554 CE
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Script Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Nonwritten Record 489 CE  554 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature 489 CE  554 CE
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Sacred Text Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Religious Literature 489 CE  554 CE
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Practical Literature 489 CE  554 CE
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Philosophy 489 CE  554 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Present 489 CE  554 CE
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History 489 CE  554 CE
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Fiction 489 CE  554 CE
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Calendar Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Information / Money Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Token 489 CE  554 CE
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Precious Metal Present Inferred 489 CE  554 CE
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Paper Currency Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Indigenous Coin 489 CE  554 CE
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Foreign Coin Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Article 489 CE  554 CE
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Information / Postal System Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Present 489 CE  554 CE
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General Postal Service 489 CE  554 CE
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Courier Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Information / Measurement System Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared 489 CE  554 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Moat Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Fortified Camp 489 CE  554 CE
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Earth Rampart 489 CE  554 CE
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Ditch Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Complex Fortification 489 CE  554 CE
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Long Wall 85 km 489 CE  554 CE
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Military use of Metals Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Iron Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Copper 489 CE  554 CE
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Bronze Present 489 CE  554 CE
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Projectiles Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine 489 CE  554 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Present Inferred 489 CE  554 CE
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Sling Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Self Bow Unknown 489 CE  554 CE
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Javelin 489 CE  554 CE
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Handheld Firearm Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Crossbow Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Composite Bow 489 CE  554 CE
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Atlatl Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Handheld weapons Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Unknown 489 CE  554 CE
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Sword 489 CE  554 CE
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Spear 489 CE  554 CE
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Polearm Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Dagger 489 CE  554 CE
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Battle Axe Unknown 489 CE  554 CE
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Animals used in warfare Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse 489 CE  554 CE
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Elephant Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Donkey Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Dog Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Camel Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Armor Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc 489 CE  554 CE
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Shield 489 CE  554 CE
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Scaled Armor 489 CE  554 CE
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Plate Armor Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Limb Protection 489 CE  554 CE
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Leather Cloth 489 CE  554 CE
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Laminar Armor Absent 489 CE  554 CE
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Helmet 489 CE  554 CE
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Chainmail 489 CE  554 CE
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Breastplate 489 CE  554 CE
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Naval technology Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel 489 CE  554 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc 489 CE  554 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Unknown 489 CE  554 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 489 CE  554 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 489 CE  554 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 489 CE  554 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 489 CE  554 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 489 CE  554 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 489 CE  554 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 489 CE  554 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 489 CE  554 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 489 CE  554 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 489 CE  554 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 489 CE  554 CE
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Human Sacrifice Ostrogothic Kingdom (it_ostrogoth_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Instability Data
Power Transitions