Home Region:  Southern Europe (Europe)

Papal States - Renaissance Period

1378 CE 1527 CE
EQ 2020  it_papal_state_2 / ItPapRn
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  General Description  
The 1378-1527 CE period of the Papal States is known for ’Renaissance popes’ who "concentrated their efforts on protecting their Italian domain and in lavishly reconstructing the city of Rome." [1] The Sistine Chapel, a popular symbol of the renaissance, was built between 1475-1481 CE commissioned by Sixtus IV. Goldthwaite has argued that the papacy’s return to Rome in 1378 inaugurated a phase of economic growth for the Rome and its hinterland, reflecting Rome’s dependence on the papacy, and not Lazio’s productivity, to stimulate the economy. [2] Before the sack of Rome in 1527 CE [3] the population had finally begun to grow again, from about 30,000 early in the 14th century to 55,000.
The Renaissance Popes attempted to systematize and unify the financial administration of the Papal State. This meant ending financial and judicial immunities, and rolling back the power of locally powerful bishops and abbots. [4] However, the vast bureaucracy the Pope oversaw was a fundamentally corrupt one, by the late 14th century founded on bribery, the sale of offices, and patronage politics. [5] During the fifteenth century, the sale of offices within the curia became routinized; and Peterson has estimated that under Pope Leo X (1513-1521), two thousand offices were for sale in the city of Rome alone. [6]
The papacy’s ability to control the regions of the Papal States fluctuated dramatically during this period, especially during the Great Schism (1378-1417 CE). During the Schism, numerous ecclesiastical territories in the Papal State were seized by or alienated to secular lords. [7] The 1380s and 1390s were characterized by a long and futile struggle between the Roman and Avignon popes for control of territory and finances in central and southern Italy, with the long-term result being the destabilization of central Italy and the intensified decentralization of power in the Papal State, especially in the Romagna and le Marche. [8]
In general, the various lords, cities, and feudatories of the papal states were ready and willing to rebel when possible, for example, in 1375 CE. [9] Furthermore, the lords of the petty Lords known as the Romagna were de facto independent for much of the late 14th and early 15th centuries. [10] During the mid-15th century, King Ferrante of Naples deliberately contracted with Roman barons for them to raise mercenary bands for his service, undercutting these barons’ feudal ties to the papacy. [11]
As distinct from the previous centuries, up until 1494 CE the Papal States was usually free from influence of German emperors or Spanish kings, [12] but the drastically changed situation between 1494-1527 CE, following the French king Charles VIII’s invasion of Italy. [13]

[1]: (Madigan 2015, 386) K Madigan. 2015. Medieval Christianity: A New History. Yale University Press. New Haven.

[2]: (Goldthwaite 2010, 172) Richard Goldthwaite. 2010. The Economy of Renaissance Florence. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University.

[3]: (Bairoch et al 1988, 47) Paul Bairoch. Jean Batou. Pierre Chèvre. 1988. The Population of European Cities from 800 to 1850. Geneva: Droz.

[4]: Partner, 385-87; Braudel, 697

[5]: (Martin 2002, 34) John M Marino, ed. Early Modern Italy, 1550-1796. Oxford: Oxford UP.

[6]: (Peterson 2010, 74) John M Najemy, ed. 2010. Italy in the Age of the Renaissance: 1300-1500. Oxford: Oxford UP.

[7]: (Partner 1972, 385) Peter Partner. 1972. The lands of Saint Peter. The Papal State in the Middle Ages and Early Renaissance. Berkeley: University of California Press.

[8]: (Partner 1972, 371) Peter Partner. 1972. The lands of Saint Peter. The Papal State in the Middle Ages and Early Renaissance. Berkeley: University of California Press.

[9]: (Partner 1972, 366-367) Peter Partner. 1972. The lands of Saint Peter. The Papal State in the Middle Ages and Early Renaissance. Berkeley: University of California Press.

[10]: For these petty lordships, see Larner

[11]: (Mallett and Shaw 2012, 10) Michael Mallett and Christine Shaw. 2012 The Italian Wars, 1494-1559: War, state and society in early modern Europe. Harlow, England: Pearson.

[12]: (Najemy 2010) John M Najemy, ed. 2010. Italy in the Age of the Renaissance: 1300-1500. Oxford: Oxford UP.

[13]: (Ady 1975, 343-367) Denys Hay ed. 1975. The New Cambridge Modern History, I: The Renaissance, 1493-1520. Cambridge: Cambridge UP

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2) was in:
 (1378 CE 1526 CE) Latium
Home NGA: Latium

General Variables
Identity and Location Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 33 T 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Original Name 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Capital Rome 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Alternative Name Stato della Chiesa 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Alternative Name Patrimonium Sancti Petri 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Alternative Name The Papal States 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Alternative Name Papal States Renaissance Period 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Temporal Bounds Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Peak Years
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Supracultural Entity 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Succeeding Entity Papal States - Medieval Period I 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Preceding Entity
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Succeeding Entity
1527 CE 1648 CE
Papal States - Early Modern Period I (it_papal_state_3)   [continuity] 
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Degree of Centralization 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Language Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Linguistic Family Indo-European 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Language 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Religion Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Religion Genus Christianity 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Religion Family Catholic 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Religion Roman Catholic 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Alternate Religion Uncoded Undecided 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Population of the Largest Settlement 1400 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement 1500 CE
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Polity Territory 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Polity Population 1400 CE
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Polity Population 1500 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Settlement Hierarchy 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Religious Level 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Military Level 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Administrative Level 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Professions Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Professional Soldier 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Professional Priesthood Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Professional Military Officer 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Merit Promotion 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Examination System Absent 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Law Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Professional Lawyer 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Judge Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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1378 CE  1527 CE
Court 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Market 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Irrigation System 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Food Storage Site 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Road 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Port 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Canal 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Bridge 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Mines or Quarry Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Information / Writing System Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Written Record 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Script 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Nonwritten Record 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Mnemonic Device 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Scientific Literature 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Sacred Text 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Religious Literature 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Practical Literature 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Philosophy 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification 1378 CE  1527 CE
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History 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Fiction 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Calendar 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Information / Money Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Token Absent 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Precious Metal 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Paper Currency Absent 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Indigenous Coin 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Foreign Coin 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Article Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Information / Postal System Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Postal Station Absent 1378 CE  1527 CE
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General Postal Service 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Courier Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Information / Measurement System Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Modern Fortification 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Moat Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Fortified Camp 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Earth Rampart Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Ditch Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Complex Fortification Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Military use of Metals Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Steel Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Iron 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Copper 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Bronze 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Projectiles Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Tension Siege Engine 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Sling Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Self Bow Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Javelin Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Handheld Firearm 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Crossbow 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Composite Bow Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Atlatl Absent 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Handheld weapons Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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War Club 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Sword 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Spear 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Polearm 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Dagger 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Battle Axe 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Animals used in warfare Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Horse 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Elephant Absent 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Donkey Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Dog 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Camel Absent 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Armor Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Wood Bark Etc 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Shield 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Scaled Armor 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Plate Armor 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Limb Protection 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Leather Cloth 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Laminar Armor 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Helmet 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Chainmail 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Breastplate 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Naval technology Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Specialized Military Vessel Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Present 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 1378 CE  1527 CE
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Human Sacrifice Papal States - Renaissance Period (it_papal_state_2)
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Instability Data
Power Transitions