General Description
The forested foothills of the Andes, near the border between Ecuador and Peru, have long been inhabited by the Shuar, subsistence horticulturalists living in autonomous residential hamlets. There are many Shuar groups, but here we focus specifically on the Ecuadorian group commonly known simply as ’Shuar’. Europeans - specifically, Spaniards - first encountered the Shuar in the 16th century and soon imposed tributes, which the Shuar paid, in increasing amounts, until they rebelled in 1599, driving the Spanish out of the region. Indeed, the Shuar were able to ward off outside interference up until 1930, just as they were able to avoid being subjugated by the Inca. In 1930, Catholic missionaries persuaded the Ecuadorian government to provide a reservation for the Shuar.
[1]
Population and political organization
Authority among the Shuar was mostly informal and local, and resided in men referred to as unyä (’big’ or ’old’ men) or kakaram (’powerful ones’). These were usually renowned warriors or shamans, but they in fact acquired their reputation by being old enough to have grandchildren, as well as through their friendliness, honesty and generosity in dealing with others. The unyä or kakaram were believed to be able to curse to death anyone who angered them.
[1]
The scholarly literature does not provide population estimates, even for the more recent period. Indeed, writing in the 1920s, the ethnographer Fritz W. Up de Graff declared that obtaining accurate statistics relating to the Shuar was an ’impossible task’ due to their migratory habits and commitment to concealing their true numbers from potential enemies.
[2]
[1]: (Beierle 2006) Beierle, John. 2006. “Culture Summary: Jivaro.” eHRAF World Cultures. http://ehrafworldcultures.yale.edu/document?id=sd09-000. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/NDIQCQZP.
[2]: (Up de Graff 1923, 192-93) Up de Graff, Fritz W. 1923. Head Hunters of the Amazon: Seven Years of Exploration and Adventure. London: H. Jenkins. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/XD3S3HVP.
18 M |
Shuar - Early |
Quito |
Shuar | |
Mayna | |
Gíbari | |
Givari | |
Gívaro | |
Híbaro | |
Chívari | |
Chiwaro | |
Achuara | |
Aguaruna | |
Huambisa | |
Jibaro | |
Jívara | |
Jívira | |
Síwaro | |
Xívari | |
Xivaro | |
Zíbaro |
none | |
ec_shuar_1 vassalage to es_spanish_emp_1 |
Amazonia |
Shuar - Ecuadorian |
5,500,000 km2 |
elite migration |
UNCLEAR: [elite replacement] | |
Succeeding: Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2) [continuity] |
nominal | |
quasi-polity |
Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Present | 1534 CE 1675 CE |
Absent | 1676 CE 1830 CE |
Present |
inferred Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Absent |
Present | 1534 CE 1675 CE |
Absent | 1676 CE 1830 CE |
Year Range | Shuar - Colonial (ec_shuar_1) was in: |
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(1534 CE 1830 CE) | Lowland Andes |
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Utm Zone | 18 M | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Original Name | Shuar - Early | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Capital | Quito | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Shuar | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Mayna | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Gíbari | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Givari | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Gívaro | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Híbaro | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Chívari | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Chiwaro | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Achuara | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Aguaruna | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Huambisa | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Jibaro | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Jívara | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Jívira | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Síwaro | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Xívari | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Xivaro | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Alternative Name | Zíbaro | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Duration | [1534 CE ➜ 1830 CE] | Confident | |||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Suprapolity Relations | none | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Suprapolity Relations | ec_shuar_1 vassalage to es_spanish_emp_1 | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Supracultural Entity | Amazonia | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Succeeding Entity | Shuar - Ecuadorian | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction | 5,500,000 km2 | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Relationship to Preceding Entity | elite migration | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Preceding Entity
CE
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elite migration; Shuar Tribes [elite replacement] Update here
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Confident | |||||||||
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Succeeding Entity
1831 CE 1931 CE
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Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2) [continuity] | Confident | |||||||||
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Degree of Centralization | nominal | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Degree of Centralization | quasi-polity | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More |
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Population of the Largest Settlement | 300 people | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Polity Territory | 16 km2 | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Polity Population | 300 people | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Largest Communication Distance | - | Undecided | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Specialized Government Building | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Merit Promotion | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Full Time Bureaucrat | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Examination System | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Written Record | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Script | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Nonwritten Record | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Mnemonic Device | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Scientific Literature | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Sacred Text | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Religious Literature | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Practical Literature | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Philosophy | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Lists Tables and Classification | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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History | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Fiction | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Calendar | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Token | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Precious Metal | Present | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Paper Currency | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Indigenous Coin | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Foreign Coin | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Article | Present | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Postal Station | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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General Postal Service | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Courier | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Fastest Individual Communication | - | Undecided | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Weight Measurement System | Uncoded | Undecided | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Volume Measurement System | Uncoded | Undecided | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Length Measurement System | Uncoded | Undecided | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Area Measurement System | Uncoded | Undecided | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Wooden Palisade | Present | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Stone Walls Non Mortared | Present | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Stone Walls Mortared | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Settlements in a Defensive Position | Present | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Modern Fortification | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Moat | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Fortified Camp | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Earth Rampart | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Ditch | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Complex Fortification | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Long Wall | absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Tension Siege Engine | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Sling Siege Engine | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Sling | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Self Bow | Present | Confident | 1534 CE 1675 CE | ||||||||
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Self Bow | Absent | Confident | 1676 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Javelin | Present | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Handheld Firearm | Absent | Inferred | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Crossbow | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Composite Bow | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Atlatl | Present | Confident | 1534 CE 1675 CE | ||||||||
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Atlatl | Absent | Confident | 1676 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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War Club | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Sword | Present | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Spear | Present | Inferred | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Polearm | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Dagger | Absent | Inferred | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Battle Axe | Present | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Wood Bark Etc | Present | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Shield | Present | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Scaled Armor | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Plate Armor | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Limb Protection | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Leather Cloth | Present | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Laminar Armor | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Helmet | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Chainmail | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Breastplate | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
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Moralizing Enforcement is Broad | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain | Absent | Confident | 1534 CE 1830 CE | ||||||||
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Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More |
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