Home Region: North China (East Asia)

Western Han Empire

202 BCE 9 CE

D G SC WF R CC

EQ 2020 cn_western_han_dyn / CnWHan*

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General Description

The Western Han dynasty (also known as the Former Han) was the first lasting imperial dynasty in China.^[1] In 206 BCE, the first imperial Han emperor Liu Bang defeated the Qin and capture the capital of Xianyang, but was forced to yield to the rival Western Chu state.^[2] A period of conflict between Chu and Han lasted until 202 BCE, when Liu Bang defeated the Western Chu and declared himself emperor of the Han dynasty. (San 68) He was the first commoner to become the emperor of China.^[2]
The seventh emperor of Han, Emperor Wu (r. 141-87 BCE), expanded the Western Han territory to modern Xinjiang and south China.^[1] During Wu Di’s rule Western Han dynasty encompassed modern China, northern Vietnam, Inner Mongolia, southern Manchuria, and parts of modern Korea.^[3]
The Western Han dynasty is known for its economic, technological, and artistic innovations. The opening of the Silk Road in 130 BCE linked China to Central Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.^[3] The state controlled the production of salt, iron, and coins, and developed waterways and irrigation.^[4] The use of the iron plough and other iron agricultural tools became widespread.^[5] Han artisans developed new techniques for metalwork, spinning, weaving, wood carving and pottery.^[5]
The Western Han were overthrown by Wang Mang, who ruled as the emperor of the Xin dynasty from 9-23 CE.^[6]
Population and political organization
The Western Han dynasty was marked by a strong imperial government and a combination of centrally-controlled commandaries and semi-autonomous kingdoms.^[7] The central government promoted Confucianism as a state doctrine.^[1] The Western Han gradually reduced the size of the semi-autonomous kingdoms within the empire. Many kings and marquises were eventually replaced by members of the imperial clan.^[7] Commanderies were ruled a civil governor and military governor and were divided into counties or districts.^[1]
An imperial academy was established in 124 BCE. Qualification through Confucian examinations slowly replaced hereditary assignment of government positions.^[6] Although exams were used only sporadically due to the significantly aristocratic society of this period. ^[8]

The population of the Western Han empire was 57.6 million in 2 CE^[9] , and 60 million at its peak.^[10] The Western Han capital of Chang’an was home to between 250,000 and 400,000 people. ^[11] ^[12]

[1]: (Theobald, 2010a) Theobald, Ulrich. 2010. “Han Dynasty 206 BCE-220 CE.” Chinaknowledge.de. http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Han/han.html Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/GJNWHHCH

[2]: (San 2014, 69) San, Tan Koon. 2014. Dynastic China: An Elementary History. Malaysia: The Other Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/TB95WB7F)

[3]: -- “Han Dynasty.” Ancient History Encyclopedia.http://www.ancient.eu/Han_Dynasty/ Accessed June 12, 2017. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/KVCUTKIW

[4]: (Theobald, 2010b) Theobald, Ulrich, 2010. “Han Period Science, Technology, and Inventions.” Chinaknowledge.de. http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Han/han-tech.html Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/RU33Q6WJ/

[5]: (Theobald, 2010b) Theobald, Ulrich, 2010. “Han Period Science, Technology, and Inventions.” Chinaknowledge.de. http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Han/han-tech.html Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/RU33Q6WJ/

[6]: (Roberts 1999, 34) Roberts, John A.G. 1999. A History of China. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/H9D8H5E9

[7]: (San 2014, 73) San, Tan Koon. 2014. Dynastic China: An Elementary History. Malaysia: The Other Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/TB95WB7F)

[8]: (Mostern, Ruth. Personal Communication to Jill Levine, Dan Hoyer, and Peter Turchin. April 2020. Email)

[9]: (Keay 2009, 144) Keay, J. 2009. China, A History, HarperPress, London. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/Z4ACHZRD

[10]: (Zhao 2015, 56) Zhao, Dingxin in Scheidel, Walter. ed. 2015. State Power in Ancient China and Rome. Oxford University Press. Seshat URL:https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/QBD9EVZQ

[11]: (Chase-Dunn spreadsheet)

[12]: (Loewe 1986 a ) Loewe, M. 1986a. "The Former Han," in Twitchett and Loewe (eds.) The Cambridge History of China. Vol. I: The Qi’in and Han Empires, 221 BC - 220 AD. Cambridge. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/7NCDWJJ2

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

3 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

3 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Scale of Supracultural Interaction

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

3 Polity Territory

2 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

2 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

2 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases

2 Crisis Consequence

Power Transitions

15 Power Transition

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn) was in:
(202 BCE 9 CE)	Middle Yellow River Valley

Home NGA: Middle Yellow River Valley

General Variables

Identity and Location Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	50 S	202 BCE 9 CE
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Original Name	Western Han	202 BCE 9 CE
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Capital	Chang 'an	202 BCE 9 CE
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Alternative Name	Han Empire	202 BCE 9 CE
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Alternative Name	Former Han	202 BCE 9 CE
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Alternative Name	Han Dynasty	202 BCE 9 CE
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Temporal Bounds Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	100 BCE
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Duration	[202 BCE ➜ 9 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	cn_western_han_dyn alliance with mn_hunnu_late	202 BCE 9 CE
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Suprapolity Relations	vassalage to [---]	202 BCE 9 CE
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Suprapolity Relations	alliance with [---]	202 BCE 9 CE
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Supracultural Entity	China	202 BCE 9 CE
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Succeeding Entity	Wang Mang interregnum	202 BCE 9 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction	[3,000,000 to 4,000,000] km²	202 BCE 9 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	elite migration	202 BCE 9 CE
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Preceding Entity	elite migration; Imperial Qin [elite replacement] Update here
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Degree of Centralization	unitary state	202 BCE 9 CE
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Language Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Sino-Tibetan	202 BCE 9 CE
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Language	Chinese	202 BCE 9 CE
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Religion Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[250,000 to 400,000] people	202 BCE 9 CE
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Polity Territory	2,433,000 km²	200 BCE
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Polity Territory	4,567,000 km²	100 BCE
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Polity Territory	4,917,000 km²	1 CE
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Polity Population	[45,000,000 to 60,000,000] people	200 BCE 9 CE
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Polity Population	57,600,000 people	1 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	6	202 BCE 9 CE
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Religious Level	3	202 BCE 9 CE
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Military Level	7	202 BCE 9 CE
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Administrative Level	[7 to 8]	202 BCE 9 CE
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Professions Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Absent Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Merit Promotion	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Examination System	Absent Disputed	202 BCE 9 CE
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Examination System	Present Disputed	202 BCE 9 CE
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Law Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Judge	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Court	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Irrigation System	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Food Storage Site	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Port	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Canal	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Bridge	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Information / Writing System Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Script	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	202 BCE 9 CE
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Nonwritten Record	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Mnemonic Device	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Religious Literature	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Practical Literature	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Philosophy	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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History	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Fiction	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Calendar	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Information / Money Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Uncoded Undecided	202 BCE 9 CE
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Precious Metal	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Paper Currency	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Foreign Coin	Absent Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Article	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Information / Postal System Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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General Postal Service	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Courier	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Information / Measurement System Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Absent Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	202 BCE 9 CE
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Moat	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Fortified Camp	Unknown Suspected	202 BCE 9 CE
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Earth Rampart	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Ditch	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Complex Fortification	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Long Wall	7,200 km Uncertain	202 BCE 9 CE
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Military use of Metals Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	202 BCE 9 CE
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Iron	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Copper	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Bronze	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Projectiles Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Present Disputed	202 BCE 9 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent Disputed	202 BCE 9 CE
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Sling	Absent Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Self Bow	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Javelin	Unknown Suspected	202 BCE 9 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	202 BCE 9 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	202 BCE 9 CE
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Crossbow	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Composite Bow	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Atlatl	Absent	202 BCE 9 CE
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Handheld weapons Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Sword	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Spear	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Polearm	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Dagger	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Battle Axe	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Animals used in warfare Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Donkey	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Dog	Absent	202 BCE 9 CE
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Camel	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Armor Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Shield	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Scaled Armor	Unknown Suspected	202 BCE 9 CE
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Plate Armor	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Limb Protection	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Leather Cloth	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Laminar Armor	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Helmet	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Chainmail	Unknown Suspected	202 BCE 9 CE
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Breastplate	Present Inferred	202 BCE 9 CE
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Naval technology Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Unknown Suspected	202 BCE 9 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Unknown Suspected	202 BCE 9 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent	202 BCE 9 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Absent	202 BCE 9 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Present	202 BCE 9 CE
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Human Sacrifice Western Han Empire (cn_western_han_dyn)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More