Home Region:  Mongolia (Central and Northern Eurasia)

Xiongnu Imperial Confederation

209 BCE 60 BCE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  mn_hunnu_emp / MnXngnM
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
1400 BCE 300 BCE Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
60 BCE 100 CE Late Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_late)    [continuity]

Displayed: 208 BCE

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  General Description   The Orkhon Valley lies either side of the Orkhon River, in north-central Mongolia. Between about 200 BCE and 100 CE, it was under the control of the Xiongnu Imperial Confederation.
This polity comprised several nomadic peoples from the Mongolian Steppe. By the 4th century BCE, the Xiongnu began raiding northern China, [1] where their mounted archery overwhelmed the heavily armed but relatively immobile Chinese infantry. [2] The nomads were held at bay by a combination of tribute in the form of metals, finished products, and agricultural products, and China’s numerical superiority. [3] [4] [5] Several Chinese victories against the Xiongnu in the 1st century BCE and factional conflict within the confederacy led to the confederacy’s breakup, and a new group of semi-nomadic peoples from the Northeast, the Xianbei, took control of the region. [1]
At their height, the Xiongnu ruled over an area that included all of Mongolia, extending to the Ordos region in the south, and the boreal forests of Siberia in the north, for a total of about 4,000,000 squared kilometres. [6]
Precise estimates could not be found for the empire’s population, but estimates suggest that nomads living to the north of China did not number more than 1,500,000, [7] and the best studied (but not the largest) settlement, Ivolga, likely had a population of between 2,500 and 3,000. [8] The empire was divided into three kingships: a central one, directly ruled by the paramount leader, and a "left" one and a "right" one, to the east and west, respectively, distributed among twenty-four regional leaders known as the "ten thousand horsemen". [9]

[1]: (Rogers 2012, 222)

[2]: (Marsh 2012, 500-501) Kevin Marsh. Xiongnu. Xiaobing Li ed. 2012. China at War: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. Santa Barbara.

[3]: (Barfield 1993, 157)

[4]: (Ying-Shih 1986)

[5]: (Dupuy and Dupuy 2007, 133)

[6]: (Rogers 2012, 220-221)

[7]: (Kradin 2011, 77)

[8]: (Kradin 2011, 85)

[9]: (Rogers 2012, 220)

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp) was in:
 (209 BCE 60 BCE)   Orkhon Valley
Home NGA: Orkhon Valley
General Variables
Identity and Location Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 48 T Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Original Name Xiongnu Imperial Confederation Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Capital None (Absent Capital) Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Alternative Name Hsiung-nu Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [209 BCE ➜ 60 BCE] Confident
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Political and Cultural Relations Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Succeeding Entity MnXngnL Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Preceding Entity
1400 BCE 300 BCE
Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)   [continuity]  Confident
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Succeeding Entity
60 BCE 100 CE
Late Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_late)   [continuity]  Confident
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Degree of Centralization confederated state Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Language Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Turkic Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Language Xiongnu Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Religion Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Religion Genus Xiongnu Religions Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Alternate Religion Uncoded Undecided 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement [3,000 to 5,000] people Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Polity Territory [4,000,000 to 4,200,000] km2 Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Polity Population 1,500,000 people Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy [2 to 3] Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Religious Level 1 Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Military Level 6 Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Administrative Level [3 to 4] Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Professions Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Professional Priesthood Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Professional Military Officer Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Merit Promotion Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Examination System Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Law Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Judge Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Present Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
Court Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Irrigation System Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Food Storage Site Present Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Port Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Canal Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Bridge Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Writing System Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Script Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Nonwritten Record Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Mnemonic Device Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Sacred Text Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Religious Literature Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Practical Literature Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Philosophy Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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History Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Fiction Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Calendar Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Information / Money Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Token Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Precious Metal Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Paper Currency Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Indigenous Coin Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Foreign Coin Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Article Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Information / Postal System Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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General Postal Service Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Courier Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Present Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Moat Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Fortified Camp Present Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Earth Rampart Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Ditch Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Complex Fortification Present Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Long Wall unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Military use of Metals Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Iron Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Copper Present Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Bronze Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Projectiles Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Sling Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Self Bow Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Javelin Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Crossbow Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Composite Bow Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Atlatl Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Handheld weapons Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Sword Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Spear Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Polearm Present Inferred Disputed 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Polearm Absent Confident Disputed 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Dagger Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Battle Axe Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Elephant Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Donkey Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Camel Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Armor Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Shield Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Scaled Armor Present Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Plate Armor Present Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Limb Protection Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Leather Cloth Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Laminar Armor Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Helmet Present Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Chainmail Present Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Breastplate Unknown Suspected 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Naval technology Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent Confident 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Absent Inferred 209 BCE  60 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
View all Crisis Cases
Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions