Home Region: Afghanistan (Central and Northern Eurasia)

Kidarite Kingdom

388 CE 477 CE

D G SC WF

EQ 2020 af_kidarite_k / AfKidar

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General Description

The Kidarite state in Central Asia (~ 388-477 CE) may have lasted less than 100 years, but its earliest phase under the suzerainty of the Sassanid Empire is not well known. ^[1] "It has been suggested that they conquered K’ang-chu and Sogdiana in c. 300 but the literary sources have not yet been corroborated by the archaeological evidence." ^[2]
The most influential ruler of the Kidarites was perhaps king Kidara: narrative sources place him in the c420s CE but numismatists agree his rule began c390 CE. ^[3] The Chinese chronicle Peo-Shih (Annals of the Wei Dynasty) say Kidara held "vast territories to the north and south of the Hindu Kush" and his most imporant city was near Peshawar, probably Purushapura, ^[4] the late capital of the Kushan Empire.
Much like the Kushan Empire little is known about how exactly they ruled their territories. The Kidarites founded new cities (Panjikent and Kushaniya), Kushaniya being a royal foundation ^[3] that shows that the Kidarites attempted to draw some of their legitimacy from the preceding Kushan period. Zeimal (1996) concludes that "It seems likely that the administrative and government structure created by the Kushans was left largely intact under the Kidarites." ^[5]

[1]: (Zeimal 1996, 125) E. V. Zeimal. The Kidarite Kingdom In Central Asia. in Litvinsky, B. A. ed. and Iskender-Mochiri, I. ed. 1996. History of Civilizations of Central Asia. Volume III. The crossroads of civilizations: A.D. 250 to 750. pp.123-137. unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0010/001046/104612e.pdf

[2]: (Zeimal 1996, 124-125) E V Zeimal. The Kidarite Kingdom In Central Asia. in Litvinsky, B. A. ed. and Iskender-Mochiri, I. ed. 1996. History of Civilizations of Central Asia. Volume III. The crossroads of civilizations: A.D. 250 to 750. pp.123-137. unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0010/001046/104612e.pdf

[3]: (Grenet 2005) Frantz Grenet. 2005. KIDARITES. Iranicaonline. www.iranicaonline.org/articles/kidarites

[4]: (Zeimal 1996, 126) E V Zeimal. The Kidarite Kingdom In Central Asia. in Litvinsky, B. A. ed. and Iskender-Mochiri, I. ed. 1996. History of Civilizations of Central Asia. Volume III. The crossroads of civilizations: A.D. 250 to 750. pp.123-137. unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0010/001046/104612e.pdf

[5]: (Zeimal 1996, 132) Zeimal, E. V. The Kidarite Kingdom In Central Asia. in Litvinsky, B. A. ed. and Iskender-Mochiri, I. ed. 1996. History of Civilizations of Central Asia. Volume III. The crossroads of civilizations: A.D. 250 to 750. pp.123-137.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

2 Capital

8 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

3 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Scale of Supracultural Interaction

2 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

4 Language

Religion

3 Religion Genus

1 Alternate Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

2 Polity Territory

1 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 Full Time Bureaucrat

Law

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

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 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 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 Elephant

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

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 Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k) was in:
(388 CE 472 CE)	Sogdiana

Home NGA: Sogdiana

General Variables

Identity and Location Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	42 T	388 CE 477 CE
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Original Name	Kidarite Kingdom	388 CE 477 CE
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Capital	Balkh	388 CE 477 CE
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Capital	Gandhara	388 CE 477 CE
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Alternative Name	Kidarites	388 CE 477 CE
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Alternative Name	Chionites	388 CE 477 CE
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Alternative Name	Kidarite Huns	388 CE 477 CE
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Alternative Name	Huna	388 CE 477 CE
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Alternative Name	Honk	388 CE 477 CE
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Alternative Name	Kushans	388 CE 477 CE
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Alternative Name	Ta Yeuh-chih	388 CE 477 CE
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Alternative Name	Lesser Yeuh-chih	388 CE 477 CE
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Temporal Bounds Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	[420 CE ➜ 440 CE]
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Duration	[388 CE ➜ 477 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	af_kidarite_k nominal allegiance to ir_sassanid_emp_1	388 CE 477 CE
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Supracultural Entity	Eurasian nomadic	388 CE 477 CE
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Supracultural Entity	Persian	388 CE 477 CE
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Supracultural Entity	Indian	388 CE 477 CE
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Succeeding Entity	Hephthalite Empire	388 CE 477 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction	9,000,000 km²	388 CE 477 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	elite migration	388 CE 477 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	388 CE 477 CE
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Preceding Entity	elite migration, continuity; Sassanid Empire I [continuity] Update here
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Degree of Centralization	confederated state	388 CE 477 CE
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Language Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Indo-European	388 CE 477 CE
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Language	Pahlavi	388 CE 477 CE
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Language	Brahmi	388 CE 477 CE
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Language	Sogdian	388 CE 477 CE
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Language	Bactrian	388 CE 477 CE
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Religion Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Religion Genus	Zoroastrianism	388 CE 477 CE
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Religion Genus	Buddhism	388 CE 477 CE
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Religion Genus	Hinduism	388 CE 477 CE
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Alternate Religion	Uncoded Undecided	388 CE 477 CE
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Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	- Undecided	388 CE 477 CE
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Polity Territory	250,000 km²	400 CE
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Polity Territory	[850,000 to 900,000] km²	450 CE
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Polity Population	[1,000,000 to 1,500,000] people	388 CE 477 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	4	388 CE 477 CE
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Religious Level	[1 to 2]	388 CE 477 CE
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Military Level	4	388 CE 477 CE
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Administrative Level	[3 to 5]	388 CE 477 CE
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Professions Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Law Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Judge	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Uncoded Undecided	388 CE 477 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Irrigation System	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Food Storage Site	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Absent Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Port	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Bridge	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

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

Information / Writing System Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Script	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Nonwritten Record	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Sacred Text	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Religious Literature	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Practical Literature	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Philosophy	Uncoded Undecided	388 CE 477 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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History	Uncoded Undecided	388 CE 477 CE
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Fiction	Uncoded Undecided	388 CE 477 CE
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Calendar	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Information / Money Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Paper Currency	Unknown Suspected	388 CE 477 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Foreign Coin	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Article	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Information / Postal System Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Courier	Unknown Suspected	388 CE 477 CE
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Information / Measurement System Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

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

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Stone Walls Mortared	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	388 CE 477 CE
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Earth Rampart	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Ditch	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Military use of Metals Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Iron	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Copper	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Bronze	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Projectiles Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	388 CE 477 CE
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Sling	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Self Bow	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Javelin	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	388 CE 477 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	388 CE 477 CE
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Crossbow	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Composite Bow	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Atlatl	Absent	388 CE 477 CE
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Handheld weapons Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Unknown Suspected	388 CE 477 CE
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Sword	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Spear	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Polearm	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Dagger	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Battle Axe	Unknown Suspected	388 CE 477 CE
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Animals used in warfare Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Elephant	Absent	388 CE 477 CE
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Camel	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Armor Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Shield	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Limb Protection	Present Inferred	388 CE 477 CE
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Leather Cloth	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Helmet	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Chainmail	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Breastplate	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Naval technology Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	388 CE 477 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Present	388 CE 477 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	388 CE 477 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

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

Human Sacrifice Kidarite Kingdom (af_kidarite_k)

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