Home Region: Mississippi Basin (North America)

Early Illinois Confederation

1640 CE 1717 CE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 us_early_illinois_confederation / USIllin

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

1400 CE 1650 CE Oneota (us_oneota) [population replacement]

Succeeding Entity:

No Polity found. Add one here.

General Description

Our early Illinois period refers to the span of time from 1640 CE, the approximate date of the first European written reports of the Illinois (also known as Inoca, Illiniwek, Illini) Indians, ^[1] to 1717, when the Illinois Country was incorporated into the French colony of Louisiane. ^[2] From the 1660s and 1670s onwards, France claimed title to the Illinois Country (Pays des Illinois) as part of its North American colonial possessions, but French presence in the region before 1717 was generally limited to small numbers of missionaries and traders. ^[3] In this early contact period, the Illinois were theoretically under the ’protection’ of the French crown, but in practice maintained their autonomy. ^[4] The region referred to as the Illinois Country in both modern and older sources was located to the east of the Middle Mississippi river, bounded to the north by Lake Michigan, to the south by the Ohio river, and to the west by the Wabash. ^[5] However, it is likely that the Illinois-speaking groups encountered by Europeans in the 17th century had arrived in this area relatively recently, possibly migrating westwards from the Lake Erie basin. ^[6]
Population and political organization
Despite the use of the term ’Illinois Confederacy’ to describe Illinois society, there is no indication in the written sources of intertribal political organizations such as those found among Iroquoian groups to the northeast in the same period. ^[7] Political leadership was provided by both peace chiefs - who played important diplomatic roles, such as conducting calumet (peace pipe) ceremonies for visitors, but had relatively little formal authority - and war chiefs, who organized raids on other settlements. ^[8] ^[9]
In the post-contact period (specifically in the late 17th century), the Illinois formed large villages close to French forts and trading posts, most notably the Grand Village of the Kaskaskia. ^[10] It has traditionally been assumed that these large settlements, which included Illinois speakers from various subgroups as well as Chickasaws, Shawnees and others, functioned almost as refugee centres as the Illinois fled attacks from the Iroquois to the east and clustered together in the wake of disease and depopulation. ^[10] ^[11] Historian Robert Morrissey has offered an alternative interpretation, arguing that the large Illinois villages represented an aggressive ’bid for power’ based on bison hunting and slave raiding and strategically positioned between the woodlands to the east and the grasslands of the west. ^[12] Nevertheless, what is not in doubt is that the Illinois suffered drastic population losses in the post-contact period, falling from around 12,000 people in 1680 to just 1,900 by 1763. ^[13]

[1]: (Illinois State Museum 2000) Illinois State Museum. 2000. "The Illinois: History." MuseumLink Illinois. http://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/nat_amer/post/htmls/il_hi.html. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/PT8275IS.

[2]: (Walthall and Emerson 1992, 9-10) Walthall, John A., and Thomas E. Emerson. 1992. "Indians and French in the Midcontinent." In Calumet and Fleur-De-Lys: French and Indian Interaction in the Midcontinent, edited by John A. Walthall and Thomas E. Emerson, 1-13. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/2VQKWPMN.

[3]: (Walthall and Emerson 1992, 8-9) Walthall, John A., and Thomas E. Emerson. 1992. "Indians and French in the Midcontinent." In Calumet and Fleur-De-Lys: French and Indian Interaction in the Midcontinent, edited by John A. Walthall and Thomas E. Emerson, 1-13. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/2VQKWPMN.

[4]: (Havard 2013, 117) Havard, Gilles. 2013. "’Protection’ and ’Unequal Alliance’: The French Conception of Sovereignty over Indians in New France." In French and Indians in the Heart of North America, 1630-1815, edited by Robert Englebert and Guillaume Teasdale, 113-37. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/IDG32ZN9.

[5]: (Walthall and Emerson 1991, 5) Walthall, John A., and Thomas E. Emerson. 1991. "French Colonial Archaeology." In French Colonial Archaeology: The Illinois Country and the Western Great Lakes, edited by John A. Walthall, 78-84. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/XQWPU4VH.

[6]: (Hall 1997, 173) Hall, Robert L. 1997. An Archaeology of the Soul: North American Indian Belief and Ritual. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/8KH357GV.

[7]: (Callender 1978, 673) Callender, C. 1978. "Illinois." In Handbook of North American Indians, Vol. 15: Northeast, edited by B. Trigger. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/TD2AIF67.

[8]: (Callender 1978, 676) Callender, C. 1978. "Illinois." In Handbook of North American Indians, Vol. 15: Northeast, edited by B. Trigger. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/TD2AIF67.

[9]: (Illinois State Museum 2000) Illinois State Museum. 2000. "The Illinois Indians: Society: Leaders." MuseumLink Illinois. http://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/nat_amer/post/htmls/soc_leaders.html. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/REVSHE82.

[10]: (Morrissey 2015, 681-82) Morrissey, Robert Michael. 2015. "The Power of the Ecotone: Bison, Slavery, and the Rise and Fall of the Grand Village of the Kaskaskia." Journal of American History 102 (3): 667-92. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ZDDVHJMV.

[11]: (Nichols 1998, 36-37) Nichols, Roger L. 1998. Indians in the United States and Canada: A Comparative History. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/8H2XHS76.

[12]: (Morrissey 2015, 668-69) Morrissey, Robert Michael. 2015. "The Power of the Ecotone: Bison, Slavery, and the Rise and Fall of the Grand Village of the Kaskaskia." Journal of American History 102 (3): 667-92. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ZDDVHJMV.

[13]: (Hauser 2015, 299) Hauser, Raymond E. 2015. "Illinois." In Colonial Wars of North America, 1512-1763: An Encyclopedia, edited by Alan Gallay, 299-300. Abingdon: Routledge. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/QS4Z9FFR.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Original Name

1 Capital

6 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Succeeding Entity

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

1 Polity Territory

2 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Military Officer

1 Source Of Support

Bureaucracy Characteristics

2 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Irrigation System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Mnemonic Device

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 Token

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

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

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 Elephant

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 Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation) was in:
(1640 CE 1717 CE)	Cahokia

Home NGA: Cahokia

General Variables

Identity and Location Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Original Name	Early Illinois Confederation	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Capital	None (Absent Capital)	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Alternative Name	Illini	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Alternative Name	Aliniouek	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Alternative Name	Iliniouek	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Alternative Name	Early Illinois	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Alternative Name	Liniouek	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Alternative Name	Illiniwek	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Temporal Bounds Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[1640 CE ➜ 1717 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	nominal allegiance to [---]	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Succeeding Entity	Late Illinois Confederation	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	population migration	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Preceding Entity 1400 CE 1650 CE	Oneota (us_oneota) [population replacement]
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Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Language Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Algonquian	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Language	Miami Illinois	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Religion Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

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

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[2,000 to 3,000] people	1640 CE
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Polity Territory	[14,000 to 19,000] km²	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Polity Population	[8,000 to 12,000] people	1700 CE
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Polity Population	[600 to 300] people	1800 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[1 to 3]	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Religious Level	1	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Military Level	2	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Administrative Level	2	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Professions Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Military Officer	Uncoded Undecided	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Source Of Support	uncoded Undecided	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Present Uncertain	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Specialized Government Building	Absent Uncertain	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Merit Promotion	Uncoded Undecided	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Uncoded Undecided	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Examination System	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Law Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Judge	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Court	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Irrigation System	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Port	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Canal	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Bridge	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Information / Writing System Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Script	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Nonwritten Record	Present	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Mnemonic Device	Present	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Sacred Text	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Religious Literature	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Practical Literature	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Philosophy	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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History	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Fiction	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Calendar	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Information / Money Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Paper Currency	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Article	Unknown Suspected	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Information / Postal System Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

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

Information / Measurement System Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

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

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Moat	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Fortified Camp	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Earth Rampart	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Ditch	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Complex Fortification	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Long Wall	absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Military use of Metals Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Iron	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Copper	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Bronze	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Projectiles Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Sling	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Self Bow	Present	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Javelin	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Present	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Crossbow	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Composite Bow	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Atlatl	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Handheld weapons Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Sword	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Spear	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Polearm	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Dagger	Present	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Battle Axe	Present	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Animals used in warfare Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Elephant	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Donkey	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Dog	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Camel	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Armor Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Shield	Present	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Scaled Armor	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Plate Armor	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Limb Protection	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Leather Cloth	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Laminar Armor	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Helmet	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Chainmail	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Breastplate	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Naval technology Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent Inferred	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent	1640 CE 1717 CE
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Human Sacrifice Early Illinois Confederation (us_early_illinois_confederation)

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