Home Region:  Western Europe (Europe)

Early Merovingian

481 CE 543 CE
EQ 2020  fr_merovingian_emp_1 / FrMervE
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
[elite migration; Roman Late Antiquity] [elite replacement]   Update here

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
543 CE 687 CE Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)    [continuity]

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  General Description  
In the early Merovingian period (481-543 CE), numerous Frankish kingdoms were united under the nominal leadership of Clovis I, who is traditionally considered to have become king of the Salian Franks in 481 CE. [1] Under Clovis, the capital moved from Tournai to Paris. [2] [3]
Population and political organization
Merovingian France was a largely decentralized kingdom based on the pre-existing Roman administrative system, in which cities were the basic units. [4] The city rulers, known as counts or grafio, who sent the king his tax revenue and carried out judicial and administrative functions, had access to both administrative officials and city archives (gesta municipalia). [5] [4] Groups of cities and counts could be placed under a duke for military and administrative purposes. [6]
In contrast, there was no elaborate central administration, the highest non-royal official being a figure known as the mayor of the palace. [7] The king’s capital and main residence was at Paris, where the population may have reached 30,000 by the 8th century CE, [8] although the court was always a peripatetic institution. [9] The king consulted a group of magnates (obtimates) at an annual gathering around 1 March. Written references to royal edicts are known from 614 CE onwards, but earlier royal legislation has not survived. [10] Merovingian kings had the authority to appoint dukes and counts as well as bishops, who were often ’royal servants with no known connections with their sees’. [11]
From 622 CE onwards the basic territorial divisions of the Merovingian Kingdom were Neustria (centred on the Seine and Oise rivers and associated with the Pactus Legis Salicae law code), [12] Burgundy (where the Liber Constitutionum was developed), and Austrasia (by the Rhine and Meuse, which came to possess its own mayor of the palace [13] and followed the Lex Ribvaria). [12] A fourth area, Aquitaine, had a special status due to its distance from the royal centres and was under less direct Merovingian control. [14] In the earliest times, Merovingian administration beyond the Rhine (in modern-day Germany) was less elaborate than that imposed further to the west: counts sent to rule in the east did not attempt to introduce literacy, currency or Christianity to their domains. [15]

[1]: (Drew 1991, 5) Drew, Katherine Fischer. 1991. “Introduction.” In The Laws of the Salian Franks: Translated and with an Introduction by Katherine Fischer Drew, 1-56. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/BT6A8ZH6.

[2]: (Wood 1994, 41) Wood, Ian. 1994. The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751. London: Longman. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ARUIRN35.

[3]: (DeVries and Smith 2007, 230) DeVries, Kelly, and Robert D. Smith. 2007. Medieval Weapons: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ZDQNCFQQ.

[4]: (Loseby 1998, 245-49) Loseby, S. T. 1998. “Gregory’s Cities: Urban Functions in Sixth-Century Gaul.” In Franks and Alamanni in the Merovingian Period: An Ethnographic Perspective, edited by I. N. Wood, 239-69. Woodbridge: Boydell Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/DT5E5GNS.

[5]: (Wood 1994, 204) Wood, Ian. 1994. The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751. London: Longman. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ARUIRN35.

[6]: (Bachrach 1972, 67) Bachrach, Bernard S. 1972. Merovingian Military Organization 481-751. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/SG5XNFPG.

[7]: (Halsall 2003, 28) Halsall, Guy. 2003. Warfare and Society in the Barbarian West, 450-900. London: Routledge. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/Z5EZBP2R.

[8]: (Clark and Henneman, Jr. 1995, 1316) Clark, William W., and John Bell Henneman, Jr. 1995. “Paris.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1314-30. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/HS8644XK.

[9]: (Wood 1994, 150-53) Wood, Ian. 1994. The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751. London: Longman. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ARUIRN35.

[10]: (Fouracre 1998, 286-89) Fouracre, P. J. 1998. “The Nature of Frankish Political Institutions in the Seventh Century.” In Franks and Alamanni in the Merovingian Period: An Ethnographic Perspective, edited by Ian Wood, 285-316. Woodbridge: Boydell Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/GT2AINW4.

[11]: (Wood 1994, 78) Wood, Ian. 1994. The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751. London: Longman. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ARUIRN35.

[12]: (Wood 1994, 112-15) Wood, Ian. 1994. The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751. London: Longman. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ARUIRN35.

[13]: (Fanning 1995, 157) Fanning, Steven. 1995. “Austrasia.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 156-57. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/GR2MKFDX.

[14]: (Wood 1994, 100, 146) Wood, Ian. 1994. The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751. London: Longman. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ARUIRN35.

[15]: (Anderson 2013, 126-27) Anderson, Perry. 2013. Passages from Antiquity to Feudalism. London: Verso. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/K6F5NBFF.

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1) was in:
 (481 CE 542 CE) Paris Basin
Home NGA: Paris Basin

General Variables
Identity and Location Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 31 U 481 CE  543 CE
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Original Name Early Merovingian 481 CE  543 CE
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Capital 481 CE  543 CE
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Alternative Name 481 CE  543 CE
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Alternative Name 481 CE  543 CE
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Alternative Name 481 CE  543 CE
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Alternative Name 481 CE  543 CE
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Alternative Name 481 CE  543 CE
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Alternative Name 481 CE  543 CE
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Alternative Name 481 CE  543 CE
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Temporal Bounds Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations none 481 CE  543 CE
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Supracultural Entity 481 CE  543 CE
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Succeeding Entity Middle Merovingian 481 CE  543 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity 481 CE  543 CE
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Preceding Entity
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Succeeding Entity
543 CE 687 CE
Middle Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_2)   [continuity] 
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Degree of Centralization 481 CE  543 CE
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Degree of Centralization 481 CE  543 CE
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Degree of Centralization 481 CE  543 CE
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Degree of Centralization 481 CE  543 CE
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Language Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Indo-European 481 CE  543 CE
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Language 481 CE  543 CE
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Religion Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Religion Genus Christianity 481 CE  543 CE
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Religion Family Catholic 481 CE  543 CE
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Religion Roman Catholic 481 CE  543 CE
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Alternate Religion Uncoded Undecided 481 CE  543 CE
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 481 CE  543 CE
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Polity Territory 481 CE  543 CE
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Polity Population 481 CE  543 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 481 CE  543 CE
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Religious Level 481 CE  543 CE
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Military Level 481 CE  543 CE
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Administrative Level 481 CE  543 CE
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Professions Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier 481 CE  543 CE
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Professional Priesthood 481 CE  543 CE
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Professional Military Officer 481 CE  543 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 481 CE  543 CE
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Merit Promotion Unknown Suspected 481 CE  543 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 481 CE  543 CE
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Examination System Unknown Suspected 481 CE  543 CE
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Law Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer 481 CE  543 CE
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Judge 481 CE  543 CE
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481 CE  543 CE
Court 481 CE  543 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Market 481 CE  543 CE
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Irrigation System 481 CE  543 CE
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Food Storage Site 481 CE  543 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System 481 CE  543 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road 481 CE  543 CE
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Port 481 CE  543 CE
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Canal 481 CE  543 CE
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Bridge 481 CE  543 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry 481 CE  543 CE
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Information / Writing System Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record 481 CE  543 CE
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Script 481 CE  543 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing 481 CE  543 CE
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Nonwritten Record 481 CE  543 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing 481 CE  543 CE
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Mnemonic Device Unknown Suspected 481 CE  543 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Unknown Suspected 481 CE  543 CE
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Sacred Text Unknown Suspected 481 CE  543 CE
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Religious Literature 481 CE  543 CE
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Practical Literature 481 CE  543 CE
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Philosophy 481 CE  543 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Present Inferred 481 CE  543 CE
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History 481 CE  543 CE
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Fiction 481 CE  543 CE
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Calendar Unknown Suspected 481 CE  543 CE
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Information / Money Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Precious Metal 481 CE  543 CE
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Paper Currency Unknown Suspected 481 CE  543 CE
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Indigenous Coin 481 CE  543 CE
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Foreign Coin 481 CE  543 CE
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Article 481 CE  543 CE
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Information / Postal System Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Unknown Suspected 481 CE  543 CE
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General Postal Service Unknown Suspected 481 CE  543 CE
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Courier Unknown Suspected 481 CE  543 CE
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Information / Measurement System Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade 481 CE  543 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared 481 CE  543 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared 481 CE  543 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Unknown Suspected 481 CE  543 CE
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Modern Fortification 481 CE  543 CE
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Moat 481 CE  543 CE
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Fortified Camp 481 CE  543 CE
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Earth Rampart 481 CE  543 CE
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Ditch 481 CE  543 CE
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Complex Fortification 481 CE  543 CE
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Long Wall unknown Suspected 481 CE  543 CE
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Military use of Metals Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel 481 CE  543 CE
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Steel 481 CE  543 CE
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Iron 481 CE  543 CE
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Copper 481 CE  543 CE
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Bronze 481 CE  543 CE
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Projectiles Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine 481 CE  543 CE
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Sling Siege Engine 481 CE  543 CE
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Sling 481 CE  543 CE
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Self Bow 481 CE  543 CE
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Javelin 481 CE  543 CE
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Handheld Firearm 481 CE  543 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 481 CE  543 CE
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Crossbow 481 CE  543 CE
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Composite Bow 481 CE  543 CE
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Atlatl 481 CE  543 CE
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Handheld weapons Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 481 CE  543 CE
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Sword 481 CE  543 CE
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Spear 481 CE  543 CE
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Polearm 481 CE  543 CE
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Dagger 481 CE  543 CE
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Battle Axe 481 CE  543 CE
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Animals used in warfare Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse 481 CE  543 CE
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Elephant 481 CE  543 CE
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Donkey 481 CE  543 CE
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Dog 481 CE  543 CE
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Camel 481 CE  543 CE
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Armor Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc 481 CE  543 CE
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Shield 481 CE  543 CE
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Scaled Armor 481 CE  543 CE
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Plate Armor 481 CE  543 CE
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Limb Protection 481 CE  543 CE
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Leather Cloth 481 CE  543 CE
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Laminar Armor 481 CE  543 CE
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Helmet 481 CE  543 CE
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Chainmail 481 CE  543 CE
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Breastplate 481 CE  543 CE
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Naval technology Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel 481 CE  543 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc 481 CE  543 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service 481 CE  543 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 481 CE  543 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 481 CE  543 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 481 CE  543 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 481 CE  543 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 481 CE  543 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 481 CE  543 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 481 CE  543 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 481 CE  543 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 481 CE  543 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 481 CE  543 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 481 CE  543 CE
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Human Sacrifice Early Merovingian (fr_merovingian_emp_1)
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Instability Data
Power Transitions