Home Region:  Northeast Africa (Africa)

Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period

868 CE 969 CE
EQ 2020  eg_thulunid_ikhshidid / EgTulIk
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750 CE 946 CE Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)    [continuity]

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  General Description  
Egypt in the years between 868 and 969 CE is notable for frequent changes in rulers, including three separate regimes in just over a century: the Tulunid Dynasty, the Abbasid Restoration Period, and the Ikshidid Dynasty, which eventually gave way to the Fatimid Caliphate. The Tulunids were a Turkic Dynasty who established an independent rule over Egypt and parts of Syria during a time of instability caused by infighting in the Abbasid court in Damascus. There was a notable ’flowering’ of the arts under the Tulunid rulers, [1] but the highs and lows of this era of instability are best encapsulated by the reign of Khumarawayh. Although Egypt saw ’peace and prosperity’ under his rule, it has been argued that his extravagant lifestyle and ’lavish’ spending on building projects and the maintenance of a large standing army ’overtaxed the state’s resources’. [2] ’When Khumarawayh was murdered by one of his slaves in 896, the treasury was reportedly empty’. [2]
Population and political organization
Egypt during the Tulunid-Ikshidid period has been described as ’an autonomous state, albeit under Abbasid suzerainty’. [1] When Ahmad ibn Tulun was appointed prefect or governor of Egypt in 868 CE, it was a province of the Abbasid Caliphate. Tulun, who was of Turkish ancestry, was recruited from the military [3] [4] and ’never formally repudiated Abbasid authority’. [3] He took advantage of a revolt in Palestine and Syria to build up a new Egyptian army of Turkish, Nubian, and Greek mercenaries and slaves, which he paid for by seizing control of the revenue of Egypt from the Abbasid-appointed financial director in 871 CE. [2] Ibn Tulun also annexed Syria. [5]
With his new army and the Abbasids distracted by unrest in the Levant, Ibn Tulun worked to increase Egyptian autonomy from the caliph in Baghdad; [2] he stopped sending taxes to the Abbasids and established a new capital at al-Qatai, at the neck of the Nile Delta near Fustat. [4] This de facto arrangement became official in 886 CE, when a treaty with the Abbasid Dynasty decreed that Khumarawayh and his successors would govern Egypt for a term of three decades [2] - although Egypt would in fact be under Abbasid control again from 905 to 935 CE. [6] After the Ikshidids gained control of Egypt under Muhammad ibn Tughj (935‒946 CE), [2] the Abbasids, in a similar treaty in 939 CE, granted the governorship of Egypt and Syria to ’the Ikshid and his heirs’ for 30 years. [2]
The Tulunid governing apparatus included a vizier, [7] who, after the administrative reforms of Ibn Tulun, [5] apparently ran a competent bureaucracy that oversaw huge spending projects. Ibn Tulun built an aqueduct and a maristan (hospital), which cost 60,000 dinars. [1] Founded in 873 CE, the hospital was the first of its kind in Egypt. There was probably a functioning postal system (the Egyptian section of the Abbasid barid). Luxuries were never far away for the affluent elites, who spent their riches freely: Khumarawayh converted the maydan (city square) into a lush garden in the Mesopotamian tradition, while in the Ikshidid period Kafur’s palace near the Birkat Qarun cost a monumental 100,000 dinars. [8]
The population of Egypt and the Levant at this time may have totalled 6.5 million, [9] and the largest city, Fustat in Egypt, had perhaps 150,000 residents. [10]

[1]: (Raymond 2000, 26) André Raymond. 2000. Cairo. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

[2]: (Sundelin 2004) Lennart Sundelin. 2004. ’Egypt: Tulunids and Ikhshidids, 850-969’, in Encyclopedia of African History, edited by K. Shillington. Online edition. London: Routledge.

[3]: (Raymond 2000, 24) André Raymond. 2000. Cairo. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

[4]: (Middleton, ed. 2015, 966) J. Middleton, ed. 2015. World Monarchies and Dynasties. London: Routledge.

[5]: (Esposito, ed. 2003, 130) John L. Esposito, ed. 2003. The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[6]: (Raymond 2000, 34) André Raymond. 2000. Cairo. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

[7]: (Raymond 2000, 35) André Raymond. 2000. Cairo. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

[8]: (Raymond 2000, 27, 34) André Raymond. 2000. Cairo. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

[9]: (McEvedy and Jones 1978, 138, 229) Colin McEvedy and Richard Jones. 1978. Atlas of World Population History. London: Allen Lane.

[10]: (Modelski 2003, 55) George Modelski. 2003. World Cities -3000 to 2000. Washington, DC: Faros.

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid) was in:
 (868 CE 969 CE) Upper Egypt
Home NGA: Upper Egypt

General Variables
Identity and Location Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 36 R 868 CE  969 CE
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Original Name Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period 868 CE  969 CE
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Capital 868 CE  969 CE
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Capital 868 CE  969 CE
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Alternative Name Abbasid Caliphate 868 CE  969 CE
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Alternative Name Egypt - Tulunid-Abbasid-Ikhshidid Period 868 CE  969 CE
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Alternative Name Tulunid Dynasty 868 CE  969 CE
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Alternative Name Ikhshidid Dynasty 868 CE  969 CE
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Temporal Bounds Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations 868 CE  969 CE
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Suprapolity Relations 868 CE  969 CE
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Supracultural Entity Islam 868 CE  969 CE
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Succeeding Entity Fatimid Caliphate 868 CE  969 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 868 CE  969 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity 868 CE  969 CE
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Preceding Entity
750 CE 946 CE
Abbasid Caliphate I (iq_abbasid_cal_1)   [continuity] 
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Degree of Centralization unitary state 868 CE  969 CE
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Language Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Afro-Asiatic 868 CE  969 CE
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Language Arabic 868 CE  969 CE
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Religion Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
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Religion Genus Islam 868 CE  969 CE
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Religion Family Sunni 868 CE  969 CE
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Alternate Religion Uncoded Undecided 868 CE  969 CE
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 868 CE  969 CE
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Polity Territory 868 CE  969 CE
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Polity Population 868 CE  969 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 868 CE  969 CE
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Religious Level 868 CE  969 CE
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Military Level 868 CE  969 CE
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Administrative Level 868 CE  969 CE
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Professions Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier 868 CE  969 CE
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Professional Priesthood 868 CE  969 CE
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Professional Military Officer 868 CE  969 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Merit Promotion 868 CE  969 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 868 CE  969 CE
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Examination System Absent Inferred 868 CE  969 CE
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Law Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer 868 CE  969 CE
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Judge 868 CE  969 CE
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868 CE  969 CE
Court 868 CE  969 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
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Market 868 CE  969 CE
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Irrigation System 868 CE  969 CE
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Food Storage Site Present Inferred 868 CE  969 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System 868 CE  969 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
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Road Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Port 868 CE  969 CE
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Canal Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Bridge Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Information / Writing System Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Script Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Nonwritten Record Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent 868 CE  969 CE
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Mnemonic Device Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
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Scientific Literature 868 CE  969 CE
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Sacred Text 868 CE  969 CE
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Religious Literature Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Practical Literature 868 CE  969 CE
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Philosophy 868 CE  969 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Present 868 CE  969 CE
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History 868 CE  969 CE
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Fiction 868 CE  969 CE
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Calendar 868 CE  969 CE
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Information / Money Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Token Unknown Suspected 868 CE  969 CE
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Precious Metal Present Inferred 868 CE  969 CE
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Paper Currency Absent Inferred 868 CE  969 CE
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Indigenous Coin 868 CE  969 CE
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Foreign Coin 868 CE  969 CE
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Article Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Information / Postal System Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
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Postal Station 868 CE  969 CE
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General Postal Service 868 CE  969 CE
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Courier 868 CE  969 CE
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Information / Measurement System Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade 868 CE  969 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared 868 CE  969 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent 868 CE  969 CE
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Moat 868 CE  969 CE
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Fortified Camp Unknown Suspected 868 CE  969 CE
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Earth Rampart Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Ditch Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Complex Fortification 868 CE  969 CE
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Long Wall absent 868 CE  969 CE
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Military use of Metals Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel 868 CE  969 CE
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Iron 868 CE  969 CE
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Copper Absent 868 CE  969 CE
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Bronze 868 CE  969 CE
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Projectiles Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine 868 CE  969 CE
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Sling Siege Engine 868 CE  969 CE
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Sling 868 CE  969 CE
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Self Bow 868 CE  969 CE
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Javelin 868 CE  969 CE
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Handheld Firearm 868 CE  969 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 868 CE  969 CE
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Crossbow 868 CE  969 CE
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Composite Bow 868 CE  969 CE
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Atlatl 868 CE  969 CE
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Handheld weapons Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 868 CE  969 CE
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Sword 868 CE  969 CE
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Spear 868 CE  969 CE
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Polearm 868 CE  969 CE
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Dagger 868 CE  969 CE
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Animals used in warfare Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse 868 CE  969 CE
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Elephant 868 CE  969 CE
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Donkey 868 CE  969 CE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 868 CE  969 CE
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Camel 868 CE  969 CE
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Armor Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc 868 CE  969 CE
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Shield 868 CE  969 CE
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Scaled Armor 868 CE  969 CE
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Plate Armor 868 CE  969 CE
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Limb Protection 868 CE  969 CE
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Leather Cloth 868 CE  969 CE
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Laminar Armor 868 CE  969 CE
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Helmet 868 CE  969 CE
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Chainmail 868 CE  969 CE
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Breastplate 868 CE  969 CE
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Naval technology Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel 868 CE  969 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc 868 CE  969 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service 868 CE  969 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 868 CE  969 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 868 CE  969 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 868 CE  969 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 868 CE  969 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 868 CE  969 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Present 868 CE  969 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 868 CE  969 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 868 CE  969 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 868 CE  969 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 868 CE  969 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 868 CE  969 CE
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Human Sacrifice Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period (eg_thulunid_ikhshidid)
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Instability Data
Power Transitions