Home Region: Mainland Southeast Asia (Southeast Asia)

Funan II

540 CE 640 CE

D G SC WF

EQ 2020 kh_funan_2 / KhFunaL

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

225 CE 540 CE Funan I (kh_funan_1) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

550 CE 825 CE Chenla (kh_chenla) [continuity]

General Description

’Funan’ is the name the Chinese gave to the polity (or cluster of polities) that, between the 3rd and the 7th centuries CE, ruled over much of the southern portion of mainland Southeast Asia ‒ including territory that is today southern Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar, as well as all of Cambodia. ^[1] Most likely, what we now know as Funan emerged from Iron Age settlements around the Mekong Delta and the banks of the Mekong river. ^[2] The best known of these settlements is the archaeological site of Oc Èo ‒ hence the name ’culture of Oc Èo’ to describe mainland Southeast Asian culture at this time. ^[3]
Our Late Funan period spans the century between 540 (the year following the final mention of a Funanese ruler in the Chinese records) ^[4] and 640 CE (a decade or so before the Chinese received embassies from a number of polities subjugated by the Northern Cambodian polity of Chenla). ^[5] This period was one of decline and dissolution, due in large part to significant changes in international trade networks and the nautical technologies on which these trade networks relied. ^[5]
Population and political organization
It is not entirely clear whether Funan was a unitary state, as suggested by Chinese records, or a cluster of competing centres, or indeed the most powerful out of many such polities. ^[6] The highest political authority was probably something like a Mon-Khmer poñ, that is, a settlement chief. There may have been a loose hierarchy of poñ, possibly based on wealth and political influence, with the wealthiest and most powerful poñ viewed as ’kings’ by the Chinese. ^[7]
No population estimates for Funan could be found in the literature, as work continues to locate and study settlements from this period. However, Chinese records state that, in the early 7th century, Funan included 30 settlements with about 1,000 households each. ^[8]

[1]: (West 2009, 222) Barbara West. 2009. Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania. New York: Facts on File.

[2]: (O’Reilly 2007, 91, 97) Dougald J. W. O’Reilly. 2007. Early Civilizations of Southeast Asia. Lanham: AltaMira Press.

[3]: (Gin 2004, 6-7) Ooi Keat Gin. 2004. ’Introduction’, in Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor, edited by Ooi Keat Gin, 1-109. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio.

[4]: (Tully 2005, 13) John Tully. 2005. A Short History of Cambodia: From Empire to Survival. Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.

[5]: (Hall 2010, 60-61) Kenneth R. Hall. 2010. A History of Early Southeast Asia: Maritime Trade and Societal Development, 100-1500. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

[6]: (Mabbett and Chandler 1995, 73) Ian Mabbett and David Chandler. 1995. The Khmers. Oxford: Blackwell.

[7]: (Vickery 1998, 19-20) Michael Vickery. 1998. Society, Economics, and Politics in pre-Angkor Cambodia: The 7th-8th Centuries. Chicago: Centre for East Asian Cultural Studies.

[8]: (Miksic 2007, 125) John N. Miksic. 2007. Historical Dictionary of Ancient Southeast Asia. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

4 Capital

4 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

2 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

2 Language

Religion

1 Religion Genus

1 Religion Family

1 Alternate Religion Genus

1 Alternate Religion Family

1 Alternate Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 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 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 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply 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

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 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

2 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

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 Horse

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	Funan II (kh_funan_2) was in:
(540 CE 639 CE)	Cambodian Basin

Home NGA: Cambodian Basin

General Variables

Identity and Location Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	48 P	540 CE 640 CE
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Original Name	Funan II	540 CE 640 CE
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Capital	Vyadhapura/Angkor Borei	540 CE 640 CE
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Capital	Temu	540 CE 640 CE
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Capital	Nafuna	540 CE 640 CE
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Capital	Naravaranagara	540 CE 640 CE
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Alternative Name	bnam	540 CE 640 CE
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Alternative Name	biennium	540 CE 640 CE
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Alternative Name	vnam	540 CE 640 CE
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Alternative Name	Culture of Oc Eo	540 CE 640 CE
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Temporal Bounds Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	[450 CE ➜ 650 CE]
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Duration	[540 CE ➜ 640 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	nominal allegiance to [---]	540 CE 640 CE
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Supracultural Entity	Chinese cultural sphere	540 CE 640 CE
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Succeeding Entity	Zhenla	540 CE 640 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	540 CE 640 CE
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Preceding Entity 225 CE 540 CE	Funan I (kh_funan_1) [continuity]
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Succeeding Entity 550 CE 825 CE	Chenla (kh_chenla) [continuity]
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Degree of Centralization	confederated state	540 CE 640 CE
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Language Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Austro-Asiatic	540 CE 640 CE
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Language	Khmer	540 CE 640 CE
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Language	Mon	540 CE 640 CE
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Religion Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Religion Genus	Hinduism	540 CE 640 CE
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Religion Family	Saivist	540 CE 640 CE
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Alternate Religion Genus	Buddhism	540 CE 640 CE
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Alternate Religion Family	Mahayana	540 CE 640 CE
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Alternate Religion	Uncoded Undecided	540 CE 640 CE
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Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	2,000 people	540 CE 640 CE
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Polity Territory	264,200 km²	540 CE 640 CE
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Polity Population	[120,000 to 210,000] people	540 CE 640 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[3 to 4]	540 CE 640 CE
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Religious Level	2	540 CE 640 CE
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Military Level	2	540 CE 640 CE
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Administrative Level	[3 to 4]	540 CE 640 CE
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Professions Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Merit Promotion	Absent	540 CE 640 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Examination System	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Law Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Judge	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Court	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Irrigation System	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Food Storage Site	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Port	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Canal	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Bridge	Present Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Information / Writing System Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Script	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Sacred Text	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Religious Literature	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Practical Literature	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Philosophy	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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History	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Fiction	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Calendar	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Information / Money Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Absent	540 CE 640 CE
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Precious Metal	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Paper Currency	Absent	540 CE 640 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Present Disputed	540 CE 640 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent Disputed	540 CE 640 CE
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Foreign Coin	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Article	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Information / Postal System Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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General Postal Service	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Courier	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Information / Measurement System Funan II (kh_funan_2)

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

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	540 CE 640 CE
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Moat	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Fortified Camp	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Earth Rampart	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Ditch	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Complex Fortification	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Long Wall	8 km	540 CE 640 CE
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Military use of Metals Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Iron	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Copper	Present Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Bronze	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Projectiles Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Sling	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Self Bow	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Javelin	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	540 CE 640 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	540 CE 640 CE
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Crossbow	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Composite Bow	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Atlatl	Absent	540 CE 640 CE
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Handheld weapons Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Sword	Present Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Spear	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Polearm	Present Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Dagger	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Battle Axe	Present Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Animals used in warfare Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Elephant	Present Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Donkey	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Dog	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Camel	Absent	540 CE 640 CE
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Armor Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Shield	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Scaled Armor	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Plate Armor	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Limb Protection	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Leather Cloth	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Laminar Armor	Absent Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Helmet	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Chainmail	Unknown Suspected	540 CE 640 CE
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Breastplate	Present Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Naval technology Funan II (kh_funan_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Present	540 CE 640 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Present Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Present Inferred	540 CE 640 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Funan II (kh_funan_2)

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

Human Sacrifice Funan II (kh_funan_2)

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