Home Region:  Mainland Southeast Asia (Southeast Asia)

Khmer Kingdom

1432 CE 1594 CE
EQ 2020  kh_khmer_k / KhCambd
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
1220 CE 1432 CE Late Angkor (kh_angkor_3)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.


  General Description  
This polity covers the post-Angkor period of Cambodia’s history from the early 15th to the end of the 16th century CE. In 1432, the magnificent city of Angkor was sacked by the forces of King Trailok ‒ of the increasingly powerful Thai Kingdom of Ayutthaya ‒ who carried off the Khmer royal regalia as a symbol of their victory. [1] [2] A Khmer royal presence continued at Angkor in reduced form until around 1504, when the rulers retreated to a site near Phnom Penh on the Mekong River, southeast of Tonlé Sap Lake. [3] [4] However, Thai strength in the region continued to grow at the expense of the Khmer court, and in 1594 the then-capital Lovek was also attacked by the Thais, forcing the Cambodian king to flee to Laos. [5]
Due to the Angkor kings’ waning fortunes and endemic warfare with Ayutthaya, [6] it is difficult to identify the ’peak’ of this polity. Indeed, the post-Angkor period is sometimes referred to somewhat dismissively as the ’Middle Period’ of Cambodian history, [7] but it should be noted that this term tends to also encompass the span of time between 1594 and the establishment of the French Protectorate in 1863. [8]
Population and political organization
Although centralized Khmer power was much weaker than in former centuries, and very few inscriptions survive to throw light on political organization, [9] Khmer royals did still rise up periodically to assert their authority. For instance, historical accounts indicate that a king called Ang Chan reconquered Angkor in the 16th century and built a golden palace. [3] Meanwhile, the new capital on the lower Mekong was international in outlook, with quarters for Malay, Chinese and Japanese traders, [3] and some post-Classic Khmer kings had Japanese and Portuguese guards in their entourage. [10]
More generally, this period was characterized by increasing commercial, religious and political connections within mainland Southeast Asia and greater integration into global trade networks, [11] especially after the arrival of the Portuguese in 1511. [12] Wars between mainland Southeast Asian rulers did not preclude the development of a common, ’hybrid’ culture among the wider population. [11] Likewise, one reason for the relocation of the Khmer capital (in addition to Thai attacks and drought coupled with ’intense monsoons’) [13] was likely ’a desire for greater participation in seaborne trade’. [14]

[1]: (Stark 2006, 146, 164) Miriam T. Stark. 2006. ’From Funan to Angkor: Collapse and Regeneration in Ancient Cambodia’, in After Collapse: The Regeneration of Complex Societies, edited by Glenn M. Schwartz and John J. Nichols, 144-67. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press.

[2]: (Hall 2011, 233) Kenneth R. Hall. 2011. A History of Early Southeast Asia: Maritime Trade and Social Development, 100-1500. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

[3]: (Coe 2003, 208-09) Michael D. Coe. 2003. Angkor and the Khmer Civilization. New York: Thames & Hudson.

[4]: (Andaya 1992, 402-59) Barbara Watson Andaya. 1992. ’Political Development between the Sixteenth and Eighteenth Centuries’, in The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia, Vol. I: From Early Times to c. 1800, edited by Nicholas Tarling, 137-82. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[5]: (Coe 2003, 210) Michael D. Coe. 2003. Angkor and the Khmer Civilization. New York: Thames & Hudson.

[6]: (Andaya 1992, 421) Barbara Watson Andaya. 1992. ’Political Development between the Sixteenth and Eighteenth Centuries’, in The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia, Vol. I: From Early Times to c. 1800, edited by Nicholas Tarling, 137-82. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[7]: (Thompson 1997, 22) Ashley Thompson. 1997. ’Changing Perspectives: Cambodia after Angkor’, in Sculpture of Angkor and Ancient Cambodia: Millennium of Glory, edited by Helen I. Jessop and Thierry Zephir, 22-32. Washington, DC: National Gallery of Art.

[8]: (Coe 2003, 195) Michael D. Coe. 2003. Angkor and the Khmer Civilization. New York: Thames & Hudson.

[9]: (Thompson 1997, 22-23) Ashley Thompson. 1997. ’Changing Perspectives: Cambodia after Angkor’, in Sculpture of Angkor and Ancient Cambodia: Millennium of Glory, edited by Helen I. Jessop and Thierry Zephir, 22-32. Washington, DC: National Gallery of Art.

[10]: (Jacq-Hergoualc’h and Smithies 2007, 98) M. Jacq-Hergoualc’h and M. Smithies. 2007. The Armies of Angkor. Bangkok: Orchid Press.

[11]: (Andaya 1992, 411-12) Barbara Watson Andaya. 1992. ’Political Development between the Sixteenth and Eighteenth Centuries’, in The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia, Vol. I: From Early Times to c. 1800, edited by Nicholas Tarling, 137-82. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[12]: (Hall 2011, 35-36) Kenneth R. Hall. 2011. A History of Early Southeast Asia: Maritime Trade and Social Development, 100-1500. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

[13]: (Buckley et al. 2010, 6748) Brendan M. Buckley, Kevin J. Anchukaitisa, Daniel Penny, Roland Fletcher, Edward R. Cook, Masaki Sano, Le Canh Nam, Aroonrut Wichienkeeo, Ton That Minh and Truong Mai Hong. 2010. ’Climate as a Contributing Factor in the Demise of Angkor, Cambodia’. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 (15): 6748-51.

[14]: (Andaya 1992, 410) Barbara Watson Andaya. 1992. ’Political Development between the Sixteenth and Eighteenth Centuries’, in The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia, Vol. I: From Early Times to c. 1800, edited by Nicholas Tarling, 137-82. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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 Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k) was in:
 (1432 CE 1593 CE) Cambodian Basin
Home NGA: Cambodian Basin

General Variables
Identity and Location Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 48 P 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Original Name 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Capital 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Capital 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Capital 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Capital 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Alternative Name Kambudesa 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Alternative Name Khmer 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Alternative Name Kambuja 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Alternative Name Khmer Kingdom 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Alternative Name Angkor Period 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Alternative Name Kambuja-desa 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Alternative Name Kambudesa 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Temporal Bounds Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Peak Years
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations none 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Supracultural Entity 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Succeeding Entity 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Preceding Entity
1220 CE 1432 CE
Late Angkor (kh_angkor_3)   [continuity] 
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Degree of Centralization 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Language Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Linguistic Family Austro-Asiatic 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Linguistic Family Mon-Khmer 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Language 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Language 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Language 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Language 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Religion Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Polity Territory 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Polity Population 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Settlement Hierarchy 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Religious Level 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Military Level 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Administrative Level 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Professions Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Professional Soldier 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Professional Priesthood 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Professional Military Officer 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Merit Promotion 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Examination System 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Law Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Professional Lawyer 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Judge 1432 CE  1594 CE
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1432 CE  1594 CE
Court 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Market 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Irrigation System 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Food Storage Site 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Road 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Port 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Canal 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Bridge 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Mines or Quarry 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Information / Writing System Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Written Record 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Script 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Nonwritten Record 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Mnemonic Device 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Scientific Literature 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Sacred Text 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Religious Literature 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Practical Literature 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Philosophy 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification 1432 CE  1594 CE
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History 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Fiction 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Calendar 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Information / Money Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Token 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Precious Metal 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Paper Currency 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Indigenous Coin 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Foreign Coin 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Article 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Information / Postal System Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Postal Station 1432 CE  1594 CE
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General Postal Service 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Courier 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Information / Measurement System Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Modern Fortification 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Moat 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Fortified Camp 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Earth Rampart 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Ditch 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Complex Fortification 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Long Wall unknown Suspected 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Military use of Metals Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Steel 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Iron 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Copper 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Bronze 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Projectiles Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Tension Siege Engine 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Sling Siege Engine 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Sling 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Self Bow 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Javelin 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Handheld Firearm 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Crossbow 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Composite Bow 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Atlatl 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Handheld weapons Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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War Club 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Sword 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Spear 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Polearm 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Dagger 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Battle Axe 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Animals used in warfare Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Horse 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Elephant 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Donkey 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Dog 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Camel 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Armor Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Wood Bark Etc 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Shield 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Scaled Armor 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Plate Armor 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Limb Protection 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Leather Cloth 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Laminar Armor 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Helmet 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Chainmail 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Breastplate 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Naval technology Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Specialized Military Vessel 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 1432 CE  1594 CE
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Human Sacrifice Khmer Kingdom (kh_khmer_k)
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Instability Data
Power Transitions