Home Region: Mongolia (Central and Northern Eurasia)

Xianbei Confederation

100 CE 250 CE

D G SC WF R CC

EQ 2020 mn_xianbei / MnXianb

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

[continuity, cultural assimilation; Donghu] [absorption] Update here

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

300 CE 555 CE Rouran Khaganate (mn_rouran_khaganate) [continuity]

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General Description

The Orkhon Valley lies either side of the Orkhon River, in north-central Mongolia. Between about 100 and 250 CE, it was under the control of the Xianbei, pastoralists who also relied on hunting and, to a lesser extent, the cultivation of wheat, barley, and millet. ^[1] By 170 CE, the Xianbei empire extended 3,000 km along its east-west axis and 1,500 km along its north-south one, for a total of approximately 4,500,000 squared kilometers. ^[1] The most powerful Xianbei ruler, Tanshihuai (r. 136-181), divided his multiethnic empire into three parts (middle, eastern, and western); the nomadic peoples that occupied each part were ruled by the elders of the largest sites, though all elders were in turn subordinate to Tanshihuai himself. ^[2] Not many population estimates could be found in the literature, though Kradin provides an estimate of about 500,000 people, based on the fact that, under Tanshihuai’s rule, the Xianbei army included 100,000 horsemen: Kradin argues that a total population of 500,000 is possible because all adult men were likely potential warriors, and they likely made up one-fifth of the population. ^[3]

[1]: (Rogers 2012, 223)

[2]: (Kradin 2011, 200-201)

[3]: (Kradin 2011, 201)

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

1 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

2 Relationship to preceding Entity

2 Polity Succession

2 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

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

2 Written Record

2 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

2 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

2 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 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

1 Crisis Consequence

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei) was in:
(100 CE 250 CE)	Orkhon Valley

Home NGA: Orkhon Valley

General Variables

Identity and Location Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	48 T	100 CE 250 CE
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Original Name	Xianbei Confederation	100 CE 250 CE
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Capital	None (Absent Capital)	100 CE 250 CE
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Alternative Name	Hsien-pi	100 CE 250 CE
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Temporal Bounds Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	155 CE
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Duration	[100 CE ➜ 250 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Supracultural Entity	proto-Mongolian Donghu	100 CE 250 CE
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Succeeding Entity	Rouran Khaganate	100 CE 250 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	100 CE 250 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	cultural assimilation	100 CE 250 CE
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Preceding Entity	continuity, cultural assimilation; Donghu [absorption] Update here
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Succeeding Entity 300 CE 555 CE	Rouran Khaganate (mn_rouran_khaganate) [continuity]
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Degree of Centralization	nominal	100 CE 250 CE
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Degree of Centralization	loose	100 CE 250 CE
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Language Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Proto-Mongolic	100 CE 250 CE
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Language	Xianbei	100 CE 250 CE
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Religion Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

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

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	- Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Polity Territory	[2,300,000 to 4,500,000] km²	100 CE 250 CE
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Polity Population	[1,000,000 to 1,500,000] people	100 CE 250 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	- Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Religious Level	1	100 CE 250 CE
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Military Level	[5 to 6]	100 CE 250 CE
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Administrative Level	3	100 CE 250 CE
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Professions Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Merit Promotion	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Examination System	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Law Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Judge	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Court	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Irrigation System	Absent	100 CE 250 CE
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Food Storage Site	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Port	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Canal	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Bridge	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Information / Writing System Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Absent Inferred	100 CE 229 CE
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Written Record	Present Inferred	230 CE 250 CE
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Script	Absent Inferred	100 CE 229 CE
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Script	Present Inferred	230 CE 250 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Nonwritten Record	Present Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Absent Inferred	100 CE 229 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Present Inferred	230 CE 250 CE
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Mnemonic Device	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Sacred Text	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Religious Literature	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Practical Literature	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Philosophy	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Absent Inferred	100 CE 229 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Unknown Suspected	230 CE 250 CE
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History	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Fiction	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Calendar	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Information / Money Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Absent	100 CE 250 CE
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Precious Metal	Absent	100 CE 250 CE
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Paper Currency	Absent	100 CE 250 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent	100 CE 250 CE
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Foreign Coin	Absent	100 CE 250 CE
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Article	Present	100 CE 250 CE
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Information / Postal System Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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General Postal Service	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Courier	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Information / Measurement System Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

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

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Present Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Modern Fortification	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Moat	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Fortified Camp	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Earth Rampart	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Ditch	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Complex Fortification	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Long Wall	unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Military use of Metals Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Iron	Present	100 CE 250 CE
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Copper	Present Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Bronze	Present	100 CE 250 CE
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Projectiles Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	100 CE 250 CE
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Sling	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Self Bow	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Javelin	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	100 CE 250 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	100 CE 250 CE
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Crossbow	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Composite Bow	Present	100 CE 250 CE
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Atlatl	Absent	100 CE 250 CE
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Handheld weapons Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present	100 CE 250 CE
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Sword	Present	100 CE 250 CE
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Spear	Present	100 CE 250 CE
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Polearm	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Dagger	Present	100 CE 250 CE
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Battle Axe	Present	100 CE 250 CE
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Animals used in warfare Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	100 CE 250 CE
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Elephant	Absent	100 CE 250 CE
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Donkey	Present	100 CE 250 CE
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Dog	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Camel	Present	100 CE 250 CE
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Armor Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Shield	Present	100 CE 250 CE
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Scaled Armor	Present Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Plate Armor	Present Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Limb Protection	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Leather Cloth	Present	100 CE 250 CE
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Laminar Armor	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Helmet	Present Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Chainmail	Present Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Breastplate	Unknown Suspected	100 CE 250 CE
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Naval technology Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	100 CE 250 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Absent	100 CE 250 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	100 CE 250 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent Inferred	100 CE 250 CE
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Human Sacrifice Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)

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