Home Region:  Mongolia (Central and Northern Eurasia)

Xianbei Confederation

100 CE 250 CE
D G SC WF RG 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]

Displayed: 155 CE

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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
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions 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 Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 48 T Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Original Name Xianbei Confederation Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Capital None (Absent Capital) Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Alternative Name Hsien-pi Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Temporal Bounds Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years 155 CE Confident
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Duration [100 CE ➜ 250 CE] Confident
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Political and Cultural Relations Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Supracultural Entity proto-Mongolian Donghu Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Succeeding Entity Rouran Khaganate Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity cultural assimilation Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Preceding Entity
CE
continuity, cultural assimilation; Donghu [absorption]    Update here
Confident
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Succeeding Entity
300 CE 555 CE
Rouran Khaganate (mn_rouran_khaganate)   [continuity]  Confident
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Degree of Centralization nominal Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Degree of Centralization loose Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Language Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Proto-Mongolic Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Language Xianbei Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Religion Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement - Suspected 100 CE  250 CE
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Polity Territory [2,300,000 to 4,500,000] km2 Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Polity Population [1,000,000 to 1,500,000] people Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy - Suspected 100 CE  250 CE
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Religious Level 1 Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Military Level [5 to 6] Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Administrative Level 3 Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Professions Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Inferred 100 CE  250 CE
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Judge Absent Inferred 100 CE  250 CE
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Absent Inferred 100 CE  250 CE
Court Absent Inferred 100 CE  250 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Absent Inferred 100 CE  250 CE
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Irrigation System Absent Confident 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 Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Unknown Suspected 100 CE  250 CE
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Information / Writing System Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
Token Absent Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Precious Metal Absent Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Paper Currency Absent Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Indigenous Coin Absent Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Foreign Coin Absent Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Article Present Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Information / Postal System Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Inferred 100 CE  250 CE
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Iron Present Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Copper Present Inferred 100 CE  250 CE
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Bronze Present Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Projectiles Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Inferred 100 CE  250 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 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 Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Crossbow Absent Inferred 100 CE  250 CE
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Composite Bow Present Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Atlatl Absent Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Handheld weapons Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Sword Present Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Spear Present Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Polearm Unknown Suspected 100 CE  250 CE
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Dagger Present Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Battle Axe Present Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Animals used in warfare Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Present Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Elephant Absent Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Donkey Present Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 100 CE  250 CE
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Camel Present Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Armor Xianbei Confederation (mn_xianbei)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Present Inferred 100 CE  250 CE
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Shield Present Confident 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 Confident 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 Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Absent Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Absent Confident 100 CE  250 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent Confident 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 Tags Year(s) See More
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 Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
View all Crisis Cases
Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions