Home Region: Mainland Southeast Asia (Southeast Asia)

Ayutthaya

1593 CE 1767 CE

D G SC WF R CC

EQ 2020 th_ayutthaya / ThAyuth

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

1593 CE 1767 CE Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

1782 CE 1873 CE Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin) [continuity]

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General Description

The city of Ayutthaya was founded in 1351 CE in the Chao Phraya Basin, in modern-day Thailand, and soon emerged as a dominant force in the region, turning neighbouring mueang, or city-states, into its tributaries. ^[1] This was largely thanks to its advantageous geographical position, which allowed it to become an entrepôt where goods could be exchanged between China to the east, India and Arabia to the west, and the Malay archipelago to the south. ^[2] In 1569, Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese army. ^[3] Here, we only consider the second phase of the polity’s history, starting in 1593, when Ayutthaya regained its independence after defeating Burma at the Battle of Nong Sarai. ^[4] The kingdom flourished throughout the 17th century, regaining its status as the dominant political and economic power of mainland Southeast Asia and ruling over Khmer, Lao, Lanna, and Shan. ^[5] The polity may have reached its peak under King Borommakot (reigned 1733‒1758): during this time, Ayutthaya faced no serious external threats (indeed, it made peace with Burma and consolidated its hold over Cambodia), and supplanted Sri Lanka as the preeminent centre of Buddhist culture. ^[6] Shortly afterwards, however, hostilities with Burma resumed due to the ambitions of a new Burmese dynasty. In 1767, Ayutthaya was once again captured ‒ and this time, it was destroyed. ^[7]
A number of different spellings of Ayutthaya are in use, including Ayuthaya, Ayudhya, and Ayuthia. ^[8]
Population and political organization
In the Ayutthaya Kingdom, kings ruled over a society composed of a ’service nobility of maybe 2000 people and their families, and a mass of people bound to surrender some or all of their labour to the elite’. ^[9] There was a four-part administrative structure: one ministry was dedicated to the palace and the capital; one to military affairs and relations with tributary states and cities; one to trade, the treasury, and foreign communities; and one, made up of Brahmans, to ritual, astrology, and records. ^[9]
It is difficult to give a firm figure for the population of the kingdom as a whole. However, Ayutthaya may have been the largest city in Southeast Asia in the 17th and 18th centuries, ^[10] with perhaps 150,000 inhabitants in 1700 and 160,000 in 1750. ^[11]

[1]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, xv, 7-13) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[2]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, 10) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[3]: (Wyatt 1984, 100) David K. Wyatt. 1984. Thailand: A Short History. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

[4]: (Wyatt 1984, 103) David K. Wyatt. 1984. Thailand: A Short History. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

[5]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, 13-18) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[6]: (Wyatt 1984, 130-31) David K. Wyatt. 1984. Thailand: A Short History. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

[7]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, 21-22) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[8]: (Ooi 2004, xxiii) Keat Gin Ooi. 2004. Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia from Angkor Wat to East Timor. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

[9]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, 15) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[10]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, 13) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[11]: Christopher K. Chase-Dunn 2001, personal communication 2012

General Variables

Identity and Location

4 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

8 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Scale of Supracultural Interaction

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

2 Polity Succession

Language

1 Linguistic Family

2 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

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

2 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 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 General Postal Service

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

9 Power Transition

Instability Events

14 Instability Event

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya) was in:
(1594 CE 1767 CE)	Cambodian Basin

Home NGA: Cambodian Basin

General Variables

Identity and Location Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	47 P	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Utm Zone	47 Q	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Utm Zone	48 P	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Utm Zone	48 Q	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Original Name	Ayutthaya	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Capital	Ayutthaya	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Alternative Name	Ayutthaya	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Alternative Name	Krung Kao	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Alternative Name	Samai Krung Si Ayutthaya	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Alternative Name	Ayuthaya	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Alternative Name	Ayudhya	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Alternative Name	Ayuthia	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Alternative Name	Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Alternative Name	Anajak Ayutthaya	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Temporal Bounds Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	[1733 CE ➜ 1758 CE]
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Duration	[1593 CE ➜ 1767 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	nominal allegiance to [---]	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Supracultural Entity	Indianized Southeast Asia	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Succeeding Entity	Rattanakosin	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction	2,175,000 km²	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Succeeding Entity 1593 CE 1767 CE	Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya) [continuity]
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Succeeding Entity 1782 CE 1873 CE	Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin) [continuity]
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Language Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Tai-Kadai	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Language	Tai	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Language	Thai	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Religion Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

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

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	155,000 people	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Polity Territory	- Undecided	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	4	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Religious Level	6	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Military Level	6	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Administrative Level	6	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Professions Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Merit Promotion	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Examination System	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Law Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Judge	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Court	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Irrigation System	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Unknown Suspected	1596 CE 1633 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Present	1633 CE 1767 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Port	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Canal	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Bridge	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Information / Writing System Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Script	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Sacred Text	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Religious Literature	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Practical Literature	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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History	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Calendar	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Information / Money Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Precious Metal	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Paper Currency	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Foreign Coin	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Article	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Information / Postal System Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
General Postal Service	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Information / Measurement System Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

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

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Modern Fortification	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Moat	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Fortified Camp	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Earth Rampart	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Ditch	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Complex Fortification	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Long Wall	unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Military use of Metals Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Iron	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Copper	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Bronze	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Projectiles Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Sling	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Self Bow	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Javelin	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Crossbow	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Composite Bow	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Atlatl	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Handheld weapons Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Sword	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Spear	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Polearm	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Dagger	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Battle Axe	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Animals used in warfare Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Elephant	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Donkey	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Dog	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Camel	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Armor Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Shield	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Scaled Armor	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Plate Armor	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Limb Protection	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Leather Cloth	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Laminar Armor	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Helmet	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Chainmail	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Breastplate	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Naval technology Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
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Human Sacrifice Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

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