Home Region:  Mainland Southeast Asia (Southeast Asia)

Rattanakosin

1782 CE 1873 CE
EQ 2020  th_rattanakosin / ThRattn
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
1593 CE 1767 CE Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.


  General Description  
After the destruction of the city of Ayutthaya by the Burmese in 1767, the Chao Phraya Basin was briefly ruled by Phaya Taksin, a charismatic warrior-king of obscure origins who chose Thonburi as his capital, near Bangkok, an old Chinese trading settlement. In 1782, what remained of the old Ayutthaya aristocracy staged a coup and put their leader on the throne. This leader took the name of Rama I Chakri and moved the capital to Bangkok, known at the time as Rattanakosin or Krungthep. [1] Under Rama I, the kingdom rapidly expanded to the south (where it extended its control to the Malay peninsula), the north (where Chiang Mai became a new tributary), and the east (taking control of Vientiane and much of Cambodia). [2] It could be said to have reached its peak between 1793 and 1810, when it found new stability, regained control over important Asian trade networks, and witnessed a literary florescence, with the translation of several classics from different Asian languages. [3] Our ’ThRattn’ polity spans the 89 years between 1782 and 1873, when Rama V began a comprehensive series of modernizing reforms. [4]
Population and political organization
The Rattanakosin kingdom was ruled by the Thai aristocracy. The king was simply a primus inter pares ‒ indeed, some kings, such as Rama II and Rama IV, actually retreated into a ritual role and left the administration of the kingdom entirely to the nobility. Even during the reign of more active kings, such as Rama I and Rama III, the aristocracy still monopolized the key posts in the central administration. However, the king always led the country in spiritual matters: he was seen as a bodhisattva, a spiritually superior superhuman being tasked with preserving Buddhism and aiding his subjects in their ascent toward nirvana, for example through moral laws banning sinful pursuits. [5]
Evidence for the size of this polity’s population before 1911, the year of the first census, is sparse and unreliable. However, a reasonable estimate would be that, following slow growth beginning in the 1780s, the population reached just below 5 million by the middle of the 19th century. [6] It is not clear whether this estimate includes tributary states and cities.

[1]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, 27, 31) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[2]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, 27-28) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[3]: (Wyatt 1984, 154-55) David K. Wyatt. 1984. Thailand: A Short History. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

[4]: (Wyatt 1984, 194) David K. Wyatt. 1984. Thailand: A Short History. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

[5]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, 31-32) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[6]: (Dixon 2002, xxxii) Chris Dixon. 1999. The Thai Economy: Uneven Development and Internationalisation. London: Routledge.

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin) was in:
 (1782 CE 1873 CE) Cambodian Basin
Home NGA: Cambodian Basin

General Variables
Identity and Location Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 47 P 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Utm Zone 47 Q 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Utm Zone 48 P 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Utm Zone 48 Q 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Original Name 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Capital 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Alternative Name 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Alternative Name 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Temporal Bounds Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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Peak Years
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Supracultural Entity 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Succeeding Entity 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 2,175,000 km2 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Preceding Entity
1593 CE 1767 CE
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Degree of Centralization 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Language Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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Linguistic Family Tai-Kadai 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Language 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Religion Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Polity Territory 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Polity Population 1800 CE
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Polity Population 1850 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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Settlement Hierarchy 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Religious Level 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Military Level 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Administrative Level 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Professions Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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Professional Soldier 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Professional Priesthood 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Professional Military Officer 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Merit Promotion 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Examination System 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Law Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Judge 1782 CE  1873 CE
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1782 CE  1873 CE
Court 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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Market 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Irrigation System 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road 1782 CE 1857 CE
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Road 1857 CE 1873 CE
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Port 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Canal 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Bridge 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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Mines or Quarry 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Information / Writing System Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Script 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Nonwritten Record 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Sacred Text 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Religious Literature 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Practical Literature 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Philosophy 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification 1782 CE  1873 CE
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History 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Fiction 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Calendar 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Information / Money Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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Token 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Precious Metal 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Paper Currency 1782 CE 1862 CE
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Paper Currency 1862 CE 1873 CE
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Indigenous Coin 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Foreign Coin 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Article 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Information / Postal System Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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General Postal Service 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Information / Measurement System Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Modern Fortification 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Moat 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Fortified Camp 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Earth Rampart 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Ditch 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Complex Fortification 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Long Wall unknown Suspected 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Military use of Metals Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Iron 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Copper 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Bronze 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Projectiles Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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Tension Siege Engine 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Sling Siege Engine 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Sling 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Self Bow 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Javelin 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Handheld Firearm 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Crossbow 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Composite Bow 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Atlatl 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Handheld weapons Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Sword 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Spear 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Polearm 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Dagger 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Battle Axe 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Animals used in warfare Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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Horse 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Elephant 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Donkey 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Dog 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Camel 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Armor Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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Wood Bark Etc 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Shield 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Scaled Armor 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Plate Armor 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Limb Protection 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Leather Cloth 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Laminar Armor 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Helmet 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Chainmail 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Breastplate 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Naval technology Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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Specialized Military Vessel 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 1782 CE  1873 CE
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Human Sacrifice Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin)
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Instability Data
Power Transitions