Home Region:  Western Europe (Europe)

French Kingdom - Late Capetian

1150 CE 1328 CE
EQ 2020  fr_capetian_k_2 / FrCaptL
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
987 CE 1150 CE Proto-French Kingdom (fr_capetian_k_1)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
1328 CE 1450 CE French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)    [continuity]

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  General Description  
In the history of France the Late Capetian period (1150-1328 CE) was a character-defining period of administrative centralization and demographic expansion.
Population and political organization
Before Philip II (r. 1180-1223 CE), government was very simple and closely linked to the king’s court, which was still itinerant, moving wherever the king went. [1] At the core of the French king’s government were a few major officials with household titles (chancellor, seneschal, butler, chamberlain and constable). [2] From the 12th century onwards, these positions were the preserve of the aristocracy. [2] [3]
Philip II was likewise surrounded by a group of close counsellors, [2] but he also laid some of the foundations of a more formal administrative system. [4] More than ever, government activity was recorded in writing; registers and government records for finance and justice were placed in a dedicated archive. [5] The clergy of the Christian Church, which had long provided a pool of ’educated, literature and numerate subjects’, continued to be a vital resource for the government and administration, while the Knights Templar military order advised and under Philip II controlled the treasury from the Paris Temple. [6] [2] However, an indication of the increasing specialization of central government, men of lesser status, such as marshals, were increasingly often appointed to important official positions. [2] The first truly professional administration in Paris dates from about 1250 CE [3] and included distinct departments for finance, justice, the chancery and the treasury, housed within the Royal Palace on the Île de la Cité. [7]
The power of the royal centre over the regions (for instance, the power of the French king to make laws binding across the whole of his territory) steadily increased during the Late Capetian period. [8] Seneschals who had previously served as the senior officials in the households of dukes, barons, and counts were generally retained but now became royal appointees. [9] From the reign of Louis VIII (1223-1226 CE), apanages were carved out in peripheral regions and placed under the control of the sons of the ruler. [10]
From the 11th to the 14th century CE, the French population almost quadrupled from about 4 to 15 million. [11] The population of Paris may have grown from about 25,000 people in 1200 CE to 210,000 in 1328 CE. [11]

[1]: (Clark and Henneman 1995, 1317) Clark, William W., and John Bell Henneman, Jr. 1995. “Paris.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1314-30. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/HS8644XK

[2]: (Bradbury 2013, 249) Bradbury, Jim. 2013. Philip Augustus: King of France 1180-1223. London: Routledge. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/XSFRWX7E

[3]: (Pegues 1995, 1333) Pegues, Franklin J. 1995. “Parlement de Paris.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1332-33. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/HHFUSQER

[4]: (Spufford 2006, 67) Spufford, Peter. 2006. Power and Profit: The Merchant in Medieval Europe. London: Thames and Hudson. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/N7ZCQTEW

[5]: (Bradbury 2013, 248-49) Bradbury, Jim. 2013. Philip Augustus: King of France 1180-1223. London: Routledge. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/XSFRWX7E

[6]: (Martin 2011) Martin, Sean. 2011. The Knights Templar: The History and Myths of the Legendary Military Order. Harpenden: Pocket Essentials. Seshat URL:https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/S2RA6VRR

[7]: (Spufford 2006, 68) Spufford, P. 2006. Power and Profit: The Merchant in Medieval Europe. Thames and Hudson. London.

[8]: (Pegues 1995, 1007-08) Pegues, Franklin J. 1995. “Law and Justice.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1005-11. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/UH73VNTJ

[9]: (Henneman, Jr. 1995, 1645) Henneman, Jr., John Bell. 1995. “Seneschal.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1645. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/H7UJDBAS

[10]: (Suarez 1995, 97) Suarez, Pedro J. 1995. “Apanage.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 97-98. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ZVMB3BUD

[11]: (Percy, Jr. 1995, 1416) Percy, Jr., William A. 1995. “Population and Demography.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1415-17. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/QI73FMSM

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2) was in:
 (1150 CE 1327 CE) Paris Basin
Home NGA: Paris Basin

General Variables
Identity and Location French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 31 U 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Original Name French Kingdom - Late Capetian 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Capital 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Temporal Bounds French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Peak Years
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Suprapolity Relations none 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Supracultural Entity Latin Christendom 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Succeeding Entity French Kingdom - Early Valois 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Succeeding Entity
1328 CE 1450 CE
French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)   [continuity] 
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Preceding Entity
987 CE 1150 CE
Proto-French Kingdom (fr_capetian_k_1)   [continuity] 
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Degree of Centralization 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Degree of Centralization 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Language French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Linguistic Family Indo-European 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Language 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Language 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Language 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Religion French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Population of the Largest Settlement 1150 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement 1200 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement 1250 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement 1300 CE
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Polity Territory 1150 CE
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Polity Territory 1200 CE
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Polity Territory 1250 CE
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Polity Territory 1300 CE
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Polity Population 1150 CE
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Polity Population 1200 CE
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Polity Population 1250 CE
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Polity Population 1300 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Settlement Hierarchy 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Religious Level 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Military Level 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Administrative Level 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Professions French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Professional Soldier 1150 CE 1199 CE
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Professional Soldier 1200 CE 1283 CE
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Professional Soldier 1284 CE 1328 CE
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Professional Priesthood 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Professional Military Officer 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Specialized Government Building 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Merit Promotion 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Examination System 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Law French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Professional Lawyer 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Judge 1150 CE  1328 CE
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1150 CE  1328 CE
Court 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Market 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Irrigation System 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Food Storage Site 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Transport Infrastructure French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Road 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Port 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Canal 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Bridge 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Special-purpose Sites French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Mines or Quarry 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Information / Writing System French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Written Record 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Script 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Sacred Text 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Religious Literature 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Practical Literature 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Philosophy 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification 1150 CE  1328 CE
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History 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Fiction 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Information / Money French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Precious Metal Unknown Suspected 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Paper Currency Absent Inferred 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Indigenous Coin 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Foreign Coin Unknown Suspected 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Article Unknown Suspected 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Information / Postal System French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Postal Station 1150 CE  1328 CE
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General Postal Service 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Courier 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Information / Measurement System French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Wooden Palisade 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Unknown Suspected 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Moat 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Fortified Camp Present 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Earth Rampart 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Ditch 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Complex Fortification 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Long Wall absent 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Military use of Metals French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Steel 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Iron 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Copper 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Bronze 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Projectiles French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Tension Siege Engine 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Sling Siege Engine 1150 CE 1199 CE
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Sling Siege Engine 1200 CE 1328 CE
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Sling Unknown Suspected 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Self Bow 1150 CE 1200 CE
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Self Bow 1201 CE 1328 CE
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Javelin 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Handheld Firearm 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Crossbow 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Composite Bow 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Atlatl 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Handheld weapons French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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War Club 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Sword 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Spear 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Polearm 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Dagger 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Battle Axe 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Animals used in warfare French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Horse 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Elephant Absent 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Donkey Unknown Suspected 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Camel Absent 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Armor French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Wood Bark Etc 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Shield 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Scaled Armor 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Plate Armor 1150 CE 1249 CE
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Plate Armor 1250 CE 1328 CE
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Limb Protection 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Leather Cloth 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Laminar Armor 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Helmet 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Chainmail 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Breastplate 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Naval technology French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Specialized Military Vessel 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 1150 CE  1328 CE
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Human Sacrifice French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2)
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Instability Data
Power Transitions