Home Region: Mesopotamia (Southwest Asia)

Early Dynastic

2900 BCE 2500 BCE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 iq_early_dynastic / IqEDyn*

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

4000 BCE 2900 BCE Uruk (iq_uruk) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:

No Polity found. Add one here.

General Description

The Early Dynastic polity was not a single political unit, but rather a conglomeration of various smaller polities which shared most of the features, either cultural, social, political or economic. To cite Hamblin: "Politically Sumer in the Early Dynastic period was divided into a number of separate and feuding independent city-states engaged in complex pattern of cooperation, alliance, conflict and war. ^[1] Most of the cities were ruled by the kings-priests (called lugal or en) which competed with other city-states. The Early Dynastic Period is directly linked to previous polities, especially Jemdet Nasr and most of the urban centres were still occupied and developed. According to Chavrat: "For the earlier part of the ED period, three types of architectural layout stand out: spacious residences in enclosures (sometimes oval such as those observed on the west mound of Abu Salabikh and elsewhere); regular buildings on ordered plans, comprising most of those currently described as ‘temples’ and ‘palaces’; and, finally, densely packed urban networks such as those of the Abu Salabikh Central Mound or of the ‘Y’ sounding at Kiš." ^[2] The position of temples were very high, and fulfilled not only religious or ceremonial role, but also political and administrative. The temples had their own fields and animals and were independent institutions, but also obtained gifts for god or goddess from people. Moreover, many people, mostly farmers were obligated to render some services and work. ^[3] The recent studies, however, indicated on dominant role of temple as social and economic institution in Early Dynastic Period I, but gradually the palaces gained prominent position. There is assumed that military victory of some rulers played significant role in forming high position of palace and secular power. ^[4] ^[5] The Early Dynastic Period is also described as a time when the first very intensive military campaigns and conflicts happened. The increase of warfare activity was probably caused by a need of new agricultural lands and water rights, and it also reflected the process of cumulation of power and growth of political significance of some individuals. ^[6] The main source of information concerning the political history of Sumer in the Early Dynastic Period is the Sumerian king-list, which contained the names of ling ruling in various Mesopotamian cities. The main problem, however, is to reconstruct both the exact time of each ruling and the synchronize the ruling of each king. The list mentioned few royal dynasty such as the first, second and third dynasty of Kish (with kings Enmebarasi, Agga, etc), the first dynasty of Uruk (one of the most known kings were Gilgamesh, Enmerkar, Lugalbanda), the first dynasty of Ur, dynasty of Adab, dynasty of Mari, dynasty of Hamazi, dynasty of Awan, dynasty of Akshak. There is assumed that the supremacy of Uruk dynasty correlates with duration of Early Dynastic Period II (circa 2650-2550 BCE). ^[7]
"What is known is that by the third millennium B.C., the Sumerians had improved the shape of the bricks - loaf-shaped at first - by making them flat on one side and convex on the other. More importantly, they also invented the kiln to harden the bricks. Now harder and waterproof, the bricks were also porous, and absorbed some of the bitumen used as mortar and became strong as rock. Esir was then mixed with straw or clay to make it into a stiff mortar capable of sustaining the heavy load of the superimposed brickwork without sagging. Thus were built, until 2200 B.C., the palaces and temples of distant Sumerian kings in such ancient cities as Kish, Ur and Uruk. (Bilkadi, Z. 1984. Bitumen: A History. Saudi Aramco World. November/December. pp 2-9. https://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198406/bitumen.-.a.history.htm)

[1]: Hamblin 2006, 44

[2]: Chavrat 2012, 235

[3]: Gadd 1971, 137-138

[4]: Evans 2012, 121

[5]: Cohen 2005, 3-5

[6]: McIntosh 2005, 71

[7]: Hamblin 2006, 44-49

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

Temporal Bounds

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

2 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious 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 Port

1 Canal

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

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

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

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

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic) was in:
(2900 BCE 2351 BCE)	Southern Mesopotamia

Home NGA: Southern Mesopotamia

General Variables

Identity and Location Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	38 S	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Original Name	Early Dynastic	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Capital	None (Absent Capital)	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[2900 BCE ➜ 2500 BCE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Succeeding Entity	Akkadian Empire	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Preceding Entity 4000 BCE 2900 BCE	Uruk (iq_uruk) [continuity]
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Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Degree of Centralization	nominal	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Language Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	isolate	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Language	Sumerian	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Religion Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

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

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Polity Territory	[1,200 to 20,200] km²	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Polity Population	[20,200 to 86,300] people	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[4 to 6]	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Religious Level	- Undecided	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Professions Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Professional Priesthood	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Professional Military Officer	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Absent	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Merit Promotion	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Examination System	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Law Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Judge	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Formal Legal Code	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Court	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Irrigation System	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Food Storage Site	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Port	Uncoded Undecided	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Canal	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Information / Writing System Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Script	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Nonwritten Record	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Religious Literature	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Practical Literature	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Philosophy	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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History	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Fiction	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Calendar	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Information / Money Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Precious Metal	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Paper Currency	Absent	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Foreign Coin	Absent	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Information / Postal System Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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General Postal Service	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Courier	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

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

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Moat	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Fortified Camp	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Earth Rampart	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Ditch	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Complex Fortification	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Military use of Metals Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Copper	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Bronze	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Projectiles Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent Inferred	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent Inferred	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Sling	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Self Bow	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Javelin	Absent Inferred	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent Inferred	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent Inferred	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Crossbow	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Composite Bow	Absent	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Atlatl	Absent	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Handheld weapons Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present Inferred	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Sword	Present Inferred	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Spear	Present Inferred	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Polearm	Present Inferred	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Dagger	Present Inferred	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Battle Axe	Present Inferred	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Elephant	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Donkey	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Dog	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Camel	Unknown	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Armor Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Shield	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Scaled Armor	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Plate Armor	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Limb Protection	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Leather Cloth	Present Inferred	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Laminar Armor	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Helmet	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Chainmail	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Breastplate	Unknown Suspected	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Naval technology Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

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

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Transitional (Absent -> Present)	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Transitional (Absent -> Present)	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Transitional (Absent -> Present)	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent Inferred	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Present	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Transitional (Absent -> Present)	2900 BCE 2500 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic)

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