Home Region: Mesopotamia (Southwest Asia)

Akkadian Empire

2270 BCE 2083 BCE

D G SC WF R CC

EQ 2020 iq_akkad_emp / IqAkkad

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

[cultural assimilation, continuity; Lagash Dynasty] [continuity] Update here

Succeeding Entity:

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General Description

The polity at Akkad in Iraq is often thought to represent the "first world empire". ^[1] ^[2] Its name derives from city of Akkad (Agade, location still undetermined), which was a capital of the kingdom. The period is also called Sargonic Period after the founder of Akkad and the ruling dynasty - Sargon (Sharrukin). The end of Akkadian empire seems to be associated with the invasion of the Gutians, and is correlated with some climate changes. ^[3]
Sargon’s power mainly depended on his army, which was probably a regular standing army. ^[4] Foster (2016) describes an Empire as "an entity put together and maintained by force, with provinces administered by officials sent out from the capital in the heartland" and claims this is "precisely what we see in the Akkadian period." ^[5] Barjamovic (2012) notes that the formation of the private royal army and the construction of regional military strongholds together with the division of the conquered territories into provinces was the key to Akkad’s "permanent imperial presence." ^[6]
To increase control from the center, Sargon appointed Akkadian governors (ensi) in Sumerian cities in a place of older Sumerian rulers ^[7] although some cities continued to be ruled by a local ensi. ^[8] In fact, all local officials probably had a great deal of de facto independence. ^[8] As an additional means of control, Sargon sent his daughter - Enheduanna - to be the highest priestess of god Sin in Uruk. This practice was continued by his descendants. ^[9]
Naram-Sin, a grandson of Sargon, was one of the greatest ruler of Akkad in terms of military conquest and administration. His reforms included a unified system of measurements. He undertook also the process of renovation of Ekur temple and on his death was deified and treated as protective deity. ^[10] Akkadian was the official language of empire, and all official documents were written in Akkadian, although Sumerian still was in use, especially in Southern Mesopotamia. ^[11]

[1]: (Brisch 2013, 120) N Brisch. 2013. History and chronology. In: H. Crawford (ed.), The Sumerian World.London and New York: Routledge, 111-130.

[2]: Liverani 1993

[3]: (Weiss 2002, 22) H Weiss. 2002. Akkadian. Akkadian Empire. In: P. N. Peregrine & M. Ember, Encyclopaedia of Prehistory. South and Southeast Asia, Volume 8. New York: Springer, 21-24.

[4]: (Hamblin 2006, 74-75) W J Hamblin. 2006. Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC. New York: Routledge.

[5]: (Foster 2016, 80) Benjamin R Foster. 2016. The Age of Agade. Inventing Empire In Ancient Mesopotamia. Routledge. London.

[6]: (Barjamović 2012, 130) G Barjamović. 2012. Mesopotamian Empires. In: P. Fibiger Bang & W. Scheidel (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the State in the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 120-160.

[7]: (Hamblin 2006, 75) W J Hamblin. 2006. Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC. New York: Routledge.

[8]: (Leverani 2014, 138) Mario Liverani. Soraia Tabatabai trans. 2014. The Ancient Near East. History, society and economy. Routledge. London.

[9]: (Franke 1995, 831-841) S Franke. 1995. Kings of Akkad: Sargon and Naram-Sin. In: J. M. Sasson (ed.) Civilization of Ancient Near East. Peabody: Hendrikson, 831-841.

[10]: (Franke 1995, 384) S Franke. 1995. Kings of Akkad: Sargon and Naram-Sin. In: J. M. Sasson (ed.) Civilization of Ancient Near East. Peabody: Hendrikson, 831-841.

[11]: (Van de Mieroop 2007, 67)

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

3 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Succeeding Entity

2 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

2 Linguistic Family

2 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

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

1 Occupational Complexity

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 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

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

1 Article

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

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

2 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

8 Power Transition

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp) was in:
(2350 BCE 2250 BCE)	Southern Mesopotamia
(2250 BCE 2150 BCE)	Southern Mesopotamia / Susiana
(2150 BCE 2113 BCE)	Susiana

Home NGA: Southern Mesopotamia

General Variables

Identity and Location Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	38 S	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Original Name	Akkadian Empire	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Capital	Agade	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Alternative Name	Agade	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Alternative Name	Sargonid Period	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Alternative Name	Sargonic Period	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	[2190 BCE ➜ 2154 BCE]
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Duration	[2270 BCE ➜ 2083 BCE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Succeeding Entity	Gutian Dynasty	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	cultural assimilation	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Preceding Entity	cultural assimilation, continuity; Lagash Dynasty [continuity] Update here
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Degree of Centralization	unitary state	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Language Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Semitic	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Linguistic Family	isolate language	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Language	Akkadian	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Language	Sumerian	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Religion Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

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

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[20,000 to 40,000] people	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Polity Territory	[450,000 to 1,000,000] km²	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Polity Population	- Undecided	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[4 to 5]	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Religious Level	4	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Military Level	[5 to 6]	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Administrative Level	5	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Professions Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Professional Priesthood	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Professional Military Officer	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Occupational Complexity	Uncoded Undecided	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Merit Promotion	Uncoded Undecided	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Examination System	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Law Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Judge	Absent Inferred	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Formal Legal Code	Present Inferred	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Court	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present Inferred	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Irrigation System	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Food Storage Site	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Unknown Suspected	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Port	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Canal	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present Inferred	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Information / Writing System Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Script	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Nonwritten Record	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Mnemonic Device	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Present Inferred	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Sacred Text	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Religious Literature	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Practical Literature	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Philosophy	Unknown Suspected	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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History	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Fiction	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Calendar	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Information / Money Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Precious Metal	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Paper Currency	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Foreign Coin	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Article	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Information / Postal System Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Present Inferred	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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General Postal Service	Uncoded Undecided	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Courier	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

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

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Unknown Suspected	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Unknown Suspected	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Moat	Unknown Suspected	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Fortified Camp	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Earth Rampart	Unknown Suspected	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Ditch	Unknown Suspected	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Complex Fortification	Unknown Suspected	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Long Wall	unknown Suspected	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Military use of Metals Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Iron	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Copper	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Bronze	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Projectiles Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Sling	Absent Inferred	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Self Bow	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Javelin	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Crossbow	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Composite Bow	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Atlatl	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Handheld weapons Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Sword	Present Uncertain	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Sword	Absent Uncertain	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Spear	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Polearm	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Dagger	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Battle Axe	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Unknown Suspected	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Elephant	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Donkey	Present Inferred	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Dog	Unknown Suspected	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Camel	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Armor Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Shield	Present Inferred	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Scaled Armor	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Plate Armor	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Limb Protection	Absent Inferred	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Leather Cloth	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Laminar Armor	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Helmet	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Chainmail	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Breastplate	Absent Inferred	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Naval technology Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Present Inferred	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Unknown Suspected	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Transitional (Absent -> Present)	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Transitional (Absent -> Present)	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Transitional (Absent -> Present)	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent Inferred	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Present	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Transitional (Absent -> Present)	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent	2270 BCE 2083 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Akkadian Empire (iq_akkad_emp)

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