Home Region:  Iran (Southwest Asia)

Ak Koyunlu

1339 CE 1501 CE
EQ 2020  ir_ak_koyunlu / IrAkKoy
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
[population migration; Kara Koyunlu] [population replacement]   Update here

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
1501 CE 1722 CE Safavid Empire (ir_safavid_emp)    [continuity]

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  General Description  
The Ak Koyunlu were a loose confederation of nomadic Turkman tribes that ruled in Iran between 1339-1501 CE. [1] They formed an alliance with the Timurid Emirate (1370-1526 CE) until Uzun Hasan (r. c1453-1478 CE) declared himself an independent sultan. [2] Their rule was ended by the Safavids in 1501 CE. [1]
The initial Ak Koyunlu government system was not complex; the sultan, a member of the Bayandor clan, was the head of a confederation [3] and obliged to attend and abide by the decisions of a powerful council of Amirs (kengac) and tribal chiefs (boy kanlari). This collective "determined military matters and the recurrent issue of succession to the sultanate". [1] However, by Qara Otman (c1398 CE) the Ak Koyunlu had gained "at least a rudimentary bureaucratic apparatus of the Iranian-Islamic type." [1] in addition to support from more tribes, and better relations with Christian sedentary people.
In the second half of the fifthteenth century, the complexity of state institutions increased another step with the conquest of eastern Iran. [1] Uzun Hasan maintained the existing administrative system as well as their officials. [1] Woods (1998) notes that there is evidence of an attempt to standardize and regularize administrative and financial procedures. [4]

[1]: (Quiring-Zoche 2011) R Quiring-Zoche. 2011. Aq Qoyunlu. http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/aq-qoyunlu-confederation

[2]: (Quiring-Zoche 2011) Quiring-Zoche, R. 2011. Aq Qoyunlu. http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/aq-qoyunlu-confederation

[3]: (Quiring-Zoche 2011) QR Quiring-Zoche. 2011. Aq Qoyunlu. http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/aq-qoyunlu-confederation

[4]: (Woods 1998, 108) J E Woods. 1999. The Aqquyunlu. Clan, Confederation, Empire. Salt Lake City: The University of Utah Press.

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

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu) was in:
 (1471 CE 1504 CE) Susiana
Home NGA: Susiana

General Variables
Identity and Location Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Original Name Ak Koyunlu 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Capital 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Capital 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Alternative Name 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Alternative Name 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Temporal Bounds Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
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Peak Years
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Succeeding Entity Safavid Empire 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Preceding Entity
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Succeeding Entity
1501 CE 1722 CE
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Degree of Centralization 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Degree of Centralization 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Language Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
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Linguistic Family Indo-Iranian 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Language Genus Indo-European 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Language 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Religion Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Religion Genus Islam 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Religion Family Sunni 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Alternate Religion Uncoded Undecided 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Polity Territory 1500 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Religious Level 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Military Level 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Administrative Level 1339 CE 1398 CE
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Administrative Level 1399 CE 1470 CE
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Administrative Level 1471 CE 1501 CE
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Professions Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Professional Priesthood Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Professional Military Officer 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Merit Promotion 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 1339 CE 1397 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 1398 CE 1501 CE
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Examination System 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Law Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Judge Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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1339 CE  1501 CE
Court 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
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Market 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Irrigation System Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Port Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Canal 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Bridge 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
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Mines or Quarry Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Information / Writing System Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Script 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Nonwritten Record 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Mnemonic Device Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Sacred Text 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Religious Literature 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Practical Literature 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Philosophy 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification 1339 CE  1501 CE
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History 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Fiction 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Calendar 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Information / Money Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Token Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Precious Metal Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Paper Currency Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Indigenous Coin 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Foreign Coin 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Article Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Information / Postal System Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
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Postal Station 1339 CE  1501 CE
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General Postal Service Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Courier 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Information / Measurement System Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Modern Fortification Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Moat 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Fortified Camp Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Earth Rampart Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Ditch Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Complex Fortification Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Military use of Metals Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Iron 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Copper Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Bronze Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Projectiles Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
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Tension Siege Engine 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Sling 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Self Bow Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Javelin 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Handheld Firearm 1339 CE 1472 CE
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Handheld Firearm 1473 CE 1501 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 1400 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 1500 CE
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Crossbow 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Composite Bow 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Atlatl 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Handheld weapons Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
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War Club 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Sword 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Spear 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Polearm 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Dagger 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Battle Axe 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Animals used in warfare Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
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Horse 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Elephant 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Donkey 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Camel 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Armor Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Shield 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Scaled Armor Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Plate Armor 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Limb Protection Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Leather Cloth Present Inferred 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Laminar Armor Unknown Suspected 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Helmet 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Chainmail 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Breastplate 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Naval technology Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
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Specialized Military Vessel 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Present 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Present 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 1339 CE  1501 CE
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Human Sacrifice Ak Koyunlu (ir_ak_koyunlu)
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Instability Data
Power Transitions