Home Region:  Anatolia-Caucasus (Southwest Asia)

East Roman Empire

395 CE 631 CE
EQ 2020  tr_east_roman_emp / TrERom*
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
285 CE 394 CE Roman Empire - Dominate (tr_roman_dominate)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
632 CE 866 CE Byzantine Empire I (tr_byzantine_emp_1)    [continuity]
568 CE 751 CE Exarchate of Ravenna (it_ravenna_exarchate)    [continuity]

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  General Description  
We begin our Eastern Roman Empire period in 395 CE, when it was permanently divided from what became the Western Roman Empire [1] [2] and end it in 631 CE as the Arab expansion and other developments led to a dramatic social transformations in Byzantium.
A phase of ’stagflation’ spanned the century between c. 450 and 541 CE, during which large estates became more influential, elites grew in number and formed mutually hostile factions, and ’sociopolitical instability increased’. [3] Matters were made worse by an outbreak of plague in 541 CE, and further usurpations and civil wars in the 7th century made the staggering empire a ripe target for the Arab conquests. [3]
Population and political organization
The Christian emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire was the chief lawmaker and military commander but not the most important religious official - instead, in the pagan tradition of Byzantine ceremony, he himself was treated as divine. [4] When he entered his consistorium (council), several curtains were raised to herald his arrival in the style of the eastern mystery religions. Meetings of the emperor’s council were infused with an atmosphere of sanctity, and the historian H. W. Haussig has pointed out that many important decisions were in fact ’discussed and settled outside this body’. [4] The most important religious official in Constantinople was the patriarch, who was chosen by the emperor; [5] the pope in Rome was the most important of the five patriarchs of the Roman Empire as a whole. [6]
Based in the palatial city of Constantinople, the emperor presided over a large professional bureaucracy that sought to intervene in most aspects of its citizens’ lives. Departing from the old pattern of relative Roman disinterest in the formal codification of Roman law, the East Roman emperors in the 395‒631 CE period twice brought together and promulgated official legal codes that were sourced from the empire’s Christian era (that is, since the time of Constantine the Great). The first of these was the Codex Theodosianus (439 CE), which was followed by the Codex Justinianus (534 CE). The Eastern Roman Empire also maintained a formal alliance with the Western Roman Empire, meaning that laws promulgated in one half of the empire had to be communicated to the other half and applied in both East and West. [7]
Below the god-emperor was the office of praetorian prefect, which came with considerable temporal powers. The governmental reforms of 395 CE gave this official ’unlimited jurisdiction’ on economic matters, [8] which he used to plan the Roman economy in a similar way to that of Egypt, which had been functioning well for six centuries. [8] The praetorian prefect also supervised the postal system and public works, managed the guilds, and ran the production of arms and other manufactured goods as a state monopoly. He was responsible for the annona (food distribution) to the cities and army, and was given license to control prices in the cities and order new industrial production. [8] The government had numerous other officials and departments, including a magister officiorum who, in addition to running the departments of protocol and foreign affairs and the palace guard, was also head of the ’political police (schola agentium in rebus)’. [9]
In the 6th century, desperate economic times led to the payment of high officials and soldiers in luxury clothes, while manufactured goods and food were used as currency. Coinage was still in circulation but the proportion used as payment for salaries shrank considerably. [10] The number of residents in Constantinople grew from about 300,000 in 400 CE to 500,000 a century later, but then fell back sharply to about 200,000 due to the troubles of the 6th century. The baseline population of the empire was about 15 million, which peaked at 20 million when times were still good in 500 CE.
Fifth-century Constantinople was a monumental city of great splendour and wealth: it possessed five imperial palaces, six domus divinae Augustarum (’mansions of the divine Augustae’) belonging to empresses, three domus nobilissimae (mansions for the top nobility) and 4,388 domus mansions. [11] [12] The contemporary source (the 5th-century Notitia urbis Constantinopolitanae) also records 322 streets with 153 private baths. [11] [13] Public buildings included squares, baths, underground cisterns, aqueducts, shops, and entertainment buildings including theatres and hippodromes. [11]
Gladiatorial combat was banned as part of Constantine’s programme of Christian moral reforms in 325 CE and disappeared sometime in the 5th century. The traditional Greek gymnasium, once a central institution in every Graeco-Roman city, where young men trained in athletics, had also fallen out of use but acrobatics was a profession and the nobility enjoyed various sports. [14] The most impressive large-scale public entertainments, provided by the state, were chariot races. These were held in Constantinople and other cities of the empire. [15] At some point during this era, the government decreed that drinking booths should close at 7 pm to reduce alcohol-related disorder. [16]

[1]: (Morgan 2012) James F. Morgan. 2012. The Roman Empire: Fall of the West, Survival of the East. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse.

[2]: (Barnwell 1992, 1) P. S. Barnwell. 1992. Emperor, Prefects, & Kings: The Roman West, 395‒565. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press.

[3]: (Baker 2011, 245-46) David Baker. 2011. ’The Roman Dominate from the Perspective of Demographic-Structural Theory’. Cliodynamics 2 (2): 217-51.

[4]: (Haussig 1971, 54-55) Hans Wilhelm Haussig. 1971. History of Byzantine Civilization, translated by J. M. Hussey. London: Thames and Hudson.

[5]: (Cunningham 2008, 529) Jeffreys E, Haldon J and Cormack R eds. 2008. The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies. Oxford University Press. Oxford.

[6]: Johannes Preiser-Kapeller 2015, personal communication.

[7]: (Millar 2006, 1) Fergus Millar. 2006. A Greek Roman Empire: Power and Belief Under Theodosius II 408-450. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

[8]: (Haussig 1971, 52) Hans Wilhelm Haussig. 1971. History of Byzantine Civilization, translated by J. M. Hussey. London: Thames and Hudson.

[9]: (Haussig 1971, 53) Hans Wilhelm Haussig. 1971. History of Byzantine Civilization, translated by J. M. Hussey. London: Thames and Hudson.

[10]: (Haussig 1971, 100) Hans Wilhelm Haussig. 1971. History of Byzantine Civilization, translated by J. M. Hussey. London: Thames and Hudson.

[11]: (Diehl 1923, 748) Charles Diehl. 1923. ’Byzantine Civilization’, in The Cambridge Medieval History, Volume IV: The Eastern Roman Empire (717-1453), edited by J. R. Tanner, C. W. Previte-Orton and Z. N. Brooke, 745-77. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[12]: (Angelova 2015, 153-55) Diliana N. Angelova. 2015. Sacred Founders: Women, Men, and Gods in the Discourse of Imperial Founding, Rome through Early Byzantium. Oakland, CA: University of California Press.

[13]: (Angelova 2015, 153-155) Diliana N Angelova. 2015. Sacred Founders: Women, Men, and Gods in the Discourse of Imperial Founding, Rome through Early Byzantium. Oakland: University of California Press.

[14]: (Roueché 2008, 679) Charlotte Roueché. 2008. ’Entertainments, Theatre, and Hippodrome’, in The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies, edited by E. Jeffreys, J. Haldon and R. Cormack, 677-84. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[15]: (Roueché 2008, 680) Charlotte Roueché. 2008. ’Entertainments, Theatre, and Hippodrome’, in The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies, edited by E. Jeffreys, J. Haldon and R. Cormack, 677-84. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[16]: (Diehl 1923, 760) Charles Diehl. 1923. ’Byzantine Civilization’, in The Cambridge Medieval History, Volume IV: The Eastern Roman Empire (717-1453), edited by J. R. Tanner, C. W. Previte-Orton and Z. N. Brooke, 745-77. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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

NGA Settlements:

Year Range East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp) was in:
 (395 CE 480 CE) Paris Basin   /   Crete   /   Upper Egypt   /   Konya Plain
 (480 CE 607 CE) Crete   /   Upper Egypt   /   Konya Plain
 (607 CE 632 CE) Upper Egypt
Home NGA: Konya Plain

General Variables
Identity and Location East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 35 T Expert 395 CE  631 CE
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Original Name East Roman Empire Expert 395 CE  631 CE
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Capital 395 CE  631 CE
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Alternative Name 395 CE  631 CE
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Alternative Name 395 CE  631 CE
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Alternative Name 395 CE  631 CE
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Alternative Name 395 CE  631 CE
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Alternative Name 395 CE  631 CE
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Alternative Name 395 CE  631 CE
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Alternative Name 395 CE  631 CE
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Alternative Name 395 CE  631 CE
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Temporal Bounds East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations 489 CE  554 CE
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Suprapolity Relations 395 CE  631 CE
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Supracultural Entity 395 CE  631 CE
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Succeeding Entity Byzantine Empire I Expert 395 CE  631 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 395 CE  631 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Expert 395 CE  631 CE
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Succeeding Entity
632 CE 866 CE
Byzantine Empire I (tr_byzantine_emp_1)   [continuity]  Expert
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Succeeding Entity
568 CE 751 CE
Exarchate of Ravenna (it_ravenna_exarchate)   [continuity] 
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Preceding Entity
285 CE 394 CE
Roman Empire - Dominate (tr_roman_dominate)   [continuity]  Expert
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Degree of Centralization unitary state Expert 395 CE  631 CE
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Language East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Indo-European Expert 395 CE  631 CE
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Language 395 CE  631 CE
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Religion East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Religion Genus Christianity Expert 395 CE  631 CE
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Religion Family Catholic Expert 395 CE  631 CE
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Religion Roman Catholic Expert 395 CE  631 CE
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Alternate Religion Uncoded Undecided Expert 395 CE  631 CE
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 400 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement 500 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement 600 CE
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Polity Territory 400 CE
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Polity Territory 500 CE
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Polity Territory 600 CE
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Polity Population 400 CE
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Polity Population 500 CE
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Polity Population 600 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 395 CE  631 CE
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Religious Level 395 CE  631 CE
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Military Level 395 CE  631 CE
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Administrative Level 395 CE  631 CE
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Professions East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier 395 CE  631 CE
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Professional Priesthood Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Professional Military Officer Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Merit Promotion Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 395 CE  631 CE
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Examination System Absent 395 CE  631 CE
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Law East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Judge Present 395 CE  631 CE
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395 CE  631 CE
Court Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Market Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Irrigation System Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Food Storage Site 395 CE  631 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Transport Infrastructure East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Port Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Canal Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Bridge Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Special-purpose Sites East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Information / Writing System East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Script Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Nonwritten Record Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Mnemonic Device Present Inferred 395 CE  631 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Sacred Text Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Religious Literature 395 CE  631 CE
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Practical Literature Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Philosophy 395 CE  631 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Present 395 CE  631 CE
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History 395 CE  631 CE
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Fiction 395 CE  631 CE
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Calendar Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Information / Money East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Token 395 CE  631 CE
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Token 395 CE  631 CE
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Precious Metal 395 CE  631 CE
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Paper Currency Absent 395 CE  631 CE
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Indigenous Coin 395 CE  631 CE
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Foreign Coin Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Article Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Information / Postal System East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Present 395 CE  631 CE
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General Postal Service Absent 395 CE  631 CE
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Courier Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Fastest Individual Communication 395 CE  631 CE
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Information / Measurement System East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent 395 CE  631 CE
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Moat 395 CE  631 CE
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Fortified Camp Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Earth Rampart Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Ditch 395 CE  631 CE
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Complex Fortification 395 CE  631 CE
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Long Wall 56 km 395 CE  631 CE
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Military use of Metals East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Iron Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Copper 395 CE  631 CE
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Bronze Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Projectiles East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine 395 CE  631 CE
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Sling Siege Engine 395 CE  631 CE
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Sling 395 CE  631 CE
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Self Bow Unknown 395 CE  631 CE
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Javelin 395 CE  631 CE
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Handheld Firearm Absent 395 CE  631 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent 395 CE  631 CE
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Crossbow 395 CE  631 CE
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Composite Bow 395 CE  631 CE
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Atlatl Absent 395 CE  631 CE
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Handheld weapons East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 395 CE  631 CE
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Sword 395 CE  631 CE
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Spear 395 CE  631 CE
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Polearm 395 CE  631 CE
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Dagger 395 CE  631 CE
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Battle Axe 395 CE  631 CE
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Animals used in warfare East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Elephant Absent 395 CE  631 CE
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Donkey Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Dog Absent 395 CE  631 CE
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Camel Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Armor East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Shield 395 CE  631 CE
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Scaled Armor Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Plate Armor 395 CE  631 CE
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Limb Protection 395 CE  631 CE
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Leather Cloth 395 CE  631 CE
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Laminar Armor Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Helmet 395 CE  631 CE
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Chainmail 395 CE  631 CE
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Breastplate 395 CE  631 CE
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Naval technology East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Present 395 CE  631 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 395 CE  631 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 395 CE  631 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 395 CE  631 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 395 CE  631 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 395 CE  631 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 395 CE  631 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 395 CE  631 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 395 CE  631 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 395 CE  631 CE
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Human Sacrifice East Roman Empire (tr_east_roman_emp)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Instability Data
Power Transitions