Home Region: North India (South Asia)

Magadha - Maurya Empire

324 BCE 187 BCE

D G SC WF R CC

EQ 2020 in_mauryan_emp / InMaury

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General Description

The Maurya Empire was one of the first geographically extensive empires in South Asia. The formation of the Mauryan Empire coincided with the invasion of India in the North-West of the armies of Alexander of Macedon in 327 BCE, most likely from territory in the Punjab. ^[1]
From circa 322 BCE until 187 BCE, the Mauryas extended their control over almost the entire subcontinent excluding Sri Lanka and the southernmost coast, as well as expanding northwest in Afghanistan.The exact origin of the empire is not clear. ^[1] The empire was built on the earlier model of the Nandas. The first three rulers, Chandragupta (324/321 BCE-297 BCE), Bindusara (297 BCE-273 BCE) and Ashoka (268 BCE-232 BCE) oversaw the main period of expansion and codification of the imperial state, with subsequent rulers attempting to preserve the gains made by the first three Kings until 187 BCE. Evidence of diplomacy between the Alexandrian successor state and the Mauryas Empire exist, though whether this was extensive is unclear. Exact details of when the conquests of territory took place are also murky, but evidence seems to indicate that the majority took place under the founder King Chandragupta. ^[1]
The reign of Ashoka was a period of stability and marked the peak of the empire, as well as religious reform. The Maurya Empire entered a period of decline and instability following his death, with weak rulers overseeing a quickly fragmenting state facing outward invasion by Bactrian Greeks. Brihadratha would be the last ruler of the Maurya dynasty, killed by his military commander Pushyamitra in 187 BCE. The commander would be the founder of the successor state of the Shunga Dynasty. ^[1]
Population and political organization
The King was the head of state, he controlled the military and the bureaucratic administration. ^[2]
The Empire was organized under a large bureaucracy and divided into four provinces named after the cardinal directions. Each province had a separate hierarchal administration, with the system duplicated at the capital to oversee the empire. ^[1]
A unique account of the Mauryan imperial administration is preserved in The Arthasastra. A handbook for governance which outlines a module of centralized government, although whether it is descriptive or an idealized version of the administration is disputed. ^[3]
Population estimates for this period vary widely ranging from 18,000,000 to 100,000,000. ^[4] The Imperial Capital, Pataliputa was the largest settlement with an estimate of 50,000 inhabitants provided by (Clark 2013, 159). ^[5] ^[6]

[1]: (Singh 2008, 324-358) Singh, Upinder. 2008. A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: from the Stone Age to the 12th Century. Pearson Education India. pp. 324-358. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/HJR7J7RC/itemKey/VUIEUHVK

[2]: (Sen 1999, 137) Sen, Sailendra Nath. 1999. Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. p.137 https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/HJR7J7RC/itemKey/5Q53QHG7

[3]: (Subramaniam 2001, 80) Subramaniam, V. 2001. ‘Indian Legacy of Administration’. In: Farazmand, Ali. ed. Handbook of Comparative and Development Public Administration. CRC Press.p.80 https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/HJR7J7RC/itemKey/5T7BBX36

[4]: (Gabriel 2002, 218) Gabriel, Richard A. 2002. The Great Armies of Antiquity. Greenwood Publishing Group. p.218 https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/HJR7J7RC/itemKey/VAWK3Z9E

[5]: (Clark 2013, 159) Clark, Peter, ed. 2013. The Oxford Handbook of Cities in World History. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 159 https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/HJR7J7RC/itemKey/37G4SSGG

[6]: (Singh 2008, 118) Singh, Upinder. 2008. A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: from the Stone Age to the 12th Century. Pearson Education India. p.118 https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/HJR7J7RC/itemKey/VUIEUHVK

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

2 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Scale of Supracultural Interaction

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

2 Language

Religion

3 Religion Genus

1 Alternate Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

2 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

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

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Lists Tables and Classification

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 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

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

1 Specialized Military Vessel

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases

1 Crisis Consequence

Power Transitions

9 Power Transition

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp) was in:
(324 BCE 303 BCE)	Middle Ganga
(303 BCE 300 BCE)	Kachi Plain / Middle Ganga
(300 BCE 206 BCE)	Kachi Plain / Middle Ganga / Deccan
(206 BCE 194 BCE)	Kachi Plain / Middle Ganga
(194 BCE 188 BCE)	Middle Ganga

Home NGA: Middle Ganga

General Variables

Identity and Location Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	45 R	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Original Name	Mauryan Empire	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Capital	Pataliputra	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Alternative Name	Mauryan Empire	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Alternative Name	Maurya Empire	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	[269 BCE ➜ 232 BCE]
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Duration	[324 BCE ➜ 187 BCE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	none	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Supracultural Entity	Hinduism	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Succeeding Entity	Shunga Empire	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction	1,700,000 km²	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Preceding Entity	continuity; Nanda Empire [continuity] Update here
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Degree of Centralization	unitary state	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Language Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Indo-European	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Language	Sanskrit	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Language	Prakrit	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Religion Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Religion Genus	Hinduism	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Religion Genus	Jain Traditions	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Religion Genus	Buddhism	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Alternate Religion	Uncoded Undecided	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	50,000 people Uncertain	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Population of the Largest Settlement	270,000 people Uncertain	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Polity Territory	4,000,000 km²	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Polity Population	[15,500,000 to 181,000,000] people	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	4	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Religious Level	[1 to 5]	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Military Level	7	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Administrative Level	7	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Professions Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Professional Priesthood	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Professional Military Officer	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Merit Promotion	Absent	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Examination System	Absent	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Law Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Judge	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Formal Legal Code	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Court	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Irrigation System	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Food Storage Site	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Port	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Canal	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Bridge	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Information / Writing System Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Script	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Nonwritten Record	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Absent	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Sacred Text	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Religious Literature	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Practical Literature	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Fiction	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Calendar	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Information / Money Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Precious Metal	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Paper Currency	Absent	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Indigenous Coin	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Foreign Coin	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Article	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Information / Postal System Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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General Postal Service	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Courier	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

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

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Moat	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Fortified Camp	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Earth Rampart	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Ditch	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Complex Fortification	Absent Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Long Wall	absent	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Military use of Metals Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Iron	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Copper	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Bronze	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Projectiles Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Sling	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Self Bow	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Javelin	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Crossbow	Absent	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Composite Bow	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Atlatl	Absent	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Handheld weapons Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Sword	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Spear	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Polearm	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Dagger	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Battle Axe	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Elephant	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Donkey	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Dog	Unknown Suspected	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Camel	Absent	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Armor Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Shield	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Scaled Armor	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Plate Armor	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Limb Protection	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Leather Cloth	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Laminar Armor	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Helmet	Unknown Suspected	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Chainmail	Present	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Breastplate	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Naval technology Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Present Inferred	324 BCE 187 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Uncoded	324 BCE 298 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Present	297 BCE 187 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent	324 BCE 298 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Present	297 BCE 187 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Present	324 BCE 298 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent	297 BCE 187 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present	324 BCE 298 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present	297 BCE 187 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present	324 BCE 298 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present	297 BCE 187 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Transitional (Absent -> Present)	324 BCE 298 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Present	297 BCE 187 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Present	324 BCE 298 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Present	297 BCE 187 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent	324 BCE 298 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Present	297 BCE 187 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Absent Disputed	324 BCE 298 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Present Inferred	297 BCE 187 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Uncoded	324 BCE 298 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Present	297 BCE 187 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent Inferred	324 BCE 298 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Present	297 BCE 187 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Magadha - Maurya Empire (in_mauryan_emp)

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