Home Region: Southern India (South Asia)

Rashtrakuta Empire

753 CE 973 CE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 in_rashtrakuta_emp / InRasht

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

543 CE 753 CE Chalukyas of Badami (in_badami_chalukya_emp) [elite replacement]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

973 CE 1189 CE Chalukyas of Kalyani (in_kalyani_chalukya_emp) [continuity]

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General Description

The Rashtrakuta Empire extended over an area roughly corresponding to the modern-day Indian states of Karnataka, Goa, and Telangana, the state of Maharashtra minus its eastern region (Nagpur), the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, and South Gujarat. ^[1] It could be said to have started in 753 CE, when Dantidurga, a rebellious provincial ruler, defeated his imperial overlords, the Chalukyas of Badami, in battle; however, Dantidurga had already begun to annex territories some time before this date. ^[2] The empire collapsed around 973, when, weakened by a Pallava raid and an inept king, it was unable to quash the rebellion of one of its feudatories, Tailapa II, who took the capital. Subsequently, a number of other feudatories declared independence from Rashtrakuta rule. Eventually, most of them were brought under control by the newly re-established Chalukyas. ^[3]
The Rashtrakutas rapidly became undisputed rulers of the Deccan Plateau, and organized several successful expeditions in Northern India, even securing, for a time, the long-contested region of Kanauj (under Indra III). However, none of the territorial gains made during these expeditions could be held for more than a short period, and it appears that the main aim of the expeditions was not so much to extend Rashtrakuta rule as to advertise its military might and increase its prestige. ^[4] Under the long and relatively peaceful reign of Amoghavarsa I or Nrpatunga (814-878 CE), literature and the arts flourished, and the capital of Malkhed was built. ^[5]
Population and political organization
The Rashtrakuta emperor was the head of the civil, military and judicial administration. ^[6] However, he did not rule directly over annexed territories: rather, he subdivided his empire among his subordinates (feudatories), who in turn subdivided their own territories among their own subordinates (sub-feudatories), and feudatories and sub-feudatories enjoyed a significant degree of autonomy. ^[7]
No overall population estimates could be found in the literature. The capital, Malkhed or Manyakheta, may have had around 100,000 inhabitants, ^[8] However, estimates are made difficult by the fact that the capital was destroyed by Chola armies in the 10th century CE, and what was left was subsequently destroyed by the armies of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals. Today, the Rashtrakuta capital is little more than a village. Not only that, but what little information exists about the city’s heyday appears to be strongly influenced by Jain tradition, which may be biased, considering that Malkhed used to be a major centre for the religion. ^[9]

[1]: (Kamath 1980) Suryanath Kamath. 1980. A Concise History of Karnataka: From Pre-historic Times to the Present. Bangalore: Archana Prakashana.

[2]: (Basavaraja 1984, 62) K. R. Basavaraja. 1984. History and Culture of Karnataka: Early Times to Unification. Dharwad: Chalukya Publications.

[3]: (Basavaraja 1984, 82-83) K. R. Basavaraja. 1984. History and Culture of Karnataka: Early Times to Unification. Dharwad: Chalukya Publications.

[4]: (Basavaraja 1984, 62-83) K. R. Basavaraja. 1984. History and Culture of Karnataka: Early Times to Unification. Dharwad: Chalukya Publications.

[5]: (Madan 1990, 120-22) A. P. Madan. 1990. The History of the Rashtrakutas. New Delhi: Harman.

[6]: (Madan 1990, 193) A. P. Madan. 1990. The History of the Rashtrakutas. New Delhi: Harman.

[7]: (Madan 1990, 192) A. P. Madan. 1990. The History of the Rashtrakutas. New Delhi: Harman.

[8]: Christopher Chase-Dunn 2001, personal communication.

[9]: (Mishra 1992, 208) Jayashri Mishra. 1992. Social and Economic Conditions under the Imperial Rashtrakutas. New Delhi: Commonwealth.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

2 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

2 Linguistic Family

2 Language

Religion

1 Religion Genus

1 Religion Family

1 Alternate Religion Genus

1 Alternate Religion Family

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

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Nonwritten Record

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 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

2 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

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 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 Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions

15 Power Transition

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp) was in:
(757 CE 780 CE)	Deccan
(780 CE 809 CE)	Middle Ganga / Deccan
(809 CE 973 CE)	Deccan

Home NGA: Deccan

General Variables

Identity and Location Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	43 P	753 CE 973 CE
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Original Name	Rashtrakuta Empire	753 CE 973 CE
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Capital	Malkhed	753 CE 973 CE
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Temporal Bounds Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	[814 CE ➜ 878 CE]
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Duration	[753 CE ➜ 973 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	none	753 CE 973 CE
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Succeeding Entity	Chalukyas of Kalyani	753 CE 973 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	elite migration	753 CE 973 CE
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Succeeding Entity 973 CE 1189 CE	Chalukyas of Kalyani (in_kalyani_chalukya_emp) [continuity]
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Preceding Entity 543 CE 753 CE	Chalukyas of Badami (in_badami_chalukya_emp) [elite replacement]
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Degree of Centralization	loose	753 CE 973 CE
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Language Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Indo-Iranian	753 CE 973 CE
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Linguistic Family	Dravidian	753 CE 973 CE
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Language	Sanskrit	753 CE 973 CE
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Language	Kannada	753 CE 973 CE
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Religion Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Religion Genus	Hinduism	753 CE 973 CE
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Religion Family	Saiva Traditions	753 CE 973 CE
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Alternate Religion Genus	Hinduism	753 CE 973 CE
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Alternate Religion Family	Vaishnava Traditions	753 CE 973 CE
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Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	100,000 people	753 CE 973 CE
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Polity Territory	600,000 km²	753 CE 973 CE
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Polity Population	[5,000,000 to 6,000,000] people	753 CE 973 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	3	753 CE 973 CE
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Religious Level	5	753 CE 973 CE
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Military Level	5	753 CE 973 CE
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Administrative Level	7	753 CE 973 CE
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Professions Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Occupational Complexity	Uncoded Undecided	753 CE 973 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Merit Promotion	Absent	753 CE 973 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Examination System	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Law Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Judge	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Court	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Irrigation System	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Food Storage Site	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Uncoded Undecided	753 CE 973 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Port	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Canal	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Bridge	- Undecided	753 CE 973 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Information / Writing System Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Script	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Nonwritten Record	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Mnemonic Device	Uncoded Undecided	753 CE 973 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Sacred Text	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Religious Literature	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Practical Literature	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Philosophy	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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History	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Fiction	Absent Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Calendar	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Information / Money Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Uncoded Undecided	753 CE 973 CE
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Precious Metal	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Paper Currency	Absent Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Present Disputed	753 CE 973 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent Disputed	753 CE 973 CE
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Foreign Coin	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Article	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Information / Postal System Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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General Postal Service	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Courier	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Information / Measurement System Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

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

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	753 CE 973 CE
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Moat	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Fortified Camp	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Earth Rampart	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Ditch	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Complex Fortification	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Military use of Metals Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Iron	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Copper	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Bronze	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Projectiles Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	753 CE 973 CE
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Sling	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Self Bow	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Javelin	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	753 CE 973 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	753 CE 973 CE
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Crossbow	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Composite Bow	Absent	753 CE 973 CE
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Atlatl	Absent	753 CE 973 CE
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Handheld weapons Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Sword	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Spear	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Dagger	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Battle Axe	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Animals used in warfare Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Elephant	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Donkey	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Dog	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Camel	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Armor Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Shield	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Scaled Armor	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Plate Armor	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Limb Protection	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Leather Cloth	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Laminar Armor	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Helmet	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Chainmail	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Breastplate	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Naval technology Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Present Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Unknown Suspected	753 CE 973 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Absent Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Present	753 CE 973 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent Inferred	753 CE 973 CE
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Human Sacrifice Rashtrakuta Empire (in_rashtrakuta_emp)

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