Section: Social Complexity
Subsection: Law

Court

Talking about law, courts are buildings specialized for legal proceedings only.  
Contributors: Jenny, Majid, Peter

Variable Definition
Polity The Seshat Polity Name
Year(s) The years for which we have the data. [negative = BCE]
Confidence Inferred : The value is inferred.
Suspected : The value is suspected (Expert Check Needed).
Evidenced : The value is backed up by sufficient evidence.
Disputed? No : No disagreement among scholars.
Yes : There is disagreement among scholars.
Expert? : Not yet Checked by a Seshat Expert.
: Checked and accepted by a Seshat Expert (or RA).

Variable Definition
court The absence or presence of court for a polity.

# Polity   Year(s)   Court   Confidence     Disputed?     Expert?   Edit
1
Late Mongols
1368 CE 1589 CE
unknown
Suspected No Edit
2
Late Mongols
1590 CE 1690 CE
present
Confident No Edit
3
Sakha - Late
1632 CE 1889 CE
absent
Confident No Edit
4
Iban - Brooke Raj and Colonial
1841 CE 1924 CE
absent
Confident No Edit
5
Austria - Habsburg Dynasty II
1867 CE 1918 CE
present
Confident No Edit
6
Sakha - Late
1890 CE 1900 CE
present
Confident No Edit
7
Soviet Union
1923 CE 1991 CE
present
Confident No Edit
8
Iban - Brooke Raj and Colonial
1924 CE 1987 CE
present
Inferred No Edit
9
Yisrael
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
10
Late A'chik
-
absent
Confident No Edit
11
Deccan - Iron Age
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
12
Deccan - Neolithic
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
13
Mughal Empire
-
present
Confident No Edit
14
Abbasid Caliphate I
-
absent
Confident No Edit
15
Satavahana Empire
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
16
Icelandic Commonwealth
-
absent
Confident No Edit
17
Funan I
-
present
Inferred No Edit
18
Khitan I
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
19
Early Mongols
-
absent
Confident No Edit
20
Xianbei Confederation
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
21
Second Turk Khaganate
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
22
Uigur Khaganate
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
23
Early Xiongnu
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
24
Koktepe I
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
25
Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
26
Koktepe II
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
27
Egypt - Inter-Occupation Period
-
present
Confident Yes Edit
28
Egypt - Mamluk Sultanate I
-
absent
Confident No Edit
29
Egypt - Mamluk Sultanate II
-
absent
Confident No Edit
30
Sind - Abbasid-Fatimid Period
-
present
Inferred No Edit
31
Chuuk - Late Truk
-
present
Confident No Edit
32
Early Merovingian
-
present
Confident No Edit
33
French Kingdom - Late Valois
-
present
Confident No Edit
34
British Empire II
-
present
Confident No Edit
35
Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico
-
absent
Confident No Edit
36
Oneota
-
absent
Confident No Edit
37
Sind - Samma Dynasty
-
present
Inferred No Edit
38
Kingdom of Jimma
-
present
Confident No Edit
39
Iban - Pre-Brooke
-
absent
Confident No Edit
40
Abbasid Caliphate II
-
present
Inferred No Edit
41
Durrani Empire
-
absent
Confident No Edit
42
Majapahit Kingdom
-
present
Inferred No Edit
43
Mataram Sultanate
-
present
Inferred No Edit
44
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
45
Isin-Larsa
-
present
Confident No Edit
46
Sasanid Empire II
-
present
Inferred No Edit
47
Seleucids
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
48
Seljuk Sultanate
-
present
Confident No Edit
49
Early Roman Republic
-
absent
Confident No Edit
50
Roman Empire - Principate
-
absent
Confident No Edit
51
Republic of Venice III
-
present
Confident No Edit
52
Tokugawa Shogunate
-
present
Confident No Edit
53
Kara-Khanids
-
present
Inferred No Edit
54
Early Angkor
-
present
Confident No Edit
55
Chenla
-
present
Confident No Edit
56
Funan II
-
present
Confident No Edit
57
Eastern Turk Khaganate
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
58
Oaxaca - San Jose
-
absent
Confident No Edit
59
Oaxaca - Tierras Largas
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
60
Kachi Plain - Aceramic Neolithic
-
absent
Confident No Edit
61
Byzantine Empire II
-
present
Confident No Edit
62
Hatti - New Kingdom
-
present
Confident No Edit
63
Neo-Hittite Kingdoms
-
present
Inferred No Edit
64
Ottoman Emirate
-
present
Inferred No Edit
65
Ottoman Empire I
-
present
Inferred No Edit
66
Ottoman Empire III
-
present
Confident No Edit
67
Sogdiana - City-States Period
-
present
Inferred No Edit
68
Himyar I
-
present
Inferred No Edit
69
Hellenistic Crete
-
present
Confident No Edit
70
Hawaii I
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
71
Hawaii III
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
72
Middle and Late Nok
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
73
Egypt - Thebes-Libyan Period
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
74
Early Qing
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
75
Late Qing
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
76
Tang Dynasty II
-
present
Confident No Edit
77
Jin Dynasty
-
present
Confident No Edit
78
Shuar - Ecuadorian
-
absent
Confident No Edit
79
Ayyubid Sultanate
-
present
Confident No Edit
80
Egypt - Dynasty I
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
81
Egypt - Dynasty II
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
82
Jenne-jeno I
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
83
Jenne-jeno II
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
84
Egypt - Mamluk Sultanate III
-
absent
Confident No Edit
85
Egypt - New Kingdom Ramesside Period
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
86
Egypt - New Kingdom Thutmosid Period
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
87
Yangshao
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
88
Egypt - Period of the Regions
-
present
Confident No Edit
89
Badarian
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
90
Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period
-
present
Confident No Edit
91
Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period
-
absent
Confident No Edit
92
Atlantic Complex
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
93
French Kingdom - Early Bourbon
-
present
Confident No Edit
94
French Kingdom - Late Bourbon
-
present
Confident No Edit
95
Naqada I
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
96
Naqada II
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
97
Egypt - Dynasty 0
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
98
Carolingian Empire I
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
99
Archaic Crete
-
present
Confident No Edit
100
Zungharian Empire
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
101
Austria - Habsburg Dynasty II
-
present
Confident No Edit
102
Khwarezmid Empire
-
present
Inferred No Edit
103
Kediri Kingdom
-
present
Inferred No Edit
104
Samanid Empire
-
present
Confident No Edit
105
Chuuk - Early Truk
-
absent
Confident No Edit
106
Beaker Culture
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
107
Proto-French Kingdom
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
108
Hallstatt A-B1
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
109
Hallstatt B2-3
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
110
Hallstatt C
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
111
Hallstatt D
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
112
La Tene A-B1
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
113
La Tene B2-C1
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
114
La Tene C2-D
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
115
The Emirate of Crete
-
present
Confident No Edit
116
Final Postpalatial Crete
-
absent
Confident No Edit
117
Monopalatial Crete
-
absent
Confident No Edit
118
Neolithic Crete
-
absent
Confident No Edit
119
New Palace Crete
-
absent
Confident No Edit
120
The Old Palace Crete
-
absent
Confident No Edit
121
Postpalatial Crete
-
absent
Confident No Edit
122
Prepalatial Crete
-
absent
Confident No Edit
123
Hawaii II
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
124
Canaan
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
125
Susiana - Muhammad Jaffar
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
126
Formative Period
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
127
Susiana - Early Ubaid
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
128
Safavid Empire
-
present
Confident No Edit
129
Susa I
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
130
Papal States - Renaissance Period
-
present
Confident No Edit
131
Republic of St Peter I
-
present
Inferred No Edit
132
Ashikaga Shogunate
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
133
Early Dynastic
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
134
Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
135
Neo-Assyrian Empire
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
136
Ubaid
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
137
Ur - Dynasty III
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
138
Uruk
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
139
Warring States Japan
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
140
Buyid Confederation
-
present
Inferred No Edit
141
Western Turk Khaganate
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
142
Late Angkor
-
present
Confident No Edit
143
Khmer Kingdom
-
present
Confident No Edit
144
Phoenician Empire
-
present
Inferred No Edit
145
Elam II
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
146
Saadi Sultanate
-
present
Inferred No Edit
147
Bamana kingdom
-
present
Inferred No Edit
148
Jenne-jeno III
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
149
Qajar
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
150
Elam - Early Sukkalmah
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
151
Papal States - Medieval Period I
-
present
Confident No Edit
152
Papal States - Medieval Period II
-
present
Confident No Edit
153
Exarchate of Ravenna
-
present
Confident No Edit
154
Western Roman Empire - Late Antiquity
-
present
Confident No Edit
155
Japan - Incipient Jomon
-
absent
Confident No Edit
156
Japan - Initial Jomon
-
absent
Confident No Edit
157
Japan - Early Jomon
-
absent
Confident No Edit
158
Japan - Middle Jomon
-
absent
Confident No Edit
159
Japan - Late Jomon
-
absent
Confident No Edit
160
Japan - Final Jomon
-
absent
Confident No Edit
161
Kansai - Yayoi Period
-
absent
Confident No Edit
162
Andronovo
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
163
Archaic Basin of Mexico
-
absent
Confident No Edit
164
Aztec Empire
-
absent
Confident No Edit
165
Epiclassic Basin of Mexico
-
absent
Confident No Edit
166
Middle Formative Basin of Mexico
-
absent
Confident No Edit
167
Initial Formative Basin of Mexico
-
absent
Confident No Edit
168
Toltecs
-
absent
Confident No Edit
169
Kingdom of Norway II
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
170
Inca Empire
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
171
Orokaiva - Pre-Colonial
-
absent
Confident No Edit
172
Orokaiva - Colonial
-
present
Confident No Edit
173
Indo-Greek Kingdom
-
present
Inferred No Edit
174
Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
175
Sakha - Early
-
absent
Confident No Edit
176
Cuzco - Early Intermediate I
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
177
Cuzco - Early Intermediate II
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
178
Cuzco - Late Intermediate I
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
179
Cuzco - Late Intermediate II
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
180
Cuzco - Late Formative
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
181
Wari Empire
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
182
Egypt - Kushite Period
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
183
Umayyad Caliphate
-
absent
Confident No Edit
184
Late Cappadocia
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
185
Hatti - Old Kingdom
-
present
Confident No Edit
186
Sind - Samma Dynasty
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
187
Ottoman Empire II
-
present
Confident No Edit
188
Rum Sultanate
-
present
Confident No Edit
189
Sarazm
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
190
Haudenosaunee Confederacy - Late
-
absent
Confident No Edit
191
Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
192
Kingdom of Hawaii - Kamehameha Period
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
193
Middle Bronze Age in Central Anatolia
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
194
Konya Plain - Early Chalcolithic
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
195
Konya Plain - Late Chalcolithic
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
196
East Roman Empire
-
present
Confident No Edit
197
Konya Plain - Ceramic Neolithic
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
198
Konya Plain - Early Neolithic
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
199
Konya Plain - Late Neolithic
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
200
Cahokia - Early Woodland
-
absent
Confident No Edit
201
Cahokia - Late Woodland II
-
absent
Confident No Edit
202
Cahokia - Middle Woodland
-
absent
Confident No Edit
203
Cahokia - Late Woodland III
-
absent
Confident No Edit
204
Cahokia - Late Woodland I
-
absent
Confident No Edit
205
Cahokia - Sand Prairie
-
unknown
Confident No Edit
206
Cahokia - Emergent Mississippian I
-
absent
Confident No Edit
207
Timurid Empire
-
present
Confident No Edit
208
Ghur Principality
-
present
Inferred No Edit
209
Kushan Empire
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
210
Eastern Han Empire
-
present
Inferred No Edit
211
Western Jin
-
present
Inferred No Edit
212
Erligang
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
213
Erlitou
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
214
Northern Song
-
present
Confident No Edit
215
Northern Wei
-
present
Inferred No Edit
216
Sui Dynasty
-
present
Confident No Edit
217
Tang Dynasty I
-
present
Confident No Edit
218
Early Wei Dynasty
-
present
Inferred No Edit
219
Western Han Empire
-
present
Inferred No Edit
220
French Kingdom - Late Capetian
-
present
Confident No Edit
221
French Kingdom - Early Valois
-
present
Confident No Edit
222
Egypt - Inter-Occupation Period
-
absent
Confident Yes Edit
223
Egypt - Middle Kingdom
-
present
Inferred No Edit
224
Egypt - Classic Old Kingdom
-
present
Confident No Edit
225
Egypt - Late Old Kingdom
-
present
Confident No Edit
226
Ptolemaic Kingdom II
-
absent
Confident No Edit
227
Egypt - Period of the Regions
-
absent
Confident No Edit
228
Egypt - Saite Period
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
229
Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
230
Late Formative Basin of Mexico
-
absent
Confident No Edit
231
Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico
-
absent
Confident No Edit
232
Medang Kingdom
-
present
Inferred No Edit
233
Chalukyas of Badami
-
present
Confident No Edit
234
Chalukyas of Kalyani
-
present
Confident No Edit
235
Delhi Sultanate
-
present
Confident No Edit
236
Kampili Kingdom
-
present
Inferred No Edit
237
Mahajanapada era
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
238
Magadha - Maurya Empire
-
present
Confident No Edit
239
Rashtrakuta Empire
-
present
Confident No Edit
240
Vakataka Kingdom
-
present
Confident No Edit
241
Vijayanagara Empire
-
present
Confident No Edit
242
Pre-Ceramic Period
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
243
Bazi Dynasty
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
244
Dynasty of E
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
245
Achaemenid Empire
-
present
Confident No Edit
246
Ilkhanate
-
present
Inferred No Edit
247
Susiana A
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
248
Susiana B
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
249
Susiana - Late Ubaid
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
250
Parthian Empire I
-
present
Confident No Edit
251
Parthian Empire II
-
present
Confident No Edit
252
Latium - Bronze Age
-
absent
Confident No Edit
253
Latium - Copper Age
-
absent
Confident No Edit
254
Latium - Iron Age
-
absent
Confident No Edit
255
Ostrogothic Kingdom
-
present
Confident No Edit
256
Monte Alban III
-
absent
Confident No Edit
257
Roman Kingdom
-
absent
Confident No Edit
258
Republic of Venice IV
-
present
Confident No Edit
259
Monte Alban IIIB and IV
-
absent
Confident No Edit
260
Monte Alban V
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
261
Jenne-jeno IV
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
262
Segou Kingdom
-
absent
Confident No Edit
263
Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty
-
present
Confident No Edit
264
Rouran Khaganate
-
absent
Confident No Edit
265
Xiongnu Imperial Confederation
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
266
Later Wagadu Empire
-
present
Confident No Edit
267
Middle Wagadu Empire
-
present
Confident No Edit
268
Early Monte Alban I
-
absent
Confident No Edit
269
Monte Alban II
-
absent
Confident No Edit
270
Early Formative Basin of Mexico
-
absent
Confident No Edit
271
Holy Roman Empire - Ottonian-Salian Dynasty
-
present
Confident No Edit
272
Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic
-
absent
Confident No Edit
273
Kachi Plain - Chalcolithic
-
absent
Confident No Edit
274
Kachi Plain - Post-Urban Period
-
absent
Confident No Edit
275
Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period
-
absent
Confident No Edit
276
Ayutthaya
-
present
Confident No Edit
277
Fatimid Caliphate
-
present
Confident No Edit
278
Konya Plain - Late Bronze Age II
-
present
Confident No Edit
279
Chagatai Khanate
-
present
Confident Yes Edit
280
Roman Empire - Dominate
-
present
Confident No Edit
281
Early Illinois Confederation
-
absent
Confident No Edit
282
Chagatai Khanate
-
absent
Confident Yes Edit
283
Himyar II
-
present
Inferred No Edit
284
Rasulid Dynasty
-
present
Confident No Edit
285
Yemen - Tahirid Dynasty
-
present
Confident No Edit
286
Funj Sultanate
-
present
Confident No Edit
287
Emirate of Harar
-
present
Confident No Edit
288
Foys
-
present
Confident No Edit
289
Benin Empire
-
present
Confident No Edit
290
Kingdom of Nyinginya
-
absent
Confident No Edit
291
Dutch Empire
-
present
Inferred No Edit
292
Adal Sultanate
-
present
Inferred No Edit
293
Tunni Sultanate
-
present
Inferred No Edit
294
Ajuran Sultanate
-
present
Inferred No Edit
295
Habr Yunis
-
present
Inferred No Edit
296
Shoa Sultanate
-
present
Inferred No Edit
297
Ifat Sultanate
-
present
Inferred No Edit
298
Isaaq Sultanate
-
present
Inferred No Edit
299
Ilú-ọba Ọ̀yọ́
-
present
Inferred No Edit
300
Igala
-
present
Inferred No Edit
301
Kanem-Borno
-
present
Inferred No Edit
302
Imamate of Futa Toro
-
present
Inferred No Edit
303
Denyanke Kingdom
-
present
Inferred No Edit
304
Middle and Late Nok
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
305
West Burkina Faso Yellow I
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
306
Sultanate of Geledi
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
307
Kingdom of Kaffa
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
308
Aro
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
309
West Burkina Faso Yellow II
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
310
Oyo
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
311
Jin
-
present
Inferred No Edit
312
Western Zhou
-
present
Inferred No Edit
313
Great Yuan
-
present
Confident No Edit
314
Ptolemaic Kingdom I
-
absent
Confident No Edit
315
Spanish Empire I
-
present
Confident No Edit
316
Axum I
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
317
Carolingian Empire II
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
318
Proto-Carolingian
-
present
Confident No Edit
319
Middle Merovingian
-
present
Confident No Edit
320
Susa III
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
321
Akan - Pre-Ashanti
-
absent
Confident No Edit
322
Ashanti Empire
-
present
Confident No Edit
323
Classical Crete
-
present
Confident No Edit
324
Early A'chik
-
absent
Confident No Edit
325
Hoysala Kingdom
-
present
Inferred No Edit
326
Akkadian Empire
-
present
Confident No Edit
327
Elam - Awan Dynasty I
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
328
Sasanid Empire I
-
present
Inferred No Edit
329
Susa II
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
330
Early United Mexican States
-
present
Confident No Edit
331
Rome - Republic of St Peter II
-
present
Confident No Edit
332
Papal States - High Medieval Period
-
present
Confident No Edit
333
Late Roman Republic
-
absent
Confident No Edit
334
Middle Roman Republic
-
absent
Confident No Edit
335
Kamakura Shogunate
-
present
Confident No Edit
336
Classical Angkor
-
present
Confident No Edit
337
Plantagenet England
-
present
Confident No Edit
338
Late Xiongnu
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
339
Monte Alban Late I
-
absent
Confident No Edit
340
Oaxaca - Rosario
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
341
Rattanakosin
-
present
Inferred No Edit
342
Byzantine Empire I
-
present
Confident No Edit
343
Byzantine Empire III
-
present
Confident No Edit
344
Haudenosaunee Confederacy - Early
-
absent
Confident No Edit
345
Kingdom of Bohemia - Luxembourgian and Jagiellonian Dynasty
-
present
Confident No Edit
346
Lombard Kingdom
-
present
Confident No Edit
347
Us Reconstruction-Progressive
-
present
Confident No Edit
348
Antebellum US
-
present
Confident No Edit
349
Tudor and Early Stuart England
-
present
Confident No Edit
350
Anglo-Saxon England II
-
present
Confident No Edit
351
Austria - Habsburg Dynasty I
-
present
Confident No Edit
352
Golden Horde
-
present
Confident No Edit
353
British Empire I
-
present
Confident No Edit
354
Kingdom of Hawaii - Post-Kamehameha Period
-
present
Confident No Edit
355
Anglo-Saxon England I
-
present
Confident No Edit
356
Napoleonic France
-
present
Confident No Edit
357
Hohokam Culture
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
358
Saffarid Caliphate
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
359
Qatabanian Commonwealth
-
absent
Confident No Edit
360
British Empire IIIIIIIIII
-
present
Confident No Edit
361
Italian Kingdom Late Antiquity
-
present
Inferred No Edit
362
Hmong - Early Chinese
-
absent
Confident No Edit
363
Longshan
-
absent
Inferred No Edit
364
Great Ming
-
present
Confident No Edit
365
Shuar - Colonial
-
absent
Confident No Edit
366
Kachi Plain - Urban Period I
-
unknown
Suspected No Edit
367
Kachi Plain - Urban Period II
-
unknown
Confident No Edit