Home Region:  Northeast Asia (East Asia)

Tokugawa Shogunate

1603 CE 1868 CE
EQ 2020  jp_tokugawa_shogunate / JpTokgw
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1568 CE 1603 CE Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama (jp_azuchi_momoyama)    [continuity]

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  General Description  
The Tokugawa period, also known as the Edo period, ran from 1603 to 1868 CE. Sometimes the slightly earlier start date of 1600 is chosen in recognition of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s decisive victory at the Battle of Sekigahara; however, we have selected the 1603 date, which marks his official appointment as shogun. Although the emperor remained the official head of state, the Tokugawa shoguns ruled Japan. The rise to power of the Tokugawa Shogunate marked an end to the internal strife and warfare that had characterized the preceding century. Tokugawa Ieyasu and his immediate successors set about limiting the power of their rivals and instituting new policies aimed at maintaining stability and centralizing Japan’s government. [1]
The ’peak’ of the Tokugawa period corresponds to the years between 1688 and 1704 CE, known as the Genroku period, which saw the development of a distinct urban culture and the proliferation of art, theatre and fiction. [2] During the early modern period the Japanese polity consisted of three major islands: Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku. [3]
Eventually, economic difficulties and the threat of Western encroachment helped to bring about the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The period came to an end with the resignation of the last Tokugawa shogun in 1867 and the imperial restoration in 1868. [4]
Population and political organization
The Tokugawa shogunate built on the work of the generals Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582 CE) and Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598 CE), who between 1568 and 1590 succeeded in uniting all the daimyō (local military lords) under the command of a military leader into a ’national confederation’. [5] Theoretically, the daimyō maintained administrative authority in their own territories, but in practice they were expected to follow the guidance of the shogunate. [6] Tokugawa Ieyasu and his successors pursued a policy of ’orthodoxy and stability’, [6] aimed at consolidating their own power and limiting the ability of their rivals to amass enough power or wealth to enable them to challenge the shogunate. The success of these policies enabled the Tokugawa family to preside over a period of peace and prosperity and rule Japan for the next 268 years. [7] As well as peace, political stability and the centralization of power by the shoguns, the Tokugawa period was characterized by economic prosperity, rising urbanization and the closings of Japan’s borders to the wider world in the 1630s. [8]
Theoretically, class was determined by birth and social mobility was prohibited. Influenced by Chinese models, the social order was formalized and essentially frozen in a hierarchy known as shi-nō-kō-shō, ’warrior-peasant-artisan-merchant’. [6] Despite the shogunate’s concerted attempts to maintain a strict social orthodoxy, however, the stable and economically prosperous conditions led to a range of social changes, including increasing urbanization and the rise of the merchant class, who (although they were theoretically socially inferior) now held much of the country’s wealth. [6] Now that there was no need for the majority of those of samurai rank to be actively engaged in military activities, the warrior class became bureaucratized, a development that went hand-in-hand with a romanticization of the warrior ideal and the codification of proper rules of behaviour. [6]
During the Tokugawa period, population censuses were carried out. However, they did not take all members of the population into account and various scholars have therefore used supplementary data to produce what they hope are more accurate estimates. [9] Estimates for the beginning of the period (1600 CE) range from around 15 [10] to 22 [11] million. The population rose to around 30 million by the end of the period. [11] [12]

[1]: (Henshall 2012, 54) Kenneth Henshall. 2012. A History of Japan: From Stone Age to Superpower. 3rd ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

[2]: (Totman 1993, 280) Conrad Totman. 1993. Early Modern Japan. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

[3]: (Totman 1993, 3-4) Conrad Totman. 1993. Early Modern Japan. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

[4]: (Deal 2005, 12) William E. Deal. 2005. Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[5]: (Hall 2008, 1) John Whitney Hall. 2008. ’Introduction’, in The Cambridge History of Japan, Vol. 4: Early Modern Japan, edited by Kozo Yamamura, 1-39. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[6]: (Henshall 2012, 56) Kenneth Henshall. 2012. A History of Japan: From Stone Age to Superpower. 3rd ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

[7]: (Hall 2008, 6) John Whitney Hall. 2008. ’Introduction’, in The Cambridge History of Japan, Vol. 4: Early Modern Japan, edited by Kozo Yamamura, 1-39. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[8]: (Hall 2008, 1, 6) John Whitney Hall. 2008. ’Introduction’, in The Cambridge History of Japan, Vol. 4: Early Modern Japan, edited by Kozo Yamamura, 1-39. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[9]: (Deal 2005, 63) William E. Deal. 2005. Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[10]: (Farris 2006, 212) William Wayne Farris. 2006. Japan’s Medieval Population: Famine, Fertility, and Warfare in a Transformative Age. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.

[11]: (McEvedy and Jones 1978, 181) Colin McEvedy and Richard Jones. 1978. Atlas of World Population History. London: Penguin Books.

[12]: (Totman 1993, 251) Conrad Totman. 1993. Early Modern Japan. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

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

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate) was in:
 (1603 CE 1868 CE) Kansai
Home NGA: Kansai

General Variables
Identity and Location Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 53 S 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Original Name Tokugawa Shogunate 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Capital 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Alternative Name The Edo Period 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Alternative Name Tokugawa bakufu 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Temporal Bounds Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Peak Years
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Suprapolity Relations 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Supracultural Entity Japanese 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Succeeding Entity Japan - Meiji Restoration 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Preceding Entity
1568 CE 1603 CE
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Degree of Centralization 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Language Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Linguistic Family Japonic 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Language 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Religion Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Population of the Largest Settlement 1678 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement 1721 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement 1800 CE
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Polity Territory 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Polity Population 1603 CE
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Polity Population 1650 CE
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Polity Population 1700 CE
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Polity Population 1750 CE
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Polity Population 1800 CE
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Polity Population 1850 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Settlement Hierarchy 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Religious Level 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Military Level 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Administrative Level 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Professions Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Professional Soldier 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Professional Priesthood 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Professional Military Officer Present 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Specialized Government Building 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Merit Promotion 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Examination System 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Law Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Professional Lawyer 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Judge 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Court 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Market 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Irrigation System 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Food Storage Site 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Road 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Port 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Canal 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Bridge 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Mines or Quarry 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Information / Writing System Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Written Record 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Script 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Nonwritten Record 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Mnemonic Device Unknown 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Scientific Literature 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Sacred Text 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Religious Literature 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Practical Literature 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Philosophy 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification 1603 CE  1868 CE
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History 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Fiction 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Calendar 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Information / Money Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Token 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Precious Metal 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Paper Currency 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Indigenous Coin 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Foreign Coin 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Article 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Information / Postal System Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Postal Station 1603 CE  1868 CE
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General Postal Service 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Courier 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Information / Measurement System Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Wooden Palisade 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent 1603 CE 1854 CE
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Modern Fortification Present 1855 CE 1868 CE
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Moat 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Fortified Camp 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Earth Rampart 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Ditch 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Complex Fortification 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Long Wall unknown Suspected 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Military use of Metals Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Steel 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Iron 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Copper 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Bronze 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Projectiles Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Tension Siege Engine 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Sling Siege Engine 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Sling 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Self Bow 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Javelin 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Handheld Firearm 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Crossbow 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Composite Bow 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Atlatl 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Handheld weapons Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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War Club 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Sword 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Spear 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Polearm 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Dagger 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Battle Axe 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Animals used in warfare Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Horse 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Elephant 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Donkey 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Dog 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Camel 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Armor Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Wood Bark Etc Unknown Suspected 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Shield 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Scaled Armor 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Plate Armor 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Limb Protection 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Leather Cloth 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Laminar Armor 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Helmet 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Chainmail 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Breastplate 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Naval technology Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Specialized Military Vessel Present 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Unknown Suspected 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 1603 CE  1868 CE
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Human Sacrifice Tokugawa Shogunate (jp_tokugawa_shogunate)
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Instability Data
Power Transitions