Home Region:  Iran (Southwest Asia)

Elam III

612 BCE 539 BCE
EQ 2020  ir_neo_elam_3 / IrNElm3
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
911 BCE 612 BCE Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)    [None]

Succeeding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.


  General Description  
Our Neo-Elamite III period begins in 647 BCE, the date of the invasion of Elam and sack of the ancient city of Susa by the Neo-Assyrian king Ashurbanipal, [1] and ends in 539 BCE. This date marks the capture of Babylon by the first king of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, Cyrus the Great, who must have been ruling in Susa by 540 BCE. [2] By this time, the Elamite civilization had occupied the highlands of the south-western Iranian plateau and the fertile lowlands of the Susiana plain for over two millennia.
Population and political organization
The traditional interpretation of this period has been that Elam effectively ceased to exist as an independent state after Ashurbanipal’s invasion, becoming a province of Neo-Assyria until Assyria’s own fortunes declined several decades later. [3] However, some scholars believe that Ashurbanipal’s destruction of Elam may not have been as complete as he claimed. [4] The archaeologist Pierre de Miroschedji has argued that by 625 BCE, Elam’s government was restored and that the royal chancellery was active at Susa. [5] The extent of Babylonian and Persian influence on Elamite politics in the century before c. 540 BCE is also a matter of ongoing debate. [6] [7]
Secure population estimates for the area under Elamite control in this period are lacking.

[1]: (Álvarez-Mon, Garrison and Stronach 2011, 10) Álvarez-Mon, Javier, Mark B. Garrison, and David Stronach. 2011. "Introduction." In Elam and Persia, edited by Javier Álvarez-Mon and Mark B. Garrison, 1-32. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/WF4UWMWH.

[2]: (Potts 2004, 307) Potts, D. T. 2004. The Archaeology of Elam: Formation and Transformation of an Ancient Iranian State. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/WDUEEBGQ.

[3]: (Potts 2004, 288) Potts, D. T. 2004. The Archaeology of Elam: Formation and Transformation of an Ancient Iranian State. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/WDUEEBGQ.

[4]: Wouter Henkelman 2016, personal communication.

[5]: (de Miroschedji 1982, 62 in Potts 2004, 301) Potts, D. T. 2004. The Archaeology of Elam: Formation and Transformation of an Ancient Iranian State. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/WDUEEBGQ.

[6]: (Potts 2012, 46) Potts, Daniel T. 2012. "The Elamites." In The Oxford Handbook of Iranian History, edited by Touraj Daryaee, 37-56. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/BEAERFCW.

[7]: (Amiet, Chevalier and Carter 1992, 13) Amiet, Pierre, Nicole Chevalier, and Elizabeth Carter. 1992. "Susa in the Ancient Near East." In The Royal City of Susa: Ancient Near Eastern Treasures in the Louvre, edited by Prudence O. Harper, Joan Aruz, and Françoise Tallon, 1-24. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/9KQATXPQ.

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3) was in:
 (612 BCE 540 BCE) Susiana
Home NGA: Susiana

General Variables
Identity and Location Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 39 S 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Original Name Elam 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Alternative Name Elam - Neo-Elamite III 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Succeeding Entity Achaemenid Empire 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Preceding Entity
911 BCE 612 BCE
Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)   [None] 
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Degree of Centralization 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Degree of Centralization 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Language Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family isolate 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Language 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Religion Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Polity Population 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Administrative Level 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Professions Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
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Professional Priesthood 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Law Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
612 BCE  539 BCE
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Market 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Irrigation System Unknown Suspected 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System Unknown Suspected 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Bridge 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Information / Writing System Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Script 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Present 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Nonwritten Record 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Mnemonic Device 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Practical Literature 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Information / Money Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Precious Metal Unknown Suspected 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Paper Currency Absent 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Indigenous Coin 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Foreign Coin 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Article 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Information / Postal System Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Courier 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Modern Fortification Absent 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Moat 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Fortified Camp 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Earth Rampart 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Ditch 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Complex Fortification 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Long Wall absent 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Military use of Metals Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Iron 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Copper Unknown Suspected 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Bronze Unknown Suspected 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Projectiles Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Sling 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Self Bow 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Javelin 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Handheld Firearm 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Crossbow 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Composite Bow 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Atlatl 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Handheld weapons Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Sword 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Spear 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Battle Axe 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Elephant Unknown Suspected 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Donkey 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Camel 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Armor Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Shield 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Scaled Armor 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Plate Armor 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Limb Protection 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Leather Cloth 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Laminar Armor 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Helmet 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Chainmail 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Breastplate 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Naval technology Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 612 BCE  539 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Instability Data
Power Transitions