http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/East-Hem_600ad.jpg I think the arctic marine mammal hunters would be a major super power.

Trouble spots:
- the Middle East (Byzantines vs Sassanids vs Arabs)
- Western Europe (many military-ruled states, competing ideologies and Byzantine interference)

Major Political Issues and World Events:
- Turkish Unification.
- Korean Unification
- Minority rights, particularly in Japan, Gokturk Khaganates
- Ethnic cleansing - Byzantine Empire denounced genocide in Visigothia although itself perpetuated an unjust war against oil-rich Bashkiria.
- Indian federalism - the new Indian Constitution was reject - again - in Sindh, which already refused to adopt the Rupee. Ganges states contemplated splitting the IU into two.
- Sui threatens to invade North Australia on grounds of attempting to build a WMD, but backs down after nuclear tests, instead offering financial support if it agrees to dismantle nuclear program.
- Concert in China, Chenla, Dvaradi and Srivijaya to raise funds to help starving people in Western Europe, victims of another long, harsh winter and corrupt regimes.
- The Kingdom of Sao-Africania, as well as the Finno-Ugrian Federation, reaps huge profit from oil as oil-rich Middle East became too dangerous due to War. Oil money improves quality of life in both nations improve dramatically.
- Illegal Migrants - from Avar Khaganate and Western states into Byzantine Empire. Emperor considering "Border Wall"

Top five military spenders:
1. Byzantine Empire
2. Sassanid Empire
3. Visigothic Kingdom
4. Sui Empire
5. Silla

Top five highest GDP per capita:
1. Sao-Africania
2. Byzantine Empire
3. Srivijaya
4. Chalukya
5. Finno-Ugric Federation

And lowest:
1. Pomerania
2. Bernicia
3. Anglia
4. Saami
5. Vasconia

Largest Economies:
1. Sui Empire
2. Byzantine Empire
3. Srivijaya
4. Sassanid Empire
5. West Gokturk

You can bet that the popular press in those British kingdoms would all be calling for a referendum on the proposed constitutional treaty for the British Isles, and campaigning for a "No" vote. "Hwicce can trade with Britain without being part of Britain!"

Was Madagascar already populated?

According to wiki, Madagascar was populated between AD200 - 500.

Damn it!
For a little

That is the most inaccurate map of Dark Ages Ireland I've ever seen!

Ulster should be Uí Neill (the clan founded by Niall Naoigiallach)
Uliad should be Ulaidh (this where the Norse 'Ulster' comes from)
Connaught should be Connaghta (Connaught is an English corruption, which is always mispronounced by the English themselves)
Munster should be Mumhain (again, the Norse 'Munster' is acorruption of this)
Thomond shouldn't exist, it was a territory of the Mumhain.
I imagine 8 would be Mide, if it isn't, it's wrong.


Let's see, there would definitely be strained relations between the Gaelic Dál Riata and the Pictish kingdoms, while the various Gaelic kingdoms in Ireland would be struggling to achieve unity, with various parties attempting to unite the various petty kings under an elected federal body. They would also have to choose whether or not to support the invasion of the Picts by Gaelic colonists and how to deal with the loss of territories in Britain to the Romano-British kingdoms.

The Romano-Britons themselves would be trying to isolate the Germanic invaders and the various British politicians would be trying to collect the Bitons under a federal government, temporarily founded to remove pagan Germanic settlers in Britain, sending missionaries to build churches and convince them to adopt Organised Religion and Christianity.

The Gaels, meanwhile, would be discussing adopting Organised Religion or Theocracy.

(For some reason Civ4 terms crept in)

All that land in New Zealand just waiting human occupation.

Well that Eastern Roman Empire is a bit of an exagguration, to say the least.

No, it's not. Belisarius did his job and reconquered Italy and North Africa before he was arrested because the Emperor felt he was planning to take power.

The Byzantines, Persians, and Chinese would be engaged in a cold war.

I can just see that, as they each endorse minor powers and supply them in an attempt to get the upper hand. Sounds like good material for a scenario.

We could assume the Americas are discovered... and that could mean...

- The Americas would be a mess of little countries/tribes left over after colonization, just like Africa in our world
- There would be the ex-colonies of China/Persia/Byzantium, that are themselves world powers or regional powers
- Somehow certain groups of peoples like the Aztecs, Incas, Mayans, Iroqouis, etc., survive and become regional powers... or shadows of their former selves.

- Somehow certain groups of peoples like the Aztecs, Incas, Mayans, Iroqouis, etc., survive and become regional powers... or shadows of their former selves.

Aztecs in 600 AD?

I also greatly enjoy the map's complete omission of Lake Baikal.

I also greatly enjoy the map's complete omission of Lake Baikal.
Hence these maps are widely used by Wikipedia. :)

This map is one of the best of all possible worlds. :p Yes, I'm playing to my stereotype and looking straight at the awesome entity ruled from Constantinople that Phokas hasn't managed to ruin yet.

I also greatly enjoy the map's complete omission of Lake Baikal.

Lake Baikal in 600 AD?




JK :p

AGH!!!!!! TO HORRIBLE TO LOOK AT!!!!!!!!! Better stick with the Romanitas idea of the world.

Aztecs in 600 AD?

well, that's true.

you can put in Zapotects instead.

oh, and another thing:

Vietnam would be spearheading a massive guerilla campaign against the Sui Empire - essentially really @#$%@#$% the economy in the South, funded thanks in part by the Byzantine Empire.