Capto Iugulum Background Thread
- Thread starter EQandcivfanatic
- Start date
Grandkhan
Telvanni Master Wizard
Now I kind of want to write a tongue in cheek New Spanish history, given that I was around in the 1830s and I wasn't around for all of Denmark's history.
m.t.cicero
Good Kid
Edited in some more info on the Ascendant Kingdom between 1852 and 1900, as well as some more pictures.
Also great Scandinavian history LoE, looking forward to more!
Also great Scandinavian history LoE, looking forward to more!
J.K. Stockholme
Right Opposition
More maps!
Economic power map, using EP gained in the year 1929. Not adjusted for population. Includes cash gained from colonies.
8. 0-20
7. 21-50
6. 51-75
5. 76-100
4. 101-150
3. 151-300
2. 301-400
1. 401+
Interesting notes are that you could divide Europe economically into western, eastern, an then central-northern (or the Great Power Economies). There is a massive divide after Scandinavia and Italy, with Germany, Great Britain and Russia (the only countries in category 1). having 700+ EP. Bosnia is Europe's poorest country, with even Corsica and the Papal States outdoing their economic power. Another interesting thing to note is how both the Eastern and Western European economic areas noted originally, are sort of walled in by the medium economies of Spain and Turkey, and the Great Powers on the other end, making for a land of smaller economies in between.
Economic power map, using EP gained in the year 1929. Not adjusted for population. Includes cash gained from colonies.
8. 0-20
7. 21-50
6. 51-75
5. 76-100
4. 101-150
3. 151-300
2. 301-400
1. 401+
Interesting notes are that you could divide Europe economically into western, eastern, an then central-northern (or the Great Power Economies). There is a massive divide after Scandinavia and Italy, with Germany, Great Britain and Russia (the only countries in category 1). having 700+ EP. Bosnia is Europe's poorest country, with even Corsica and the Papal States outdoing their economic power. Another interesting thing to note is how both the Eastern and Western European economic areas noted originally, are sort of walled in by the medium economies of Spain and Turkey, and the Great Powers on the other end, making for a land of smaller economies in between.
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
Make one for the entire world.
Index of EP per Person
.075 and Below-Red
.075-.099-Orange
.10-.19-Yellow
.20-.49-Light Green
.5 and above-Dark Green
I took J.K.'s idea and expanded upon it, calculating the proportion of the economy to people. I did not include Colonial powers such as Britain and Brazil for their holdings in the Caribbean. This does not necessarily mean that the wealth is distributed evenly to the population, but this is a general idea of how much economic output per person there is.
Surprisingly, the nations of Central America and the Caribbean have a disproportionately large economy to their population.
Florida scored the lowest with .07 ep per person while Jamaica took the highest at 1.17 ep per person.
Full List of EP per person
Spoiler :
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
More maps!
Economic power map, using EP gained in the year 1929. Not adjusted for population. Includes cash gained from colonies.
8. 0-20
7. 21-50
6. 51-75
5. 76-100
4. 101-150
3. 151-300
2. 301-400
1. 401+
Interesting notes are that you could divide Europe economically into western, eastern, an then central-northern (or the Great Power Economies). There is a massive divide after Scandinavia and Italy, with Germany, Great Britain and Russia (the only countries in category 1). having 700+ EP. Bosnia is Europe's poorest country, with even Corsica and the Papal States outdoing their economic power. Another interesting thing to note is how both the Eastern and Western European economic areas noted originally, are sort of walled in by the medium economies of Spain and Turkey, and the Great Powers on the other end, making for a land of smaller economies in between.
South America using this scale.
Spoiler :
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
Red being worst and Dark Green being best EP per MP ratio. Orange is the average, roughly .10-.15 EP per MP.
Spoiler :
m.t.cicero
Good Kid
Made a map for the Far East based on JK's scale
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
This is the percentage of income spent annually by nations in the Americas towards socialized programs such as education, healthcare, and pensions. Out of all of these nations, only Brazil and Vinland currently provide safety nets for the unemployed, and both of these nations, along with Argentina, Florida, and the USA, provide superior education funding to other nations in the Americas, and indeed worldwide.
Jehoshua
Catholic
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2009
- Messages
- 7,284
Twould be interesting to see an EP per person map of Europe.
Oh, and it seems clear from the wealth per manpower map of the Americas that the presence of a significant and powerful Catholicism is, save the anomaly of Jamaica, an indicator of prosperity and wealth on the continent. Indeed only 2 of the thirteen nations which are above average have a significant protestant population (Jamaica and Argentina, with the latter having a very significant Catholic minority). All the nations below average in terms of wealth are predominantly protestant.
Oh, and it seems clear from the wealth per manpower map of the Americas that the presence of a significant and powerful Catholicism is, save the anomaly of Jamaica, an indicator of prosperity and wealth on the continent. Indeed only 2 of the thirteen nations which are above average have a significant protestant population (Jamaica and Argentina, with the latter having a very significant Catholic minority). All the nations below average in terms of wealth are predominantly protestant.
TheLastJacobite
No Commies
I'm putting my History degree to good use and jumping on the Background bandwagon! As I wasn't the initial player for Moscowy, EQ/former players/any one else, feel free to correct any of my mistakes.
The story of Russia is one of the most prolific in the Capto Iugulum universe. Beginning as three separate states isolated from the rest of the world, the United Russian Empire was forged together through war, perseverance and the iron will of the Obolensky family. Today, Russia is the largest nation in the world (both in size and economy), possessing a plethora of ethnic groups from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific in the West. The story of Russia is the story of how any nation can rise to greatness, given the right leadership.
Part One
Moscowy, Novgorod and Kiev: Pre-unification
In 1830, Russia was a term for the three states east of Poland and the Swedish Baltic provinces. All three were backwards by European standards, relying heavily on agriculture and peasant farmers. In the north was Novgorod, the most developed of the three states. Novgorod was slightly more advanced than the other two states, eventually developing an industrial society (and cordial relationship with Sweden/Scandinavia) that persist in Russia to this day. In the south west was Kiev, initially the smallest and weakest of the three Russias, but quickly becoming the strongest. Due to its lack of industry and lower manpower, Kiev relied heavily on allies, namely Poland, Hungary and the Roman Empire to ensure its survival. In between these two was Moscowy, the state that would eventually form the heartland of modern Russia. Moscowy had been ruled by the Obolensky family since the early 1600s, after being selected from the local nobles to rule around the city of Moscow after the defeat of the Mongol hordes. What Moscowy lacked in production it made up for in a large population and the conniving and aggressive thinking of its leaders. Moscowy was always the most ambitious of the three states, pushing against its neighbors and the large uninhabited lands to the east.
Because they relied heavily on agriculture, all three states were prone to famine in times of poor weather. This would result in unrest and revolt throughout the region, often leading to bands of marauding peasants attacking anyone who they thought had wronged them, might have food, or simply crossed their path. To ensure their safety, the kings would generally make sure that their armies and their families were always well fed, which served to buy their loyalty, but would further enrage the populace. This was vital in Moscowy, which required a large military to counter not only its fellow Russians, but the marauding Kazaks to the southeast and the rebellious Cossacks in its southern regions. During the famine in the early 1830s, the Muscovite and Novgorod armies fought a series of pitched battles after the Novgorodian forces invaded Moscowy on their own in search of food. The army was also called in to put down a number of large peasant uprisings, as well as holding off the usual raids in the south and pushes east. Though it fared well against its Russian neighbors, the Muscovite army was continually stymied and humiliated by the Kazaks in the south, being almost constantly under harrying cavalry attacks and never able to gain any sort of advantage, despite having a Western and larger army. It was not until the Kazaks were defeated by Persia and Russia was unified that their threat was ended.
During this period of unrest, King Constantine II, the future first Emperor of Russia, rose to the throne upon the death of his father. A moderate, Constantine II tried to walk a fine line between appeasing the nobles as his father had always done, and ensuring the safety and health of the ordinary citizen. This would mark him as a rare Russian ruler who strove to help his citizens, not just himself and his coffers, while at the same time pushing the aristocracy farther away. This would prove vital after unification, when the newly crowned Emperor would have to walk a tightrope between trying to expand his own influence without causing a revolt among his primary backers.
In 1834, Kiev signed a treaty with the Roman Empire purchasing the Crimea and Georgia and establishing an alliance that would have profound effects on Russia in the future. Attempts to normalize relations between the three Russian states in this period lead to a major revolt among the Cossacks in Moscowy and Kiev, leading to a 5 year war (1836- 1841) by Kiev and Moscowy against the southern nomads. Initially started in Kiev and spilling over into Moscowy, the rebellion was fomented by the two states working together, depriving the Kiev Cossacks of their traditional sport of raiding Moscowy territory for spoils and riches. After successfully ending the initial revolt, the Muscovite army attempted to disarm its on heretofore loyal Cossacks to prevent a similar uprising, resulting in a full scale war. A lack of action early own allowed the Cossacks to consolidate their forces while expanding their territory. This allowed them to utterly route the Kievian forces and stall the Muscovite army sent to attack them. In the end, King Constantine II agreed to a peace treaty with the Cossacks, returning them to the fold of Moscowy. This greatly increased Moscowys power, especially in regard to the other Russian states, making it almost as powerful as the other two nations combined.
The short-lived cooperation between Moscowy and Kiev ended in 1844 after the Cossacks, now a semi-autonomous state within Moscowy, began expanding into Kiev and were met with armed resistance. King Constantine II, as the newly proclaimed defender of the Cossacks, declared war on Kiev. Despite initial setbacks, Moscowy and its Cossack allies prevailed, annexing much of eastern Kiev, up to the Dnieper River. That same year, Moscowy agreed to open its markets exclusively to Sweden, marking the beginning era of cooperation between the future Empires of Russia and Scandinavia. Meanwhile in Novgorod, the new King Mikhail V was attempting to reassert crown authority over his unruly nobles. The aristocracy had been upset over the infringing on their rights for a number of years, as well as the new Grand Marshal of Novgorod, a former general who had led a successful rebellion and been risen to nobility by the previous king. Mikhail was met with resistance and made little headway in bringing his nobles to heel, a theme that would affect the early days of the Empire.
The mid 1840s saw the rise of the idea of a united Russia among the three Russian states. Centered in Moscowy, the notion of a united Russia spread, gaining traction among the middle class in the three states with the main resistance being from the nobles who would surely lose their power and influence in a unified country. This caused an odd situation in Novgorod, where some nobles actually embraced the idea of rule from Moscow over rule from Novgorod. The situation was not helped by growing tensions and trade disputes with Scandinavia, which was growing closer to Moscowy by the day. Meanwhile, in 1848, Moscowy launched a renewed war against Kiev. Thanks to aid from Poland, the initial advances by the Muscovites were repulsed. Moscowy, backed by Scandinavia, attacked again, facing not just the Kievian forces, but their allies from Hungary and Rome. With its inclusion in the war hinging upon fulfilling the honor of their treaty with Kiev, the Roman Empire and Moscowy quickly agreed to a treaty, allowing Rome to exit the war with their honor intact. This political wrangling, coupled with direct Scandinavian intervention, allowed Moscowy to triumph over their adversaries and annex Kiev in 1851. After a full year of negotiation, Novgorod peacefully joined the empire in 1852 and the United Russian Empire was born.
The story of Russia is one of the most prolific in the Capto Iugulum universe. Beginning as three separate states isolated from the rest of the world, the United Russian Empire was forged together through war, perseverance and the iron will of the Obolensky family. Today, Russia is the largest nation in the world (both in size and economy), possessing a plethora of ethnic groups from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific in the West. The story of Russia is the story of how any nation can rise to greatness, given the right leadership.
Part One
Moscowy, Novgorod and Kiev: Pre-unification
In 1830, Russia was a term for the three states east of Poland and the Swedish Baltic provinces. All three were backwards by European standards, relying heavily on agriculture and peasant farmers. In the north was Novgorod, the most developed of the three states. Novgorod was slightly more advanced than the other two states, eventually developing an industrial society (and cordial relationship with Sweden/Scandinavia) that persist in Russia to this day. In the south west was Kiev, initially the smallest and weakest of the three Russias, but quickly becoming the strongest. Due to its lack of industry and lower manpower, Kiev relied heavily on allies, namely Poland, Hungary and the Roman Empire to ensure its survival. In between these two was Moscowy, the state that would eventually form the heartland of modern Russia. Moscowy had been ruled by the Obolensky family since the early 1600s, after being selected from the local nobles to rule around the city of Moscow after the defeat of the Mongol hordes. What Moscowy lacked in production it made up for in a large population and the conniving and aggressive thinking of its leaders. Moscowy was always the most ambitious of the three states, pushing against its neighbors and the large uninhabited lands to the east.
Because they relied heavily on agriculture, all three states were prone to famine in times of poor weather. This would result in unrest and revolt throughout the region, often leading to bands of marauding peasants attacking anyone who they thought had wronged them, might have food, or simply crossed their path. To ensure their safety, the kings would generally make sure that their armies and their families were always well fed, which served to buy their loyalty, but would further enrage the populace. This was vital in Moscowy, which required a large military to counter not only its fellow Russians, but the marauding Kazaks to the southeast and the rebellious Cossacks in its southern regions. During the famine in the early 1830s, the Muscovite and Novgorod armies fought a series of pitched battles after the Novgorodian forces invaded Moscowy on their own in search of food. The army was also called in to put down a number of large peasant uprisings, as well as holding off the usual raids in the south and pushes east. Though it fared well against its Russian neighbors, the Muscovite army was continually stymied and humiliated by the Kazaks in the south, being almost constantly under harrying cavalry attacks and never able to gain any sort of advantage, despite having a Western and larger army. It was not until the Kazaks were defeated by Persia and Russia was unified that their threat was ended.
During this period of unrest, King Constantine II, the future first Emperor of Russia, rose to the throne upon the death of his father. A moderate, Constantine II tried to walk a fine line between appeasing the nobles as his father had always done, and ensuring the safety and health of the ordinary citizen. This would mark him as a rare Russian ruler who strove to help his citizens, not just himself and his coffers, while at the same time pushing the aristocracy farther away. This would prove vital after unification, when the newly crowned Emperor would have to walk a tightrope between trying to expand his own influence without causing a revolt among his primary backers.
In 1834, Kiev signed a treaty with the Roman Empire purchasing the Crimea and Georgia and establishing an alliance that would have profound effects on Russia in the future. Attempts to normalize relations between the three Russian states in this period lead to a major revolt among the Cossacks in Moscowy and Kiev, leading to a 5 year war (1836- 1841) by Kiev and Moscowy against the southern nomads. Initially started in Kiev and spilling over into Moscowy, the rebellion was fomented by the two states working together, depriving the Kiev Cossacks of their traditional sport of raiding Moscowy territory for spoils and riches. After successfully ending the initial revolt, the Muscovite army attempted to disarm its on heretofore loyal Cossacks to prevent a similar uprising, resulting in a full scale war. A lack of action early own allowed the Cossacks to consolidate their forces while expanding their territory. This allowed them to utterly route the Kievian forces and stall the Muscovite army sent to attack them. In the end, King Constantine II agreed to a peace treaty with the Cossacks, returning them to the fold of Moscowy. This greatly increased Moscowys power, especially in regard to the other Russian states, making it almost as powerful as the other two nations combined.
The short-lived cooperation between Moscowy and Kiev ended in 1844 after the Cossacks, now a semi-autonomous state within Moscowy, began expanding into Kiev and were met with armed resistance. King Constantine II, as the newly proclaimed defender of the Cossacks, declared war on Kiev. Despite initial setbacks, Moscowy and its Cossack allies prevailed, annexing much of eastern Kiev, up to the Dnieper River. That same year, Moscowy agreed to open its markets exclusively to Sweden, marking the beginning era of cooperation between the future Empires of Russia and Scandinavia. Meanwhile in Novgorod, the new King Mikhail V was attempting to reassert crown authority over his unruly nobles. The aristocracy had been upset over the infringing on their rights for a number of years, as well as the new Grand Marshal of Novgorod, a former general who had led a successful rebellion and been risen to nobility by the previous king. Mikhail was met with resistance and made little headway in bringing his nobles to heel, a theme that would affect the early days of the Empire.
The mid 1840s saw the rise of the idea of a united Russia among the three Russian states. Centered in Moscowy, the notion of a united Russia spread, gaining traction among the middle class in the three states with the main resistance being from the nobles who would surely lose their power and influence in a unified country. This caused an odd situation in Novgorod, where some nobles actually embraced the idea of rule from Moscow over rule from Novgorod. The situation was not helped by growing tensions and trade disputes with Scandinavia, which was growing closer to Moscowy by the day. Meanwhile, in 1848, Moscowy launched a renewed war against Kiev. Thanks to aid from Poland, the initial advances by the Muscovites were repulsed. Moscowy, backed by Scandinavia, attacked again, facing not just the Kievian forces, but their allies from Hungary and Rome. With its inclusion in the war hinging upon fulfilling the honor of their treaty with Kiev, the Roman Empire and Moscowy quickly agreed to a treaty, allowing Rome to exit the war with their honor intact. This political wrangling, coupled with direct Scandinavian intervention, allowed Moscowy to triumph over their adversaries and annex Kiev in 1851. After a full year of negotiation, Novgorod peacefully joined the empire in 1852 and the United Russian Empire was born.
Lord of Elves
Suede-Denim Secret Police
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2009
- Messages
- 6,976
A Brief History of Scandinavia, Part II
"It is our goal first and foremost to civilize, to uplift and to Christianize the unfortunate peoples of the world." - Erik Vergardsson, first chairman of the Scandinavian Kongo Society
"It is our goal first and foremost to civilize, to uplift and to Christianize the unfortunate peoples of the world." - Erik Vergardsson, first chairman of the Scandinavian Kongo Society
The creation of the Empire of Scandinavia was a watershed moment. The fundamental nature of the state, as well as the government, was from then on in a state of change and evolution. The Union Agreement was made on various conditions, not least among them the establishment of a true parliamentary legislature, the Imperial Rikstag which became the official domestic governing body of the nation. True power of sovereignty would be transferred from the vested military and economic interests represented by the monarchy to the elected officials of the Rikstag over the course of the next fifty-some years. More than gradual, however, Scandinavia's liberalization was peaceful. This would stand in stark contrast to the governmental modernizations and liberalizations of other nations which were hard-won in blood. The reformers of the mid and late-19th century became a cultural institution to the Scandinavian people, heroes of the common man and the wealthy alike.
First Chancellor of the Imperial Rikstag, Leo Sigurdsson addresses members of the assembly
Scandinavia's fortunes abroad seemed to be turning around like its fortunes domestic. The ongoing civil war in China had allowed Scandinavia to finally break into the British-dominated Chinese markets, securing the ability of opium-growers in India to make use of their goods. Seemingly, Scandinavia had finally acquired a sphere of influence in east Asia of its own. "Swedish Jeju" in the Korean Empire did not successfully transfer from the old order to the new, however. Progress in achieving a monopoly over Korea's domestic market for Scandinavian goods as well as (secretly) opium had been going well before a cadre of reactionary Korean nobles seized power and forced Scandinavian emissaries out of the royal court. An unsuccessful attempt was made to force Korea to "acknowledge its international commitments", dashed in the hills and forests of the peninsula by Korean soldiers using the training and armaments which the Scandinavians had agreed to provide them with many years previously. The foreign office was forced to return to the drawing board in terms of its agenda in Asia.
Artist's depiction of the failed "campaign against reactionary aggression and usurpation" in Korea
Korean antipathy to foreigners, born of feelings of mistrust and disgust towards Scandinavians who had peddled opium as well as treason to the king in Korea, extended from Europe to the rest of the world. Increasingly, the peninsular nation became insulated from the outside world. Scandinavian generals were not optimistic about the possibilities for a second show of force in Korea that might compel the new regime to make good on its agreements, and a proprietary settlement had supposedly put the issue to rest. In any case, designs on Korea were put aside in the light of coordinated efforts by Scandinavia and the other European powers to intervene against the Ascendancy in China.
Initially the Ascendancy and the rift it created in the imperial power structure in China had been welcomed by the Scandinavian government as an opportunity to expand Scandinavia's influence in Asia, which had been so sorely lacking in previous years thanks to the obstructionist efforts of British policy-makers. Similarly other European powers were, in the early days of the Ascendancy's war against foreigners in the Middle Kingdom, more interested in opportunities for expansion and power-grabbing than in quashing the Ascendant threat. This changed over the course of the 1840's as the Ascendants pressed more threateningly against European treaty-ports and as the singular efforts of the British were unsuccessful in stemming the Ascendant tide.
An oddity in European power politics, a coalition was assembled among the colonial powers to ensure the success of European economic ventures in China. The so-called Six-Nation Alliance was a cross section of the European continent, or at least the parts of it with any stake in the affairs of weak Asian nations with substance abuse issues. Its members: Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Paris-Burgundy, Great Britain, Spain, Poland and Denmark. The goal of the Six-Nation Alliance was to drive back the Ascendancy at any cost and open China to European markets in perpetuity. The conflicting interests of the European powers were reconciled in that troops on the ground from all concerned nations would preclude the opportunity for powers like Britain to continue to wholly monopolize the Chinese market. Plans were made for a partition in order to accommodate the varying demands of all the involved states.
Soldiers of the Scandinavian expeditionary force land in China
The War of the Six-Nation Alliance, as it was known in Scandinavia and in most of Europe, served to apply the nationalistic sentiment and fervor of pan-Scandinavian intellectuals. Works of art and music which are symbols of Scandinavian national identity largely date from this period, especially the "modern" interpretation of the "March of the Finnish Cavalry" written in commemoration of the failed charge of the Fifth Hakkappelittain Regiment. Consequently the emphasis of the war at home developed into a minor humanitarian movement as thousands of young women in Scandinavia became nurses and were shipped overseas to treat the copious amounts of Scandinavian and foreign wounded.
The war was additionally an exercise of confidence and experience for green, Norwegian regiments of the Imperial Army, now that recruitment of Norwegians was no longer considered a dubious matter. Scandinavian influence in east Asia expanded as the War of the Six-Nation Alliance unified the diverse threads of Asian power politics, such as it was. Scandinavian entente with Japan would prove instrumental as the war expanded into Korea, where the combined forces of Scandinavia, the other powers of the Six-Nation Alliance and Japan beat back Ascendant armies.
Scandinavian and Japanese soldiers fight the Ascendants at the Battle of Chongjin
In between the successes and failures of the War of the Six-Nation Alliance, where the flashiness of open warfare on many fronts and combined arms presented the best face of Scandinavian power to the world, prudence continued to be the most evinced theme of Scandinavia's foreign and domestic policy. Following the infamous Bodeborg Incident, where American soldiers massacred Scandinavian citizens in one of the largest non-military bloodbaths in either nation's history, American-Scandinavian relations cooled significantly. During the War of the American Presidency Scandinavia went back on many of its promises to respect American claims beneath the 49th parallel, settling regions of the Oregon Territory considered American, and supporting the independence of the Republic of Jacksonia. However, Scandinavia remained ardently neutral, refusing to commit significant resources to either side of the struggle and ultimately reached a settlement regarding the "Haroldstad" settlement in Oregon with the victorious Scott.
Scandinavian probing of the Dark Continent was turning, slowly, into proper colonization. In the 1840's Scandinavian explorers mapped the route of the Kongo River, founding Christinestad and claiming the Kongo for Scandinavia. This was the founding of the Scandinavian Kongo Society, first as a humanitarian organization and then as a private corporation. Slowly the Kongo Society would be subsumed into the Scandinavian government and the authority of the Imperial Rikstag, but in these early years of the exploration and colonization of the interior it operated as a separate unit.
The precursors of the Publik Tvinga and the traitor-state, Scandinavian explorers travel east from Christinestad into the impenetrable jungle
At home the Empire found new ways to compound Scandinavian authority in central Europe. Scandinavia's longstanding alliance with Poland was straining even then in the wake of the humiliating divorce of Christine's Polish husband and Scandinavia's frustrations with Polish expeditionary troops in China. In order to surround itself with allies against potential further incidents in Germany and against Polish disloyalty, Scandinavia found common cause with Muscovy, backing the Muscovites in conflicts against Kiev and later Novgorod. Liberalization continued with the creation of the Pomeranian Diet and the evolution of the Pomeranian state towards independence as a nominal dominion of House Vasa over the rest of the century.
Over the 1850's, 1860's and 1870's the balance of power was successfully maintained by international cooperation, mediation and the diversion of colonial expansion in Africa. The 1870's and 1880's would be marked by the absorption of the Empire of Abyssinia as a protectorate to Scandinavia and Scandinavia's participation in the Spanish-Arabian War as an ally to the Empire of Spain, earning Scandinavia control of the Sudan. Once again Scandinavian nationalist idealism was bolstered by the strength of the colonial empire and the Imperial Army, as well-drilled and machine gun-armed Scandinavian troops turned back the hastily-organized conscripts and militarized tribesmen of the Mamluk Empire's Sudanese possessions.
Scandinavian gunships sail up the Nile, bombarding the banks in preparation for assault on Mamluk positions
By the end of the Spanish-Arabian War the 19th century was coming to a close. Scandinavia's colonial empire had evolved well beyond Vinland and a handful of supply ports along the eastern coast of Africa. Vinland's independence had been secured by its creation as another semi-sovereign ally to the empire, with a Vasa on its throne. The status quo of the European states had, seemingly, been maintained and could continue to be maintained. This line of thinking was popular among an emerging class of plutocrats and businessmen whose fortunes were tied to not only the empire but the economic interdependence and cooperation of the European powers. Scandinavia's relationship with emerging power Russia, and the Anglo-Russian War, gave only a brief taste of the horrors to come.
Quisani
Gaming Person
@M.T.
I just read your history of China, and I would say that it is a really good summary of the events there. The only quibble I would have is that I haven't stopped any of my cultural programs
After Japan's conquest of Korea and Manchuria, Japan adopted a policy of enforcing Japanese as the sole or primary language used in official governmental positions, banking institution, scientific journals, and various press and media outlets. Additionally, Japanese has been taught in primary and secondary education in state run schools since the late 1850s. It is worth noting that most of these schools are in major cities, but have spread to more rural areas in the last 70 or so years. It is safe to say that these measures have been fairly successful in both Manchuria and Korea, due to almost the a century of such policies.
The initial ineffectiveness of Japanese ,cultural mandates in China was due to a poor understanding of how the policies in effect in the nineteen aughts in Korea and Manchuria, could not simply be applied to new Chinese holdings. The cultural policies in effect in Korea and Manchuria during the Great War were ones that had years of adaptation, integration, and time to be accepted by those thing in the two respective regions. Attempting to apply those policies to newly acquired Chinese territory were bound to run into problem. The policies in the Chinese territories are in many ways more similar to the ones that were in effect in 1860s Manchuria and Korea. The emphasis in the policies enacted in China have had a large impact on coastal towns or those with universities, the impact on many interior regions is minimal or negligible.
I just read your history of China, and I would say that it is a really good summary of the events there. The only quibble I would have is that I haven't stopped any of my cultural programs
After Japan's conquest of Korea and Manchuria, Japan adopted a policy of enforcing Japanese as the sole or primary language used in official governmental positions, banking institution, scientific journals, and various press and media outlets. Additionally, Japanese has been taught in primary and secondary education in state run schools since the late 1850s. It is worth noting that most of these schools are in major cities, but have spread to more rural areas in the last 70 or so years. It is safe to say that these measures have been fairly successful in both Manchuria and Korea, due to almost the a century of such policies. The initial ineffectiveness of Japanese ,cultural mandates in China was due to a poor understanding of how the policies in effect in the nineteen aughts in Korea and Manchuria, could not simply be applied to new Chinese holdings. The cultural policies in effect in Korea and Manchuria during the Great War were ones that had years of adaptation, integration, and time to be accepted by those thing in the two respective regions. Attempting to apply those policies to newly acquired Chinese territory were bound to run into problem. The policies in the Chinese territories are in many ways more similar to the ones that were in effect in 1860s Manchuria and Korea. The emphasis in the policies enacted in China have had a large impact on coastal towns or those with universities, the impact on many interior regions is minimal or negligible.
Jehoshua
Catholic
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2009
- Messages
- 7,284
THE PAPAL STATES: OVERVIEW
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The Papal States (excluding the Holy Land territories) extends from Lake Albano to the south of Rome, North to the Italian Isle of Elba off the coast. The territory of the Papal States is mostly the relatively sparsely inhabited rolling flatland of the Roman Campagna, one of the most beautiful (and THE most painted) landscapes in Europe, which is utilised for pastoralism and some agriculture with some limited uplands towards the interior border with Italy.
The population of the Papal States is estimated at between seven hundred thousand and one million souls excluding the posessions in the Holy Land (although no census has been held in living memory). Most of this population is concentrated in Rome, and in the towns of Ostia and Grottaferrata, with Rome estimated to hold between five hundred thousand and seven hundred thousand souls (the city is thus only half the size of the ancient roman city, and many areas within the aurelian walls are undeveloped) and with the towns of Ostia and Grottaferrata being estimated to contain fifty thousand and fifteen thousand people respectively. The remainder of the population is rural, spread out in small villages, homesteads, monasteries and fishing settlements on the campagna.
Spoiler :
~ The Roman Campagna
Economically, agriculture, crafts, animal husbandry and fishery are the main traditional sources of income. Agriculture is characterized by the cultivation of wine grapes, fruit, vegetables and olives and the keeping of sheep, cows and goats on the wastelands Campagna. Large scale Industrial development in Lazio is limited to an industrial precinct just outside of Ostia, proximity to the port, communications and communications influenced the position of industry, favouring the area with the best links to Rome and to export markets. The city itself lacks large scale industrial works due to the policy of the popes, although small workshops are common. Industrial firms in the Papal States are often small to medium in size and operate primarily in the building and building materials, paper, textile and engineering sectors although firms exist for higher technology, and more heavy industries such as some limited shipbuilding and petrochemical works to serve local demand.
The majority the working population is employed in the services sector; This is due to the presence of Rome, which is the centre of the Catholic world and the many pilgrims who visit the city and its grand basilicas. Religious services, tourism, comunications media, and education (ooc: Rome has 10 pontifical universities IRL for seminarians teaching the religious sciences, and 1 ancient secular university, with more modern ones) sectors are prominent in Rome, supporting visitors and the needs of the Church. Banking, financial and corporate development is on the rise in Rome with the encouragement of the Papal authorities in a bid to diversify and strengthen the economy, taking advantage of political stability of the Papal States, and the increasing demand for services conducted according to christian principles.
Like any state, the Papal States has a military and a police force. The state, for its size, has an inordinately large army due to the opposition of certain factions in the Church to demilitarisation, a legacy of the Italian wars and the necessity of garrisoning the Holy Land. This army is relatively modern in its doctrine and weaponry, but lacks more modern means of war such as armour. The Papal States also lacks an airforce, and its last naval vessel, an archaic submarine, was recently scuttled with the construction of a new vessel becoming increasingly remote (although the naval knowledge persists). Policing follows normative models along the lines followed in other European nations. However uniquely the Papal States continues to finance the office of the inquisition, which acts as censor over educational programs and the media, screens applicants to teaching and administrative positions for orthodoxy and fidelity to the Church, and engages in domestic measures to weed out proselytes of non-Catholic religions (proselytism of non-Catholic religions is illegal), practice forbidden cults, or engage in politically subversive activities. The inquisition also runs apologetics and catechetical programs for the lay faithful to inculcate Catholic values and teach people the importance of the faith, and internationally is responsible for overseeing and protecting the doctrine and faith of the Church from error and those who would propagate it within the Church.
The presence of the inquisition is partly a product of the Culture of the Papal States, which centres on the Catholic religion. Many great basilicas and Cathedrals pay testament to the power and majesty of the faith, and the presence of the seat of the Catholic faith only underlines the centrality of religion in life. This is evident in the demeanour of its citizens, in the noticably large number of clerics on the streets, in the many churches, oratories, street shrines and monasteries that dot the nation and in the national culture. There however does exist a small jewish minority of a few thousand residing in the roman ghetto, decreased from the 19th century due to immigration to the Holy Land. Other religions are absent save for a small number of resident foreigners, and the members of diplomatic missions to the Holy See from non-catholic countries. Save for half a dozen ancient synagogues in the jewish quarter of Rome, there are no non-Catholic places of worship due to legal prohibitions.
As a consequence of this strong Catholicism, the Papal States is noticably conservative compared to the rest of Europe, with such fashions as the tango being noticable by their absence. Films in the "Argentine fashion" are also completely unavailable in the papal states due to the censorship of the inquisition, with a small local industry providing films of a more religious and family friendly atmosphere. However Rome plays host to a significant and well-regarded artistic community, serving under the patronage of the Church, with the modern St Leo's Basilica being considered a masterwork, and with the sistine chapel choir still considered the best in the world. Many art galleries and schools grace Rome to this day to add to the legacy of such emminent men as Michelangelo, Bernini and Palestrina.
This conservatism also is evident in the political opinions of the population, with the overwhelming majority of the population upholding orthodox Catholic social doctrine, and being thoroughly conservative. This conservatism, unlike in latin america, takes on a more traditionalist bent, aimed at preserving tradition and moving forward in a "hermeneutic of continuity' rather than a rigorous proselytising moralism. This is a consequence of the fact the Papal States is an ecclesiocracy under the rule of the Church, and already thoroughly inculcates Catholicism as the rule of life, thus circumscribing any need or imperative for moralism to develop, for there is nothing against which to fulminate or define itself by. (liberal movements are rare, if not nonexistent in the papal states, and proletarism is entirely absent as a movement due to the efforts of the inquisition and the papal decree excommunicating anyone who joins the proletarist caues)
This conservatism however is no restriction with regards to technology, modern cultural artifacts and products, such as Electricity are widely available in the papal states, with only the poorest and certain monasteries lacking this particular convenience, and radio and other modern mass media have been embraced as a tool to serve the faith and for transmitting information. However private automobiles are, partly due to the medieval street and building layout, partly due to the small size of the city, both things which discourage private automobile use are rare in Rome. The disdain of the clercial authorities for these dirty and noisy contraptions also is a disincentive for wider adoption. Private automobiles however as a matter of convenience are more common in rural areas, although save for tractors on some larger farms they are still less common than in some other nations. Service vehicles and vehicles used for an official capacity and for services (ambulances, fire engines, and trucks to supply business and industry) are used to a similar extent as in neighbouring nations, and a new airfield has been built to link Rome to the burgeoning air-travel industry, thus serving the purposes of facilitating pilgrimage to Rome and simultaneously improving the local economy.
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~ OOC: This is basically an educated approximation of what the Papal States would be like at this moment in the games history taking reference from the real-world economic realities of the region, and my own policies in-game.
ChiefDesigner
Sunset Emperor
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2007
- Messages
- 761
Hilariously, the Japanese thought that in OTL, too.
m.t.cicero
Good Kid
@M.T.
I just read your history of China, and I would say that it is a really good summary of the events there. The only quibble I would have is that I haven't stopped any of my cultural programs
The initial ineffectiveness of Japanese ,cultural mandates in China was due to a poor understanding of how the policies in effect in the nineteen aughts in Korea and Manchuria, could not simply be applied to new Chinese holdings. The cultural policies in effect in Korea and Manchuria during the Great War were ones that had years of adaptation, integration, and time to be accepted by those thing in the two respective regions. Attempting to apply those policies to newly acquired Chinese territory were bound to run into problem. The policies in the Chinese territories are in many ways more similar to the ones that were in effect in 1860s Manchuria and Korea. The emphasis in the policies enacted in China have had a large impact on coastal towns or those with universities, the impact on many interior regions is minimal or negligible.
Thanks, I'll be sure to correct that. I think that it was just wishful thinking on my part, along with the fact that my compulsory English program failed miserably that made me assume your program did as well.
TheLastJacobite
No Commies
The Early Imperial Years: Centralization and the Eastward Expansion
The war against Kiev had shown the advantage friendship with Moscowy (now Russia) could provide to certain of its neighbors. The formation of the Empire had carried over Scandinavian dominance in Russia’s foreign goods markets, greatly increasing the economy of both nations. Scandinavia was granted the exclusive right to Russian markets for its industrial goods, as well as serving as the primary market for Russian products. Scandinavia also served as the main conduit between Europe and Russia, further bringing the two nations closer together. The Roman Empire, after years of decline and civil war, needed a stout ally to help defend its northern regions, as well as making the Black Sea a peaceful lake rather than contested naval battleground. Despite briefly fighting against Moscowy in the Kiev War, the two nations developed a bond, focused mainly as countering the power of Hungary and the growth of trade between each other.
Due to the rebellious and independence of Novgorod nobles, the initial empire was decentralized, with the aristocracy holding much of the local power. This meant that much of the Emperor’s political machinations at home were focused on gaining power for the crown. One means of doing so was the wedding of Emperor Constantine II’s son Ivan to Katarina, the daughter of the former King of Novgorod in 1863. This served to unify the crowns of both nations, giving the Emperor far more sway over the independent Novgordian nobles. Gradually, the Emperor was able to chip away at the powers of the nobles, generally by establishing new Imperial bodies to regulate trade, oversee farm production, train troops, etc. The Emperor employed all manner of tactics to win more power for Moscow, from marriages, land grants, bribery, cajoling to intimidation and force. Though there was grumbling among some of the nobles, the fruits of unification had enriched almost all of the ruling class of Russia, making them less inclined to fight against this golden goose.
The other group that threatened Imperial control was the Cossacks. Nomads by nature, they abhorred restrictions and commands from the far off capital. The treaty that had ended the Cossack rebellion in 1841 had given the Cossacks huge leeway in their internal affairs, as well as choice of any loot or plunder from the wars Russia fought. Like the nobles to the north, the Emperor took a long view approach, asserting authority slowly. The renewed Cossack Oath of 1860 established the Cossacks as the core of the new professional Imperial Russian Army, beholden solely to the Emperor, serving not only as cavalry, but as officers, advisers and instructors. Unlike in decades past, where the nobles had provided their own troops in times of war, now the army would now be firmly under the control of the Emperor. The nobles were generally ok with this arrangement since it meant they no longer had spend their own time and money paying for their peasants to fight in the Empire’s wars. Under the tutelage of the Cossacks, and with help of Scandinavia, a modern European army was forged and soon put to the test.
The first opponent of the new Russian army was the Kazak Khanate, a long time foe of Moscowy. Russia was unable to expand farther east past the Kazaks because doing so opened up their entire southern border to increased Kazak raids. So, in 1868, Russia invaded the Kazak territory, hoping to fare better than the previous wars with the Khanate. Using modern tactics and weapons, especially mobile artillery pieces guarded by Cossack cavalry, the Russians were able to hammer away at the Kazaks, setting up a string of strong forts which they used as bases for their push south and east. The Cossacks proved their loyalty to the Empire, fighting bravely and proving vital in subduing the Kazaks once and for all, as well as in the minor skirmishes against the Persian forces to the south. With the Khanate absorbed, the push east began in earnest. The Grand Imperial Railway was thought up as a way to connect Russia from the west clear to the Pacific and serving as a lifeline for the eastward push. With the help of Scandinavian businesses and engineers, the Russians constructed the railway, with settlements and auxiliary rail lines springing up along the way, pushing north and south from the main railroad. The next stepping stone was the ancient enemy of Russia, the Mongols of the Zunghar Khanate. In a two year war, lasting from 1884 to 1886, the Russian army completely destroyed the Mongols and absorbed their territory into the continually growing Empire.
Meanwhile, Russia was continuing to grow in the west as well. For decades, Russian settlers had been expanding into the neighboring states, namely Poland, Finland and the Baltic states. In Finland, the Russians were only a small minority and most generally left the cold hard north for the more fertile lands back in Russia, though some remained. The Polish settlers caused tensions to grow between Russia and the Poles, as the new residents quickly became the majority in some parts of eastern Poland and continually agitated for merging with their brethren to the east. In the Baltic states, Russians became so widespread that Scandinavia eventually peacefully ceded the entire region to Russia. This finally gave Russia what it had long striven for, a warm water port on the Baltic. Riga, already a bustling seaport city, quickly became the epicenter of Russian overseas trade and one of the largest cities in the Empire and the home of the new Russian navy. In the south, Sevastopol likewise grew, serving as the main link between Russia and Rome and as one of the primary centers of trade on the Black Sea. Russians also began moving into Georgia to the southeast, though they met a hostile population and ruler who generally did not tolerate them and quickly expelled any agitators.
Now the only thing standing in the way of Russia reaching the Pacific were the Japanese and the British. Both powers had greatly expanded their influence in Asia, with Japan prying Manchuria and Korea away from the Ascendant Kingdom and Britain claiming swaths of southern China, parts of India and all of Indochina. They also maintained the colony of New Britain, a small, sparsely populated area focused around the mouth of the Amur River on the Pacific. The series of conferences and meetings that divided up spheres of influence around the globe ended unsatisfactorily for Russia, with their claim for a port in the Pacific blocked figuratively and literally by the British and Japanese. Attempts to push into the Japanese controlled portions of Siberia were met with violent rebuffs and borders were eventually established. Frustrated and stymied by one foe, Russia turned to the other. After decades of expansion, the United Kingdom had turned inward, focusing on its own internal and colonial matters and shunning much of the rest of the world. This meant that they had no one to call to aid them when Russia attacked New Britain in 1898. Faced with overwhelming military force, the British garrison was quickly overrun, despite their troops being of higher quality compared to the Russians (foreshadowing the fighting in Poland less than a decade later). When the British attempted to gather a force to attack Russia proper, they discovered that Scandinavia and Rome were blocking any naval actions in the Baltic and Black Seas respectively. The British were told that such an attack upon Russia would result in a declaration of war by both Scandinavia and Rome, thus forcing the British to reinforce a garrison halfway around the world, while Russia continued to send troops and supplies over the Grand Imperial Railway. Facing facts, the British were forced to cede all of New Britain after only a year of fighting. The next year, Russia Scandinavia and Rome formalized their alliance in the League of the Three Emperors, creating a massive bloc they thought capable of fighting any other alliance in Europe, a theory put to the test only five years later.
The war against Kiev had shown the advantage friendship with Moscowy (now Russia) could provide to certain of its neighbors. The formation of the Empire had carried over Scandinavian dominance in Russia’s foreign goods markets, greatly increasing the economy of both nations. Scandinavia was granted the exclusive right to Russian markets for its industrial goods, as well as serving as the primary market for Russian products. Scandinavia also served as the main conduit between Europe and Russia, further bringing the two nations closer together. The Roman Empire, after years of decline and civil war, needed a stout ally to help defend its northern regions, as well as making the Black Sea a peaceful lake rather than contested naval battleground. Despite briefly fighting against Moscowy in the Kiev War, the two nations developed a bond, focused mainly as countering the power of Hungary and the growth of trade between each other.
Due to the rebellious and independence of Novgorod nobles, the initial empire was decentralized, with the aristocracy holding much of the local power. This meant that much of the Emperor’s political machinations at home were focused on gaining power for the crown. One means of doing so was the wedding of Emperor Constantine II’s son Ivan to Katarina, the daughter of the former King of Novgorod in 1863. This served to unify the crowns of both nations, giving the Emperor far more sway over the independent Novgordian nobles. Gradually, the Emperor was able to chip away at the powers of the nobles, generally by establishing new Imperial bodies to regulate trade, oversee farm production, train troops, etc. The Emperor employed all manner of tactics to win more power for Moscow, from marriages, land grants, bribery, cajoling to intimidation and force. Though there was grumbling among some of the nobles, the fruits of unification had enriched almost all of the ruling class of Russia, making them less inclined to fight against this golden goose.
The other group that threatened Imperial control was the Cossacks. Nomads by nature, they abhorred restrictions and commands from the far off capital. The treaty that had ended the Cossack rebellion in 1841 had given the Cossacks huge leeway in their internal affairs, as well as choice of any loot or plunder from the wars Russia fought. Like the nobles to the north, the Emperor took a long view approach, asserting authority slowly. The renewed Cossack Oath of 1860 established the Cossacks as the core of the new professional Imperial Russian Army, beholden solely to the Emperor, serving not only as cavalry, but as officers, advisers and instructors. Unlike in decades past, where the nobles had provided their own troops in times of war, now the army would now be firmly under the control of the Emperor. The nobles were generally ok with this arrangement since it meant they no longer had spend their own time and money paying for their peasants to fight in the Empire’s wars. Under the tutelage of the Cossacks, and with help of Scandinavia, a modern European army was forged and soon put to the test.
The first opponent of the new Russian army was the Kazak Khanate, a long time foe of Moscowy. Russia was unable to expand farther east past the Kazaks because doing so opened up their entire southern border to increased Kazak raids. So, in 1868, Russia invaded the Kazak territory, hoping to fare better than the previous wars with the Khanate. Using modern tactics and weapons, especially mobile artillery pieces guarded by Cossack cavalry, the Russians were able to hammer away at the Kazaks, setting up a string of strong forts which they used as bases for their push south and east. The Cossacks proved their loyalty to the Empire, fighting bravely and proving vital in subduing the Kazaks once and for all, as well as in the minor skirmishes against the Persian forces to the south. With the Khanate absorbed, the push east began in earnest. The Grand Imperial Railway was thought up as a way to connect Russia from the west clear to the Pacific and serving as a lifeline for the eastward push. With the help of Scandinavian businesses and engineers, the Russians constructed the railway, with settlements and auxiliary rail lines springing up along the way, pushing north and south from the main railroad. The next stepping stone was the ancient enemy of Russia, the Mongols of the Zunghar Khanate. In a two year war, lasting from 1884 to 1886, the Russian army completely destroyed the Mongols and absorbed their territory into the continually growing Empire.
Meanwhile, Russia was continuing to grow in the west as well. For decades, Russian settlers had been expanding into the neighboring states, namely Poland, Finland and the Baltic states. In Finland, the Russians were only a small minority and most generally left the cold hard north for the more fertile lands back in Russia, though some remained. The Polish settlers caused tensions to grow between Russia and the Poles, as the new residents quickly became the majority in some parts of eastern Poland and continually agitated for merging with their brethren to the east. In the Baltic states, Russians became so widespread that Scandinavia eventually peacefully ceded the entire region to Russia. This finally gave Russia what it had long striven for, a warm water port on the Baltic. Riga, already a bustling seaport city, quickly became the epicenter of Russian overseas trade and one of the largest cities in the Empire and the home of the new Russian navy. In the south, Sevastopol likewise grew, serving as the main link between Russia and Rome and as one of the primary centers of trade on the Black Sea. Russians also began moving into Georgia to the southeast, though they met a hostile population and ruler who generally did not tolerate them and quickly expelled any agitators.
Now the only thing standing in the way of Russia reaching the Pacific were the Japanese and the British. Both powers had greatly expanded their influence in Asia, with Japan prying Manchuria and Korea away from the Ascendant Kingdom and Britain claiming swaths of southern China, parts of India and all of Indochina. They also maintained the colony of New Britain, a small, sparsely populated area focused around the mouth of the Amur River on the Pacific. The series of conferences and meetings that divided up spheres of influence around the globe ended unsatisfactorily for Russia, with their claim for a port in the Pacific blocked figuratively and literally by the British and Japanese. Attempts to push into the Japanese controlled portions of Siberia were met with violent rebuffs and borders were eventually established. Frustrated and stymied by one foe, Russia turned to the other. After decades of expansion, the United Kingdom had turned inward, focusing on its own internal and colonial matters and shunning much of the rest of the world. This meant that they had no one to call to aid them when Russia attacked New Britain in 1898. Faced with overwhelming military force, the British garrison was quickly overrun, despite their troops being of higher quality compared to the Russians (foreshadowing the fighting in Poland less than a decade later). When the British attempted to gather a force to attack Russia proper, they discovered that Scandinavia and Rome were blocking any naval actions in the Baltic and Black Seas respectively. The British were told that such an attack upon Russia would result in a declaration of war by both Scandinavia and Rome, thus forcing the British to reinforce a garrison halfway around the world, while Russia continued to send troops and supplies over the Grand Imperial Railway. Facing facts, the British were forced to cede all of New Britain after only a year of fighting. The next year, Russia Scandinavia and Rome formalized their alliance in the League of the Three Emperors, creating a massive bloc they thought capable of fighting any other alliance in Europe, a theory put to the test only five years later.
