Part Fourteen - Pax Graeca
Apologies in advance for the lack of a World Map. I didn't think to make one when I made this post, and it's late now and I need some sleep. Some of the posts have inset maps, but for the locations of the major civilizations of this post look in the 1764 and 1788 posts. Individual city locations aren't that important this time around.
The last post ended in 1762 AD, after Greece had conquered the last of Portugal's mainland cities and unified Southeast Asia. Cavalry and Riflemen are the newest technology in the world's armies, and civilizations across the globe, Greece included, are entering the Industrial Age.
1764 AD - No one attacked us! We have peace!
Russia entered the Industrial Age. They lack for coal, and thus won't become a major industrial power. The Hittites also become the first South American civilization to enter the Industrial Age. The Maya have entered the Industrial Age in North America, leaving Carthage in the awkward position of being surrounded by more advanced civilizations. Carthage does not yet have Physics, so it is likely they will remain in such a situation for quite a while. And in Greenland, Sumeria has reached the Industrial Age. They lack for coal as well as the other resources, a severe blow to ever becoming powerful. Riflemen will help them nonetheless. Closer to home, my northern neighbor, Scandinavia, also has entered the Industrial Age.
1770 AD - We finish research on Industrialism. No other civilization in the world has yet finished this technology. I immediately switch almost every city in the Empire to building a Factory, and then Coal Plant. We are determined to dominate the manufacturing business. Our Scholars also begin studying The Corporation, to allow us to use our manufacturing prowess to build stock exchanges and then dominate economically as well.
1772 AD - Rome is getting Ancient Cavalry in Madras! How come I didn't get any when I didn't have Metallurgy!?!
Way far up north, England has entered the Industrial Age. Not bad for a Northern Siberian civilization.
1776 AD - The privateer I traine to antagonize Russia with has spotted two Frigates southwest of Australia.
It attacks and sinks. Meh.
1778 AD - You know, I probably could start that big Greece & Byzantium v. Persia & Spain war if I wanted to. A Persian Immortal and Pikeman are staying in Greek territory near Marathon, just asking for an ultimatum.
Once war is declared, I'm sure everything would blow up like the gunpowder south of the city. Both sides can pay to bring in numerous allies, who will bring in more allies, and it'll be the classic Great Industrial Age War.
But I don't want to do that right now. We're still building our factories and railroads for industrial domination. But eventually...
1780 AD - Remember how India is on a 1x1 island? Well...
I decline the offer.
Our Scientists have completed The Corporation. Our next technology will be Electricity. After that, we will research Scientific Method, and attempt to complete the Theory of Evolution.
1784 AD - The city of Pharsalos, on Borneo, has completed our first Factory.
1786 AD - I trade Silks to America for 24 gold per turn. I'm only losing 28 gold per turn at 100% science.
1788 AD - The Aztecs and Hittites signed a mutual protection pact. This does not surprise me. Between them lie the Ottomans, who, though not yet Industrial, have considerable power thanks to their Sipahis. The Inca are the only other possible Ottoman target.
Japan, in southern South America, and Mongolia have also now reached the Industrial Age.
1792 AD - We finish Electricity and begin work on the Scientific Method.
Germany, in the Middle East, now has musketmen, but still is hopelessly backwards.
1796 AD - Persia and America now have Industrialism. We got a good start on building the actual factories, though. Both of them and the Aztecs have Electricity. Looks like they got their priorities switched if you ask me. Several civilizations have Sanitation, but none have yet built hospitals.
Korea contacts me in diplomacy. They are willing to give me Sanitation, World Map, 380 gold, and
184 gold per turn for The Corporation. They know the value of getting a tech no one else has. I don't give it to them of course, but am seriously considering trading it next turn - that much gold will last an awfully long time.
1798 AD - Only Persia comes close to Korea's gold offer. It's not worth losing the tech. I might try something like this later, when I have more than one extra tech.
I renegotiate my deal to export Gems to the Mongols and receive 13 gold per turn rather than 4. I also begin exporting Coal to Spain for 15 gold per turn. They lack iron, so it's really pretty useless to them. The Aztecs won't renew their gem export deal due to financial difficulties, but I get 14 gold per turn from Korea. Overall, I'm making 16 gold per turn more now.
1800 AD - Already our industrialization efforts have raised our manufacturing output by 65-70 megatons per year (to 401 megatons), and we haven't come anywhere close to realizing our full potential. Our century census indicates a population of 14,759,000, of whom 49% can read, a literacy rate of 19th in the world. Lifespan is 42 years, slightly higher than the world average. Our GNP also is now the finest in the world, just shy of 1 billion coin.
1802 AD - We finish the Scientific Method. As soon as Lyons finishes its Coal Plant, we will begin building the Theory of Evolution. In the mean time, we will be researching Sanitation.
1804 AD:
The second war of the Industrial Age (Persia's war against me was the first). But still, there has not been a war with
both civilizations being in the Industrial Age. Carthage will not find themselves at too much of a disadvantage, however, as they are behind by only Theory of Gravity in technology. They should be more concerned by the significantly larger city size boasted by Japan.
Lyons begins the Theory of Evolution. It should be complete in 15 turns.
1808 AD - I renew my mutual protection pact with the Byzantines, and sign a right of passage as well.
Still no additional allies in the Carthaginian-Japanese war.
1810 AD - The Celts and Mongols have signed a mutual protection pact. The Old World is being carved into alliances.
We finish researching Sanitation. I'll tackle Ironclads next (they're a seperate technology in Conquests).
We begin working on Universal Suffrage in Paris. Not sure how that works in a Monarchy, but if it prevents another civilization from completing it, we'll invent it.
Pollution is beginning to annoy me. It has struck thrice in Australia and once in Borneo.
1812 - Civil disorder in Avignon (southeast Australia) has destroyed the harbor. That means massive starvation to follow. Looks like I'll have to hurry it - can't let 90% of the occupants starve.
We are now officially the most polluted country in the world. Err - that's not a good thing, is it? But our GNP has surpassed 1 billion coin, a definite positive.
Carthage has entered the Industrial Age. Their war still is quiet.
1816 AD - The Inca have entered the Industrial Age.
Rome and India
finally sign a peace treaty. 1086 years of war for them. Rome finally realized it doesn't have Marines.
1818 AD - We discover Ironclads. Nationalism will be our next discovery.
Manufacturing has surpassed 500 megatons, increasing 25% over 18 years.
1822 AD - My scout galley off the coast of Madagascar sinks a Privateer, likely Egyptian. Primitive technology can be so useful.
1826 AD - A cultural expansion of Bangalore has robbed us of our last non-exporting source of incense. We are encensed!
To aright the situation, we hurry a Coal Plant in Eretria and will then have the city build lots and lots of cultural buildings. In the short term, we must resort for the first time to the entertainment slider.
1832 AD - The city of Orleans completes our first Stock Exchange.
1834 AD - Babylon asks for a mutual protection pact. I agree. They may be backwards and small, but more allies cannot be a bad thing.
1836 AD - The Byzantines are cautious towards me! At last our alliance is helping relations!
1838 AD - I am shocked to discover that the Persians, Aztecs, Americans, and Celts already have Replaceable Parts. My research had been going lickity-split, and I didn't think they'd also be going that quickly. Oh well. I'll have to research it soon. Then we can have the Great Infantry War.
1840 AD - Portugal asks for a mutual protection pact. I decline. More allies are good, but Portugal can't help in a war at all. They'd just get us into a war when someone bothered to conquer them.
1842 AD:
This could be the big one. It will be for Carthage even if it isn't for the rest of the New World. The mutual protection pact between the Aztecs and Hittites has not been renewed, so they won't be joining the war. Checking my diplomacy screen, I see only the Celts and Mongols still have their mutual protection pact. But the Carthaginians need allies, whatever the cost. Their city of Theveste has already been razed.
Both rivals have cavalry, but defensively the battle is Musketmen (Carthage) v. Infantry (Aztecs). Among nearby noncombatants, the Maya have Riflemen, and the Americans have Infantry. The Ottomans have Riflemen. If the Carthaginians don't an ally soon, it'll be too late.
1844: The Russians offer me communism. They want way too much for it, and I decline.
We complete the Theory of Evolution in Lyons. We subsequently master Atomic Theory and Replaceable Parts.I set my research on Electronics. After finishing it, I will build Hoover Dam, likely in India. No one else has either Scientific Method or Atomic Theory. My tech lead ought to be more than enough to complete the dam first.
The Celtic city of Lugdunum has completed Universal Suffrage. Better they get it than Theory of Evolution.
Spain, though tied with the Persians, Celts, and Aztecs for the technology lead, is lacking Rubber. Lacking both Rubber and iron means they're done for. At this point, their only hope is to make a rifleman attack against the Mongols or English and try to grab some rubber.
The Carthaginian town of Rusicade, in the Canadian tundra, was lost this turn. The situation is becoming critical.
1848 AD - We complete the Military Academy in Paris, and begin constructing Armies.
The Carthaginian city of Mecca was destroyed. Carthage cannot afford to keep fighting alone.
The Byzantines cancel their mutual protection pact with us. They must not like the potential for a war cascade if Babylon is invaded. I'll try to renew the Byzantine pact after canceling the Babylonian.
The Zulu have signed a military alliance with the Aztecs against Carthage. Not that they'll be of any help, halfway across the world.
Up north, Spain and Scandinavia have signed a mutual protection pact. Doesn't take a career diplomat to figure out they're thinking deterrance against Greek expansion.
1850 AD - The Carthaginian cities of Basra and Leptis Minor were lost to the Aztecs. They're in a slow spiral downwards.
Industrialization is going well, and after 40 turns we have a good number of factories and coal plants. We'll soon be able to pump out units at an overwhelming rate. For the short term, we'll be building stock markets to offset the cost of maintaining all these factories - it's put a significant strain on the science budget. But once those are up, who knows where we could go next...
Next update won't be until at least Wednesday (out of town till then), and may be as late as the weekend of the 28th.