Update 8 - 2300 B.C.
The Iron-Age spreads throughout the world, as more and more smiths discover the secrets of the metal. Now, the world has as a whole officailly entered the age of iron, and it is considered the standard level of technology and not a sign of an advanced society.
With an agreement reached with the Sumerian kings, the Persians finally are able to establish firm colonies across the sea. The local populatinos of Arabs are merely tribal bedouins and offer little resistance. Back in Persia proper, a new wonder is started for some guy named Mausallos, while the city of Pasargadae is constructed to the Northwest of Persopolis. Expansion onf part of the Sumerians and Medea has established borders with Persia, while the rest of the world laughs at the incredibly small amount of troops Persia has sent to exapnd it's lands.
In China, the Chinese overspend on the army and their economy crashes. The people live in a state of poverty unheard of before and many contemplate leaving the army. They don't have the option though as the onslaught of enemy armies continues. Liaotung had stubbornly agreed to a cease fire, but Shu and Wu coninue to be a pain. Wu forces face a large battle with 50 Chinese men assigned as border guards, but despite heavy losses reign victorius. From there they march unopposed to the gates of Peking. The Shu front is slightly more fortunate for the Chinese, but not very as a stalemate is reached between the larger yet worse-trained Shu soldiers. The only real bright spot for the Chinese is final destruction of Wuwei which falls under the borders of the empire after Chinese forces march on the capital.
Casualties:
125 Chinese, 100 Wu, 100 Wuwei, 125 Shu
The Japanese leave the lands of the Choson with good relations with their new neighbors, and return to their homeland. In the capital of Tokyo, the Temple of Tokyo is completed, sending the Japanese civilization to unprecedented heights. The Japanese are the most educated people in the world, and literature and painting flourish in the royal court. Among the people, the technology of iron has helped make daily lives easier than ever before.
A new dynasty stars in Egypt as the country is rejuvinated. The economy is increased and the great farming projects on the Nile continue. Expeditions to the South have established a new city, while ones East have made contact with the Red Sea and established a port there. It's only a matter of time before contact is made with the Arabic states of Nabatea and Bakkah. The contact with the numerous foreign cultures, chielfy Minoans, has resulted in the Egyptians learning the secrets of the Iron age.
The Iron age also reaches the Assyrians and Phoenicians by way of the Hittites. The Assyrians are going through very good times. The ancient capital of Ashur is reconstructed, boosting Assyrian power across the board. The capital of Ashur becomes the most splendid city in the world after Knossos of Minoa. The most recent wave of expansions has made the Assyrians the de facto masters of the fertile crescent. A border with both the Phoenicians and Caspian sea has been established.
In Britian, the Britons sneak attack the barbarious picts to their North. Since the Picts are a very unorginized barbaric people the complicated strategies of the Britons are of great success, and much Pict territory is lost in the war. Recently, in a smal bit of land previously unoccupied by anyone, a people from an island to the west have crossed the sea and made their homes there. They call themselves the Scots.
In the lands of the Cross worshippers, the armies marched for days. Upon arriving at the chief village of the Gauls they fought a great battle which they won easily and occupied the city, and with it the entire area of old Gaul. The Crusaders of the Cross are probably the most powerful nation in Western Europa.
The Hittites continue to peacefully expand. The land agreement with the Minoans is finally fulfilled and formal borders are established. Borders are also established with the Phoenicians, Armenians, and new and mysterious Assyrians, an empire equal to their own. Meanwhile, merchant vessels constantly cross the Black Sea from the surrounding states. In response to this the Carpathians establish the small trade town of Trgogrod on their Southernmost lands.
The Russian army nearly doubles, as the Tzar stirs his populace to war. The worlds first known use of pre "nationalism" occurs here, as the Russians invade the tiny Russian-influenced state of Baltica. It's peaceful and predominantly fishing and agricultural people fall easily to the Russian army. The expedition of the Tzar himself has almost come to the gates of Talin, while that of Josef has all but cut off the Baltic capital from the rest of the country. The losses are light for now, but the true test comes in Talin itself. The heavily fortified city holds an orginized army that uses tactics, very different from the peasent mobs the Russians had encountered till now.
Casualties:
25 Russians, 75 Balts
The new century begins well enough for the Romans. A new irrigation project brings much wealth to the Latin countryside, while some Celtic tribes in the North agree to join the imperium. It is in the expansions to the South that things go horribly wrong. The 75 men sent to that front excpect to see the usual small villages, but instead come face to face with an enormous army of some 400 troops, all equipped with iron age technology. The result is a complete slaughter of the Romans as the Minoan army marches Northward toward Rome itself. The Etruscans they meet on their way are of little help. By now the Etruscans have been Romanized and view the Minoans as nothing but invaders.
Casualties:
15 Minioans, 75 Romans
Back in the rest of Minoa it's business as usual. The Dacian and Thracian allies have finally won their respective tribal wars and look forward to Minoan assistance in establishing kingdoms. In Knossos, quinquiremes are developed and some prototypes are developed. The Minioan navy, if they wish, can now add them to their arsenal. The only downspot is the refusal of the Western barbarian tribes to diplomacy with Minoa. Minoa is not a very well known name in these lands and the Numidians and Iberians want nothing to do with it. The Celts however find themselves fighting the same war as the men from distant Crete. Surprisingly, no official expansions were launched, but the king has no control over colonists from Crete, who continue to expand Minoan territories in Cyrennica and Grecia, albeit without any army to back up their claims. Some of these colonists end up establishing the colony of Athens in Southern Greece. IT quickly becomes one of the largest cities under the Minoan crown.
In India, several new states discover the secret of iron working and grow to iron age. Absent from dedicated leadership the empire of Calicut doesn't even expand this turn, while it's surrounding states grow more and more powerful.
In the lands of Imperium, the conflict between the two religions reaches a boiling point. The land of Imperium is split between Imperia in the South, home to the religion of Heemism, and Judea in the North, home of Judaism. Judea revolves around the city of Haifa, where the Jews have begun construction of a great temple. Both have reached iron age.
Diplomacy
From peaceful Gauls
To Crusaders of the Cross
We'll only accept unision if you prove yourself the most powerful empire in the area. Defeat our cousins, the Celts to the South.
From Scythian Tribes
To Hatti
We feel much the same way.
From Kievan Rus
To Russia
We wonder, if you are so hasty to invade the Balts what you will do with us who are just as close to you.
From Imperia, Judea, Phoenicia, Armenia, Sumer, and Medea
To Assyria
We would just like to remind you that you have contact with all of us.
Trade
Minoa: to Hatti [2/3]
OOC: What happened to Northking? Can anybody remind him that he's still in this NES
. And Das, I place Ashur where it was historically but if you want that changed just say so. And Alex994, yes China is npc.
