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The Rise of Civilization
Dawn of Time-Early Bronze Age
According to some, time flows in a line. According to others, it flows in a circle.
I say it corkscrews around, as in it keeps repeating, moves forward, and screws everyone who tries to define it. What are you expecting, SimCivilization? This is a Civil Experiment, where people are just starting to test out systems of government bigger than a city state, and you are my guinea pigs. Enjoy the ride!
Asia
Never fight a land war in Asia only follows if you try-stupidly-to take all of it. Then you get people doing just that. Humans are such idiots.
China
Having a unified china is like having a completely Latinized Europe; except people expect it of China to happen.
Xilaroi were a strong clan, a powerful clan, a rich merchant clan. The Yellow river, heart of China, is also the heart of conflict. Its rich silt quickly splintered the peace of the early villages, and its floods produced hordes of hungry peasants. The Xilaroi were able to conquer the largest kingdom yet at the mouth of the river, institute reforms, and declare themselves Emperor. However, much of the river remains unconquered, and unchinese peoples from the north and the south are appearing on the borders of this young Empire.
Of the
Xilaroi, their home city, Xilatang, dominates the trade at the delta and the fishing fleets of the yellow sea. Their Emperor rules by the common consent of power, and allows many freedoms for his people. However, all know that he has countless men in his pay, and the few who would dissent against him decide to stay silent because of that. They have a bright future if they can continue their brilliant leadership in the conquest of China.
The other Chinese City States are obviously alarmed by this development, but no trust between them will allow them to band together. City walls can only do so much if the siege cannot be broken by allies. The growing trading center of
Puyang and the mining center of
Qian might be able to rally their fellows if the Emperor forces his hand to fast, or if the Xiong tribes are able to win a decisive victory.
The
Man Tribes to the south of the Han Chinese are growing in population. They have stolen the knowledge of the plow, agriculture and metalworking and are organizing in ever larger groups. Expansion against them will be meet by general approval of the Chinese people, but assimilating them might prove even more difficult. They are currently unorganized and unaggressive.
The
Xiong Tribes to the north, however, are another story. Driven by tales of rich cities and unprotected farms, they migrated from deep within the Mongolian plains. The current raiders are just those displaced by the migration, which might take another 100 years to arrive. However, they might pressure the City states to band together, or Xilaroi to act quickly. The current migrants are unorganized, but very aggressive. However, their current stone weapons are easily defeated by almost any warrior. Their strength lies in their numbers.
India
Mesopotamia
What's it like being called the land between the rivers? How would you like your planet being called the speck floating around AverageStar Averagus?
The Aramyans of Danae dominate southern Sumer while Sumerian cities such as Ur and Kish complain. The Sumerians never trusted each other; it took the Charisma of a freedslave to mobilize the south to unite under Danae. From the hills of Iran, the Elamites are slowly learning the secret of bronze and testing the process of agriculture on their arid hills, for centuries they have traded with the Sumerians, but the recent sightings of bronze weapons frighten some merchants.
The
Aramyans, the Exalted State, beams in its achievement despite the grumbling of their newer subjects. As legend says, a freed slave won a contest of wit and became the head of Danae, the largest village. Quickly conquering its neighbors, he turned Danae into a superpower on par with Ur. Before he died, he sent his reorganized army to reach the sea; this they did with great success. Now it is many years later, and a hereditary bureaucracy rules Aramya, composed of the sons of the Legendarys favorite generals and advisors. Their army is slight rusty from lack of practice, but trade booms and agriculture grows.
The
Sumerians to their north mostly wish to preserve their independence and their squabbling God Kings. Ur and Kish usually avoided dealing with the Aramans. The other minor cities rule by their own consciences. It is a region of immense turmoil compared to the tranquil and almost eire peace (for them) of Aramya.
The
Elamites were shepherd tribes who settled down tot trade with Danae and the Aramyans. They soon begun borrowing technology and developing agriculture. They are relatively uncultured and unorganized, but they can be trusted to have a few hothead warlords to attempt raids every few seasons.
India
I'm an old fashioned guy. To me, this will always be Hindustan.
The Indus Valley becomes dominated by the Dakinsa Rajdom, to the annoyance of Harrapa and Dohenjo-Daro to the north. Most of the cities live their lives peacefully, but many are joining the Rajdom one by one. To the west are the Baluchi people, nomads and raiders. To the south are the Gujarati tribes, adept fishermen and tradespeople. If Dakinsa Raj seeks to expand its influence, it must always look over one shoulder.
The
Dakinsa Rajdom has a unique government, where the Raj chooses his governors, who would choose the next Raj. Their control of the country is fair yet limited, the Raj himself mostly controlling Dakinsa, the dominant city, and its army. With many neighbors and internal factions to deal with, the Raj must balance all factors to move forward.
The Indus city states are peaceful compared to those of other civilizations. The threat of the flood unites them to repair the limited but growing dikeworks currently available.
Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, the two former stars of the valley, are jealous of the power of the Dakinsa Raj but yet powerless to do much.
The
Baluchis are a mountain raiding people, mostly armed with stone and copper, with a scattering of traded or captured bronze weapons. Living on their herding most times, they might prove a threat
if they somehow organize.
The
Gujarati tribes spread to the east of the valley, relying almost entirely on fishing and trading with Dakinsa. Their culture is based off of, but very different from the Indus culture. Their ships ply the seas and their forges have mastered bronze, and they might prove to be the perfect trading partners or punching bags.
Europe
Never knew why people like Simming europe. There are better records of China, more interesting diplomacy in the Middle East, and more interesting culture in India. Tradition, I guess.
Italia
Thank Romans for god, I mean Thank God for Romans.
Italia is dominated by various groups of people at this time. First, we have the two native cultures; the Vallavalians to the North and the Samnites to the south. Each of these have their major tribes, but the most significant is the Sarkovites of Vallarvale, an Etruscan city state gaining control of the trade routes between the two peoples. The Ctyrians, on the other hand, were migrants. One of the people to successfully push through the Alps, they conquered the Rtasian (Po River) Vallavalian cities before dispersing, with their main power focused at the city-fortress of Ctesiphod.
Of the three peoples, the
Vallarvalians are the most cultured, with advanced arts and crafts and living rather peaceful lives. When they fight they raise a militia of their brave farmers to supplement their Royal Guardsmen. At
Sarkov a strong, centralized merchant city was built on the important trade route between their people and the Samnites; they controlled the main ford on the Tiber and many small watercrafts on the river as well.
The
Samnites to the south are more disorganized and aggressive, but often appear to trade for the Vallarvalian crafts. Their culture is mostly unknown.
The
Ctesiphod now dominates the Rtas. A fortress-city, it controls trade with other
Ctyrian tribes and occupied cities, and it defends the passes their people once poured through from. If it feels like it, it can easily raise a mass of militia from allied tribes to support their warriors. However, most Ctyrians live in scattered tribes much like the Samnites. They just enjoy the opportunities of a new life the fertile valley gave them. They have yet to distinguish their unique culture.
The lands between Ctesiphod and Sarkov is a mixture of Ctyrian colonists and Vallarvalian city states, fighting minor wars and often seeking aid from the two stronger powers. How Italy will resolve will be of interest to all.
The Aegean
What a load of Geeks, I mean Greeks, whatever.
The Aegean is dominated by trade. The shallow seas, balmy temperatures and many islands served to make the people comparably gentle, with wars mostly contests between the various gentlemen. On the Greek Peninsula, Thorlyn built the largest and the most prosperous of the states, boasting a large fleet (and hiding their meager warriors to the side). On Anatolia, Lyr and the Gyrids dominate with their centralized army, easily fending off looser trading confederations around them.
Thorlyn predominates trade on the Aegean, but must accept local monopolies as well. They have a strong fleet to defend their interests, and a oligarchian tradition which leads to a merchant-dominated interest. Their army is large compared to many neighbors, and very centralized and well paid, but it is weak compared to other states.
Greece is dominated by Thorlyn trade, but not by Thorlyn politics.
Thebes dominates the Boeotian Confederacy, and therefore the northern citystates while
Spartas strong, yet growing army cows their neighbors. Thorlyn must either convert soft power to hard power, or increase the flow of soft power, to advance territories on Greece. They can also choose to create colonies on far off lands which they explored and traded for centuries.
The
Gyrids are a new state with an old culture. Once, Lyr (along with Ceris and Troy) was simply the largest and meanest trading post among many. However, unlike Ceris and Troy, they decided to control their friends before messing around with their actual enemies. The House Gyr slowly built their influence and centralized the trading confederacy, forming the Gyrid nation. Distinguishing from their neighbors, they use their strong economic clout to form a large army which they are not afraid to use.
The two other confederacies, the
Illian lead by Troy and the Phygian lead by Ceris are not amused. However, they spent most of their time in petty disputes among themselves when not trading. Troy to the north dominates the wheat trade across Bithyia and the north, while Phygian controls deposites of gold.
Africa
The Birthplace and the Trashheap of Humanity. Such disrespect
Pharoahsa
The only Civilization I respect is Egypt. I mean, they are so awesome future people blame us for their awesomeness! Really!
The King of Anor declared himself Pharaoh after he defeated an Egyptian rival across the river. His son quickly expanded through the power vacuum, but slowly met other regional powers. Unwilling to commit his still small force, he spent the rest of his days gathering his treasury and training his troops.
The Grandson of the first Pharaoh, Rezzamus, is much bolder. He unrolled his map of all of the lands of Egypt. He, with Anor and his forefathers conquests, controlled half of lower Egypt. The Lower Egyptian Delta is dominated by the coastal city of
Damietta and the agricultural fortress
Avaris. The sands of Middle Egypt is still dominated by petty city states and towns, but the trading nexus of
Aysut, controlling both sides of the Nile and a trade route to the Red Sea, might offer leadership incase their idyllic life of farming and raiding is interrupted. The rocky vales of Upper Egypt are dominated by the twin forts of
Aswan, guarding the shepherds and farms against the Nubians of the south. It stood imposingly just above the First Cataract. The large city of
Thebes dominated the northern stretches of Upper Egypt, also controlling the gold mines and intermittent contact with the red sea. Each of these citystates are weak compared to Rezzamuns realm of Pharoahsa, but if he doesnt tread carefully, they can easily unite their regions in defiance.
Manden
You, yourself, and your shadow. Whatcha gonna conquer/trade (same difference) now?
The Mandenka have slowly beaten away the Fez horde from the north over the years, and eventually their largest cities and towns were united into the Kingdom of Manden during the long war against the desert nomads. To the south, there are still some Mandenka who, not affected by the Fez invasion directly, refused to join the Kingdom, although still trading with it. To the west lay various Fez successor states, ruling over slave castes of Mandenka eager for rebellion.
The
Manden Kingdom is a strong centralized kingdom unified by an age of war. Their armies are well trained and their people confident of their power. Agriculture powers the regrowth of population as the people adjust for peace, or for further war.
The
Fez Kingdoms are composed of rough Fez noblemen and vast tribal areas to the north, centered on various conquered cities of Mandenka who were lost. The former Mandenka residents are mostly enslaved and pressed into large slave armies. Some in Manden consider the war not complete until all the Mandenka are freed.
The
Mandenkalas are those Manden chiefdoms who were spared the blunt of the invasion and thus, ignored the call to unite. They did send support over the years and continue to trade cordially with the new kingdom. Perhaps they might be convinced to join in the future; perhaps the Manden King is too impatient to wait.
Zimbabwe
A Nice civ, nice and quiet. Opps, I've just dropped a dictator.
Zimbabwe grew as a trading post in the center of the savanna, and the city itself funnels the trade from the southern plains to the northern farmland cities. To the south are various trading nomads and on the Zambezi are small farming villages and citystates. It lives an Idyllic and peaceful life, but remains dynamic and charged full of energy.
p) but also that all the neighboring cultures I'm making up are for you to describe and interact with after this update, and I'll be totally fine and would love for you to do that. If you want to start within a "described culture" zone and want to make some changes, again, please do so! The world is your oyster, I am just setting all the sand particles necessary for the pearls to form.
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