Update 3: 1700 BCE
This seems to be an age of battle. And in this Age, battle just got easier.
Tartessos, after many attempts, manages to smelt a high quality iron. By keeping the carbon content down to around 10%, they came up with a metal that was easily cast, harder than bronze, and flexible. This material is much harder than bronze, and some reports come back of bronze swords being cleaved in two by swords of this metal. Iron is also discovered in several other places, including Kush, Orcadia, Lusitania, in several Chinese States, and perhaps in a few other places. The discovery continues to spread.
The iron age means your troops are much better in combat, and also government is more advanced, capable of supporting a medium sized empire.
Meanwhile, several military campaigns are being waged.
In Egypt, the Pharaoh Ptolemy leads his forces fiercely into battle. Despite the obvious lack of chariots on the part of the Egyptians, which is somewhat painfully felt (100 spears and 50 archers were lost), the campaign was a success anyway, due to the excellent leadership of the Pharaoh, who whipped the Egyptians into a frenzy, driving all the Hyksos before them. Indeed, they are reeling in defeat from Petra, and all seems well.
For the next turn, the Egyptians get the benefit of the Great Leader Ptolemy, who will greatly augment the Egyptians wherever they decide to put him.
They have come into contact with the Mitanni, the Assyrians, the Hittites, the Babylonians, and the Sumerians.
Egypt itself flourishes at home, and the irrigation system continues very well, as the Pharaoh lays his blessings on the city of Giza and Memphis. Hieroglyphic Writing is developed. Also, the Egyptians successfully colonize Cyprus, and contact Kush on the far southern border, after pushing through the Nubians with only 100 spears lost. The Kush.ites are in the Iron Age... Perhaps they can trade? It seems to be Egypts golden age.
Tartessos is not only in the Iron Age but also expanding quite well. Most of Iberia has come under their alliances control, though at a small cost of 100 allied spearmen dead. The Celtiberians are nearly all gone, being hemmed in from three sides with the new Celtic Kingdom of Aquitania. However, the Tin route is starting to fail, and thus they are not quite in as much prosperity as they would be. Not all of the land in Iberia can properly be called Tartessos, because much of the cultural composition is Celtiberian. Indeed, bad things may happen soon to Tartessos and its allies as rumors of a barbarian tribe, the Alemanni say that they are wiping out the celts and may in short order invade Italy or Spain.
Tartessos has also developed a phonetic alphabet, the first of its kind.
Their client state gets several Helvetian tribes to join them, but many more either form their own independent state, or join the Quadii.
The military campaign against the Maltese/Sicilian Pirates goes well, the entire pirate stronghold is wiped out, at the cost of only a few Carthaginian spears and a few Tartessos-Allied galleys.
This results in an economic boost for Carthage and an end to the threat to the Tin Route. The army and navy is swelled by new recruits, though the generals are somewhat frustrated at the orders they are receiving to this end... They hope to receive something like Increase Spearmen, galleys, and UU next time, other than a Increase Army and Navy.
Both Tartessos and Carthage have launched several expeditions to the Eastern Mediterranean, each have direct contact with Egypt Illium, Minoa, and the Greek States, of which there are several: Olympia in the west of the Peloponnesus, Argos in the East, and then north of that is the Carthaginian colony of Athenae, north of that is Thebes. None of these like the intruder Carthage much, and indeed all are marching towards Athens to evict the Carthaginians... forcibly. Carthage may have an ally in the Minoans and Illium, though.
The Germans are in a Golden Age (and the Iron Age) as well. They have united with half the Angles, and are driving the Goths before them, and though they sustained significant casualties, the Goths power is broken and they are beaten.
Interestingly enough, a new system has been adopted across the newly united Angle territory. This is the feudal fief, which developed from the Anglish chiefdoms. These feudal fiefs are an excellent boost to the structure of Germany, they increase local population and productivity over the old despotism the Germans were using, and they also have given the Germans a huge boost in military terms. They also each are defended by 100 archers, who will defend the fief from minor threats, thus, the fief is virtually impervious to minor threats and for major threats, they can call in the royal army. Some in Germany call for the adoption of this system all across the land, to increase their military and productivity. However, some say the system is one that should not be used, as it gives the fiefs great individual independence, and if the king show weakness or the kingdom is collapsing, they may secede en masse. Thus, some say the King should abolish the fiefs and let the entire kingdom be ruled directly by the king.
It is the choice of the Germans: to have a strong, unified government, or a disunited but well defensible feudal government.
A new form of government, feudalism has been invented. It provides a good boost in military power and also a good regular defense force for a provincial basis, however, the great freedom it gives the fiefs will make them liable to secede whenever the kingdom looks weak or failing in a war. It is only available to the Germans, Allemange, Helvetia, and northern two Italian states as of yet, but access will spread.
The Khazars are quite happy with their new invention of wine, and their new governmental policies incite a huge economic boost, with which they raise some archers (but much remains of that). Unfortunately, the Scythians are right on their doorstep now, and though many join their military, the Scythian horde has also grown, so that they are almost 500 cavalry and 1000 infantry. The city of Itil is quite fortified... But will that be enough?
In Pictland, tin is discovered, leading to a moderate economic boost. The Picts build up their forces, as if readying to attack another nation. Who could it be? Meanwhile, the proxy war in Ireland is going nowhere fast.
The Arabs give one last big push, and the Sabaen Arabs come crashing down. Many flee in a great exodus, too quick for the Arabs to catch, and they end up everywhere around the Arabian Sea. Some have even reached all the way to a fabled land called India, which seems to have many prosperous civilizations, with many pearls, gold, and diamonds flowing into the trade routes into the Exiled Arabs home base. Some have even reached Kush!
In Shang, the last available land is expanded onto, and they can expand no more... without war, that is. They also invent the basics of a calligraphic writing system. Rumors of the Xiongnu readying for an attack on the Great wall seem unwarranted, and peace reigns in China.
Most Advanced Nation: Tartessos
Most Seafaring Nation: Exiled Arabs
OOC: THE NPCS HAD TO BE MOVED BECAUSE THE LIST WAS TOO LONG. IT WOULD BE NICE IF SOME OF YOU COULD KILL OFF SOME OF THEM.
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