Rome Ascending

"Good morning class!" exclaimed the old professor. "Welcome to this course". Outside the sun shone on the city of Veii, and the Imperial University that shone like a jewel to all the men in need of education in the world.

"Today, we shall take a cursory glance at the history of the Roman empire! Each of the subjects presented will, of course, be expanded in other sessions. So, if there are no questions, or no one in the wrong class, we can start!" No one spoke. "Good, then."

Rome: In the Beginning

The professor unrolled a huge map that hung over the blackboard. It looked like this:

"As far as our historians could gather, from maps in our own libraries and data we got from other tribes, this is how the world looked in 410 BC, with the Romans a very little empire split in two by Greek expansion. To this day, they are still called "The Roman Empire" and "The Euxinus Empire", the latter being called after the Pontus Euxinos (the Black Sea), around which it developped.

Life was peaceful back then, but harsh. People did not live long, the living conditions were mediocre at best; there were few granaries to store food, no aqueducts to bring in fresh water, etc. Add to that the rule of the despots, who often forced their own citizens to work under the whip, although most despots were more benevolent than that. And so time was passing by, with little happening in the world, and Rome quite clearly going nowhere in international affairs. That was to change however."

Rome: The Empire

During the 40 years between 410 BC and 370 BC, Roman military men and wise men decided to apply the use of iron to warfare means. Troops were trained to use these new shortswords, pikes, shields and armor - and were trained very very well I might add; Romans soldiers in the ancient age were equalled only by Greek Hoplites! - they were called Legionaries, and they received substantiative salaries from the governments. And using these highly-trained soldiers, the despots of those times conquered Gaul and Spain, under the control of France, within 400 years. Yes, the war was long, but it was quite profitable for the Empire. Those days were truly a Golden Age. People believed in the destiny of their nation, the people were enthralled by their victories and paid little heed to the forced labor camps, or to the atrocities committed by the soldiers when they razed Lyons, Marseilles and Rheims. No, the people were too enthralled by the tales of General Trajan who led the campaign near its completion.

And although those 400 golden years were only too short in a historical perspective, they did wonders: alchemists, wise men, philosophers and merchantmen from all the world converged to Rome to exchange ideas, information and goods. That really put the Empire in advance technologically and economically, even to this day. But the days of the Empire were counted. When conquest was finished, the people started remembering the evil deeds of their rulers; the forced labor, the razing of cities mainly. Change was needed, and was spearheaded by no other than Trajan himself.

Now, here's what the world looked like in 170 AD, 20 years after the conquest, when Trajan returned to Rome to overthrow the government:"

Rome: The Republic

The professor continued after a few moments of melodrama. "It took 80 years to form a new government. Trajan's reasons for overthrowing the emperors were quite clear: he considered the French to be his 'sons'. He wanted to nurture them and make their lives better as Romans, not send them to forced labor. He would never see his dream realized however, for he died during the revolution.

But in 250 AD, a new government emerged from the anarchy. A ruling committee, a Senate, that represented the people from each 'city-state', and a Consul that would rule according to the decisions and suggestions of the senate. The people cheered the new government!

In about 400 AD however, the Consul noticed the German people were becoming too powerful. After a few days of deliberation in the Senate, all agreed to launch a preemptive strike against Germany to cripple them. It would not be an all-out war however. The senators made it quite clear that the people wanted to marketplaces, temples, libraries and granaries projects to continue throughout the empire. No resources would be allocated to train new armies.

But in spite of that, and thanks to Rome's superior training of the Legions, the core of Germany was conquered in 60 years: Berlin, Leipzig, Konigsberg, Munich (between the Caspian and Black seas), and Hamburg in exchange for a peace treaty. Rome was becoming a world superpower."

The professor unrolled a third map, this one of the world in 500 AD:



Following this successful campaign, the Senate considered a quick invasion of Greece to captured the cities of Corinth, Delphi and Sparta. This would have had the effect of uniting the Empire and the Euxinus Empire into one. After months of deliberation however, it was decided not to proceed. The Greeks had their hoplites, and they were as dangerous as our legions on the battlefield. The outcome was uncertain, and the Senate would not, as they mentioned 60 years earlier, cancel the infrastructure projects in their cities. So, the Greeks were instead made powerful friends, through gifts and diplomacy."

Rome: The Age of Colonization

"The centuries that followed were peaceful ones. Infrastructure was developing rapidly, and the Roman people were generally happy. A few great people erected wonderful buildings or travelled the world in search of new lands: Leonardo da Vinci, who built his great workshop in Rome. William Shakespeare, who built his great theatre right here in Veii. And Magellan, who, funded by the Consul himself, travelled the world by sea, perfecting navigation techniques, which would allow our ships to travel greater distance.

Thanks to these advances, caravels and settlers started finding new strange lands. We found the lands of the Americans, who had contacted us a few years earlier, and found great unexplored reaches south of them. That land was called "South America" and towns were built there to colonize the land. We also discovered a great island, filled with barbarian people, beyond Africa, beyond China. This land we called "Australia", and founded a settlement there too, to pacify the barbarians and absorb them into our nation.

By 1240 however, Rome's power had started to dwindle. Iron was nowhere to be found in Europa, and not a lot of saltpeter was available to sustain large armies of musketeers and cavalry. Wines were no longer the prized luxury they once were, as every nation had learned how to make them. Almost every nation had horses too, and saltpeter, and iron, and even more luxuries such as dyes, gems, spices, silks. All of these luxuries were missing in the Empires. The importance of colonies became more obvious to the Senate, as deposits of iron were discovered by explorers in South America and in Australia, and sources of dyes in the immense jungles of South America. Plans were made to harness these (especially after buying iron from the Chinese at exhorbitant prices), but these plans would have to wait. Danger watched Rome closely, and waited for moments of weakness to strike."

"Well students, it is time to take a break! The lesson will continue in exactly one hour, after lunch! We will talk about the Age of Imperialism that closely followed the start of colonization."

The 150 Years War


"At the beginning of the 14th Century, tensions between America and Rome suddenly rose through the roof. A few swordsmen and pikemen marched towards Jerusalem (located below the middle/east of the bulge in South America). They refused to leave, and in fact called in reinforcements!

The first reaction of the Senate was to appease President Abe Lincoln. A tribute was given, but his troops still marched towards Jerusalem. It was obvious that diplomacy would not win this round.

Ambassadors in London and Niagara Falls were called, and Mutual Protection Pacts were agreed to with England and the Iroquois. The treaties were signed just in time before the American swordsmen captured Jerusalem, defended only by spearmen. The Roman people laughed at America. They had no horses, no saltpeter. They could only throw swordsmen at us!

Meanwhile, settlers were still colonizing Australia and South America. Nicomedia was founded hundreds of kilometers south of Jerusalem. A few years later only a few survivors of Nicomedia would come to Caesaria, telling of hundreds of thousands of americans armed with swords, pikes, spears, bows, longbows, walking through the land. Hundreds of thousands. By number alone, they outnumbered the whole forces of the Roman Republic. Things were looking grim. So began the 150 Years War. Yes, you have a question, Auxilus?"

The student got up. "But they were only swordsmen! Primitive armies, so to say! Why should Rome have feared them?"

"Ah, but you forget! Technology is not the only winner in a war. Many many factors come into play: war readiness, tactics and numbers. The Americans had all three in their favor. All our colonies in South America had but one - yes ONE - Legion to defend them. We were not ready at all for an invasion. You can see too how the numerical advantage of the Americans came into play." The student sat down, his question answered.

"Now, fortunately, Rome still had many many legions left from the previous millennia's wars, and many ships that sent settlers to South America. So legions were moved to South America, and new Riflemen and Cavalry units were prepared to defend our colonies. It would however take half a century to recapture Jerusalem.

Fortunately, the Iroquois and English kept the Americans busy in the North, and the English Men-o-War ruled the Atlantic Ocean, preventing American landings on Roman soil.

Back to the war itself. The Roman generals knew they could not win against all these numbers at once. They devised delaying tactics, 'divide-and-conquer' methods to take the American troops by surprise and dismantle them, little by little. One part of that strategy was the liberation of the Aztec Empire, destroyed by the Americans a few century ago. The Aztecs welcomed our rule and did not offer resistance. The first city, Teotihuacan, was destroyed in 1380 (the people were still loyal to the Americans), and more cities would follow. Nicomedia was rebuilt, followed by Artraxata, closer to Caesaria, and Seleucia was built in the ruins of Teotihuacan. Far from stopping the Roman colonization of South America, the war had the effect of enflaming the Romans and accelerating the colonization (we need that iron!).

Calixtlahuaca followed in the 15th century, then Tlatecolo and Tenochtitlan fell to the Roman cavalry. A desperate war was fought in South America. Artraxata was lost in 1440, and the American swordsmen seemed unstoppable. But then cavalry reinforcements came from Spain, and the invasion was delayed again.

But, back in Europa, the people had had enough of war. This was a futile war fought over a few luxuries, they said, and they had to eat rations, pay extra taxes, and so on to sustain the effort. The Consul increased the luxury spendings, roads were built to dyes resources in South America, but still it wasn't enough. Coupled with the fact that the Persians had started colonizing Australia, and the Zulus were in Australia and South America, the people were unhappy. Riots broke out accross the whole empire. The Consul and the Senate were forced to sign a peace treaty with the Americans. Only a third of the American forces had been destroyed (not counting the cities they lost to the Iroquois), while the losses (in resources, time, money, and men) were beyond measure for the Roman Empire. We had to swallow our pride, and keep building our colonies. 'Revenge will come,' assured us Caesar the Terrible..." The professor stopped there to drink some water, and showed a new map, the world in 1475, at the end of the 150 Years War:

ok, my turn to ask for comments!!! How is it so far?

I was quite impressed that Civ3, coupled with Satyajedi's huge World Map, was able to simulate well enough the pressing need for colonization by European nations. Crowded space (just look at my land compared to China or Russia), resources exhausting, etc, all were very good motivations for colonization. I'm more amazed with Civ3 now

But professor, surely the Greek expansion policy was driving the senate into fits of exasperation! And the Germans-- they just linger there... out of reach... an enemy beyond Romes reach!

(Good to see you writing again, carpal-tunnel-syndrom-boy! )

Originally posted by narmox
I was quite impressed that Civ3, coupled with Satyajedi's huge World Map, was able to simulate well enough the pressing need for colonization by European nations. [/B]

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Where do we get this map?

Right here Lee! http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33601&pagenumber=1

Plus I think there's a .c3b file in the .zip for use with Civ3Breed. If it's not there, just ask and I can email it to you

And civ3breed is here... http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35691

Originally posted by dannyevilcat
But professor, surely the Greek expansion policy was driving the senate into fits of exasperation! And the Germans-- they just linger there... out of reach... an enemy beyond Romes reach!

(Good to see you writing again, carpal-tunnel-syndrom-boy! )

Click to expand...

"Ah," said the professor, "you have to understand, Rome's intentions were never to conquer the world. Well, maybe they were, in the times of the Despots, but not with the advent of the Republic. Merely ensuring we had the resources necessary to survive and for our people to live comfortably without fear of oppression, that is what has been utmost on the Senate's and Consuls' minds for at least 2 centuries.

As for the Greeks, their expansion was effectively stopped by Russian, Egyptian and Persian boundaries. The rest of their cities in Asia are of little importance really. What concerned the Senate more in the 15th century was the Greek expansion into South America. But, that is for a little later.. The Germans are no more a worry to the Romans than the French. Their empire has been crippled and poses no threat. In fact, they've even begun to admire Rome, and both our people began to forget the atrocities of the past and work for a better future.

But at the end of the 150 Years War, not many nations were of real concern to the Republic: the Zulus and Persians, who had begun colonization of South America and Australia were the highest concern. The Americans were getting pretty much beaten up slowly by the Iroquois. Of course, the Senate recognized the need to stay on good terms with the Iroquois, for the war with the Americans would surely leave them stronger and with more resources.

But even of higher priority than dealing with other cultures was the need for iron. Iron was necessary for building railroads, ships, cannons, and so on. China was asking more and more absurd prices in the renegotiations of the iron trade (the negotiations were cancelled after China demanded no less than enough money to keep Rome in deficit for a century). Iron was highest on the Senate's minds in the late 15th Century. Everything else came second."

Thus spake the professor, answering dannyevilcat's questions.

Splendid story we say. We would hear more of it if we could, please. It is always fascinating to read things such as this. So do go ahead professor, enlighten us.

Makes me wanna make a story on the World map too .

Great job, keep it up!

Good one narmox. I like big complicated maps.

Colonization is fun!

Just be sure you can hold what you have.

Originally posted by joespaniel

Good one narmox. I like big complicated maps.





Colonization is fun!





Just be sure you can hold what you have.

Click to expand...

Yes, I think the Romans learned their lessons when fighting off those 50 american swordsmen.



I'm not lying, the war started, and suddenly, up from southern South America unit after unit came... I counted them and there were about 50, most swordsmen, but also pikemen, a few spearmen, archers, longbowmen. It was scary. They've probably been hanging out there since the 'merkins destroyed the Aztecs. Scary, seeing that come at your cities.



Australia fortunately is protected by a few riflemen and cavalry (was necessary to clear out all the barbarians).



But now, more important things to do... I added some RAM in my PC and poof! it went up in flames - the RAM, not the PC... I'm not joking. There was a flame inside my computer, and I don't dare turning it on. My hard drive seems safe, but there's no way to make sure until I turn it on As if 4 exams coming next week weren't enough...

Holy ****!

The Second Colonization

His bottle of water emptied, the professor continued his lecture.

"A few years after the 150 Years War, the Consul died, leaving the Senate to vote for someone who would lead Rome to iron and greatness. The new Consul would have a monumental task ahead of him: correct all the errors the previous Consuls made during the last centuries.

Indeed, the new Consul discovered some horrible facts: Rome DID in fact possess iron, but it was all being sent to Zuluand by sea! He immediately fired all the members of the Senate and new ones had to be elected. Then he reviewed all the trade deals with other nations, and discovered that 6 of them imported Roman wines at prices that were high a few centuries ago but that seemed like a joke in the late 15th century. Again, the Consul fired the trade advisor and had the new one revise the trade deal. Wines now accounted for 10% of Rome's trade revenue (as opposed to 0.5% before).

Having done this, the Consul, with the help of the new Senate, devised a plan for a new wave of colonization. Rome could not let Persia and Zululand acquire more lands in Australia and South America. Ads, requests in newspapers and letters to city governors were sent to recruit new settlers. Orphans, homeless people, criminals who had purged their sentence and were judged 'safe', the unemployed, anyone who wished to live an adventure in distance land, etc, were all sent by galleons to South America. The cities in Europa became thus less crowded and the people cheered the new Consul. But his plan would outlive him; however, the Consuls who succeeded Caesar opted to continue his policy of mass emigration to South America. The 16th century later became known as the golden age of colonization. Year after year new settlers parted for distant lands, bringing Roman culture to the primitive tribes that lived in the jungles and plains of the New World, and even quelling native rebellions against their new masters. The plan was working perfectly. It was clear that within not even another century, South America and most of Australia would be completely under Roman control."

The professor handed the class sheets of paper with the map of the world in 1600 AD:



"But that is not all that happened during the 16th century. Near 1560, it was clear that the Senate was growing too big to rule the Empire. Each city-state had its representative, but as colonization proceeded, there were more and more states. Everyone demanded a voice in decisions. New movements began to sweep the empire: socialism, democracy, even those who would rather see the age of ruling despots return. Revolution was imminent, it was certain. As the years passed, the democrats gained more and more popularity, especially after having declared 'Universal Sufferage', promising a vote to everyone: Roman, German, Aztec, French, American, man, woman, who was aged 18 or more. The Consul seriously considered handing power over to them, although that would mean a lot of resistance from the other factions. It would not happen until the 17th century however (more on that after the afternoon break!). The 16th century was also a period of industrialization and increase in military strenght. Legionaires looked great for parades, but they were hopelessly out of date compared to weapons used by neighbouring nations.

Now, during those years, America was suffering a lot. A coalition of Iroquois, Persia, England, Greece, France, Japan and Russia attacked relentlessly. Iroquois stopped their aggression after they had seized a sizable part of American territory, but the other nations did not stop. Greece and Egypt were also involved in a war against Japan, and Japan was losing on the Greek front.

The Consul who ruled around 1580 decided that, although America had betrayed Rome in the 14th century, balance of power was more desirable than a growing and growing coalition in which Rome was not welcomed. He offered saltpeter and horses to America, who gladly accepted. The Americans upgraded their troops and they started to stand up to their aggressors. The ultimate consequences of this trade is still not completely clear today, but we do know it has restored some semblance of balance in the world for some time.

And so, near the end of the century, colonization grew even more important. Most nations were isolating Rome from their alliances. Expanding the Empire was the only way to counterbalance any coalition that would eventually attack Rome..."

Originally posted by joespaniel
Holy ****!

Click to expand...

indeed.. Not a lot of damage though.. The motherboard will get fixed, and the RAM got replaced In the meantime, the store loaned me a motherboard.. So I can continue to play Civ3! (and study! )

Wow.. I think I managed to out-colonize the AI. Never happened before... And I still have like 6 settlers going to various parts of South America. All before the Zulus could bring a 2nd settlers, or before those Japanese and Chinese could bring some (their Frigates were exploring the western coasts of S. America...)

Poor America.. they were so powerful... Maybe they'll get powerful again with the "weapons" I gave them (I kinda felt like the US, giving weapons and techs to some nations ) and their units still roaming S.A. will get annoying. Who knows. But they're the only ones who actually think a MPP with me is acceptable.. Ugh. But I don't want MPP with them, that'll mean war against half the world. Maybe soon... :evilgrin:

Great story

Its given me inspiration to start a World Map game as the Romans

Good thing the computer didn't mess itself up completely, that is, the PC, not the AI. It's a real pain in the *** when your computer decides to fry itself real good. Had that one a while back myself too.

I LIKE this story. World maps are great fun and to watch an alternative Roman empire is wierd but highly entertaining. Keep up the good work!

Seriously, I really like your story. Really inspiring in playingciv3!! I've read the story at job and I just couldn't wait to get home to play!!

Anyway, can't wait for the rest of the story!!

Ditto whats been said. Great story narmox! The Romans have always been my favorite civ, must be the Ceasar 3 in me speaking up. :crazyeyes