IT'S PERICLES IN HIS BIGGEST CHAPTER YET!
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Pericles carefully considered the offer the Arabs had posed to him. Now that they were Brothers in faith, the Arabs seemed like a powerful ally rather than a barbaric enemy. Even so, they had more powerful cavalry that could plow through the Greek Phalanx with ease. They had to be tread lightly around. Pericles agreed to peace, and Saladin was pleased.
"Come!" He shouted, "Let us dine in Mecca my friend, I must show you the wonders of the Religion you now believe in."
"And I must show you the Amazing city of Athens at some time in return Saladin." Pericles laughed. But across the sea, trouble stirred...
The people of the West were fed up with their domination by some foregin entity that they had not only never seen or heard of before the occupation, but now believed in a faith vastly different fromt theirs. Riots quickly broke out across Gaul and Iberia demanding the Greeks leave. The forces in the West had not been supported due to the war with Arabia and Babylon before, and they were easily overwhelmed by the rising Nations. The west had fallen out of Greece's grasp, and in their place, rose the Christian Empires of Spain and France. But Pericles didn't care, what had the Western cities ever done for him? Besides be a waste of money and forces that is, if they want to make new nations let them. They could never compare to the Greek Caliphate.
Just as new Nations were being born in the West, Pericles had ordered a long destroyed city to be Reborn as well. Rome, gone for hundreds of years, was finally rebuilt. And at last, the Greeks had proven themselves as the true overlords of Italy. With the refounding of Rome, Pericles ensured that his name would not be forgoten.
Meanwhile, one Enemy of Greece still remained, Carthage. Hannibal still was out for Pericle's blood, moreso now that he was Islamic. But Carthage was now on its knees, and the Empire was near collapse. All it would take was one more push, and Pericles knew this. Carthage lacked both Bronze and Iron, all they could create were Archers, which could not stop a larger Hoplite force. So an Amphibous Assualt began.
Just as he had Predicted, Pericles had succeeded in capturing the City, it wasn't much of a gain, Carthage had barely advanced in technology and culture since the War with the Romans, but the Capitol wasn't worth raising. Unfortunately for Pericles, fate had other plans.
African Barbarians finally saw the wrecked Carthage as the prime time to strike. They moved swiftly, and positioned themselves outside both Carthage, and the only other Carthaginian city, Hippo. Pericles didn't bother with a defense. He instead left Hannibal to his own fate. Besides, there was still one more Pericles had to deal with...
Meanwhile, Michaelangelo's great art could still be felt across Mesopotamia. Thanks to the spectacular revival of Culture of Culture in Babylon, yet another city, Nineve, joined Greece in its still rising Empire. It seemed not even the Arab's Culture could keep up.
"When I heard Foregin Troops were outside my Border, I hoped it would be the Arabs, not you." Ramsesses shouted from over his wall. Pericles looked up,
"Times have changed Ramsesses. I don't want to do this, but you're the enemy now. I'll give you one last chance to Convert to Islam. If you don't, I'm afraid I'll have to invade." The midday glare blinded Pericles from seeing his one time compatriot, all he could hear was the Pharaoh's voice, there was a sigh of resentment in his tone.
"What happened Pericles? There was once a time when we were stalwart allies, we fought together, we Razed Rome for god's sake? What happened to us?" Pericles said nothing.
"Our People will never give up our beliefs." The Pharoah stated, and then left for the Capitol.
It was a long war indeed. The Egyptian city of Per-Wadjet was heavilly fortified, Pericles couldn't invade it or he would have been crushed. Instead he went around it, in a risky move for the poorly defended lifeline of the Kingdom, Pi-Ramsesses. Named after the Pharaoh himself. Ramsesses was in the City when the Phalanxes barelled through the War Chariots defending, and stormed the City. The Egyptian Empire was over, and now, two allies, once almost brothers faced each other.
"Give up Ramsesses." Pericles solemnly said, "The territory under your control still is the space your throne Occupies."
"Then I still have an Empire, do I not?" Pericles drew his blade,
"I don't want to Kill you. I'll give you one more chance, you can leave now, become a high advisor to my Caliphate, become Governer of the Egyptian Provinces, whatever you desire! You can even practice Judaism! Just please, give in, I don't want to kill you Ramsesses..." The Pharaoh shook his head and laughed,
"You don't understand do you Pericles? I have overseen this Kingdom, from its start as a batch of Mud Brick huts, to a mighty Kingdom, to this very day. This Empire is a part of me, and as long as I live, I shall not cede control of it willingly to anybody, not you, not Saladin, not a soul on this earth. If you want this Land, you'll have to pry it from my Cold, Dead hands Pericles."
The Greek Leader stabbed forward with his sword, there was a gasp, as life left the Pharaoh, and then Pericles sat. He sat and wept.
To the North the Germanic people were forming their own Nation. Originally the French had sent Missionaries to convert the Germans to Christianity, but these priests were reportedly slaughtered by Barbarians before they could make it safely within German lands. Instead, the Arabs and Greeks got to the Germans first, and with the first conversions to Islam under way, the Holy Islamic Empire was founded.
Pericles however, focused more on taking former Egyptian Lands, if not for him then at least to give Ramsesses peace that his nation was not a weak band of Squabbling states. At first conquest was done via the Blade, but one fateful day, a Traveller arrived at Avaris.
Virgil was a great poet, part of the rebirth of Rome, who wrote Poetry about Greece's beginnings, long ago. Inspired by Michaelangelo before him, Virgil travelled into the Lion's Den of Egypt to bring Graecan culture to the land. Like Michaelangelo, he was an astounding Sucess. The Egyptian cities not under Pericles control quickly joined the cause, inspired by the greatness of Virgils words.
"I have a Proposition for you Pericles." Saladin started as he entered the Leader's home in Athens. Pericles, after Egypt was under his command, was finally at home in Greece once more. Saladin was his guest of course,
"Sure my good man! What do you wish to discuss?" Pericles replied in a jovial tone, besides the Joys of showing another leader his wonderous city, Saladin was Pericle's only true ally left in this hostile world. As the West despised both of them for being Islamic, the two Leaders had stuck together since he first day of Peace. Saladin stated his offer,
"You see Pericles, Arabia wants to become part of the Caliphate."
"What?!"
"I don't mean we want to be fully absorbed my good friend, so don't look so shocked, but we fear for our safety, and we want protection as an Autonomous State within the Calpihate." Pericles stroked his beard, and then held out his hand.
"You have yourself a deal my friend! Come, now I must show you the old temples!"
Pericles couldn't help but grin, whether it had been Zeus or Allah talking to him all those years ago, one thing was for certian. He now controlled the most Powerful Empire on earth. Pericles looked to the clear sky, smiled, and whispered under his breath.
"Thank You."
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