Daftpanzer
canonically ambiguous
EDIT: update below!
Alternate Timeline Building Experiment, v1.0
- Thread starter Daftpanzer
- Start date
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
OOC: What are these heinous actions by the highland cows? I thought the Pandas agreed to shoot them all down for the greatest moment in Chinese history this century...
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
OOC: I actually read a report that someone called 911 to have them send someone to check a shiny object in the sky; turned out to be the moon 
Daftpanzer
canonically ambiguous
EDIT: update below!
I'm not sure, which is the brightest one? Anyway, normal cloud cover has now returned, so no more shiny things in the sky
Lord Iggy said:
I'm not sure, which is the brightest one? Anyway, normal cloud cover has now returned, so no more shiny things in the sky
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
Now I am interested to see what happened.
mythmonster2
BEC NOIR! RUN!
Hmmmm, Manzuru kingdom. Interesting indeed. Ceyloni Kingdom is back and the Hom finally have complete control of Madagascar.
qoou
Emperor
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2007
- Messages
- 1,991
For a second, seeing no Aarut colonies, I panicked. Then, I looked at the Americas. Does this mean no Wainistic branches in Scandinavia though? .
And wow, the Leav kingdom did pretty well for a buffer state.
The Aarut attacked the Rosk :gasp:?! This calls for revenge!!! Destroying both the Rosk and the Aarut armies is going to be a bit counter-productive, but you can't mess with the Rosk and get away.
.And wow, the Leav kingdom did pretty well for a buffer state.
The Aarut attacked the Rosk :gasp:?! This calls for revenge!!! Destroying both the Rosk and the Aarut armies is going to be a bit counter-productive, but you can't mess with the Rosk and get away.
KrimzonStriker
Master of the Dawn
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2005
- Messages
- 1,933
Why is it that i just can't seem to conquer Hokkaido, is it too much to ask for the formerly Japanese Islands to finally be unified already or something? 
Symphony D.
Deity
Intrude: You're aware steps towards that were only really achieved in the 1800s OTL, and it wasn't in their grasp for long, right? It's not part of the Home Islands.
KrimzonStriker
Master of the Dawn
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2005
- Messages
- 1,933
Hokkaido is suddenly considered not part of the Japanese Home Islands now? That's something new I hadn't heard of...
Crezth
i knew you were a real man of the left
I must say, I always thought Hokkaido one of the home islands, too. Course, I never really did any research into it.Hokkaido is suddenly considered not part of the Japanese Home Islands now? That's something new I hadn't heard of...
EDIT: Just noticed the Sumetche Empire. Talk about the most worthless empire location ever.
Symphony D.
Deity
Intrude: It is now. You know, after the Japanese mostly exterminated these people called the Ainu. It'd be like Jefferson calling the Midwest the "Heartland of America" back in the day.
Crezth
i knew you were a real man of the left
OooooOOOHHHHhhhhh, now I see where you were coming from.
well, Krimzon, now you know what you must do.
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
OOC: Stop complaining krimzon, China hasn't been unified at all. And we're more than one thousand years late 
Daftpanzer
canonically ambiguous
Era 12: Plague and War
(map: slightly different to beta version!)
Deadly plagues swept across Africa and Eurasia during this era, before reaching the Americas where the death toll was greatest of all. Large scale wars were fought across much of the civilized world. Technology pushed ahead areas of metallurgy and firearms, but science and arts also flourished in places.
The main change in europe was the sudden decline of the old powers of the Aelari[1] peninsular, and a gradual shift towards westwards exploration. By 1500 AD, the attitudes of the Navacubi had changed towards the prospects of Atlantic trade, following the first contacts with Hulat voyagers to Africa in the previous century. Navacubi ships made several westward voyages to the Carribean and South America, though they were not always received well, due to the local's growing fear of disease and misfortune which seemed to accompany anyone who had anything to do with the east (interestingly, at this time, it was still widely believed in Europe that the Hulat at Timiquicans were the same 'Toshyons' which were said to live on islands to the far east of Asia). Navacubi was also spreading its reach right around Africa into the Indian Ocean, threatening to muscle in on Zhul-dominated trade routes using powerful cannon-armed ships. But it was not to be...
From 1525 AD, the Tezan kingdom of North Africa received help from the Yansalan Empire and the Vepsian Wainist converts in the Mutyl[2] peninsular to invade the Navacubi homeland. The Nemarci kingdom (the traditional ally of Navacubi, occupying the centre of Aelari peninsular) was meanwhile split by civil war and rival allegiances to Navacubi and to the growing Tarechan/Targarotan powers of the north, which desired a share of African trade for themselves. Bold 'adventurers' from the distant Aarut and Geldut lands, with powerful warships at their disposal, also sought to profit from Navacubi's downfall. The Aelari peninsular was also the first part of Europe to suffer the 'slow fever' plague spreading from Africa (a disease which took a long time to kill its victim, and was easily transferable), which added to the misery.
By 1540 AD, after several wars, the kingdoms of Navacubi and Nemarci had ceased to exist. Various factions continued to fight over the peninsular for several more decades, during which time Navacubi's colonial operations in western Africa were ruined by attempts at taking control of them by force, or otherwise just ground to a halt. By 1570 AD, the Aelari peninsular was divided between Tezan and the new kingdom of Taretara. The situation remained volatile - the Wainist Tezan conquers faced much resistance from the native Jonsarists (the religion of old Tensara, based on the worship of a semi-mythical king of ancient Pargia), while Taretara was an unstable mix of Targarotan, Alerari, Navacubi, Vespe and even Aarut influences. Nonetheless, Taretara had the Targorata powers on its side, and had made friends with former Navacubi merchants and traders (elevating many to new positions of power) in order to start rebuilding the colonial trade system in Africa. Aarut, Kilamys and other hopefuls were absorbed or otherwise squeezed out of African trade altogether.
For a few years, Taretara was the most powerful of all the Targarota kingdoms, until in 1581 AD when the king of Targunis inherited the southern Ticaro kingdom through royal marriage, forming the Targar Union (as some called it), a power able to stand up to the Aestian Empire which was proving annoyingly stubborn and stable, despite constant fighting on at least one of its borders (and was really, by this point, an Amestrian empire).
The Targar Union had royal alliances with Taretara, but attempts to influence the northern Amarisle kingdom were not so successful. Amarisle was in trouble, following a disastrous battle against the Kronahar army in 1531 AD which led to the loss of the Gladich[3] provinces along with the support of several Kronahar nobles, while it also began losing territory in mainland Europe to Aarut's allies or rival Targarota kingdoms. Aarut was always threatening to take control of the Channel area. But Amarisle spurned the offers of alliance from the Targar Union, fearing the absorption and dismemberment of their kingdom (and it also had a different culture, owing more to Krilik and ancient, native Amys traditions). The western kingdom of Kilamys was in a similar position. Both began exploring across the Atlantic, in search of new trade, wealth and prestige to strengthen their position back home.
But Aarut had the greatest success in 'West Asia', or America as it was later known, even though it came from a mixture of afterthought and accident. From around 1530 AD, the Aarut kingdom was gaining in power after taking control of the Rosk straights during a series of civil wars there (though Rosk later recovered and made its own gains in the east), while keeping Lanverg as a vassal even after it was joined with Masuberg[4], and keeping influence over the newly-united Geldut kingdom. While Aarut's efforts were directed at breaking into the Channel or African trade routes, the Lanvergers were exploring north-west beyond Masuberg, with much help from the 'native' Asuat peoples (the Asaut in Masuberg had suffered much from disease, and had then been outnumbered by later Olandic[5] settlers, but enough survived to maintain their old knowledge and some of their original culture).
In 1558 AD, the King Rald I of Aarut ordered the first formal colonising effort into North America - really, just the expansion of existing, informal trade-posts on the north-western tip of the continent, in an area dubbed 'Veyland', still beyond the sphere of the 'civilized' American states further south. Although mostly Lanverg-Asuat sailors were involved at first, Aarut paid the expenses and claimed the new territories for itself. With the aid of the Asuat, mostly-friendly relations were established with the local Sanumei and Nahauk natives. Nearby Amarisle colonies were small and weak by comparison, always in danger of being absorbed. Ships from Kronahar were also visiting the area, though after being cut off from the trade in furs and tobacco, they were only left with piracy and occasional raiding.
From this foothold in Veyland, Aarut ventured further south, as far as the Carribean by 1625 AD (spreading disease all the way). Back in Europe, the acquisition of northern parts of 'Graelund'[6] from 1580 AD (through royal marriage, and some fighting) strengthened the line of supply and trade with the colonies.
By 1625 AD the Mediterranean was calmer than before. The Southern Vespe kingdoms had united into the Mutyl Kingdom, in alliance with the Wainist powers of North Africa. The northern Vespe kingdoms continued to squabble and attract foreign mercenaries (as they had for centuries) which, combined with local innovations in warfare, led to them being a proving ground for the latest military tactics and hardware in Europe - musketeers first came into fashion here, fighting alongside armoured, polearmed infantry. The neighbouring Kalik states absorbed many of these ideas, as they themselves grew in strength and influence. The Kalik threw off their old barbaric reputation, and now formed part of the 'axis of learning' from Orumidia and Saratia to northern cities of the Aestian Empire (missing out the Arad kingdoms).
For a time, the great Keyzad of Nadzavosk dominated central Europe, following its mostly-peace annexation of Serezyl (weakened by years of Aestian attack) in 1540 AD. Nadzavosk later became entangled in wars further south, while under the rule of Kezy Leksandsy 'the terrible', who attempted to impose Wainism while also organising the genocide of ethnic groups (including Savisians) in favour of Tezan and Urgut. Rebellion and invasion followed, and the Keyzad of Serezyl was resurrected (in a much weakened state) by Savisian nobles in the west.
In the south, the Saratian Empire was wracked by civil war and uprisings by ethnic-Mavan nobles against the 'barbarian' rulers (although at this point, there was little noticeable difference between the Saratian elite and that of old Voresia). The rebellion also centred around the faith of Orimudism (which spread slightly beyond Mavan culture). Saratia looked like crumbling, but later leaders managed to hold the 'empire' together around the old strongholds of the Kuliuz[7]. By the time the 'Orimudan Alliance' came into being, the Yansalans and Sumetchans had moved in on other fronts, occupying some Mavan lands and islands for themselves. Although, by 1625 AD, the Orimudans had a growing naval power of their own.
Events in western Asia were naturally centred on the Varakan Empire. In 1475 AD, Varakan influence stretched from the Shyin States of central Asia to the Kezys of eastern Europe. But the situation was clearly unstable. As history has often shown, such rapid gains of territory can often be lost at an equal rate. Yet, for a while, the empire continued to expand. A series of capable leaders from 1475 to 1521 AD saw the empire reach its greatest peak of power and influence, with new gains in the north, east and west.
Varakan's trouble started with an uprising of Savisian kingdoms in 1522 AD. The Savisians had been the only enemy to seriously hold up the advance of Varakan armies in the previous century. They made unwilling vassals and eagerly united around the charismatic, one-handed leader known as Zurov (who had previously lost his other hand as punishment for fighting against the Varakans). The Savisian uprising was made worse by the simultaneous rise of Marzhung tribes in the north, some of which had been auxiliaries with the Varakan armies, and had been given training and weapons. The Varakan Emperor Maratak I had just started a war against Yansala for control of the Garakal states and the north of the Nayir[8] peninsular, a war that soon spiralled out of control and tied down most of the empire's forces in the south.
By 1530 AD, the Savisians had shrugged off their Varakan overlords. Zurov (now known as Keta Zurov I) allied with Marzhung tribes to raid deep into the Varkan Empire itself, reaching as far as the upper Indus. Varakan armies had made gains against the Yansalans, but also prompted their southern rival to enact a series of reforms and rename itself the Holy Yansalan Empire, home of 'true' Wainism untainted by Varakan 'Aravtupa' philosophy. Plagues then began to sweep across central Asia and north Africa. Varkan power declined on most fronts.
Yet with the death of Zurov, it was the Marzhung tribes who became the dominant power on the western steppe. They were united for several decades from 1550 AD, when they made the Keyzads of Nadzavosk and Savisia their vassals, along with the emerging Sezat kingdom of the north ('Sezat' was a corruption of the Astar-Savarian word 'Sesat' which itself simply meant 'kingdom'). Around 1580 AD the Marzhung became divided into separate 'Ketada' (adopting the Savisian-Yeshegi term for 'kingdom'), but each of these remained fairly powerful itself.
The Sumetche Kingdom was initially a vassal of Varakan, and was aided by the greater Empire to expand westwards against Saratia and its vassal Turuk. By 1530 AD, Turuk was conquered, and as Varakan power declined in later decades, the Sumetchens decided to declare their own empire. Some historians consider the Sumetchen army to be the best trained and equipped in the world at this time, having gained examples of the best Varakan weapons from across Asia and improved on them - their cannon artillery was notable for being useful on the open battlefield, often smashing enemy troops at long ranges, as opposed to just making noise and acting as a morale weapon. Sumetche also absorbed the knowledge and learning of Saratia and Turuk, and added its own innovations. The Sumetchens made powerful lenses and telescopes to study the heavens, and also pointed them the other way - some credit them with pioneering the science of microbiology at this time.
The Varakan Empire recovered in the late 1580's with the rise of Empress Taina I to the throne. Vassal states known as 'Takans' were established along the frontiers, with considerable freedom to organise themselves and their military defences, while still being tightly held to central Varakan power. Some formerly-lost territories in the north were regained. In India, the Katan of Tanyura expanded far beyond its original borders as the Guraj Empire went into decline. By 1625 AD Varaka was still roughly half its former greatest size, but was otherwise in fairly good shape, and Aravtupa philosophy was enjoying a revival, with Empress Taina planning new campaigns of conquest...
Around 1510 AD, the Guraj Empire had reached a new height with the conquest of the island of Ceyloni in the south, and had direct influence over most of the subcontinent. Had the good times lasted, the empire would have been in a good position to take advantage of Varaka's period of weakness. As it was, India was plagued by civil war (split between ethnic and religious factions), and then by plague itself. By 1625 AD, the Guraj Empire was a shadow of its former self. The Kaj states had been forged together into a rival empire in the south-east, while the rival Vijpura Empire had gained ground in the west. Only the Zhulharasa region in the south remained fragmented - some of the smaller states were now well established, despite invasions and raids by the east-African Manzuru kingdom, amongst others.
South-east Asia was the scene of civil war and fragmentation, partly as a result of disease, partly due to religious turmoil, and partly due to disruption of trade. Around 1550 AD, the Naga peoples, previously vassals of the Tiandishi-influenced Ayutashai Empire, were able to rise up and carve out kingdoms of their own. The Tiandulong peoples also conquered new lands - by 1625 AD they were known as the Dienvai.
The Dagon Empire reached a height around 1540 AD, with victories over the Ayutashai and new gains of territory in mainland Asia, before suffering civil war and fragmenting - like many other empires of the time - into smaller states. These remained by 1625 AD, but trade routes were still able to recover. Meanwhile, 'Classical' Zul seafaring culture seems to have disappeared at this time, absorbed into the island cultures of the east (and into Australia in some cases). Most of the kingdoms, chiefdoms and tribes (including the 'Zuli') claim some kind of joint ancestry from the ancient Zul.
Eastern Asia saw much less trouble than most of the continent (although its large urban populations suffered just as much from the plagues sweeping in from Africa and India). The short-lived and unpopular Zhou empire was overthrown by a reformist Shynist movement, originating in the Shyin mountains themselves, which eventually led to a new centralised (and fairly militarised) Shyin Kingdom in the west, and the new Zhihui Empire in the east (once again building upon the old Tuizen model). Some of the Zhou's former vassals, especially the Yadal, had taken the first opportunity to break away, and took some time to subdue.
By 1625 AD, things remained mostly peaceful, but the borders were far from settled. The Nanxun Alliance had spread its area of control far too much for the liking of traditional Tuizen-imperialists, following its 'voluntary' annexations of many ethnic-Yueren cities in the north-West. Nanxun had been greatly aided by the collapse of the northern 'barbaric' Irhzul into smaller states, and by a peaceful union with the seafaring Yanshi Kingdom, which was enjoying a rebirth of science and learning, as well as interest in seafaring.
With the 'great virtuous reform' of 1512 AD, the government of the Toshion kingdom was taken over by militarist factions from the northern Soryo states. The result was a surprisingly liberal state known as the Takaraji Union. The newly-reconquered Kojin territories were allowed some autonomy, as were the Waeulta islands of the far north, which were steadily being incorporated into the union. The warlike Jureg kingdoms of mainland Asia were kept in check by occasional coastal raids. In the south, the expanding Yujin Kingdom was effectively a colony of Takaraji, and carried its influence right across the splintered island states further still to the south, as well as west into the Indian Ocean.
By the 1550's, it is known that both the Takaraji Union and the Nanxun Alliance - or the Yanshi, to be more exact - had explorers venturing into the vast expanses of the Pacific. The details were kept secret, but some believe Yanshi explorers mapped large sections of the west coast of North America at this time, while the Takaraji may have stumbled upon the Kamewai[9] islands as well as going as far west as the central American isthmus.
Out of the 'old world', Africa seems to have suffered most from the spread of disease around this time, particularly the 'slow fever' which is said to have originated there. The reasons for the heavy death toll are still not fully understood (local parasite species have been suggested as one reason). Some places are known to have suffered a one-in-two mortality rate, compared to one-in-four or fewer in most of Eurasia. And, unlike in Eurasia, many 'civilized' regions still had fairly sparse populations without large urban centres, and societies were more prone to collapse and disintegration. The result was a general slow-down or reverse of the spread of centralized states.
Nonetheless, by 1625 AD some new powers had appeared. Out of the Pargi-Saban kingdoms, the Nalkut Kingdom had risen to challenge Yansalan power on the lower Nile. With the pressures of fighting in the mediterranean and in the middle east, Yansala had also lost control of the Mahala region, while the Tezan and Bebeb states of west Africa were now only vassals in principle, paying no real tribute.
West Africa was still absorbing new influences from the Yansalan-Wainist north and Navacubi-Taretara colonists. While the Ilhaneb kingdoms had embraced Wainism from Yebeb missionaries, the growing Hawaladu Empire rejected Wainism and fought against anything 'foreign', partly a reaction to the spread of diseases.
The Zuru kingdoms of East Africa were united under the legendary King Yalazut, forming the 'great Zuru' or Manzuru Kingdom. Its southern rival, the Hom Empire, lost its hold on parts of the African mainland, but gained the service of former Navacubi warships and soldiers, after the Navacubi colonies in the southern tip of Africa were left cut-off by invasion at turmoil at home. Some of the Navacubi eventually gained positions of power in the Hom Empire (but, according to some historians, only after their plans to overthrow the Hom Emperor and take power for themselves were abandoned).
Before the onset of the great plagues, events in America centred on the 'holy war' waged by the Lantan states of the north against the Ilameca Empire. It is a sign of the influence of the Lantan religion that its higher authorities were able to mobilise such a large number of soldiers from many different cultures across North America. The most to profit from the ensuing wars were the Antehauta and the Akanto kingdoms. Anthehauta was originally one of the Xante kingdoms, but by 1550 AD its territory stretched from old ceremonial centres of ancient Xanto-Lantan culture in northern mountains, to desert lands that were previously deep inside the Ilameca territory. Antehauta established itself as the 'defender' of Lantan, although much of the new gains eventually splintered off as the 'Lantamalacal' states, under the rule of former generals.
Akanto began 1475 AD as a tributary of Manhatu Empire, but after doing most of the fighting against the Ilameca in the following decades it ended up as an Empire in its own right. Akanto also benefited from clever (some would say, cynical) manipulation of Lantan-inspired mercenaries from across western North America.
The Manhatu Empire stayed out of these wars while it underwent a series of reforms and some short-lived, subdued civil wars. By 1560 AD the old Panto 'republic' system was being revived, formal vassal states were created (known as 'Mantes') from the neighbouring tributaries, and the centuries-old tradition of irrigation and road-building was once again being revived (it may be worth noting that, while the wheelbarrow was in use, there were still no suitable domesticated animals to carry or pull heavy loads, and roads were only built in areas of rough terrain and dense vegetation).
In the Carribean, a united Timiquican Empire was once again put together (minus the newer splinter-states of Hulat, against whom various wars were fought). The Hulat scaled back their colonies in South America under pressure from the Timiquicans, with some old outposts reverting to native control or being abandoned altogether. The Hulat also had to contend with the rapid growth of the Anu-Karac Kingdom along the eastern Amazon, which was at times hostile to the 'foreigners' on the coast.
The real foreigners were of course the Europeans (and Africans in some cases). Visitors from Navacubi in the early 1500's led to the early spread of disease across the Carribean and Central America. Another wave of disease spread with the arrival of Aarut and others from the mid 1540's. America not only suffered the 'slow fever' and other recent plagues which hit the old world, but many other diseases against which most Eurasians and Africans had long had immunity.
From 1550 AD onwards, America (particularly 'civilized' North America) was gripped by death and disease. Much controversy surrounds the percentage of deaths out of the original population. Some historians put the figure at 50%, while others put it as high as 90% in certain areas. Combined with the aftermath of wars and rumours of strange foreigners appearing, it was a very pessimistic time for most cultures, and placed great strain on social structures. The faith of Lantan went into decline as it seemed unable to do anything to cure the sick.
The death toll and loss of manpower in the Old World had been high enough to affect everything from farming and trade to industry and warfare. Naturally, in the Americas, the effects were even more severe. One benefit of the rapid spread of disease is that most of the civilized areas were affected equally. Few wars were fought towards the end of the century, and most states were able to survive, although in a greatly weakened state. By 1625 AD, outbreaks of disease continued, and there seemed little to stop further encroachment into America by the powers of the Old World.
Its now around 1625 AD.
Cultures and Factions Ownership:
Since this is getting longer and more confusing, please feel free to ignore stuff, and only send orders/input for anything you are interested in!
NEW: arranged in order of cultures/players, even though it repeats many things.
Notes:
[1] 'Aleari' = Iberia (AKA Spain and Portugal).
[2] 'Mutyl' = Italian peninsular.
[3] 'Gladich' = south-east England.
[4] 'Masuberg' = Iceland.
[5] 'Olandic' = Scandinavian.
[6] 'Grael' = British/Britain.
[7] 'Kuliuz' = Dardanelles/Bosporos.
[8] 'Nayir' = Arabian/Arabia.
[9] 'Kamewai' = Hawaii
Feel free to suggest new names for anything!
And please feel free to complain/discuss anything. I don't pretend to be an expert on... anything really
Next Era:
I'm thinking of colonising being a big theme, along with empire-building in general. For those in India, Greece/Anatolia and the Far East, I can also imagine an early start with applied physics and toys like steam engines.
(map: slightly different to beta version!)
Deadly plagues swept across Africa and Eurasia during this era, before reaching the Americas where the death toll was greatest of all. Large scale wars were fought across much of the civilized world. Technology pushed ahead areas of metallurgy and firearms, but science and arts also flourished in places.
The main change in europe was the sudden decline of the old powers of the Aelari[1] peninsular, and a gradual shift towards westwards exploration. By 1500 AD, the attitudes of the Navacubi had changed towards the prospects of Atlantic trade, following the first contacts with Hulat voyagers to Africa in the previous century. Navacubi ships made several westward voyages to the Carribean and South America, though they were not always received well, due to the local's growing fear of disease and misfortune which seemed to accompany anyone who had anything to do with the east (interestingly, at this time, it was still widely believed in Europe that the Hulat at Timiquicans were the same 'Toshyons' which were said to live on islands to the far east of Asia). Navacubi was also spreading its reach right around Africa into the Indian Ocean, threatening to muscle in on Zhul-dominated trade routes using powerful cannon-armed ships. But it was not to be...
From 1525 AD, the Tezan kingdom of North Africa received help from the Yansalan Empire and the Vepsian Wainist converts in the Mutyl[2] peninsular to invade the Navacubi homeland. The Nemarci kingdom (the traditional ally of Navacubi, occupying the centre of Aelari peninsular) was meanwhile split by civil war and rival allegiances to Navacubi and to the growing Tarechan/Targarotan powers of the north, which desired a share of African trade for themselves. Bold 'adventurers' from the distant Aarut and Geldut lands, with powerful warships at their disposal, also sought to profit from Navacubi's downfall. The Aelari peninsular was also the first part of Europe to suffer the 'slow fever' plague spreading from Africa (a disease which took a long time to kill its victim, and was easily transferable), which added to the misery.
By 1540 AD, after several wars, the kingdoms of Navacubi and Nemarci had ceased to exist. Various factions continued to fight over the peninsular for several more decades, during which time Navacubi's colonial operations in western Africa were ruined by attempts at taking control of them by force, or otherwise just ground to a halt. By 1570 AD, the Aelari peninsular was divided between Tezan and the new kingdom of Taretara. The situation remained volatile - the Wainist Tezan conquers faced much resistance from the native Jonsarists (the religion of old Tensara, based on the worship of a semi-mythical king of ancient Pargia), while Taretara was an unstable mix of Targarotan, Alerari, Navacubi, Vespe and even Aarut influences. Nonetheless, Taretara had the Targorata powers on its side, and had made friends with former Navacubi merchants and traders (elevating many to new positions of power) in order to start rebuilding the colonial trade system in Africa. Aarut, Kilamys and other hopefuls were absorbed or otherwise squeezed out of African trade altogether.
For a few years, Taretara was the most powerful of all the Targarota kingdoms, until in 1581 AD when the king of Targunis inherited the southern Ticaro kingdom through royal marriage, forming the Targar Union (as some called it), a power able to stand up to the Aestian Empire which was proving annoyingly stubborn and stable, despite constant fighting on at least one of its borders (and was really, by this point, an Amestrian empire).
The Targar Union had royal alliances with Taretara, but attempts to influence the northern Amarisle kingdom were not so successful. Amarisle was in trouble, following a disastrous battle against the Kronahar army in 1531 AD which led to the loss of the Gladich[3] provinces along with the support of several Kronahar nobles, while it also began losing territory in mainland Europe to Aarut's allies or rival Targarota kingdoms. Aarut was always threatening to take control of the Channel area. But Amarisle spurned the offers of alliance from the Targar Union, fearing the absorption and dismemberment of their kingdom (and it also had a different culture, owing more to Krilik and ancient, native Amys traditions). The western kingdom of Kilamys was in a similar position. Both began exploring across the Atlantic, in search of new trade, wealth and prestige to strengthen their position back home.
But Aarut had the greatest success in 'West Asia', or America as it was later known, even though it came from a mixture of afterthought and accident. From around 1530 AD, the Aarut kingdom was gaining in power after taking control of the Rosk straights during a series of civil wars there (though Rosk later recovered and made its own gains in the east), while keeping Lanverg as a vassal even after it was joined with Masuberg[4], and keeping influence over the newly-united Geldut kingdom. While Aarut's efforts were directed at breaking into the Channel or African trade routes, the Lanvergers were exploring north-west beyond Masuberg, with much help from the 'native' Asuat peoples (the Asaut in Masuberg had suffered much from disease, and had then been outnumbered by later Olandic[5] settlers, but enough survived to maintain their old knowledge and some of their original culture).
In 1558 AD, the King Rald I of Aarut ordered the first formal colonising effort into North America - really, just the expansion of existing, informal trade-posts on the north-western tip of the continent, in an area dubbed 'Veyland', still beyond the sphere of the 'civilized' American states further south. Although mostly Lanverg-Asuat sailors were involved at first, Aarut paid the expenses and claimed the new territories for itself. With the aid of the Asuat, mostly-friendly relations were established with the local Sanumei and Nahauk natives. Nearby Amarisle colonies were small and weak by comparison, always in danger of being absorbed. Ships from Kronahar were also visiting the area, though after being cut off from the trade in furs and tobacco, they were only left with piracy and occasional raiding.
From this foothold in Veyland, Aarut ventured further south, as far as the Carribean by 1625 AD (spreading disease all the way). Back in Europe, the acquisition of northern parts of 'Graelund'[6] from 1580 AD (through royal marriage, and some fighting) strengthened the line of supply and trade with the colonies.
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By 1625 AD the Mediterranean was calmer than before. The Southern Vespe kingdoms had united into the Mutyl Kingdom, in alliance with the Wainist powers of North Africa. The northern Vespe kingdoms continued to squabble and attract foreign mercenaries (as they had for centuries) which, combined with local innovations in warfare, led to them being a proving ground for the latest military tactics and hardware in Europe - musketeers first came into fashion here, fighting alongside armoured, polearmed infantry. The neighbouring Kalik states absorbed many of these ideas, as they themselves grew in strength and influence. The Kalik threw off their old barbaric reputation, and now formed part of the 'axis of learning' from Orumidia and Saratia to northern cities of the Aestian Empire (missing out the Arad kingdoms).
For a time, the great Keyzad of Nadzavosk dominated central Europe, following its mostly-peace annexation of Serezyl (weakened by years of Aestian attack) in 1540 AD. Nadzavosk later became entangled in wars further south, while under the rule of Kezy Leksandsy 'the terrible', who attempted to impose Wainism while also organising the genocide of ethnic groups (including Savisians) in favour of Tezan and Urgut. Rebellion and invasion followed, and the Keyzad of Serezyl was resurrected (in a much weakened state) by Savisian nobles in the west.
In the south, the Saratian Empire was wracked by civil war and uprisings by ethnic-Mavan nobles against the 'barbarian' rulers (although at this point, there was little noticeable difference between the Saratian elite and that of old Voresia). The rebellion also centred around the faith of Orimudism (which spread slightly beyond Mavan culture). Saratia looked like crumbling, but later leaders managed to hold the 'empire' together around the old strongholds of the Kuliuz[7]. By the time the 'Orimudan Alliance' came into being, the Yansalans and Sumetchans had moved in on other fronts, occupying some Mavan lands and islands for themselves. Although, by 1625 AD, the Orimudans had a growing naval power of their own.
Events in western Asia were naturally centred on the Varakan Empire. In 1475 AD, Varakan influence stretched from the Shyin States of central Asia to the Kezys of eastern Europe. But the situation was clearly unstable. As history has often shown, such rapid gains of territory can often be lost at an equal rate. Yet, for a while, the empire continued to expand. A series of capable leaders from 1475 to 1521 AD saw the empire reach its greatest peak of power and influence, with new gains in the north, east and west.
Varakan's trouble started with an uprising of Savisian kingdoms in 1522 AD. The Savisians had been the only enemy to seriously hold up the advance of Varakan armies in the previous century. They made unwilling vassals and eagerly united around the charismatic, one-handed leader known as Zurov (who had previously lost his other hand as punishment for fighting against the Varakans). The Savisian uprising was made worse by the simultaneous rise of Marzhung tribes in the north, some of which had been auxiliaries with the Varakan armies, and had been given training and weapons. The Varakan Emperor Maratak I had just started a war against Yansala for control of the Garakal states and the north of the Nayir[8] peninsular, a war that soon spiralled out of control and tied down most of the empire's forces in the south.
By 1530 AD, the Savisians had shrugged off their Varakan overlords. Zurov (now known as Keta Zurov I) allied with Marzhung tribes to raid deep into the Varkan Empire itself, reaching as far as the upper Indus. Varakan armies had made gains against the Yansalans, but also prompted their southern rival to enact a series of reforms and rename itself the Holy Yansalan Empire, home of 'true' Wainism untainted by Varakan 'Aravtupa' philosophy. Plagues then began to sweep across central Asia and north Africa. Varkan power declined on most fronts.
Yet with the death of Zurov, it was the Marzhung tribes who became the dominant power on the western steppe. They were united for several decades from 1550 AD, when they made the Keyzads of Nadzavosk and Savisia their vassals, along with the emerging Sezat kingdom of the north ('Sezat' was a corruption of the Astar-Savarian word 'Sesat' which itself simply meant 'kingdom'). Around 1580 AD the Marzhung became divided into separate 'Ketada' (adopting the Savisian-Yeshegi term for 'kingdom'), but each of these remained fairly powerful itself.
The Sumetche Kingdom was initially a vassal of Varakan, and was aided by the greater Empire to expand westwards against Saratia and its vassal Turuk. By 1530 AD, Turuk was conquered, and as Varakan power declined in later decades, the Sumetchens decided to declare their own empire. Some historians consider the Sumetchen army to be the best trained and equipped in the world at this time, having gained examples of the best Varakan weapons from across Asia and improved on them - their cannon artillery was notable for being useful on the open battlefield, often smashing enemy troops at long ranges, as opposed to just making noise and acting as a morale weapon. Sumetche also absorbed the knowledge and learning of Saratia and Turuk, and added its own innovations. The Sumetchens made powerful lenses and telescopes to study the heavens, and also pointed them the other way - some credit them with pioneering the science of microbiology at this time.
The Varakan Empire recovered in the late 1580's with the rise of Empress Taina I to the throne. Vassal states known as 'Takans' were established along the frontiers, with considerable freedom to organise themselves and their military defences, while still being tightly held to central Varakan power. Some formerly-lost territories in the north were regained. In India, the Katan of Tanyura expanded far beyond its original borders as the Guraj Empire went into decline. By 1625 AD Varaka was still roughly half its former greatest size, but was otherwise in fairly good shape, and Aravtupa philosophy was enjoying a revival, with Empress Taina planning new campaigns of conquest...
Around 1510 AD, the Guraj Empire had reached a new height with the conquest of the island of Ceyloni in the south, and had direct influence over most of the subcontinent. Had the good times lasted, the empire would have been in a good position to take advantage of Varaka's period of weakness. As it was, India was plagued by civil war (split between ethnic and religious factions), and then by plague itself. By 1625 AD, the Guraj Empire was a shadow of its former self. The Kaj states had been forged together into a rival empire in the south-east, while the rival Vijpura Empire had gained ground in the west. Only the Zhulharasa region in the south remained fragmented - some of the smaller states were now well established, despite invasions and raids by the east-African Manzuru kingdom, amongst others.
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South-east Asia was the scene of civil war and fragmentation, partly as a result of disease, partly due to religious turmoil, and partly due to disruption of trade. Around 1550 AD, the Naga peoples, previously vassals of the Tiandishi-influenced Ayutashai Empire, were able to rise up and carve out kingdoms of their own. The Tiandulong peoples also conquered new lands - by 1625 AD they were known as the Dienvai.
The Dagon Empire reached a height around 1540 AD, with victories over the Ayutashai and new gains of territory in mainland Asia, before suffering civil war and fragmenting - like many other empires of the time - into smaller states. These remained by 1625 AD, but trade routes were still able to recover. Meanwhile, 'Classical' Zul seafaring culture seems to have disappeared at this time, absorbed into the island cultures of the east (and into Australia in some cases). Most of the kingdoms, chiefdoms and tribes (including the 'Zuli') claim some kind of joint ancestry from the ancient Zul.
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Eastern Asia saw much less trouble than most of the continent (although its large urban populations suffered just as much from the plagues sweeping in from Africa and India). The short-lived and unpopular Zhou empire was overthrown by a reformist Shynist movement, originating in the Shyin mountains themselves, which eventually led to a new centralised (and fairly militarised) Shyin Kingdom in the west, and the new Zhihui Empire in the east (once again building upon the old Tuizen model). Some of the Zhou's former vassals, especially the Yadal, had taken the first opportunity to break away, and took some time to subdue.
By 1625 AD, things remained mostly peaceful, but the borders were far from settled. The Nanxun Alliance had spread its area of control far too much for the liking of traditional Tuizen-imperialists, following its 'voluntary' annexations of many ethnic-Yueren cities in the north-West. Nanxun had been greatly aided by the collapse of the northern 'barbaric' Irhzul into smaller states, and by a peaceful union with the seafaring Yanshi Kingdom, which was enjoying a rebirth of science and learning, as well as interest in seafaring.
With the 'great virtuous reform' of 1512 AD, the government of the Toshion kingdom was taken over by militarist factions from the northern Soryo states. The result was a surprisingly liberal state known as the Takaraji Union. The newly-reconquered Kojin territories were allowed some autonomy, as were the Waeulta islands of the far north, which were steadily being incorporated into the union. The warlike Jureg kingdoms of mainland Asia were kept in check by occasional coastal raids. In the south, the expanding Yujin Kingdom was effectively a colony of Takaraji, and carried its influence right across the splintered island states further still to the south, as well as west into the Indian Ocean.
By the 1550's, it is known that both the Takaraji Union and the Nanxun Alliance - or the Yanshi, to be more exact - had explorers venturing into the vast expanses of the Pacific. The details were kept secret, but some believe Yanshi explorers mapped large sections of the west coast of North America at this time, while the Takaraji may have stumbled upon the Kamewai[9] islands as well as going as far west as the central American isthmus.
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Out of the 'old world', Africa seems to have suffered most from the spread of disease around this time, particularly the 'slow fever' which is said to have originated there. The reasons for the heavy death toll are still not fully understood (local parasite species have been suggested as one reason). Some places are known to have suffered a one-in-two mortality rate, compared to one-in-four or fewer in most of Eurasia. And, unlike in Eurasia, many 'civilized' regions still had fairly sparse populations without large urban centres, and societies were more prone to collapse and disintegration. The result was a general slow-down or reverse of the spread of centralized states.
Nonetheless, by 1625 AD some new powers had appeared. Out of the Pargi-Saban kingdoms, the Nalkut Kingdom had risen to challenge Yansalan power on the lower Nile. With the pressures of fighting in the mediterranean and in the middle east, Yansala had also lost control of the Mahala region, while the Tezan and Bebeb states of west Africa were now only vassals in principle, paying no real tribute.
West Africa was still absorbing new influences from the Yansalan-Wainist north and Navacubi-Taretara colonists. While the Ilhaneb kingdoms had embraced Wainism from Yebeb missionaries, the growing Hawaladu Empire rejected Wainism and fought against anything 'foreign', partly a reaction to the spread of diseases.
The Zuru kingdoms of East Africa were united under the legendary King Yalazut, forming the 'great Zuru' or Manzuru Kingdom. Its southern rival, the Hom Empire, lost its hold on parts of the African mainland, but gained the service of former Navacubi warships and soldiers, after the Navacubi colonies in the southern tip of Africa were left cut-off by invasion at turmoil at home. Some of the Navacubi eventually gained positions of power in the Hom Empire (but, according to some historians, only after their plans to overthrow the Hom Emperor and take power for themselves were abandoned).
Before the onset of the great plagues, events in America centred on the 'holy war' waged by the Lantan states of the north against the Ilameca Empire. It is a sign of the influence of the Lantan religion that its higher authorities were able to mobilise such a large number of soldiers from many different cultures across North America. The most to profit from the ensuing wars were the Antehauta and the Akanto kingdoms. Anthehauta was originally one of the Xante kingdoms, but by 1550 AD its territory stretched from old ceremonial centres of ancient Xanto-Lantan culture in northern mountains, to desert lands that were previously deep inside the Ilameca territory. Antehauta established itself as the 'defender' of Lantan, although much of the new gains eventually splintered off as the 'Lantamalacal' states, under the rule of former generals.
Akanto began 1475 AD as a tributary of Manhatu Empire, but after doing most of the fighting against the Ilameca in the following decades it ended up as an Empire in its own right. Akanto also benefited from clever (some would say, cynical) manipulation of Lantan-inspired mercenaries from across western North America.
The Manhatu Empire stayed out of these wars while it underwent a series of reforms and some short-lived, subdued civil wars. By 1560 AD the old Panto 'republic' system was being revived, formal vassal states were created (known as 'Mantes') from the neighbouring tributaries, and the centuries-old tradition of irrigation and road-building was once again being revived (it may be worth noting that, while the wheelbarrow was in use, there were still no suitable domesticated animals to carry or pull heavy loads, and roads were only built in areas of rough terrain and dense vegetation).
In the Carribean, a united Timiquican Empire was once again put together (minus the newer splinter-states of Hulat, against whom various wars were fought). The Hulat scaled back their colonies in South America under pressure from the Timiquicans, with some old outposts reverting to native control or being abandoned altogether. The Hulat also had to contend with the rapid growth of the Anu-Karac Kingdom along the eastern Amazon, which was at times hostile to the 'foreigners' on the coast.
The real foreigners were of course the Europeans (and Africans in some cases). Visitors from Navacubi in the early 1500's led to the early spread of disease across the Carribean and Central America. Another wave of disease spread with the arrival of Aarut and others from the mid 1540's. America not only suffered the 'slow fever' and other recent plagues which hit the old world, but many other diseases against which most Eurasians and Africans had long had immunity.
From 1550 AD onwards, America (particularly 'civilized' North America) was gripped by death and disease. Much controversy surrounds the percentage of deaths out of the original population. Some historians put the figure at 50%, while others put it as high as 90% in certain areas. Combined with the aftermath of wars and rumours of strange foreigners appearing, it was a very pessimistic time for most cultures, and placed great strain on social structures. The faith of Lantan went into decline as it seemed unable to do anything to cure the sick.
The death toll and loss of manpower in the Old World had been high enough to affect everything from farming and trade to industry and warfare. Naturally, in the Americas, the effects were even more severe. One benefit of the rapid spread of disease is that most of the civilized areas were affected equally. Few wars were fought towards the end of the century, and most states were able to survive, although in a greatly weakened state. By 1625 AD, outbreaks of disease continued, and there seemed little to stop further encroachment into America by the powers of the Old World.
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Its now around 1625 AD.
Cultures and Factions Ownership:
Since this is getting longer and more confusing, please feel free to ignore stuff, and only send orders/input for anything you are interested in!
NEW: arranged in order of cultures/players, even though it repeats many things.
Spoiler show :
Notes:
[1] 'Aleari' = Iberia (AKA Spain and Portugal).
[2] 'Mutyl' = Italian peninsular.
[3] 'Gladich' = south-east England.
[4] 'Masuberg' = Iceland.
[5] 'Olandic' = Scandinavian.
[6] 'Grael' = British/Britain.
[7] 'Kuliuz' = Dardanelles/Bosporos.
[8] 'Nayir' = Arabian/Arabia.
[9] 'Kamewai' = Hawaii
Feel free to suggest new names for anything!
And please feel free to complain/discuss anything. I don't pretend to be an expert on... anything really
Next Era:
I'm thinking of colonising being a big theme, along with empire-building in general. For those in India, Greece/Anatolia and the Far East, I can also imagine an early start with applied physics and toys like steam engines.
mythmonster2
BEC NOIR! RUN!
Awww, so Ceyloni's back but I don't have it? Oh well.
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
Great update Daft. Can you make a list of the top powers all around? Like based on military and technology.
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