Update 8 - 2200 BC
In 2200 BC, there were 26 active nations (6 of which were NPC).
HELLENIC REPUBLIC: Expands Suez, Puntland, and works on wonder more. Has leadership struggle between Sp the 1023 and Conehead the Conical.
KORYO: Expands, hangs out.
CALIFORNIA: Advances to Iron Age, expands north. Benefits from trade with Sioux. (+2 growth points)
FLORIDA: Advances to Iron Age. Expands massively, loses Iberian colony to culturally superior Tartessians. Floridian pirates, enraged at the loss of this port, mercilessly assault Tartessian trade. See special section below on Pirates 2: Threat from the West.
CARTHAGE: Continues to actively pirate. See special section below on Pirates 2: Threat from the West.
MASSACHUSETTS: Advances to Iron Age. Expands north, grows economy.
SICILIA*: No orders sent, suffers massive internal distress. Goes NPC.
RUSSIA*: Expands southwest, grows economy, is refunded for wonder, aaaand goes NPC.
BENGAL: Expands in all directions, is refunded for wonder.
TARTESSOS: Expands south, converts some Frank tribes. Benefits from large amounts of trade and monopoly over east-west correspondence, manages to contain piracy somewhat. See special section below on Pirates 2: Threat from the West. (+2 growth points)
ZULU EMPIRE: Assaults Congolese, gains much ground. Trades with Madagaskar and Zulu. (+2 growth points)
MADAGASKAR: Expands, reaches far-away island south of India. Trades with Zulu. (+1 growth points)
KINGDOM OF MILAN: Signs an alliance with Tartessos, aids against Piracy. See special section below on Pirates 2: Threat from the West.
CHICAGO CONFEDERATION: Advances to Iron Age, expands, founds Cincinnati (hometown of the Mod) and gains 5 growth points. Benefits from trade with Massachusetts and Florida, experiences cultural diffusion with Massachusetts. (+1 culture, +6 growth points)
WU EMPIRE: Advances to Iron Age, expands, benefits from sudden economic boom from cultural purity. (+1 economy)
CHANNEL UNION: Defeats Dani, absorbs some Frankish and Celtic tribes.
DANI TRIBE*: Is defeated by the Channel Union, withdraws into the islands of the Baltic. Goes NPC.
SONGHAI:Expands, recovers from bad effects of drought. Trades with Zulu, makes contact with Tartessians. (+1 growth points)
EMPIRE OF THE RISING SUN: Finishes Stonehenge, begins massive expansion campaign, settling as far west as Arabia a number of islands and natural harbors. Establishes contact with Jasiran, Madagaskar, and the Hellenic Republic, and pacifies Arabians with gifts from the east. Gains an economic boom as trade begins flowing in from the west across a massive network of unthreatened islands. The Emperor, in light of such success, renames Nippon to be the "Empire of the Rising Sun," and is bent on expanding the light of Nippon across the world. (+2 economy)
ABALONIA: No orders sent but that's ok. Hangs out, banks gold, ya dig?
AMAZONIA: Expands, is refunded for wonder, begins trade with wealthy and affluent Floridians, from whom they benefit both culturally and economically. (+1 culture, +2 growth points)
SIOUX*: Advances to Iron Age.
JASIRAN: Expands into Indonesia, takes advantage of beach-walking natives to boost own economy with slaves. (+3 growth points)
TEUTONIA*: Is civilized by Floridian secrets, threatening its neighbors.
NORWAY*: Is civilized by Floridian secrets, threatening its neighbors.
ALASKA: Comes into existence in the far-flung frigid north, guided by a divine destiny.
*: Denotes NPC.
Pirates 2: Threat from the West
Piracy, which the treaty between Florida and Tartessos was expected to be put to bed, returned with a vengeance as Floridian pirates began raiding Tartessian settlements all across the Atlantic coastline. This came about recently as the Floridian colony defected completely to the Tartessians. When the flag of Tartessos flew above the small settlement, enraged and nationalistic Floridian sailors donned a pirate's hat and went the way of Carthage. Although no pillage was able to be successfully returned to Orlando, it distracted Tartessos significantly such that assaults on Sardinia were easily repulsed.
Speaking of, Carthage continues to hang by a thread this year as wave after wave was fended off by the reconstituted Carthaginian navy. The invasion force of Tartessos was easily countered with minimal casualties on both sides as Tartessos attempted to protect its cargo, and Milan's assistance largely was relegated to protecting coastal settlements. Rumors abound of secret Carthaginian alcoves running in southern France and Italy, facilitating raiding efforts. Although the quasi-war went no way in either direction this century, it may be that Carthage's continued survival and constantly improving position will allow it to scrape out a victory in the long run.
All in all it was an uneventful and quiet century in the Mediterranean as both sides remain at a standstill. With Floridian-Tartessian relations once again put on ice by rogue privateers, and as Carthage manages time and time again to thwart Tartessian efforts at crushing the pirates, it seems that a war of attrition is in the making.
RANDOM EVENT: Legend has it that the unconquered lands of the world contain treasures! The sages tell of where three such treasures may be... "Eastmost islands hold the secret." "The center of subcon von Asia." "The farthest south before the ice."
DIPLO GRAB-BAG
To: California
From: Sioux
Mighty California! Protect us from harm and you shall have our loyalty! (offers capitulation)
MAP
UPDATE IN 48 HOURS
@all: Starting next turn, you will no longer be refunded fully for a wonder. You will now only get back half of the gold you invested into the wonder initially whenever you withdraw the payments, or lose the wonder race.