My goodness. This is an unexpected but delightful development. As if I could possibly want this game more. Very glad to see this interesting dynasty represented.
As a spanish living in Córdoba I am very proud to have the Umayyads in the game. The scientific feature is a good choice. Córdoba gave the Islamic world very important philosophers such as Maimonides and Averroes.
Yes, great mosques were a thing under the umayyads, most notably the one in Damascus and later in Spain. But you need to look with different search terms.
I'd rather have the Abbassids since not only are they appropriate for a Science affinity, the dynasty ruled over the Islamic Caliphate during its Golden Age.
Expansionist would be more appropriate for the Umayyads.
I'd rather have the Abbassids since not are they appropriate for a Science affinity, the dynasty ruled over the Islamic Caliphate during its Golden Age.
Expansionist would be more appropriate for the Umayyads.
Yeah, maybe they're planning a Medieval Europe scenario, hence the English and Teutons being in when the Byzantines, Franks, and Norse are really the only Euro-necessities for the period.
Yeah, Abbasid would fit scientific more and Umayyad expansionist, but oh well. After all, Umayyads in charge of Cordoba were scientific powerhouse as much as Abbasids in Baghdad. And besides, I am not going to complain much on the paradigm shift in popular history more and more recognizing criminally underrated civilizaitons "between Europe and China".
I think important factor in the choice of cultures is Cool Historical Rivalry. These are more important in this game because there is very high chance of those rival cultures clashing due to how eras work. So we get
Franks vs Umayyads (Poitiers, Roland)
Franks vs English
Franks vs Vikings
Umayyads vs Byzantium (yeah Abbasids fought them too, but in way less critical dramatic way)
Rome vs Huns vs Goths
Ming vs Joseon vs Japan
maybe Spain vs Aztec in EM
and so on.
Besides, we may get Abbasids later, as aestethe or Merchant
While the culture card is beautiful, I‘m about disappointed that it clearly depicts the exile Umayyad clothing and architecture and not what we know from earlier Umayyad depictions like is still found (only?) in Qasr Amra.
First thought: Why Not the Abbasids for Science?
Second Thought: the Umayyads lasted longer if you include the 'successor' Cordoban State, and they ruled a larger territorial extent since they expanded Islam into Central Asa and across North Africa to Spain. AND Cordoba in the later Medieval Era was THE scientific powerhouse, that attracted a flood of Christians to study and translate, and had, in Cordoba and Toledo and other places, some of the largest libraries in the world.
Third Thought: The Grand Mosque usually refers to the Mosque they built in Damascus, but then I did some digging and they in fact were major Mosquevites: Great or Grand Mosques were also built by them all over the Middle East and North Africa, including "Great Mosques" at Aleppo, and Kairouan and, of course, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. In fact, they could also legitimately be a Builder Faction but then, as mentioned, they could also be Expansionist. Ya gotta make a choice, folks.
But I betcha the Abbasids will be an early Modded Faction as an alternative . . .
First thought: Why Not the Abbasids for Science?
Second Thought: the Umayyads lasted longer if you include the 'successor' Cordoban State, and they ruled a larger territorial extent since they expanded Islam into Central Asa and across North Africa to Spain. AND Cordoba in the later Medieval Era was THE scientific powerhouse, that attracted a flood of Christians to study and translate, and had, in Cordoba and Toledo and other places, some of the largest libraries in the world.
Third Thought: The Grand Mosque usually refers to the Mosque they built in Damascus, but then I did some digging and they in fact were major Mosquevites: Great or Grand Mosques were also built by them all over the Middle East and North Africa, including "Great Mosques" at Aleppo, and Kairouan and, of course, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. In fact, they could also legitimately be a Builder Faction but then, as mentioned, they could also be Expansionist. Ya gotta make a choice, folks.
But I betcha the Abbasids will be an early Modded Faction as an alternative . . .
What is interesting is that the Ummayads are also one of the more liberal times in Arab History. I once was in the above mentioned Qasr Amra as well and it is just astonishing as it clashes so much with our conventional understanding of what "Arab" is.This also leaves the door open for later different variants of Arab cultures. And they deserve them!
I'd add Ummayad - Viking as a rivalry as well. Also, the Grand Mosque really depicts the one in Damascus which is still named Ummayad Mosque though it's definitely not as green around it. It was after all the Roman (et al) temple right in the city center before. Hadn't heard of Haras before - though just as a reminder: another cavalry unit.
All that makes me wonder about the city list. Will it start with Damascus which as (one of the) "oldest city in the world" should kinda pop up earlier than era number four. Also, Jericho should be a city state appearing in the neolithic era . But what about the Ummayad city list? It will probably have Cordoba in it, the way they phrase the culture card. Can city lists mix? So will a later Abbasid culture coexist with the Ummayads and have practically the same city list? Whoever founds it first, gets the name?
Yeah, I'm content with that culture, so let's finish of the medieval era already
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. But what about the Ummayad city list? It will probably have Cordoba in it, the way they phrase the culture card. Can city lists mix? So will a later Abbasid culture coexist with the Ummayads and have practically the same city list? Whoever founds it first, gets the name?
