The year is anno domoni 1026, our explorers have returned from the reaches of Europe and deliver the following report on the state of our rivals:
Byzantium is a corrupt unstable place. While being the center of Orthodoxy and research, the old man of Europe appears to be on the edge of collapse. The Islamic Arbian peoples are slowly expanding into Africa, having already expanded through the fertile crescent.
In the west, Iberia is a land split evenly between Christian Spanish and Islamic Andulus. They are about even in power and research, and we feel it will eventually come to war to determine who will control the peninsula.
Burgandy though is the power in the west. Having taken several of Francia's cities, the burgundian cultural power is slowly encouraging more peoples to flow to their cities, pushing their rivals to the rural areas. Currently they are at war with Germania, who appear to be a backward uncivilized people.
Italia is still controlled by small city-states. After the fall of Rome centuries ago, these people have yet to unify squabbling among themselves. Venice is emerging as a good trade partnered for us, but they seem unwilling to spread beyond their city. A new potential threat has emerged, as the Genoans have started to make waves in their desire to unify Italia.
Eastern Europe is still mostly a wasteland of barbarian settlements. Several civilized peoples have started to form governments to civilize the rabble, but the Moskovite, Kievan and Polish are still small, underpowered and surrounded by barbarian settlements. Hungary saw the writing on the wall and vasseled themselves to our glorious Bulgarian empire, while we expand to our lands. Spreading the word of the true faith Orthodoxy and bring the barbarians to heel.
Byzantium is a corrupt unstable place. While being the center of Orthodoxy and research, the old man of Europe appears to be on the edge of collapse. The Islamic Arbian peoples are slowly expanding into Africa, having already expanded through the fertile crescent.
In the west, Iberia is a land split evenly between Christian Spanish and Islamic Andulus. They are about even in power and research, and we feel it will eventually come to war to determine who will control the peninsula.
Burgandy though is the power in the west. Having taken several of Francia's cities, the burgundian cultural power is slowly encouraging more peoples to flow to their cities, pushing their rivals to the rural areas. Currently they are at war with Germania, who appear to be a backward uncivilized people.
Italia is still controlled by small city-states. After the fall of Rome centuries ago, these people have yet to unify squabbling among themselves. Venice is emerging as a good trade partnered for us, but they seem unwilling to spread beyond their city. A new potential threat has emerged, as the Genoans have started to make waves in their desire to unify Italia.
Eastern Europe is still mostly a wasteland of barbarian settlements. Several civilized peoples have started to form governments to civilize the rabble, but the Moskovite, Kievan and Polish are still small, underpowered and surrounded by barbarian settlements. Hungary saw the writing on the wall and vasseled themselves to our glorious Bulgarian empire, while we expand to our lands. Spreading the word of the true faith Orthodoxy and bring the barbarians to heel.