Scenario Project: The Persian Empire

[Dr. Dr. Doktor]

Originally posted by Louis XXIV
Why should Babylon be a Republic?

Some 'facts' concerning the Neo-Babylonian Empire at the start of Persian expansion.

Leader: Nabonidus (ruled 555-39), a commoner of Syrian descent. He took the throne after three kings had been assassinated over six years.

Government: The real holders of power were the priesthood who served the god Marduk. In fact they may have conspired against him to allow Cyrus to enter Babylon without any resistance. (This opens the possiblity that the early Persians were really acting as instrumenets of the Marduk Priesthood) Traditionally the Babylonian kings had been war leaders but Nabonidus was an exceptionally peaceful man. Unlike previous kings he did not reside in Babylon, but chose the town of Teima in Arabia. Here he was free to worship the moon god sin, which was also worshipped by the Arabians. An unstable monarchy. Perhaps theocracy is a better description. I would suggest the Republic.

Economy: The level of trade in and out of Babylon was extremely high. Trade into the capital consisted of Iron, wine, dyes, spices and lapis lazuli (gems). The metropolis of Babylon, an enormous city, had two wonders of the world. The Hanging Gardens and the grandiose city walls. In addition to temples, banking was an important part of business. (This could be represented by a bank, or a special wonder adding 1 trade per tile)

In the surronding towns the economy was based around the temple, the trading house and the courthouse. The temples largely functoned as 'corporations' organizing the produce of agricultual products. The trading houses were the residence of the merchant class, which functioned as moneylenders and traders. The level of literary remains from this period describing, agricultural output, trade deals and loan giving is very high. Note the absense of an aristocracy. In the courts the decisions concerning governance were decided by assemblies. The people serving in these assemblies were from the temple class, that is the priesthood.

Interestingly when the Persians took over the rule of the Neo-Babylonian Empire they saw no problems in restoring democracy to the Ionian cities of Asia Minor.

Source: The ancient Mesopotamian City, and A history of the Ancient Near East, both by Marc Van De Mieroop.

 

[Cimbri]

I agree with the good Dr. Dr. Doktor.

The Arabs (perhaps called Midianites/Nabataeans or just Arabs) with the cities of Elat, Petra and Dumah would be an interesting addition to the scenario.

 

[Yoda Power]

Ok im sorry I disappeared for a few days, but im back now

Dr dr doctor-

As TLC said Fars isn't desert and the Persians controlled more than one city. Also there wont be any king units, simply because I dont see the point in having them. I could include the Arabs, but im gonna need a leader, city list etc. Babylon was an unstable monarchy, yes. But it was a monarchy and thus I will make them that. Also they would become to powerfull if I made them a Republic. The The Commagene Nemrut would be too late. The scenario stops after Alexanders invasion.

Cimbri-

As I just said above, the Nabataeans would be a exelent civ. Though im gonna need help with them.

Last, why wouldn't anyone give me some feedback on the tech tree???

 

[Dr. Dr. Doktor]

Originally posted by Yoda Power
Also there wont be any king units, simply because I dont see the point in having them.
...

Last, why wouldn't anyone give me some feedback on the tech tree???

When I meant leader I meant a MGL not King unit.

The tech tree looks good so far.

I can understand your conservative approach to this scenario Yoda Power. Anyway this has actually inpired me to make my own scenario. My modding powers are not great, but I think everything is in the game already for making mideast scenarios. The map you are using is that the one from the Rise of Rome scenario?

New Wonder

The slaying of the Apis Bull
Location: Somewhere in Egypt
Effect: Gives 12 unhappy citizens per satrapy in each city across the continent.
Tech Required: none

The Behistun Inscription
Effect: Gives 12 content citizens per satrapy in each city across the continent
Tech required: Imperial Propaganda
Resource required: Egyptian scribes.

The logic behind this that when Cambyses invaded Egypt he slayed the most holy animal in Egypt, the Apis Bull. This according to Herodotus made Cambyses a cursed man, and thus he died in the desert. This sparked a rebellions and revolts across the Persian Empire by the usurper Bardiya. Darius defeated the rebels and made himself king. He then had the Behistun Inscription made to commermorate his victory and legitimize his rule.Thus making the citizens content.

So in order to conquer the Pyramids, which speeds growth, the Persian player will have accept the inclusion of the wonder 'The slaying of the Apis Bull' (SAB) which is located in the same city as the pyramids. This will spark serious problems which can only be negated by building the 'Behistun inscription'. However this can only be built with the 'resource'
Egyptian scribes which is located under the city where the Pyramids and and the SAB is located.

 

[Yoda Power]

Originally posted by Dr. Dr. Doktor
I can understand your conservative approach to this scenario Yoda Power. Anyway this has actually inpired me to make my own scenario. My modding powers are not great, but I think everything is in the game already for making mideast scenarios. The map you are using is that the one from the Rise of Rome scenario?

New Wonder

The slaying of the Apis Bull
Location: Somewhere in Egypt
Effect: Gives 12 unhappy citizens per satrapy in each city across the continent.
Tech Required: none

The Behistun Inscription
Effect: Gives 12 content citizens per satrapy in each city across the continent
Tech required: Imperial Propaganda
Resource required: Egyptian scribes.

The logic behind this that when Cambyses invaded Egypt he slayed the most holy animal in Egypt, the Apis Bull. This according to Herodotus made Cambyses a cursed man, and thus he died in the desert. This sparked a rebellions and revolts across the Persian Empire by the usurper Bardiya. Darius defeated the rebels and made himself king. He then had the Behistun Inscription made to commermorate his victory and legitimize his rule.Thus making the citizens content.

So in order to conquer the Pyramids, which speeds growth, the Persian player will have accept the inclusion of the wonder 'The slaying of the Apis Bull' (SAB) which is located in the same city as the pyramids. This will spark serious problems which can only be negated by building the 'Behistun inscription'. However this can only be built with the 'resource'
Egyptian scribes which is located under the city where the Pyramids and and the SAB is located.

Im using a map I made for this scenario. I couldn't find any other maps that had the right size or/and accuracy.

Its a nice idea, however im not sure if it would bring much to the gameplay. You capture a wonder that makes your citizens unhappy, just so you can build a wonder that makes them happy again. The player could simply just choose to destroy the city, rebuild it and then construct the Behistun Inscriptions. I agree that those wonders would be cool, I just dont see them working this way.

btw Propaganda is a cool tech, thanks

 

[Dr. Dr. Doktor]

But if he destroyed the city he would the destroy the pyramids too. If you then made it so that in order to build a granary you must have acces to wheat, destroying the pyramids would not be a good idea.

 

[aaminion00]

Hey Yoda, I still really like this project. Overall the Persian culture doesn't interest me that much, but you've managed to get my attention. You said:

As I just said above, the Nabataeans would be a exelent civ. Though im gonna need help with them.

A Nabatean civ would be hard, because I'm not sure how many cities of theirs we know of. But I could get you a template for an ancient pan-arab type civ in a minute...

 

[aaminion00]

Civilization: Aribi
Noun: Arabians
Adjective: Arabian
Plurality: Plural
Gender: Masculine
Traits: Commercial, and Religious

Title: King
Name: Sabos (I Recommend Medieval Gilgamesh)
Gender: Male

Favorite Goverment: Preferably despotism type goverment with some sense of power for commoners
Shunned Goverment: Any sort of vast imperialistic goverment
Agression Level: 2
Culture Group: Middle Eastern

City Names

Petra
Mariaba
Aden
Dilmun
Karna
Bakkah
Sabata
Dhafar
San'a
Teimah
Tamna
Aila
Medain Saleh
Shisur
Qataban

Military Leaders

Al-Sameefe' Ashwa
Yitea Amar
Alhan Nahfan
Sairum Autar
Isarah Yahdib
Ya'Zil Bayyin

Scientific Leaders:

Obodas
Syllaeus
Aretas
Esimiphaeus

Build Often:

Def. Land Units
Happiness
Wealth
Trade

Build Never:

N/A

 

[aaminion00]

Oh, and as far as colors go, I think the Arabs have traditionally valued red, white, black, and green as the 4 great colors (thus the flags of egpyt, iraq, syria, etc. etc.).

 

[The Last Conformist]

Many modern historians believe that Cambyses slaying the Apis bull was just an untrue accusation by Egyptian priests, to justify their opposition to the Persian rulers.

Any progress on units?

 

[Yoda Power]

aaminion-thanks for the list, but I think the civ should be completly Nabataean and not just arabic, as a civ that covered the whole of arabia would make the area too important.

TLC- Progress on units? No units are being made for this scenario if thats what you mean..

 

[The Last Conformist]

Meant unit stats and the like. If you've finalized that, I've missed it.

 

[aaminion00]

Originally posted by Yoda Power
aaminion-thanks for the list, but I think the civ should be completly Nabataean and not just arabic, as a civ that covered the whole of arabia would make the area too important.

Gah, damnit, all that work for nothing

I suppose I could make you a Nabatean civ template, but I'd have to know some things. Chiefly how many cities, military leaders, and scientific leader you'd want. This would depend on how big the Nabateans could get and how big the map is, plus if desert could be settled.

 

[Yoda Power]

TLC- Yes I finalized them. I posted a word document some pages ago. I added one new unit since that. Fort Guard: 1.2.2 immobile. They cant be build, but are preplaced on forts/barricades.

aaminion-I dont see room for more than 3 to 4 cities. If you(or anyone else) can get me a map with cities on that would be really helpfull.

 

[Yoda Power]

I did some research on Nabataea, and as far as I can see the kingdom wasn't around 550 BC. So I dont really see the point in including it. Did Petra even exist by this time? If it did it should defiently be included somehow.

 

[Noob@civ]

simply googling, might've yealded this site
Nabatean history


Seems those people have been around (flurishing) since the 6th century BC.

Petra, though, was created several centuries later.

 

[Yoda Power]

oh thanks Noob@civ

 

[Yoda Power]

BTW those who would like to test please state so.

Also note that I woundt let everybody test, only people that help out with the scenario.

 

[aaminion00]

I'd love to test it.

 

[Yoda Power]

Originally posted by aaminion00
I'd love to test it.

sure your in