Update 1 – 1450 BC
In
Greece the
Mycenaeans begin building up their armed forces. Many suspect this perhaps to be in anticipation for a strike at Athens. However others note increased activity of the Dorians along the Mycenaean’s northern border.
Athens begins to build up its infrastructure and prepares for a Mycenaean attack that luckily doesn’t come. The
Bulgares also begin to build up their military strength, perhaps also in response to the Dorian activity.
Minoa has an extreme period of inactivity with no growth spotted anywhere. Its unknown the cause of this but the period could perhaps be the beginning of a decline in Minoan society.
In
Anatolia the
Trojans attempt to create a fanciful sewage system beyond their current technological capability. While some of it eventually collapses in failure, what is left ensures that Troy has one of the most sophisticated infrastructures in the ancient world at the time. The Trojans also spend this time building large temples and large festivals are held in honor of the gods, in general the culture of Troy expanded above their neighbors. The effect of which was beginning to be felt by border towns at the time.
Lydia began a period of rapid militarization and attempts to contact Troy in hopes of an alliance. Fearful of the growing power of the Hittite Empire Lydia began to become paranoid of invasion. Meanwhile Lydia began developing a religious system with a pantheon similar to, but different from that of the Greeks and Troy, replacing the gods with a main god Heraclius with the other Greek gods as simple demi-gods with more limited powers than in the other beliefs. This has somewhat halted the advance of Trojan culture.
The
Hittites began a period of building, starting a system of roads advanced for its day. Combined with inviting merchants from any nation they had contact with the Hittites were successful in increasing both internal and external trade [+1 commerce]. Meanwhile the Hittites successfully conquered some limited lands from the Hurrians, creating some fishing villages along the Black Sea.
To the south in the
Fertile Crescent the
Babylonians have begun a change in the way the government and culture exists. The change may be a result of the Kassites who were recently assimilated into the Babylon. Several new Ziggurats are created, a major one in Babylon itself and multiple new smaller ones in northern Babylonia as worship of the patron god Bel Marduk grows. As common worship gorws, the king has taken it upon himself to gain large control over the cult. With such control the government has changed to a theocratic monarchy. An attempt to remove many of the petty nobles to farther reaches of the kingdom away from Babylon itself was attempted, but while this aided in giving some wealth to the smaller towns and provinces it has done little to provide for general economic growth. Finally a tradition of sending out princes to far away lands has increased diplomatic relations with Babylon’s neighbors and only the most paranoid fear invasion.
Babylon has also aided
Dilmun in their endeavor to survive the collapse of the Indus-Mesopotamian trade system. Dilmun was given a small piece of land in southern Mesopotamia to act as a forward trading outpost and diplomatic mission. This has greatly increased the ties between the two nations. Dilmun also expanded east using its industry to create well-built outposts on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz. This has angered Elam which previously had had this area under their sphere of influence. With the straits in their control, traders usually bypass Elam altogether [-1 commerce Elam]. Dilmun’s infrastructure also swells rivaling that of Troy. A voyage embarked by a legendary figure known as Sibisad is made to reach India. It proves successful but what it finds are various city states, clans, bandits, and tribes which seem to exist in constant warfare. The eastern trade route is all but lost. All in all Dilmun’s efforts have only allowed it to survive the collapse of the trade system and little has actually improved for them and with Elam angered war may be near.
Farther east in the
Levant Phenicia is on the rise. The Phenician navy grew to perhaps the largest in the entire world at this time. Using this, the Phenicians decided to destroy their main trade competitor, Alashiya. After several naval battles it became clear of Phenician dominance of the seas. Even with Alashiyan trade dwindling and the threat of a counter attack near impossible the Phenician king wished for more. He led an invasion of the island itself. After several battles the Alashiyans were defeated, but it greatly weakened the Phenician military. [-Alashiya. -1 Early Ship, -1 Light infantry(L), -1 Heavy Infantry(L), -1 Heavy Infantry(M)]. In its weakened state Phenicia may be open to attack from any of its neighbors which covet its wealth. However with the capture of Alashiya and its copper mines and trade routes have made Phenicia an economic power rival even to the Hittites (+1 commerce, +1 industry).
Along the
Nile Region Lower Egypt advances its infrastructure to meet that of Babylonia, surpassing both Dilmun and Troy. But most importantly Lower Egypt once again has attempted an invasion of Upper Egypt. Advancing down the bank of the Nile itself the Lower Egyptians encountered little resistance until arriving at the capital of Thebes. With nearly half of the Upper army south making sure of no invasion from Kush, the Lower Egyptians had a good shot. However Thebes’ walls were high and its defenders fierce. The Lower forces were planning on relying on chariots to destroy their enemy out on the open, but there would be no such luck. After two failed sieges the Lower forces were made to retreat back. After several months Upper’s army was joined and a decisive battle was going to be made. In the end the chariots would prove decisive in the open battlefields, but Thebes refused to budge and as such no advance was made passed it. But Upper Egypt is near fall, and with its southern border near defenseless it shan’t survive long.[lower egypt: -1 light infantry(L), -2 heavy infantry(L), -1 chariot(P); upper Egypt: -2 light infantry(L), -1 Light Infantry(M), -1 Heavy Infantry(P)]
Farther south
Sheba and
Jemen have begun competing on creating a system of local alliances, trading posts, and outposts on both sides of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. However neither has seen any real benefits from doing so yet. Trade in the area in minimal compared to others and neither have the best agricultural areas. Still the their civilizations continue with both hoping dominance being the key to ending their country’s problems.
Going across the sea to
India not much remains different. Harappa appears to be slowing its fall as the rest of the area remains in pieces. An epic battle takes place which does shape the power struggle in the Indus and Aryan regions, however it does little to actually solidify anything. An attempted kingdom of Tibina tries to form but has no clue where it is. Meanwhile
Kat’al has begun a slow expansion along the Ganges. Its society has slowly but surely created a thriving urban culture and its industry expands [+1 industry]. Kat’al is becoming a beacon of hope to refugees from the wars, but it is also creating a unifying factor for those who fear its rising power.
Finally in
China The Shang dynasty has formed. It has formed the idea of the middle kingdom and the idea of dynasties (replacing the Xia before them). The Shang have potential but they do little as of now.
Map: