Largest possible Domination of Draka

[marcus_aurelius]

Now I haven't read the books, nor do I have the time for them anytime soon, but I've heard a lot about the tech boost, space-filling countries, and of courses the stupid virus.

The question, therefoe, is thus: given real world limitations, how far do you see the Drakians go, in terms of hard power and territorial acquisition?

Marc A

[Gen_Patton]

Uh they conquer the entire planet of Earth... then begin to take the galaxy... I don't know how much bigger that could get.

[modelcitizen]

Originally Posted by Gen_Patton

Uh they conquer the entire planet of Earth... then begin to take the galaxy... I don't know how much bigger that could get.

I think by "real world limitations" the OP stipulates a distinct lack of handwavium as noted in its first paragraph.

[Maxwell Edison II]

Realistically, the Bre'esh at a certain point in time will no longer accept a slave-holding society in their empire. The Drakans might win their war of independence if they're strong enough, but at that point they will still be limited in their expansion by tropical diseases, terrain and eventually European colonies.

[marcus_aurelius]

Originally Posted by modelcitizen

I think by "real world limitations" the OP stipulates a distinct lack of handwavium as noted in its first paragraph.

Thanks, sir, for clarifying.

Yeah, the question is how big and powerful can Draka get if it develops like any other country instead of having all unearthly advantage that it could scrape up (read: bestowed upon by S. M. Stirling).

Marc A

[Redcat]

Realistically, I doubt they expand out of Southern Africa, let alone become a slave-owning nation seeing as they were founded as a British Crown Colony. The Empire abolished slavery in 1834, no way are they going to let the Draka get away with it no matter how much they pretty it up as "serfdom."

[Fiver]

Originally Posted by marcus_aurelius

Yeah, the question is how big and powerful can Draka get if it develops like any other country instead of having all unearthly advantage that it could scrape up (read: bestowed upon by S. M. Stirling).

Realistically, it shouldn't form at all. The British government was not a charity, it wouldn't pay to ship anyone to south Africa. For twice as many Loyalists to leave the fledgling US as in OTL is wildly unlikely, for them to all go to Drakia, is ludicrous. The idea of any Hessians, let alone the huge numbers listed, going there is similarly ludicrous. Then he adds half the population of Iceland, with none of them going anywhere else.

Initial population of Drakia is given as 95,000 Loyalists, 10,000 slaves of Loyalists, 10,000 Hessians, and 9,000 Boers. If we generously assume 10,000 of those Loyalists are slave owners that's 19,000 nominally pro-slavery and 95,000 indifferent or anti-slavery among the white population. Once those 25,000 Icelanders show up, slavery is doomed in Drakia.

[B_Munro]

You probably need rather earlier PODs to get anything like Stirling's Draka (see, Municipal Engines' TL http://www.alternatehistory.com/disc...ighlight=draka )

With late 18th century PODs, I think the best you can get is a greater Apartheid South Africa, perhaps extending north to the Congo basin and with nuclear weapons. (Of course, I'm excluding utter apple-cart overturners such as nuclear war or a Peshawar Lancers event that might send millions of refugees southwards).

Bruce

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by B_Munro

You probably need rather earlier PODs to get anything like Stirling's Draka (see, Municipal Engines' TL http://www.alternatehistory.com/disc...ighlight=draka )

With late 18th century PODs, I think the best you can get is a greater Apartheid South Africa, perhaps extending north to the Congo basin and with nuclear weapons. (Of course, I'm excluding utter apple-cart overturners such as nuclear war or a Peshawar Lancers event that might send millions of refugees southwards).

Bruce

I would agree with about this. Depending on the rest of the world's interests in Africa of course (and how well they can market their gold rushes).

[Max Sinister]

I also think the tropical diseases would restrict them to South Africa. And maybe a few mountainous areas further north. (And they could be a different problem.)

[Decatur]

Originally Posted by modelcitizen

I think by "real world limitations" the OP stipulates a distinct lack of handwavium as noted in its first paragraph.

Without copious amounts of handwavium from the very beginning, the refugees from the ARW will not become the Draka of the books. For example, in 1800, they were able to send an army to Egypt that destroyed Napoleon's expedition.



No handwavium means no Draka.