A Different White Huns

Two fantastic updates. The developments in India are very interesting given how much it has changed from the previous version. I particularly like that the Eftal end up splitting into two groupings given how difficult (nigh impossible) it is to hold territories in both India and Persia at the same time. The massive natural barriers splitting India and Persia are incredibly difficult to cross under any circumstances, but holding together a state across the region is something very few have succeeded in doing.

It truly pains me to see the ERE on its back heel when both Justinian and Belisaurius are running about, but given the size and power of the Eftal I doubt anything else would happen. By the way, how far into the Middle East did the 6th century crises actually reach IOTL? As you mention, it is often discussed as a Mediterranean disaster, but given that Persia is now acting as a crossroad for trade, I can't imagine the "Egyptian Plague" not following those routes eastward.

Things are about to get every interesting.
 
Two fantastic updates. The developments in India are very interesting given how much it has changed from the previous version. I particularly like that the Eftal end up splitting into two groupings given how difficult (nigh impossible) it is to hold territories in both India and Persia at the same time. The massive natural barriers splitting India and Persia are incredibly difficult to cross under any circumstances, but holding together a state across the region is something very few have succeeded in doing.

It truly pains me to see the ERE on its back heel when both Justinian and Belisaurius are running about, but given the size and power of the Eftal I doubt anything else would happen. By the way, how far into the Middle East did the 6th century crises actually reach IOTL? As you mention, it is often discussed as a Mediterranean disaster, but given that Persia is now acting as a crossroad for trade, I can't imagine the "Egyptian Plague" not following those routes eastward.

Things are about to get every interesting.

Thank you!

Justinian isn't exactly running around - in this timeline he will never have the opportunity to rise to imperial greatness, although he is a courtier of some rank. In some ways this is probably a good thing for the Empire. Olybrius is more aristocratic, and thus has less to prove, and much less to fear from the surviving members of the Anastasian dynasty.

The Romans aren't doing too badly either - this was a century of reversals for them in the East, but in this timeline the Caucasus is all but theirs, given the limited Eftal penetration into the region. Osrhoene is devastated but that happened many times throughout history. Paying tribute to keep the East quiet was basically what Justinian did too.

TTL's Egyptian Plague, like the plague of Justinian, will definitely effect the Middle East. The trade lanes that could spread the illness all still exist, although some historians do note a contraction in Indian overland long distance trade during this time period, which might be enough to spare some of the already ravaged regions of North India from the worst of it. The plague will burn "hottest" in the Mediterranean and Near East as OTL, but successive waves of plague will strike globally.

Climactic disruptions and famines are of course universal - famine will be just as deadly the world over. It snowed in China during the summer OTL, and it's going to be bad here as well.

The peoples of the steppe will also be impacted by the famine and to a lesser extent the plague, but I expect that this will just be more bad news for the settled world, rather than a respite. The Eftal by contrast are in a middle ground - many Hunnic groups are still not very settled but many have definitely settled down. Plus the Turks are on the horizon.
 
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Hey all!

There are two main reasons this has been paused of late.[1] First, I've gotten a little carried away with one of my new writing projects, and second, I've been trying to create a historical basis for what I wanted to do. One of the least satisfying (to me) parts of the White Huns saga was the period immediately after the collapse of the Eftal Empire. I think that the bits before and after that period generally hold up much better. The fate of the established powers could use some reworking and, to be frank, expansion. Of course, this isn't the same timeline at all. Expect a larger role for the Arab world, and expect (since this isn't going forward nearly as far) a slower but (imo) more plausible introduction of Western Buddhism. This has meant a lot of research and a lot of re-reading sources I'd read years ago. But I think this will be better for it.

If anyone's interested in what I'm working on now, check it out: HERE! I promise its pretty dang weird.

Once I've rectified these concerns, I hope to find the inspiration to continue the New World of the White Huns, bit by bit, into the future. Thanks for continuing to read.

[1] Besides the fact that I unfortunately have way less time for this sort of thing than I used to. :(
 
Thanks for the update :) I hope you get back to it, but I enjoy anything that you work on so I will give your latest project a read.
 
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