With a POD in the year 2000 BCE, your challenge if you choose to accept it, is to create an empire or power/culture wherein the heart of said civilization or empire, is around the Caspian Sea and its river way connections, such as the Volga and Don rivers. Preferably this empire would control the Caspian sea as the Romans ruled the Mediterranean, wherein the power uses this sea as a sort of linkage for sea travel between coastal cities.
How exactly could this be done? What are some ideas?
A note, while the POD is 2000 BCE, this can be moved back if necessary. Also, it does not entail that you are forced to begin to develop this culture in 2000 BCE, if you can create this empire or civilization in 1000 CE, then that too is fine.
There is also restrictions, this challenge is not a scenario wherein Russia simply controls all of the Caspian sea or any other Empire simply controlling it. Rather to complete the challenge, the Caspian sea and its river ways and corresponding land surrounding, must be the centre point of the civilization/empire.
How exactly could this be done? What are some ideas?
A note, while the POD is 2000 BCE, this can be moved back if necessary. Also, it does not entail that you are forced to begin to develop this culture in 2000 BCE, if you can create this empire or civilization in 1000 CE, then that too is fine.
There is also restrictions, this challenge is not a scenario wherein Russia simply controls all of the Caspian sea or any other Empire simply controlling it. Rather to complete the challenge, the Caspian sea and its river ways and corresponding land surrounding, must be the centre point of the civilization/empire.