Characteristics of certain regions present in all alternate timelines

What characteristics will certain regions have in almost all timelines?

For example, resources and population, whether they can be the center of a large empire, etc.

Egypt for example will support a large population along the Nile River in almost all timelines.

Eastern Arabia will always have a lot of oil.

Toulouse in medieval times will have a large population.

Britain has good resources for industrialization I think.

Stuff like that.
 
Nations bordering the Eurasian steppe will always regret it.

Germany has lots of coal.

The Balkans will not support a large population, nor will they be good farmland for an empire with one.

Iran will be vulnerable to the north far more than to the west or east.

(most of) Africa will generally be isolated from easy contact with Europe.
 
In a given alternate (or the OTL) universe, if the Europe-Mediterranean region is the most advanced in the world, or one of the more advanced regions in the world, then Iberia will colonize America first, excepting Newfoundland and the rest of East Canada, which may be colonized by a nation in Scandinavia or Britain if they get Iceland and Greenland first.
(Because of Iberia's closeness to the New World and winds that go south then southwest and west, as opposed to the Gulf Stream which goes against any ships from France or England trying to get to America.)

The Cadiz area will usually have a big port. (That's another reason for the first one.)

Istanbul/Constantinople/Byzantion will be a big important port. However it will not expand to the other side of the strait, whichever side its on ITTL, unless industrialization starts.

The East Pyrenees are easy to cross. The west Pyrenees, less so. The mid Pyrenees... basically forget it.

The Mediterranean will have a lot more exotic animals if the Roman Empire never forms. For example the North African Elephant.

Arabia must all have the same religion to be united. And to conquer Arabia, you must be a semi-nomadic nation centered in the desert. Preferably an Arab one.

North Africa is fertile in ancient times, but not so much later on.

Before the 20th century, Europe was the most populated place in the world relative to its size.

You can only have a large north-south empire if it's along the coast, like the Inca empire. It's generally easier to expand east or west.
(A river like the Nile works too)

West Africa will usually have a hard time prospering because of malaria and the tsetse fly, among other diseases and pests.

One does not simply invade the Ethiopian highlands (Unless they are Ethiopian).

Ukraine is very fertile, especially the Dnieper River, but it will not get a high population until its inhabitants settle down in cities and farms instead of being migrating steppe nomads.

Mexico has oil.

Pennsylvania, surprisingly, has oil.

Obviously, Texas, Canada, etc. have oil.

Southwestern Britain has a lot of tin.
 
This one

Arabia must all have the same religion to be united. And to conquer Arabia, you must be a semi-nomadic nation centered in the desert. Preferably an Arab one.

I'm not sure on.

Specifically, "must have the same religion to be united". This is no more or less true than bringing together any other quarreling tribes.
 
This one



I'm not sure on.

Specifically, "must have the same religion to be united". This is no more or less true than bringing together any other quarreling tribes.

I'd agree re polytheistic settings, but if part of Arabia is Christian and part is Jewish and part follows Zoroaster it will be harder.

Bruce
 
I'd agree re polytheistic settings, but if part of Arabia is Christian and part is Jewish and part follows Zoroaster it will be harder.

Bruce

Agreed. "Must have compatible religious allegiance", yes. "Must share the exact same beliefs", no. But even the former is just a problem with uniting peoples in general, not Arabia-specific.
 

Abhakhazia

Banned
The American south has good soil and weather for growing cash crops such as tobacco and cotton, so it is likely to keep slaves longer than other regions.
 
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