Maybe some Assyrian, Phoenician, or maybe even Carthaginian revival through an empire? Phoenicia and Carthage could theoretically project power throughout the Mediterranean and a central position in this empire would help with administration.
8th Century AD?
Muslim/Arab Conquests?
Too easy for Final Jeopardy!!!!!!
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Carthage that fought Rome to a stalemate but is somehow blocked from Italy/Greece.
That could have changed. Maybe some religious drive?I doubt that. Carthage haven't ever been so expansionist. And how it even would manage conquer Persia?
Maybe the timeline also has an equally strong power controlling Anatolia?Whatever it is it must have had a very specific reason for putting so much energy into conquering areas that aren't Anatolia. Presumably it has some kind of cultural or religious kinship with whatever power occupies that space?
That was it. It was that one timeline from about 20 years ago in which the Muslim faith's expansion became rather more wildly successful(instead of being restricted to the Levant, as in our world); a "fantasy world", as it were-and @Roger II , I believe, hit upon one of the major divergences from our reality-the death of Khalid ibn al-Walid during the battle of Yarmouk in August, 636 was indeed handwaved.
Truly fascinating story, though even today, it does seem rather strange to me to see Muslim Hispania, in particular.....especially considering that in our reality, Hispania, together with their French allies, won many victories over the Magrebi states during the crusades of the 13th Century.
Edit: And, I've found the link to the main story. Here it is.
US? Berber pirates against the Union of Scandinavia, or is this some other US?You are welcome!
Seemed kind of easy to identify, since they expanded from Arabia in all directions. Almost all of Spain, got into France, developed a large fleet later on which turned into the Barbary Pirates by the 1800's who the US fledgling navy fought. Whupped on many nations including Persia and Byzantium. The 8th Century hint sealed the deal for me!
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Maybe the Ur-Staat (U.S.), that one mystery cult in Bavaria?US? Berber pirates against the Union of Scandinavia, or is this some other US?
Maybe ITTL the Sassanids took advantage of Byzantine divisions, backing a pretender to the throne who gave them Egypt and the Levant in return for being allowed to rule a rump empire in Greece and Anatolia. Then the Sassanids could have pushed south and west, leaving their Byzantine puppet to guard their Mediterranean flank. That would explain why an empire so successful apparently chose not to conquer the Aegean (I say "chose not to" because there's obviously no way Greece + Anatolia on their own could stand up to such a juggernaut).