Here is a map.
The graphics of this map are simply seriously awesome. If I were you, I'd crosspost it at the map thread, if you haven't already done so.
Here is a map.
I'm glad there's an extension. I will add to my map, and I have some cool ideas for changes. And I want more competition. C'mon, mappers!
There are still enough days left to enter this contest, don't forget.
I plan on writing a block of text today, but it may be ready tomorrow or Sunday.
Here's my updated submission.
The story so far:
In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on an island very near Asia. This opened up new profitable trade routes between the two sides of the world. As time went on, Europeans developed many colonies in the Oceanic Sea and in Asia. Spain, Portugal, France, England, and Holland all became early leaders in colonization. Holland's holdings were short-lived. When Spain and Portugal merged, they gained new superpower status.
Since there is not much real estate in the world, the Europeans made earlier pushes into territory that they would have considered too dangerous otherwise. Many colonists died of cold, malaria, or simply the guns of angry tenants. The colonization of Africa was more devastating to the natives than OTL. Many were killed to make room, and many others were shipped as slave to the deadly sugar plantations of the Oceanic islands.
In the beginning of the 1800s, white and mixed-race residents of some Oceanic Islands declared independence to form the United States of America and Liberia. Relations stabilized with their former parent countries and by the end of the century they are strong allies.
The 1880s were a tumultuous time known as the Wars of Native Uprising. The people of some German African territories had enough abuse and were sickened by slave trading taking place on the western side of the continent. They formed the Kingdom of Ethiopia and Republic of Kheusanland. A short-lived attempt to occupy the impoverished former Ottomon Empire was not received well, and they united to form the nation of Turkland with a renewed military. In Asia, the nations of India and Siamba developed independence, although with some cooperation from the United Kingdom.
In the early 1890s, Corea attacked Cipango. In the end, Corea acquired some of Cipango's southern holdings. A ceasefire was declared without resolving the underlying problems.
Meanwhile, Russia has been pushed south and is now threatening French Aria to gain access to the Indian Sea.
The natives of Rupert's Land and Anaheim have frequent riots, and some parties publically intend to stage a coup in the region. Their German rulers are becoming even harsher in their governance.
The year is 1899, and the world is tense.
In lighter news, there is a food called French fries with ketchup. The French fries are made with taro (10 points to whoever can find the ATL word for taro which is hidden as an Easter egg on the map). Ketchup is the name of a condiment made out of vinegar and oyster sauce.
In response to Brady's question, there is no Verendrye Runestone. (Thanks, I didn't even now about the OTL one.) However, there was a runestone found in the small town of Kensington in central New Zealand. It speaks of pre-Columbian Vikings who went on an exploration journey west from Vinland (probably Astor Bay). Since the finder was one of the many immigrants from Gothland, there is suspicion that he forged it.
PS Gothland and Lapland are countries because alien space bats wanted it to look more like the Behaim globe (ushistoryimages.com/christopher-columbus-maps.shtm). Many of the place names come from this and from Fra Mauro's map.
Map showing the results of the 1985 Cygnia sovereignty referendum which resulted in the state government obtaining a mandate to negotiate the Cygnia's secession from the Union of Tasmania (OTL Australia).
Words used: Referendum, Country named after an explorer.
View attachment 196257
Is there a rule against reusing old materials? I have a very bloated map folder, you see, and some of the stuff can be recycled.
In either case, I will enter next contest and might enter this one.