The (Native) American Dream: The Complete History of Tahkoxia and Xuyuba
- Thread starter JSilvy
- Start date
Ah, thanks for pointing that out.
I feel bad about it so here’s another candidate.
Arenavirus: another family of rodent based viruses like the hantaviruses. They are the causes of novel hemorrhagic fevers in the Americas.
Yes, peccaries are basically small hairy pigs native to the Americas. Despite being smaller in size, they're quite similar to Eurasian and African boars in that they are quite omnivorous and can obtain food from a wide variety of sources.
Maybe the America’s will have some kind of collapse like Rome or a massive nomad invasion from the north (lookout bloodthirsty Canadians!) that sets back development or at least freezes it for a bit
It’s possible given how many horse tribes there are in OTL. These invasions usually require an external cause like famine. For example, the migration period was suspected to be caused by a sudden change in climate in 535 which caused mass crop failure. Since this event among other changes in climate were global, its likely this climate change would also spell change and disaster in the major civilizations of TTL.
In addition, look at all the possible diseases to ravage these civilizations. Any new disease is a virgin soil epidemic. The Black Death slaughtered 60-90% of Europe. Some of the worst diseases to face humanity including the plague and hemorrhagic fevers are rodent based and are present in continents with domesticated species of rodents and extensive trade routes (the latter is getting more extensive with the roads built by the Mayapans). I could see these civilizations buckling under a pandemic. Given that pandemics free up a lot of land/resources, famines worsen pandemics, and horse nomads historically fares better against diseases(low population densities), I can also nomads taking advantage of any future pandemics.
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The little ice age might still happen which not only would mess up crops but give another reason for people to flee especially if right behind them are even more desperate and vicious refugee groups fleeing the encroaching snow
AND now I’m thinking of Winter Is Coming
nice going mind
Are caribou domesticated by the Inuit or Athabaskans? You have a lot of domesticates, so I'd imagine one of the groups in OTL Alaska/northern Canada would be an equivalent to the Koryaks or Chukchi. Or even a later domestication like with the Sami, who domesticated the reindeer in the Middle Ages, which I suppose an equivalent would be a group like one of the Athabaskan-speaking peoples of OTL British Columbia, or perhaps on the other side of the continent a group like the alt-Cree or alt-Innu.
Also, there is the White River Ash and Mount Churchill eruptions, which OTL left their mark in native legends and is theorised to be a cause of the Athabaskan migrations south (the ones which established the Pacific Coast Athabaskans, not the later one which established the Navajo). The first eruption in the Holocene was around the 2nd century AD, the second was around the 9th century. This should send northerly tribes pushing south (as the eruption blankets the land in ash, killing animals and fish) and thus pushing into other groups and starting a nice chain reaction.
OP has barely touched on the Northern Plains or Pacific Northwest. The former were notorious horsemen and raiders OTL (i.e. Blackfoot, Lakota, Sarcee/Tsuutina), the latter had notable horse riding groups (pretty the whole Columbia Plateau after the early 19th century) and also rather famous maritime raiders to the point groups like the Haida are known as the "Vikings of the Pacific". Since this TL is an Amerindian wank, there's clear directions where this could come from. I could see the Columbia Plateau, the Willamette Valley, and some parts of the Salish Sea coast developing quite extensively (if they already haven't), in a way akin to Northern Europe which was late to develop OTL. Just need crops tolerant of dry summers and plenty of labour to build canals and terraces.
Also, there is the White River Ash and Mount Churchill eruptions, which OTL left their mark in native legends and is theorised to be a cause of the Athabaskan migrations south (the ones which established the Pacific Coast Athabaskans, not the later one which established the Navajo). The first eruption in the Holocene was around the 2nd century AD, the second was around the 9th century. This should send northerly tribes pushing south (as the eruption blankets the land in ash, killing animals and fish) and thus pushing into other groups and starting a nice chain reaction.
Pacific Vikings. . . Does that mean that there could be a reverse Vinland where Native Americans explore the old world ( Siberia, northern islands of Japan)? I mean those volcanic eruptions and resulting famine could provide the reason to cross the Bering Straits. Unlike OTL Leif Erickson and probably like his TTL version(the butterflies!) the Haida and any other sea raiding tribes would easily stumble upon advance civilization with ease. Also, thanks for jogging my memory on the Haida because didn’t the Polynesians (another sea faring group) contacted the Americas a couple centuries before Columbus?
The New Empires
End of Summer 2821 LC, south of Sawkasti
The hot sun beat down on the coast of southern Chinguela. Mikichi marched alongside the other infantry in the great Inoka army. The sun was melting him in armor, but the gentle ocean breeze from the east kept him from completely boiling. Kiawah had fallen quite easily to the Mishasipans, and with Sawkasti(A) nearly in view, it could not be that long before that city fell as well. At that point, he would hopefully have some time to rest. Until then, he would have to maintain formation, marching forward with the other men, crossing the Waccamaw river, moving onward towards victory.
All of a sudden, Mikici heard something in the distance, something that stopped the entire infantry in their tracks. It was a strange sound. A sort powerful, deep bellowing. It was the trumpeting cry of some sort of monster. It sounded, vaguely, like a woodox? No, he thought. The call of a woodox was much different. The sound of a woodox did not boom like this. It did not fill the air with such powerful moans. This sound was deeper. He heard of great beasts, like giant, aggressive woodoxen that wandered the Great Plains to the west, but as far as he knew, there were none to the east, and they made rather a low gruff roaring sound rather than this bellowing cry.
All of a sudden, he saw the front lines make a run for it, running back towards the rows behind them and towards him. In an instant, the entire infantry had gone into a panic. All of a sudden, he could see a cavalry like none other. He was familiar with horses, and he had heard of the camels that existed out west, but this was nothing like what he had seen before. They were beasts larger than horses, and they had horns like no other– like the antlers of a dear, but rather than looking like a tree branch, these resembled massive shields with spikes coming out of them. Not only that, but the massive antlers on these monsters were blood red. They didn’t seem to be the natural color of the antlers. Rather, it was as if the beasts had gored hundreds to stain their weapons with blood and were now coming for them. Mikichi turned and ran. He could hear the cries of his fellow soldiers behind him. First, arrows hit their backs, causing them to fall to the ground. Those still standing and running were ripped through and sent flying by the great gory antlers.
The Chavin Empire ruled the Antikunas. The Mayapan Empire had completed its conquests. Mishasipa had been united under the Inoka Dynasty. And more was on the way.
Licking his wounds, Emperor Xuluwem returned to Mayapana with what remaining forces he had after crossing the Kotsoi River escaping the Inoka. He was greeted as a hero for his other great conquests, but this failure put his previous work to shame in his eyes. The remainder of his reign, however, would not be about seeking further glory, but about maintaining the empire that he had. His civil projects included plans to diffuse Mayan culture to the rest of the empire. While he respected the various individual cultures he ruled over, he still desired a Mayanization of the empire, including the spread of science, gods, philosophy, cuisine, theatre, architecture, and people. To allow for this greater voluntary cultural diffusion to take place, he announced a new road-building project to connect the various parts of the empire. He would build a network of roads across Lichikeyah, Tollana, Plokieb, and northern Xuyuba, often expanding on existing roads, to connect the various regions of the empire around Mayapana. The biggest hurdles to this project were the Chichimeca desert in the north separating Lichikeyah from Tollana, and the Yaviza Gap in the southeast separating Plokieb from Xuyuba. Two major northern roads would be built connecting to Lichikeyah, one traveling up through the fertile sheltered highlands and the other along the coast, with both meeting at Sokaix. From there, the coastal road would stretch north to Tagosei, which would connect to Tabaah, Sinagua, Xuluwema, Orayvi, and Dutlijas. In the south, the much shorter road connecting Yaviza and Pisisi would not be completed until the reign of Kolonel. Xuluwem would also order the construction of new and more regular ferries and other ships to connect the different islands and coastal cities. Now, it was much easier to travel to Q’inom to Kampeche to Kuzamil to Kubao to Ayiti to Boriken and all the way down the island chain to Iyere.
Perhaps the most ambitious of these infrastructure projects would be the construction of the Ok’owa Canal. Xuluwem would order the construction of an 11-mile canal through the Isthmus of Ok’owa to the north of the old cities (the northern limits of the city at the time). This would be a project of grand scale, and would bring thousands of workers from across the empire to build it and develop the surrounding areas. Although it would not be completed until the year of Xuluwem’s death, the city was already beginning to grow into the largest and most prosperous in the entire empire. The distinct areas of West Ok’owa and East Ok’owa fully merged into one, and more people began to settle to the north of the canal. Originally, the two most dominant ethnic groups in the city were Mayans an Mangwes, with Miskitos and Corobicis forming still significant minorities. Now, the area became quickly dominated by immigrants from all portions of the empire. One of the largest new immigrant groups were the ethnic Puhans, who left their home after their largest and most prosperous city had fallen to Xuluwem. The city would grow to compete with Shawasha(1) and Manhattan in terms of population. Much like Shawasha, despite being the largest and most economically important city, however, Mayapan would continue take precedence politically. This, of course, was not an issue for the locals. It was Mayapan that had built the trade routes and continued to provide protection.
To the north, Tetinshua Inoka was coronated as the Emperor in 2812 LC. He was the first ruler of Mishasipa to proclaim himself as such, and with the addition of new territories in the southwest down to the Kotsoi River, he ruled more land than even the Wakisa. His Empire also boasted a population of 20 million, although this was on the low end of how many people the land usually supported given how many had died in the Puhan Plague.
Tetinshua Inoka, much like the Mayans, would also begin to invest in infrastructural projects, although such projects would be on less of a grand scale. Compared to the Ok’owa Canal, the Shikakwa Canal, connecting Lake Michigami to the Mishasipi River, thus connecting the Great Lakes system to the Kikwinaq Sea, would be a much easier project, being completed in about 10 years. This project would somewhat boost the city’s population and economic activity. New roads were built, and cities damaged in years of war were also repaired. Construction in Nisipi was some of the largest. The old palace used under the Wakisa Dynasty, located on a mound to the east of the river that overlooked the entire city was upgraded, with new walls, massive new gardens, new art, and other additions. In addition, new palaces and roads were built connecting the different cities. Historically, rivers were often the primary mode of travel. While a road network existed, it was relatively small. This network would be expanded, with roads now stretching from Lake Eriron to the Kotsoi River. Additionally, with the Mishasipa united, the Inoka Empire proved a powerful force of trade. Silk, yaupon, pottery, surplus food, and other materials and goods were traded along the rivers, the roads, the lakes, the Kikwinaq Sea, and the Great Plains, quickly making Mishasipa a center of world trade. Despite Xuluwem’s bitterness, Mishasipan merchants would also travel to a variety of Mayan ports, including the great city of Ok’owa. Shawasha would continue to grow at a steady pace, but would go into decline near the end of the century following the course change of the Mishasipi River. At this point, the new river delta would pass right next to Chimasha, revitalizing the older city that existed in Shawasha’s shadow, while Nisipi would take it’s place as the largest city in Mishasipa.
Compared to the Mayans, who preferred a more general cultural diffusion, the Mishasipans were much harder assimilationists. While the Karankawa would remain somewhat distinct for a while, most other cultures more closely connected to the heartland were quickly assimilated(2). Tetinshua would also seek to bring more people into this culture through expansion. The most notable example of this would be the Muskogi War. In 2817 LC, the Inoka decided to invade the Muskogi kingdom to the southeast, occupying a stretch of land south of the Ketatahne Mountains that stretched east to the Opaneyunk Ocean. The region, while speaking a different language, was already under the Mishasipan sphere of influence, and so it had already copied heavily after Mishasipan culture. For that reason, Tetinshua Inoka decided that it would make sense to make the land part of his empire. His massive army pushed west quite easily, overwhelming the Muskogi forces. Within a few months of fighting, King Ahaya sent a diplomat from the capital at Okmulgi(B) to the Inoka. King Ahaya knew that there was no way of defeating the Emperor’s forces, and so he offered to surrender to the Inoka whom he looked up to in order to maintain his high and noble status. He would not be the king that lost, but the hero who unified his people with the great empire to the west. Tetinshua agreed to these terms, agreeing to keep Ahaya as a wealthy governor provided that he oversaw the Mishacization of the land. This was easy enough. All he needed to do was ensure his people’s full conversion to Mishasipan Midewism and oversee the replacement of the old Muskogi language with Mishasipan. To cement these ties, Ahaya would marry his son to one of Tetinshua’s daughters so that a ruler with Inoka blood would become the governor of Muskogi. Of course, all governors were at the mercy of the Emperor and could be appointed or un-appointed as he pleased, but often he allowed the children of governors to become governors if they were qualified, and he agreed to keep Ahaya’s family as governors for four generations.
By establishing control on the Opaneyunk, the Inoka came into direct contact with the Lenape. The Lenape and Mishasipans were aware with each other and had made prior contact. Sometimes merchants would carry goods across the Ketatahne mountains. Sometimes Lenape sailors sailed to Shawasha. Often, trade between Mishasipa and Chinguela was carried out through the Great Lakes and the Kanawaki River. However, never before were the two civilizations so close. In late 2820 LC, Tetinshua decided the time had come for war. If he could push north into Lenape territory and defeat them, the entire eastern coast would be his, and the empire would be able to control both sides of the Ketatahnes. Practically all of eastern Tahkoxia would be his. General Wisachakwa would gather troops in Okmulgi. He decided to assemble this army inland to avoid possible suspicions from the Lenape. Little did they know, but several Lenape merchants were in the city at the time, and saw the massive assembling of forces. They sent word immediately to the local governess, and she would send word to the woman’s assembly in Manhattan. Immediately, King Okwes would send the entire Lenape army. At the time, a large number of troops had already been stationed there. Fighting with the Anivians meant historically a strong military presence in the south, and after hearing about the fall of the Muskogi, the Lenape were more on edge than ever.
Cholena, the local governess, and Shoxamek, the local enforcer, created a plan. First, they spread word to the Anivians. Although historically the two had frequent skirmishes with each other, they recognized an alliance as necessary in order to keep both from being destroyed by the Inoka. Then, they placed ships on the Savano River(C). Any attempt at a crossing would have to face the superior might of the Lenape River boats. And on the other side of the river, Lenape troops would be waiting. In early 2821 LC, the Mishasipans began to push west, reaching the river. The Lenape plan was working. No crossing was possible. Anivian warriors would be allowed to cross to attack the Mishasipan troops before falling back behind the Lenape River boats. The Lenape would rain arrows down upon the Mishasipans. The Inoka took far more casualties than the Lenape, although they also had far more men to spare. After over six months, Tetinshua got angry and demanded that Wisachakwa change his strategy to get the results that he wanted. Wisachakwa therefore led an assault over the mountains, going around the source of the river and making it out on the other side. At the Battle of Tugalu, a combined Lenape and Anivian force of several hundred held off thousands of Mishasipans attempting to come through the mountains. In this battle, Shoxamek personally led the forces. All of the Lenape and Anivian soldiers including Shoxamek died, but not without killing thousands of Mishasipan soldiers. The Mishasipans would conquer the Anivians, and push southeast along the river. Cholena ordered the river defense to fall back to the Waccamaw River. Kiawah fell to the Mishasipans, and so they pushed north along the coast towards the city of Sawkasti.
However, Sawkasti would be a turning point in the war. At that moment, the Lenape finally decide to unleash their secret weapon. In the north, it had become practice among the nobility to keep moose as pets. The animals, which were the largest that the locals came into contact with, had become a symbol of power. Of course, keeping moose was expensive. They could not be fend grass or grains like other livestock. Their diets consisted of leaves, bark, twigs, and aquatic plants. Careful Silvopasture was necessary to keep these creatures well fed, as well as the addition of other leafy greens. However, this practice spread, and eventually the moose had been domesticated albeit in smaller numbers than other animals, and eventually, the idea of moose cavalry was conceived. By this time, moose had been selectively bred to be far more friendly, and so riding and mounting a moose was possible. Those moose capable of being ridden were also bred to have larger antlers again (the antlers of domesticated moose became noticeably smaller than their wild counterparts). Eventually, the king and the Woman’s Assembly oversaw a population of thousands upon thousands of moose kept in these circumstances, and the formation of a moose cavalry was now possible.
Kwenshuwelhik, whose name is often shorted to Kwenshu, would lead the cavalry charge after the original leader was shot in battle. Kwenshu was born in a village near the east end of Sewanhaka Island. He would move to Mashowomuk to work for the local governess on her moose ranch outside of the city. Through her, he became learned and proved his cleverness. He learned to read, and read all of the books of Midewism, memorizing large portions especially of the books of Nanabozho and Paolao. The governess’s daughter Milana would ask for his hand in marriage. The young man, who was master of the moose, was eventually conscripted by the king to help with the moose cavalry project. Despite his young age, the clever young man would eventually become one of the most well-respected men among the moose cavalry. After the leader of the moose cavalry was shot down in the first charge at Sawkasti, Kwenshu would be the one to take the metaphorical moose by the antlers and lead the unit.
Quickly, through his outstanding abilities with the moose cavalry units and power, Kwenshu rose through the ranks, quickly becoming a general. He would lead forces in taking back large portions of territory. In early 2822 LC, Kwenshu would be the one to come up with the plan to allow the Mishasipan forces across the river. After a successful crossing, the ships re-closed the gap, and the Mishasipans were trapped on the peninsula to the east of the Winyah Bay. They surrounded the peninsula with ships and bombarded the besieged troops with arrows. Eventually, General Wisachakwa officially declared a surrender, and it would be Kwenshu who would take it.
Following the conflict, the Assembly agreed to send a diplomatic mission to Nisipi to meet with the Inoka Emperor. The delegation included Governess Cholena, King Okwes, several assemblywomen, and a few other influential individuals. Kwenshu, who had risen overnight to become a well respected leader, was invited to come with Milana coming with him. The ship from Manhattan coming down the coast would arrive in Sawkasti, where Cholena and Kwenshu would be picked up, allowing Milana to re-unite with her husband before the entire delegation headed south, coming around the Timucua Peninsula(D) and passing by the Bahamas Isles. They would make a brief stop at Habakwan, a city which had grown significantly since the time of Pa’nibal, before passing through the Kikwinaq Sea to Shawasha.
The great city of Shawasha was, to Milana and Kwenshu, like nothing they had seen before. Both had seen a great deal of the Lenape kingdom. They had lived in Mashowomuk for a long time, had been to Manhattan maybe once or twice, and had obviously seen some of the cities to the south by the Anivian coast. Shawasha, even though still not as large as Manhattan, was a sight to behold, with cultures from all over the Kikwinaq and even the Relibalqix Sea coming to trade. Traveling up the Great River and seeing the many cities and villages and miles of farmland that subsisted off of the river, Milana and Kwenshu came to understand how truly mighty and vast this great empire over the mountains really was. Upon arriving in Nisipi, the delegation saw a massive golden palace draped in colorful silk, more magnificent than the one in Manhattan. Of course, while there was this magnificent culture that existed, it did not all seem perfect. For one thing, the women in this culture seemed to have a status below that of the men, something considered to be barbaric by the Lenape standards, which stressed the importance of matriarchal figures. The Emperor also seemed to have total absolute authority, rather than the Lenape, who balanced power between the king and the assembly. However, other than these factors, they found a society which upheld their own version of the Midewi religion, constructing magnificent temples, although figures such as Eholeh and Paolao seemed to be less significant to this sect than other more local religious figures. The language they spoke was not a barbarian Mingwe language like those spoken by the Anivians or the people to the north, but was far more similar to the language spoken by the Lenape and many of the neighbors that they assimilated.
On the mission, it was first decided that the Savano River would be the border drawn between the Lenape and the Inoka. As for the east-west border, it was agreed that this would be drawn by the Ketatahne Mountains. However, where exactly to place the divide was still unknown. The Ketatahne Expedition in the following years would determine the border between the Lenape and the Inoka, with the directions of rivers, high ridges of mountains, and valleys being used to indicate where the divide should be placed. Of course, this expedition cut through the lands that belonged to smaller tribes and independent mountain towns. Particularly the Anivians were cut out of this deal. In 2827 LC, the Anivians would rise up to attack the Lenape. However, having already been weakened by previous Inoka conquest during the war, they were easily defeated and fully conquered by the Lenape, with Kwenshu leading the conquest.
In 2832 LC, King Okwes died. Milana, who was now a member of the Assembly, offered her accomplished young husband as the new King. At the age of 33, Kwenshu would become the new king, and he and his wife, who would go on to become Grand Matriarch of the Assembly, had plans to take the entire kingdom by storm.
First, was the question of the Anivians and other non-Lenape groups that had been conquered in recent years. Historically, such groups were gradually assimilated over time. However, taking inspiration from what he saw in Mishasipa, Kwenshu, with the approval of the Assembly, put forward a plant to convert the Anivians under their rule who had not yet adopted the faith to Midewism, and mandated that they must learn the Lenape language, making it the language of all business, governance, and religious ritual.
However, this period also came with an intellectual tradition. The Academy of Medicine in Manhattan had inspired people in various other practices to seek greater scientific enlightenment in their areas of expertise. Local engineers and craftsmen who designed the weapons, ships, and other technology had begun to form guilds around the science of their craft. Clergy began to engage in deeper analysis of their religious texts. Artists and architects began to debate standards of beauty and function. The recent war had allowed generals to re-analyze the art of war, and politicians began further treating the art of governance as a science. Descriptions of new cities abroad caused people to question the science of urban planning, especially with people wondering how to design a better, safer city following the pandemic years ago. Memsiatis, a well-educated traveling merchant, noticed the way in which different regions grew different crops and produced different goods. Memsiatis reasoned that grapes, often grown in the north, could grow just as well in the south. However, he noted that the south tended to grow other crops that grew better in these warm climates. He argued that the south could produce manufactured goods likely almost as well as the north, but he noted how the north produced more of them. This led him to create theories surrounding concepts such as trade and comparative advantages. He would also use these theories to advocate more trade with the Inoka and other peoples and for the Lenape to specialize in fields in which they had a better comparative advantage. This would make Memsiatis the first economist.
Seeing the rise of all of these intellectual traditions, Milana proposed to Kwenshu and the Assembly that in Manhattan, they set up one large institution in which all of these separate growing academies could work side by side. Doctors, theologians, scientists, philosophers, historians, economists, artists, architects, urban planners, political scientists, engineers, craftsmen, and many others would be brought together in one place, known as the Grand Academy of Manhattan. At this academy, people would be able to come and learn to be intellectually enlightened. The institution would be built around a closed off campus with a great library containing thousands upon thousands of books. It would also be a place where several lucky clever individuals would have an opportunity to come and learn to earn their place among the nobility. The Grand Academy would also set up a larger education system throughout the empire, establishing smaller institutions for lower education, as well as larger institutions of higher education throughout the centuries. Scholars would often be tasked with copying books by hand leading to relatively high literacy rates in Chinguela compared to the rest of the ancient world.
Additionally, with the rise of the science of urban planning, questions came up about how to better organize the city of Manhattan. The great city, originally starting in the south of the island, had now grown to encompass all villages on the island and on several surrounding islands as well. The massive sprawling city was the first in the world to reach a population of one million, beating out Ok’owa by about 100 years. A new plan was constructed to redesign much of the northern parts of the city into a grid formation as to keep the roads simple to navigate, although many of the larger city blocks would contain old roads that remained as they were. Roads were built wide enough for horses and carriages to pass through. A new system of transit was put into place, where new lines for large stagecoaches would be established to better navigate the city, as well as ferry lines connecting the different piers across the city. Additionally, the palace and many other buildings would be expanded and rebuilt, taking some architectural cues from Mishasipa, while also developing new styles of their own through the academy.
The biggest change to the Lenape, however, would be a political one. Although they defeated the Inoka, the Emperor still viewed the Lenape as another people within their broader sphere of influence. Wanting to put himself on the same level as the Inoka, Kwenshu and Milana came up with a new plan. Historically, the Lenape had their central government, and regional affairs were headed by a female governess picked by the assembly and a male enforcer picked by the king. However, the royal couple proposed a change: regional power should be elected by the locals. Of course, they would be completely subjected to the government in Manhattan, as Manhattan granted them their legitimacy. A provincial assembly would be elected locally, and they would decide on a male governor (who would basically hold the same role as the enforcer). In addition, the king would take the new title of King of Kings, or Emperor, just like the Inoka to the west. With the approval of the assembly as pushed by Milana in 2842 LC, the Chinguelan Empire was born.
Meanwhile, in Mayapan, Emperor Xuluwem died in 2848 LC. Emperor Kolonel, seeking glory, would decide to expand his empire further. In the south, his generals would successfully bring more of the region to the north of the Antiyu rainforest under his reign through several skirmishes with raiding tribes. In 2850 LC, he would attempt another war with the Chavin Empire, which would end in a stalemate just like the last war under his grandfather. He would then seek to invade the Timuca Peninsula in 2857 LC. At the time, many Mayan navigators mistakingly assumed that it was a large island to the north of Kubao. However, little did they know that, at that point, the Inoka were already beginning to conquer the peninsula from the north. They had some success agains the Tekesta and Calusa kingdoms in the south, only for the Inoka to attack from the north, pushing the Mayans out in 2858 LC. Around this same time, seeing the scramble for the region, Chinguelan Emperor Kwenshu would send a fleet to colonize the Bahama Isles to secure easy passage to the Kikwinaq Sea and avoid total control by either the Mayans or the Mishasipans.
The biggest failure in the reign of Kolonel, however, was the Masawist revolt. With infrastructure finally connecting Lichikeyah more closely to the rest of the empire, Mayan gods came to be more heavily forced upon the locals. The people that were the most devoutly Masawist, including the Hopi, the Dineans, and the Kumeyai people in the region around Tabaah quickly revolted starting in 2863 LC. After four years of fighting, the Mayans would give up, and Dinetah, Hopia, and the Tabaah Kingdom would achieve full independence in 2867 LC.
About eight years later, Kolonel would die. His twin sons would fight for control over the empire, leading to them killing each other. He had no other children, and so nephews, generals, and cousins would fight for control, eventually splitting the empire in four. Tunriachi Kolonel’s nephew, would become Emperor of the Tunriachian Empire (often still called the Mayapan Empire), controlling Mayapana and most of Plokieb as well as the the larger of the Relibalqix islands. He would rule from Mayapan, but Ok’owa would remain the largest city. Second cousin Resaxichox would form the Resaxichoxan empire in northern Xuyuba, the southernmost parts of Plokieb, and the smaller eastern islands of the Relibalqix. His capital was Pa’nibala. General Choxinel would rule from Puha, controlling most of former Teotiwakan’s land, and would lead the Choxinelan Empire. In the north, imperial governor Natatsaq would form the Natatsaqian Empire based out of Xuluwema. Ultimately, Mayan culture would still remain dominant over the empires, as they would all be ruled by Mayan nobility and elites. Each claimed to be the true heir to the united empire. However, for now, the land would remain politically divided.
Pictured: Modern moose being used as an animal of burden.
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(1) Of course, the big irony here is the fact that Shawasha would go into decline soon after, while Ok’owa would continue to grow.
(2) The particular Inoka brand of Mishasipan culture would become so prominent, that the term “Inoka” is still used to refer to the modern Mishasipan language and ethnicity by the Mishasipan people. The term “Mishasipa” is more broadly meant to refer to the land, meaning “the land of the great river(s)”.
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(A) Myrtle Beach, SC
(B) Ocmulgee Mounds, GA
(C) Savannah River
(D) Florida
The hot sun beat down on the coast of southern Chinguela. Mikichi marched alongside the other infantry in the great Inoka army. The sun was melting him in armor, but the gentle ocean breeze from the east kept him from completely boiling. Kiawah had fallen quite easily to the Mishasipans, and with Sawkasti(A) nearly in view, it could not be that long before that city fell as well. At that point, he would hopefully have some time to rest. Until then, he would have to maintain formation, marching forward with the other men, crossing the Waccamaw river, moving onward towards victory.
All of a sudden, Mikici heard something in the distance, something that stopped the entire infantry in their tracks. It was a strange sound. A sort powerful, deep bellowing. It was the trumpeting cry of some sort of monster. It sounded, vaguely, like a woodox? No, he thought. The call of a woodox was much different. The sound of a woodox did not boom like this. It did not fill the air with such powerful moans. This sound was deeper. He heard of great beasts, like giant, aggressive woodoxen that wandered the Great Plains to the west, but as far as he knew, there were none to the east, and they made rather a low gruff roaring sound rather than this bellowing cry.
All of a sudden, he saw the front lines make a run for it, running back towards the rows behind them and towards him. In an instant, the entire infantry had gone into a panic. All of a sudden, he could see a cavalry like none other. He was familiar with horses, and he had heard of the camels that existed out west, but this was nothing like what he had seen before. They were beasts larger than horses, and they had horns like no other– like the antlers of a dear, but rather than looking like a tree branch, these resembled massive shields with spikes coming out of them. Not only that, but the massive antlers on these monsters were blood red. They didn’t seem to be the natural color of the antlers. Rather, it was as if the beasts had gored hundreds to stain their weapons with blood and were now coming for them. Mikichi turned and ran. He could hear the cries of his fellow soldiers behind him. First, arrows hit their backs, causing them to fall to the ground. Those still standing and running were ripped through and sent flying by the great gory antlers.
The New Empires
The Chavin Empire ruled the Antikunas. The Mayapan Empire had completed its conquests. Mishasipa had been united under the Inoka Dynasty. And more was on the way.
Licking his wounds, Emperor Xuluwem returned to Mayapana with what remaining forces he had after crossing the Kotsoi River escaping the Inoka. He was greeted as a hero for his other great conquests, but this failure put his previous work to shame in his eyes. The remainder of his reign, however, would not be about seeking further glory, but about maintaining the empire that he had. His civil projects included plans to diffuse Mayan culture to the rest of the empire. While he respected the various individual cultures he ruled over, he still desired a Mayanization of the empire, including the spread of science, gods, philosophy, cuisine, theatre, architecture, and people. To allow for this greater voluntary cultural diffusion to take place, he announced a new road-building project to connect the various parts of the empire. He would build a network of roads across Lichikeyah, Tollana, Plokieb, and northern Xuyuba, often expanding on existing roads, to connect the various regions of the empire around Mayapana. The biggest hurdles to this project were the Chichimeca desert in the north separating Lichikeyah from Tollana, and the Yaviza Gap in the southeast separating Plokieb from Xuyuba. Two major northern roads would be built connecting to Lichikeyah, one traveling up through the fertile sheltered highlands and the other along the coast, with both meeting at Sokaix. From there, the coastal road would stretch north to Tagosei, which would connect to Tabaah, Sinagua, Xuluwema, Orayvi, and Dutlijas. In the south, the much shorter road connecting Yaviza and Pisisi would not be completed until the reign of Kolonel. Xuluwem would also order the construction of new and more regular ferries and other ships to connect the different islands and coastal cities. Now, it was much easier to travel to Q’inom to Kampeche to Kuzamil to Kubao to Ayiti to Boriken and all the way down the island chain to Iyere.
Perhaps the most ambitious of these infrastructure projects would be the construction of the Ok’owa Canal. Xuluwem would order the construction of an 11-mile canal through the Isthmus of Ok’owa to the north of the old cities (the northern limits of the city at the time). This would be a project of grand scale, and would bring thousands of workers from across the empire to build it and develop the surrounding areas. Although it would not be completed until the year of Xuluwem’s death, the city was already beginning to grow into the largest and most prosperous in the entire empire. The distinct areas of West Ok’owa and East Ok’owa fully merged into one, and more people began to settle to the north of the canal. Originally, the two most dominant ethnic groups in the city were Mayans an Mangwes, with Miskitos and Corobicis forming still significant minorities. Now, the area became quickly dominated by immigrants from all portions of the empire. One of the largest new immigrant groups were the ethnic Puhans, who left their home after their largest and most prosperous city had fallen to Xuluwem. The city would grow to compete with Shawasha(1) and Manhattan in terms of population. Much like Shawasha, despite being the largest and most economically important city, however, Mayapan would continue take precedence politically. This, of course, was not an issue for the locals. It was Mayapan that had built the trade routes and continued to provide protection.
To the north, Tetinshua Inoka was coronated as the Emperor in 2812 LC. He was the first ruler of Mishasipa to proclaim himself as such, and with the addition of new territories in the southwest down to the Kotsoi River, he ruled more land than even the Wakisa. His Empire also boasted a population of 20 million, although this was on the low end of how many people the land usually supported given how many had died in the Puhan Plague.
Tetinshua Inoka, much like the Mayans, would also begin to invest in infrastructural projects, although such projects would be on less of a grand scale. Compared to the Ok’owa Canal, the Shikakwa Canal, connecting Lake Michigami to the Mishasipi River, thus connecting the Great Lakes system to the Kikwinaq Sea, would be a much easier project, being completed in about 10 years. This project would somewhat boost the city’s population and economic activity. New roads were built, and cities damaged in years of war were also repaired. Construction in Nisipi was some of the largest. The old palace used under the Wakisa Dynasty, located on a mound to the east of the river that overlooked the entire city was upgraded, with new walls, massive new gardens, new art, and other additions. In addition, new palaces and roads were built connecting the different cities. Historically, rivers were often the primary mode of travel. While a road network existed, it was relatively small. This network would be expanded, with roads now stretching from Lake Eriron to the Kotsoi River. Additionally, with the Mishasipa united, the Inoka Empire proved a powerful force of trade. Silk, yaupon, pottery, surplus food, and other materials and goods were traded along the rivers, the roads, the lakes, the Kikwinaq Sea, and the Great Plains, quickly making Mishasipa a center of world trade. Despite Xuluwem’s bitterness, Mishasipan merchants would also travel to a variety of Mayan ports, including the great city of Ok’owa. Shawasha would continue to grow at a steady pace, but would go into decline near the end of the century following the course change of the Mishasipi River. At this point, the new river delta would pass right next to Chimasha, revitalizing the older city that existed in Shawasha’s shadow, while Nisipi would take it’s place as the largest city in Mishasipa.
Compared to the Mayans, who preferred a more general cultural diffusion, the Mishasipans were much harder assimilationists. While the Karankawa would remain somewhat distinct for a while, most other cultures more closely connected to the heartland were quickly assimilated(2). Tetinshua would also seek to bring more people into this culture through expansion. The most notable example of this would be the Muskogi War. In 2817 LC, the Inoka decided to invade the Muskogi kingdom to the southeast, occupying a stretch of land south of the Ketatahne Mountains that stretched east to the Opaneyunk Ocean. The region, while speaking a different language, was already under the Mishasipan sphere of influence, and so it had already copied heavily after Mishasipan culture. For that reason, Tetinshua Inoka decided that it would make sense to make the land part of his empire. His massive army pushed west quite easily, overwhelming the Muskogi forces. Within a few months of fighting, King Ahaya sent a diplomat from the capital at Okmulgi(B) to the Inoka. King Ahaya knew that there was no way of defeating the Emperor’s forces, and so he offered to surrender to the Inoka whom he looked up to in order to maintain his high and noble status. He would not be the king that lost, but the hero who unified his people with the great empire to the west. Tetinshua agreed to these terms, agreeing to keep Ahaya as a wealthy governor provided that he oversaw the Mishacization of the land. This was easy enough. All he needed to do was ensure his people’s full conversion to Mishasipan Midewism and oversee the replacement of the old Muskogi language with Mishasipan. To cement these ties, Ahaya would marry his son to one of Tetinshua’s daughters so that a ruler with Inoka blood would become the governor of Muskogi. Of course, all governors were at the mercy of the Emperor and could be appointed or un-appointed as he pleased, but often he allowed the children of governors to become governors if they were qualified, and he agreed to keep Ahaya’s family as governors for four generations.
By establishing control on the Opaneyunk, the Inoka came into direct contact with the Lenape. The Lenape and Mishasipans were aware with each other and had made prior contact. Sometimes merchants would carry goods across the Ketatahne mountains. Sometimes Lenape sailors sailed to Shawasha. Often, trade between Mishasipa and Chinguela was carried out through the Great Lakes and the Kanawaki River. However, never before were the two civilizations so close. In late 2820 LC, Tetinshua decided the time had come for war. If he could push north into Lenape territory and defeat them, the entire eastern coast would be his, and the empire would be able to control both sides of the Ketatahnes. Practically all of eastern Tahkoxia would be his. General Wisachakwa would gather troops in Okmulgi. He decided to assemble this army inland to avoid possible suspicions from the Lenape. Little did they know, but several Lenape merchants were in the city at the time, and saw the massive assembling of forces. They sent word immediately to the local governess, and she would send word to the woman’s assembly in Manhattan. Immediately, King Okwes would send the entire Lenape army. At the time, a large number of troops had already been stationed there. Fighting with the Anivians meant historically a strong military presence in the south, and after hearing about the fall of the Muskogi, the Lenape were more on edge than ever.
Cholena, the local governess, and Shoxamek, the local enforcer, created a plan. First, they spread word to the Anivians. Although historically the two had frequent skirmishes with each other, they recognized an alliance as necessary in order to keep both from being destroyed by the Inoka. Then, they placed ships on the Savano River(C). Any attempt at a crossing would have to face the superior might of the Lenape River boats. And on the other side of the river, Lenape troops would be waiting. In early 2821 LC, the Mishasipans began to push west, reaching the river. The Lenape plan was working. No crossing was possible. Anivian warriors would be allowed to cross to attack the Mishasipan troops before falling back behind the Lenape River boats. The Lenape would rain arrows down upon the Mishasipans. The Inoka took far more casualties than the Lenape, although they also had far more men to spare. After over six months, Tetinshua got angry and demanded that Wisachakwa change his strategy to get the results that he wanted. Wisachakwa therefore led an assault over the mountains, going around the source of the river and making it out on the other side. At the Battle of Tugalu, a combined Lenape and Anivian force of several hundred held off thousands of Mishasipans attempting to come through the mountains. In this battle, Shoxamek personally led the forces. All of the Lenape and Anivian soldiers including Shoxamek died, but not without killing thousands of Mishasipan soldiers. The Mishasipans would conquer the Anivians, and push southeast along the river. Cholena ordered the river defense to fall back to the Waccamaw River. Kiawah fell to the Mishasipans, and so they pushed north along the coast towards the city of Sawkasti.
However, Sawkasti would be a turning point in the war. At that moment, the Lenape finally decide to unleash their secret weapon. In the north, it had become practice among the nobility to keep moose as pets. The animals, which were the largest that the locals came into contact with, had become a symbol of power. Of course, keeping moose was expensive. They could not be fend grass or grains like other livestock. Their diets consisted of leaves, bark, twigs, and aquatic plants. Careful Silvopasture was necessary to keep these creatures well fed, as well as the addition of other leafy greens. However, this practice spread, and eventually the moose had been domesticated albeit in smaller numbers than other animals, and eventually, the idea of moose cavalry was conceived. By this time, moose had been selectively bred to be far more friendly, and so riding and mounting a moose was possible. Those moose capable of being ridden were also bred to have larger antlers again (the antlers of domesticated moose became noticeably smaller than their wild counterparts). Eventually, the king and the Woman’s Assembly oversaw a population of thousands upon thousands of moose kept in these circumstances, and the formation of a moose cavalry was now possible.
Kwenshuwelhik, whose name is often shorted to Kwenshu, would lead the cavalry charge after the original leader was shot in battle. Kwenshu was born in a village near the east end of Sewanhaka Island. He would move to Mashowomuk to work for the local governess on her moose ranch outside of the city. Through her, he became learned and proved his cleverness. He learned to read, and read all of the books of Midewism, memorizing large portions especially of the books of Nanabozho and Paolao. The governess’s daughter Milana would ask for his hand in marriage. The young man, who was master of the moose, was eventually conscripted by the king to help with the moose cavalry project. Despite his young age, the clever young man would eventually become one of the most well-respected men among the moose cavalry. After the leader of the moose cavalry was shot down in the first charge at Sawkasti, Kwenshu would be the one to take the metaphorical moose by the antlers and lead the unit.
Quickly, through his outstanding abilities with the moose cavalry units and power, Kwenshu rose through the ranks, quickly becoming a general. He would lead forces in taking back large portions of territory. In early 2822 LC, Kwenshu would be the one to come up with the plan to allow the Mishasipan forces across the river. After a successful crossing, the ships re-closed the gap, and the Mishasipans were trapped on the peninsula to the east of the Winyah Bay. They surrounded the peninsula with ships and bombarded the besieged troops with arrows. Eventually, General Wisachakwa officially declared a surrender, and it would be Kwenshu who would take it.
Following the conflict, the Assembly agreed to send a diplomatic mission to Nisipi to meet with the Inoka Emperor. The delegation included Governess Cholena, King Okwes, several assemblywomen, and a few other influential individuals. Kwenshu, who had risen overnight to become a well respected leader, was invited to come with Milana coming with him. The ship from Manhattan coming down the coast would arrive in Sawkasti, where Cholena and Kwenshu would be picked up, allowing Milana to re-unite with her husband before the entire delegation headed south, coming around the Timucua Peninsula(D) and passing by the Bahamas Isles. They would make a brief stop at Habakwan, a city which had grown significantly since the time of Pa’nibal, before passing through the Kikwinaq Sea to Shawasha.
The great city of Shawasha was, to Milana and Kwenshu, like nothing they had seen before. Both had seen a great deal of the Lenape kingdom. They had lived in Mashowomuk for a long time, had been to Manhattan maybe once or twice, and had obviously seen some of the cities to the south by the Anivian coast. Shawasha, even though still not as large as Manhattan, was a sight to behold, with cultures from all over the Kikwinaq and even the Relibalqix Sea coming to trade. Traveling up the Great River and seeing the many cities and villages and miles of farmland that subsisted off of the river, Milana and Kwenshu came to understand how truly mighty and vast this great empire over the mountains really was. Upon arriving in Nisipi, the delegation saw a massive golden palace draped in colorful silk, more magnificent than the one in Manhattan. Of course, while there was this magnificent culture that existed, it did not all seem perfect. For one thing, the women in this culture seemed to have a status below that of the men, something considered to be barbaric by the Lenape standards, which stressed the importance of matriarchal figures. The Emperor also seemed to have total absolute authority, rather than the Lenape, who balanced power between the king and the assembly. However, other than these factors, they found a society which upheld their own version of the Midewi religion, constructing magnificent temples, although figures such as Eholeh and Paolao seemed to be less significant to this sect than other more local religious figures. The language they spoke was not a barbarian Mingwe language like those spoken by the Anivians or the people to the north, but was far more similar to the language spoken by the Lenape and many of the neighbors that they assimilated.
On the mission, it was first decided that the Savano River would be the border drawn between the Lenape and the Inoka. As for the east-west border, it was agreed that this would be drawn by the Ketatahne Mountains. However, where exactly to place the divide was still unknown. The Ketatahne Expedition in the following years would determine the border between the Lenape and the Inoka, with the directions of rivers, high ridges of mountains, and valleys being used to indicate where the divide should be placed. Of course, this expedition cut through the lands that belonged to smaller tribes and independent mountain towns. Particularly the Anivians were cut out of this deal. In 2827 LC, the Anivians would rise up to attack the Lenape. However, having already been weakened by previous Inoka conquest during the war, they were easily defeated and fully conquered by the Lenape, with Kwenshu leading the conquest.
In 2832 LC, King Okwes died. Milana, who was now a member of the Assembly, offered her accomplished young husband as the new King. At the age of 33, Kwenshu would become the new king, and he and his wife, who would go on to become Grand Matriarch of the Assembly, had plans to take the entire kingdom by storm.
First, was the question of the Anivians and other non-Lenape groups that had been conquered in recent years. Historically, such groups were gradually assimilated over time. However, taking inspiration from what he saw in Mishasipa, Kwenshu, with the approval of the Assembly, put forward a plant to convert the Anivians under their rule who had not yet adopted the faith to Midewism, and mandated that they must learn the Lenape language, making it the language of all business, governance, and religious ritual.
However, this period also came with an intellectual tradition. The Academy of Medicine in Manhattan had inspired people in various other practices to seek greater scientific enlightenment in their areas of expertise. Local engineers and craftsmen who designed the weapons, ships, and other technology had begun to form guilds around the science of their craft. Clergy began to engage in deeper analysis of their religious texts. Artists and architects began to debate standards of beauty and function. The recent war had allowed generals to re-analyze the art of war, and politicians began further treating the art of governance as a science. Descriptions of new cities abroad caused people to question the science of urban planning, especially with people wondering how to design a better, safer city following the pandemic years ago. Memsiatis, a well-educated traveling merchant, noticed the way in which different regions grew different crops and produced different goods. Memsiatis reasoned that grapes, often grown in the north, could grow just as well in the south. However, he noted that the south tended to grow other crops that grew better in these warm climates. He argued that the south could produce manufactured goods likely almost as well as the north, but he noted how the north produced more of them. This led him to create theories surrounding concepts such as trade and comparative advantages. He would also use these theories to advocate more trade with the Inoka and other peoples and for the Lenape to specialize in fields in which they had a better comparative advantage. This would make Memsiatis the first economist.
Seeing the rise of all of these intellectual traditions, Milana proposed to Kwenshu and the Assembly that in Manhattan, they set up one large institution in which all of these separate growing academies could work side by side. Doctors, theologians, scientists, philosophers, historians, economists, artists, architects, urban planners, political scientists, engineers, craftsmen, and many others would be brought together in one place, known as the Grand Academy of Manhattan. At this academy, people would be able to come and learn to be intellectually enlightened. The institution would be built around a closed off campus with a great library containing thousands upon thousands of books. It would also be a place where several lucky clever individuals would have an opportunity to come and learn to earn their place among the nobility. The Grand Academy would also set up a larger education system throughout the empire, establishing smaller institutions for lower education, as well as larger institutions of higher education throughout the centuries. Scholars would often be tasked with copying books by hand leading to relatively high literacy rates in Chinguela compared to the rest of the ancient world.
Additionally, with the rise of the science of urban planning, questions came up about how to better organize the city of Manhattan. The great city, originally starting in the south of the island, had now grown to encompass all villages on the island and on several surrounding islands as well. The massive sprawling city was the first in the world to reach a population of one million, beating out Ok’owa by about 100 years. A new plan was constructed to redesign much of the northern parts of the city into a grid formation as to keep the roads simple to navigate, although many of the larger city blocks would contain old roads that remained as they were. Roads were built wide enough for horses and carriages to pass through. A new system of transit was put into place, where new lines for large stagecoaches would be established to better navigate the city, as well as ferry lines connecting the different piers across the city. Additionally, the palace and many other buildings would be expanded and rebuilt, taking some architectural cues from Mishasipa, while also developing new styles of their own through the academy.
The biggest change to the Lenape, however, would be a political one. Although they defeated the Inoka, the Emperor still viewed the Lenape as another people within their broader sphere of influence. Wanting to put himself on the same level as the Inoka, Kwenshu and Milana came up with a new plan. Historically, the Lenape had their central government, and regional affairs were headed by a female governess picked by the assembly and a male enforcer picked by the king. However, the royal couple proposed a change: regional power should be elected by the locals. Of course, they would be completely subjected to the government in Manhattan, as Manhattan granted them their legitimacy. A provincial assembly would be elected locally, and they would decide on a male governor (who would basically hold the same role as the enforcer). In addition, the king would take the new title of King of Kings, or Emperor, just like the Inoka to the west. With the approval of the assembly as pushed by Milana in 2842 LC, the Chinguelan Empire was born.
Meanwhile, in Mayapan, Emperor Xuluwem died in 2848 LC. Emperor Kolonel, seeking glory, would decide to expand his empire further. In the south, his generals would successfully bring more of the region to the north of the Antiyu rainforest under his reign through several skirmishes with raiding tribes. In 2850 LC, he would attempt another war with the Chavin Empire, which would end in a stalemate just like the last war under his grandfather. He would then seek to invade the Timuca Peninsula in 2857 LC. At the time, many Mayan navigators mistakingly assumed that it was a large island to the north of Kubao. However, little did they know that, at that point, the Inoka were already beginning to conquer the peninsula from the north. They had some success agains the Tekesta and Calusa kingdoms in the south, only for the Inoka to attack from the north, pushing the Mayans out in 2858 LC. Around this same time, seeing the scramble for the region, Chinguelan Emperor Kwenshu would send a fleet to colonize the Bahama Isles to secure easy passage to the Kikwinaq Sea and avoid total control by either the Mayans or the Mishasipans.
The biggest failure in the reign of Kolonel, however, was the Masawist revolt. With infrastructure finally connecting Lichikeyah more closely to the rest of the empire, Mayan gods came to be more heavily forced upon the locals. The people that were the most devoutly Masawist, including the Hopi, the Dineans, and the Kumeyai people in the region around Tabaah quickly revolted starting in 2863 LC. After four years of fighting, the Mayans would give up, and Dinetah, Hopia, and the Tabaah Kingdom would achieve full independence in 2867 LC.
About eight years later, Kolonel would die. His twin sons would fight for control over the empire, leading to them killing each other. He had no other children, and so nephews, generals, and cousins would fight for control, eventually splitting the empire in four. Tunriachi Kolonel’s nephew, would become Emperor of the Tunriachian Empire (often still called the Mayapan Empire), controlling Mayapana and most of Plokieb as well as the the larger of the Relibalqix islands. He would rule from Mayapan, but Ok’owa would remain the largest city. Second cousin Resaxichox would form the Resaxichoxan empire in northern Xuyuba, the southernmost parts of Plokieb, and the smaller eastern islands of the Relibalqix. His capital was Pa’nibala. General Choxinel would rule from Puha, controlling most of former Teotiwakan’s land, and would lead the Choxinelan Empire. In the north, imperial governor Natatsaq would form the Natatsaqian Empire based out of Xuluwema. Ultimately, Mayan culture would still remain dominant over the empires, as they would all be ruled by Mayan nobility and elites. Each claimed to be the true heir to the united empire. However, for now, the land would remain politically divided.
Pictured: Modern moose being used as an animal of burden.
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(1) Of course, the big irony here is the fact that Shawasha would go into decline soon after, while Ok’owa would continue to grow.
(2) The particular Inoka brand of Mishasipan culture would become so prominent, that the term “Inoka” is still used to refer to the modern Mishasipan language and ethnicity by the Mishasipan people. The term “Mishasipa” is more broadly meant to refer to the land, meaning “the land of the great river(s)”.
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(A) Myrtle Beach, SC
(B) Ocmulgee Mounds, GA
(C) Savannah River
(D) Florida
Yeah I know some people are gonna be disappointed. I just didn't see an empire containing Arizona, Mexico, Cuba, all of Central America, and Venezuela built on a series of spurts of conquest lasting very long. I know "four" is a bit of a cliche because blah blah Diadochi but it seemed in this case to be the most natural division of the empire. Also, I have some plans pertaining to the Resaxichoxans for the next update that I suppose I could have done with a united Mayan Empire but I'd rather be able to focus more attention in the south on Xuyuba.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Even if the Mayapan Empire was my personal favorite faction, I really liked this chapter and it's good to see that Mayan influences are still around, not to mention that a rump Mayapan Empire seems to still be a thing. Otherwise, I always like hearing about some of the architectural and cultural developments (I really love how you're turning Manhattan ITTL into a NYC with way more ancient history and a Lenape aesthetic) and it was really interesting to hear about the federalization of the Chinguela Empire. I think Inoka and Chinguela relations going forward should be pretty interesting.
Don’t worry, I still have plans for the Mayans and for the other empires to come.RIP Mayapan Empire. You'll be missed dearly.
Also keep in mind that rump-state Mayapan still includes much of Pa’nibal’s conquests, and still controls the world’s most important trading hub.
That part is probably one of the things that inspired this tl. If you go to any of the great ancient cities in the world, it makes American cities feel so empty in comparison, like something is missing. Don’t get me wrong, NYC is still my city and I love it very much, but it doesn’t have the same ancient history as much of the rest of the world. Heck, so many modern American cities were built around the car. I’m interested therefore in how a different Western Hemisphere would develop differently, bringing the ancient element into modernity. NYC is now an ancient center of trade and enlightenment. St Louis and the surrounding area are the location of the the capital of the most ancient kingdom that started a mighty civilization. Chicago and New Orleans are now ancient trading hubs connecting a mighty empire to the rest of the world. San Diego is home to the ancient adobe port of a mighty empire. Flagstaff, Arizona is an ancient capital built by a conqueror with an ancient fusion of adobe and Mayan architecture. As for San Jose, California, well, I plan to expand on that later.
I like that you kept Lenapehoking independent and didn't have Inoka go full China and incorporate everything in Eastern North America
Ficboy
Banned
So how exactly would European settlers colonize Tahkoxia (North America) and Xuyuba (South America) given that there are already well-established empires and widespread domestication compared to OTL. Assuming everything else in the timeline for Europe isn't altered, the Europeans (English/British, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Scandinavians and others) may very well colonize these places in the exact same manners or perhaps done very differently here.
I could be wrong, but given that the Americas are referred to as the "Old World" ITTL, its likely that Tahkoxia and Xuyuba will be the ones doing the colonization rather than the other way around.