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--- timelines:a_light_in_the_east_archived_version [2014/07/14 06:45] – history up to 400 Max Sinister
+++ timelines:a_light_in_the_east_archived_version [2019/03/29 15:14] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 AD - The Philosophic Republic of Italy is finally fully established. The "capital" of the Republic, if it could be called that, is the city of Neapolis. The Philosophic Republic is based entirely off the model of Plato's Republic. The entire country, therefore, is simply a union of city-states, which each have complete autonomy. Each city-state is divided into two classes and three groups: the Upper Class, which are the Leaders and the Soldiers; and the Lower Class, which are the Workers. The Upper Class live in very modest, state-run homes, and are raised on an almost Spartan model: children are not raised by parents, and in fact never discover who their parents are, and are instead raised and educated by the state. They are heavily schooled in music, mathematics, philosophy, war, and athletics, as per Plato's instructions. The Upper Class owns no property whatsoever, thereby eliminating the corrupting influence of power. The Lower Class is allowed to own private property and raise traditional families, although they have absolutely no say in the government. Each city-state is run by a small council of Philosopher-Kings, and these Philosopher-Kings meet monthly in Neapolis to discuss national matters, such as war. Realizing that, with the strict structure of the system, armies would become small and professional, the Philosopher-Kings begin to research heavily into steam engine technology, hoping to gain an edge unseen by any other nation.
+AD - The Armenian priest Mesrop Mashtots, having travelled the Empire in search of the Armenian alphabet, finally compiles a new Armenian alphabet, of 36 letters. Much of the alphabet is based on the old, pagan alphabet, which was banned by Grigor the Illuminator and vanished when the Catholicos waged the destructive war against the old Armenian pagan priests. The Bible is translated from Greek and Aramaic into Armenian, foregoing the Holy Roman version for earlier ones.
+In Constantinople, the aged Gaius Fironicus, on his deathbed, completes the designes of the last improvement to his beloved chariot that he shall make: the track. Realizing the effectiveness of trenches against the chariot's wheels, Fironicus creates a system of armored plates attached to the wheels, creating a constant flat surface for the wheels to roll over. Shortly after completing the designs, Gaius Fironicus, former Caesar of the Holy Roman Empire and the "greatest genius in the history of the world," passes away. His track designs are immediately incorporated into all models of chariots by Caesar Titus. Titus realizes that much of the west is decidedly anti-Roman, and that the Ostrogoths are a weak ally, useful only for insuring that no hostile force exists in the north; therefore, in a show of goodwill and friendship, the Holy Caesar passes along the designs, as well as the models of the current steam engine, to "our eternal and graceful allies and brothers, the Armenians." Emperor Vassak, grateful at this gesture, gives Titus the title of "friend of the people," and awards him with Nakhararship, making him a nobleman of Armenia.
+During the funeral of Fironicus, now beatified as St. Fironicus, the scientist Leo Galeus presents Caesar Titus with a new calendar, which they call the Fironican calendar in honor of the deceased. Titus officially adopts the new calendar, and declares that the start of the new year shall be September 1st, and that Sept. 1, 349 AD, shall be the first day of year 1 ad imperium augustus condita, or ad imperium, AI, as it will be commonly referred to.
+AD - The Saxons, led by the twin kings Horsa and Hengist, have reached the staggerring population of three million in only two generations, staggering mostly due to the fact that less than half a million landed upon the shores of Saxony from Europe. The Stallion Kings have seen their lands become urbanized, with European style cities beginning to emerge, using paved roads and stone houses. The territories captured by the Saxons in their wars are so expansive that they have only been able to begin colonization efforts in roughly one quarter of the newly gained lands.
+//"Scientist Antonius, prepare steam engine for operation, block venting chamber."
+"Understood."
+Antonius activated the steam engine and slid the iron plate into the venting tube, blocking the path for the escaping steam.
+"Insert the sphere into the venting chamber."
+The scientist complied almost without thought, inserting the small iron ball into the end of the tube. According to the calculations, the steam engine could go another fourteen seconds before pressure within the steam chamber would become critical.
+"Withdraw the plate in six... five... four... three... two... one... withdraw."
+Antonius immediately pulled the plate up, freeing the steam. The force of the escaping steam propelled the iron ball forward at a stunning velocity. The small sphere ricochetted off the wall with a loud clash of metal against stone and flew into the body of Antonius. The scientist was killed before he even realized what had just occurred, his body crumpling to the floor with a sickening thud.
+A figure in the corner looked on impassively, calmly stepping aside when the blood of the dead scientist threatened to stain his boots.
+"Experiment a success. Guard Rufus, please remove the body of Scientist Antonius and have Scientist Gallus report to the invention chamber."
+Guard Rufus looked down at Antonius.
+"Shall I equip Scientist Gallus with armor, Administrator Aulus?"
+The figure did not deign to look at the guard.
+"We have not the resources to risk armor. Do as ordered."
+The guard saluted and grabbed the arms of the fallen scientist, hoisting him up and carrying him from the room.//
+AD - A scientist of the Upper Class of the Philosophic Republic, Administrator Aulus (the Upper Class has dropped the traditional Roman use of praenomens, nomens, cognomens and agnomens, and instead has taken to referring to the Upper Classmen by their designation and name), researches the unused properties of steam power; namely, the highly explosive ability of unvented steam first observed by the Armenian scientist Sembat Aramian. Through several experiments, Aulus discovers that steam, when vented after collecting enough pressure, can propel items at incredible speeds. Aulus immediately realizes the potential of this discovery and orders the scientists of the Republic to design a weapon that will rapidly project small iron spheres.
+In Germania, the use of landships has lead to the creation of permanent settlements connected by the paved roads that the landships run on. Without the need for constant migration in search of food, the Germanian tribes begin to advance culturally, and the settlements are allowed to urbanize as the farming communities with richer soil can ship their food to the new cities. The kings of the various tribes thus establish permanent boundaries, taking the first steps towards a nation-state.
+In the Romanigothic Empire, turmoil is spreading. Relatives of the dead Keiser Fritigern, having been prevented from claiming the throne when his daughter became Keisera, lead factions of traditional Visigoths as they protest against the Keisera. The older Goths claim that the softening of Gudeliva has caused the troubles faced by the nation, and that only a return to the old principles of their barbarian forefathers shall save the Gothic people. The urban populations of Italy tend to support Gudeliva and the "new Goths," whereas the rural population of Gaul follow the hardliners. The hardliner leaders, all princes of the Balthigg Imperial family, decide to refrain from open revolution, realizing that, without a direct heir, Gudeliva's death shall leave one of them in power.
+Their plans are spoiled, however, when the aged Keisera decrees that, after her death, the Romanigothic Empire shall become the Romanigothic Republic. The princes, realizing that word of this would begin to errode their popularity, immediately alter the news as it arrives in Gaul, portraying it as further proof that the Keisera has become a Roman, and that the meaning of the decree is that the country would be sold to "the traitorous thinkers" of the Philosophic Republic. The people, outraged, rise up against the Keisera. The Second Romanigothic Civil War begins.
+==== Further developments ====
+The Era of the Good Caesars continues for about a century and a half in the HRE, seeing it expand massively in the East. The last remnants of the Persian Empire are conquered by the HRE and by the Huns, whose numbers and savagery are able to beat back all Roman advances save those by chariots.
+Armenia, surrounded mostly by the HRE with a border to the north with the friendly Ostrogoths, begins to demilitarize. This will come back to bite in straight in the arse in a few centuries, however, when the Era of Good Caesars is over.
+The Platonic Republic launches an assault on the Romanigothic Empire during the Civil War, and captures some much-needed agricultural land. It's newly developed steam-cannons are incredible useful. Afterwards, it constructs a wall across its border, creates cannon-forts along the coast, and breaks off relations with all nations, turning in on itself (Confederation of Platonic City-States, the CPCS), having the resources to feed its own population and constantly furthering all sciences to ensure that it remains independent and secure despite its small size and population. The CPCS' spy network becomes unparalleled throughout the world.
+The Romanigoths plunge into Civil War. The Empress wishes it to become a Republic, the nobles wish it to remain a Monarchy. In the end, several of the Empress' "loyal" relatives succeed in winning the war, but turn the "republic" into an oligarchy, with a select few ruling in a council. The principles of unbridled capitalism develop in the "Republic," and it becomes the financial superpower of the world, giving loans even to the HRE.
+The Alemanni develop into an analogue of the Austrian Empire. Although the Germanic tribe itself is large in population, the land it controls number many other nationalities and languages.
+The Germans develop into an even looser version of the OTL HRE. Each tribe as a chief, and is divided even further into smaller tribes that are all of a single larger tribe. This resembles the Gaelic government, and both become bastions of liberalism and freedom.
+The Barbarian Union, as the alliance of the Gaels, Germans, and Alemanni is known, becomes a seafaring power and a trading giant. The Gaels make the first contact with the Saxons overseas, who eventually ally with the BU. They also create colonies in South America, which they name Hy-Brasil.
+The Saxons create a large land empire in North America (known as Asgard), and create a close alliance with the Iroquois. By several centuries, there is little distinction between the Germans and the Redskins except for skin color. The coming of steam technology is late to the Saxons, but the resources at hand for them dwarf anything in Europe, and they are able to mass produce chariots for war, becoming the arsenal of the Barbarian Union.
+The Basque Empire becomes an African powerhouse. After years of war, it conquers the Christian kingdom of "Prestor John," and gold stuffs the coffers of the Emperor. The HRE, however, takes this as an excuse to entire Central Africa, and after a quick and decisive naval war, the Kingdom of Prestor John is liberated as a Holy Roman protectorate. The Basques begin to develop steam technology, and carve a large African land empire.
+Asia will be contacted after the Era of Good Empires. Around 600 AD, religious zealots will gain the Imperial Throne of Peter. More and more people will be fighting the Huns, but will not want to return to simple pseudo-serfdom after their days soldiering. Demands for liberties and civil rights will continue until the Inquisition. This will basically try to return the HRE to a time about 200 years past, with people tied to their land and technology only for the military. The Caesar will decree that the use of technology by the common man has made them lose sight of God's plan, and will ban all technology except that used by the military. Science will face a severe crackdown, with the researchers requiring to pass "religious exams" to determine their loyalty. Many scientists will flee to Europe, bringing their knowledge up-to-date with the technology of the HRE (though not of the Platonic Republic, which is still far advanced).
+Armenia, which has refused to emulate the HRE's Imperial Church, will be attacked and conquered, having demilitarized for the most part and having nowhere near the population of the Empire. The people will be exiled to the East, to prevent them from aiding the Infidels in Europe. Many Roman scientists also are sent with them, again to prevent them from assisting the Europeans. This happens in about 800 AD, and they eventually settle in Mongolia, where they ally with the Mongol tribes, who convert to the Apostolic Christian faith.
+The Barbarian Union militarizes over this, and in response the HRE declares war. A brutal campaign is fought in Eastern Europe, and much of the Alemanni Empire is devastated, and eventually annexed by the HRE, which is the victor. At this point, the Barbarians, with the aid of their new scientists, devote much of their strength to research and development, using the vast expanses of Asgard to supply their war machine for the inevitable rematch (this is all in the year 1000, give or take a few decades).
+Hunnish India is finally conquered and a path to the East opened, but the HRE then stumbles into the Chinese Empire. Technology, having trickled East, has allowed China to maintain stability, and the war of the white devils unifies them like nothing else. Several Crusades follow, but little territory is lost, with the Chinese utilizing gunpowder against the Roman chariots.
+Meanwhile, the Armenians, Assyrians, and Mongols create the Apostolic Federation. Using Chinese gunpowder and Roman technology, they are able to create weapons unlike any seen in the West. They launch a war against the Ostrogoths (who occupy Northern Armenia during the joint war against the Armenian Empire) and are able to expand quickly. They also fight the Chinese, and ally with the Japanese in about 1000 AD. The Japanese use their technology to conquer and colonize many of the islands to their south, with the crowning achievement of Hoyaikyu (New Land, OTL Australia). They are challenged by the Southern Huns, which control Southeast Asia and the nearby islands, whereas the Northern Huns control the area to the east of the Caspian Sea.
+With the Federation attacking from the north and the HRE attacking from the West, the Chinese are finished. They flee Eastward, past Japan, and eventually colonize Western Asgard. The Chinese Empire thus controls the Asgardian west coast and parts of Southeast Asia. The Federation turns then on the war-weary HRE and conquers much of Asia, pushing back the HRE to their Hunnic borders.
+This broils down to the World War. The HRE allies with the Iberians and the Chinese, who fear and hate the Mongols worse than anything else. The Algonquins in Asgard, as well as the Incan and Mayan Empires, also join the Alliance. In response, the Barbarian Union allies with the Federation and their Japanese allies. The Aztecs, having been driven from their lands by the Chinese, as well as the Iroquois, decide to join the new Greater Federation for their own security. In about 1300, all hell breaks loose.
+All this broils down to the World War in about 1200-1300. The HRE, Ostrogoths, Iberians, Mayans, Incans, Algonquins, and Chinese will duke it out with the Federation, the Barbarian Union, Aztecs, Iroquois, and Japanese. The main fighting will be:
+  * Iberians vs BU
+  * BU vs HRE
+  * HRE vs Federation
+  * Japanese vs Chinese
+  * Aztecs vs Mayans
+  * Aztecs vs Chinese
+  * Iroquois vs Algonquins
+  * Saxons vs Algonquins
+  * Federation vs Ostrogoths
+  * Incans vs anyone who gets near them.