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--- timelines:empty_america_-_archived_version [2018/06/20 05:37] – [28: I Don't Know Where I'm A-Gonna Go...] petike
+++ timelines:empty_america_-_archived_version [2018/06/20 05:47] – [27: Take Off (to the Great White North)] petike
@@ Line 3303: / Line 3303: @@
 are bound to the land.
-Nova Catalonia, like Avalon, has the rice export business as the backbone of
+Nova Catalonia, like Avalon, has the rice export business as the backbone of its trading economy, with the paddies being owned by magnates whose holdings range greatly in size. The rice-lands are worked primarily by Greek and Sardinian slaves. The latter, who are seen as wild and tribal, are rounded up in great numbers by Aragonese slave-raiders. The slave population also contains many Muslim captives of the frequent skirmishing between Aragon and neighboring Grenada. Slaves in Nova Catalonia, while legally non-persons, can, with the consent of their masters, contract a valid marriage and own personal property. Following the lead of the Italian planters on San Erasmus [Cuba], the Catalonians are shifting some of their land to cotton cultivation for both domestic manufacture and export to Europe, dar al Islam and Mu-lan-P'i.
-its trading economy, with the paddies being owned by magnates whose holdings
-range greatly in size. The rice-lands are worked primarily by Greek and
-Sardinian slaves. The latter, who are seen as wild and tribal, are rounded
-up in great numbers by Aragonese slave-raiders. The slave population also
-contains many Muslim captives of the frequent skirmishing between Aragon and
-neighboring Grenada. Slaves in Nova Catalonia, while legally non-persons,
-can, with the consent of their masters, contract a valid marriage and own
-personal property. Following the lead of the Italian planters on San
-Erasmus [Cuba], the Catalonians are shifting some of their land to cotton
-cultivation for both domestic manufacture and export to Europe, dar al Islam
-and Mu-lan-P'i.
-- Commonwealth of Serendib [roughly, OTL's Northeast Florida, centered on
+- Commonwealth of Serendib [roughly, OTL's Northeast Florida, centered on St. Augustine][FN27.12]
-St. Augustine][FN27.12]
-Bishop Brihtwine has nothing good to say about the people of Serendib,
+Bishop Brihtwine has nothing good to say about the people of Serendib, primarily because the Serendibian Christians, while professing loyalty to the Church, are perfectly content to live among Norse pagans and even intermarry with them, while seemingly doing nothing at all to try to convert them to Christianity. Even the bishops of Fjaraland, who as heirs of the Apostles should be diligently evangelizing the pagans, pretty much leave the Norse to their frohargs and attend to their Christian charges. By the middle of the thirteenth century, however,the population of Serendib is trending Christian. There has been not-insignificant immigration from Germany, of all places. Merchants of the Hansa cities, eager to access the goods of Mu-lan-P'i and the Ursulines, but much less eager to work within the restrictions imposed by the Khan's Venetian agents, decide that they need an outpost of their own in Ultima Thule, outside the Venetian-dominated Ursuline Sea. So, in the 1250s, agents from Luebeck make a deal with Serendib to allow the Germans of the Hansa cities to settle and trade freely from Serendib and shortly thereafter groups of German families found a settlement they name (rather unimaginatively) Neustadt.
-primarily because the Serendibian Christians, while professing loyalty to
-the Church, are perfectly content to live among Norse pagans and even
-intermarry with them, while seemingly doing nothing at all to try to convert
-them to Christianity. Even the bishops of Fjaraland, who as heirs of the
-Apostles should be diligently evangelizing the pagans, pretty much leave the
-Norse to their frohargs and attend to their Christian charges. By the middle
-of the thirteenth century, however,the population of Serendib is trending
-Christian. There has been not-insignificant immigration from Germany, of
-all places. Merchants of the Hansa cities, eager to access the goods of
-Mu-lan-P'i and the Ursulines, but much less eager to work within the
-restrictions imposed by the Khan's Venetian agents, decide that they need an
-outpost of their own in Ultima Thule, outside the Venetian-dominated
-Ursuline Sea. So, in the 1250s, agents from Luebeck make a deal with
-Serendib to allow the Germans of the Hansa cities to settle and trade freely
-from Serendib and shortly thereafter groups of German families found a
-settlement they name (rather unimaginatively) Neustadt.
-The government of Serendib could fairly be called retrograde Nordic. They
+The government of Serendib could fairly be called retrograde Nordic. They have an Althing, which meets periodically in Hop, the largest town and de facto capital [FN27.13], and a Logsogumadur ("law speaker") who serves as a prime minister of sorts, presiding over the Althing and conducting relations with Serendib's neighbors. Juries are summoned as needed with prominent locals serving as judges. The Althing has delegated revenue collection (such as it is) to tax-farmers, and local communities elect constables to keep the peace and summon posses to aid in law enforcement.
-have an Althing, which meets periodically in Hop, the largest town and de
-facto capital [FN27.13], and a Logsogumadur ("law speaker") who serves as a
-prime minister of sorts, presiding over the Althing and conducting relations
-with Serendib's neighbors. Juries are summoned as needed with prominent
-locals serving as judges. The Althing has delegated revenue collection
-(such as it is) to tax-farmers, and local communities elect constables to
-keep the peace and summon posses to aid in law enforcement.
-Unlike the other Fjaraland League states, Serendib does not adopt plantation
+Unlike the other Fjaraland League states, Serendib does not adopt plantation agriculture. It pretty much continues as is had before da Conti arrived, focusing on fishing, farming and animal husbandry. The Serendibians continue working their vegetable gardens and their hops, barley and flax. The Serendibian preference for linen cloth (and their post-wheelbow enthusiasm for tinkering) leads to the invention of the 'flax-breaker' by a mechanically-minded weaver who also happens to be a Cathar Perfect. Along with the spinning wheel[FN27.131], the flax-breaker simplifies linen manufacture greatly.
-agriculture. It pretty much continues as is had before da Conti arrived,
-focusing on fishing, farming and animal husbandry. The Serendibians
-continue working their vegetable gardens and their hops, barley and flax.
-The Serendibian preference for linen cloth (and their post-wheelbow
-enthusiasm for tinkering) leads to the invention of the 'flax-breaker' by a
-mechanically-minded weaver who also happens to be a Cathar Perfect. Along
-with the spinning wheel[FN27.131], the flax-breaker simplifies linen
-manufacture greatly.
-In addition to the traditional Serendib livestock, such as the woodland musk
+In addition to the traditional Serendib livestock, such as the woodland musk ox (symbols cavifrons), Thulian horses (equus scotti), peccaries and giant capybaras (neochoerus pinckneyi), European horses and cattle have arrived in Serendib. And not all livestock raising is strictly for meat and milk. Serendibians capture, domesticate and export more than a few giant horses (equus giganteus). Weighing in at 1,150 pounds, those that survive the Atlantic crossing and their progeny make quite an impression on the
-ox (symbols cavifrons), Thulian horses (equus scotti), peccaries and giant
-capybaras (neochoerus pinckneyi), European horses and cattle have arrived in
-Serendib. And not all livestock raising is strictly for meat and milk.
-Serendibians capture, domesticate and export more than a few giant horses
-(equus giganteus). Weighing in at 1,150 pounds, those that survive the
-Atlantic crossing and their progeny make quite an impression on the
 battlefields of Europe.
-Serendib develops a legendary reputation for the quality of its small-scale
+Serendib develops a legendary reputation for the quality of its small-scale craftsmanship and exports leather products throughout Ultima Thule and the Ursulines. Serendibian saddles, which incorporate the bone-plate leather of Serendibian glyptodont, become expensive and prestigious luxury items for noblemen in Europe and Ultima Thule. Serendib's other major export, which also has an outstanding reputation, is bhang. Serendibian bhang is universally praised for both its power and flavor, and it is fantastically
-craftsmanship and exports leather products throughout Ultima Thule and the
+popular in dar al Islam. Andalusiyyun, Ifriqiyan, and Moroccan ships make regular Atlantic runs, trading African gold and Iberian steel weapons and armor for cask after cask of bhang. Through the bhang trade, the Commonwealth develops very cordial relations with the Andalusiyyun and the North African Sultanates, a fact which greatly displeases the Church.
-Ursulines. Serendibian saddles, which incorporate the bone-plate leather of
-Serendibian glyptodont, become expensive and prestigious luxury items for
-noblemen in Europe and Ultima Thule. Serendib's other major export, which
-also has an outstanding reputation, is bhang. Serendibian bhang is
-universally praised for both its power and flavor, and it is fantastically
-popular in dar al Islam. Andalusiyyun, Ifriqiyan, and Moroccan ships make
-regular Atlantic runs, trading African gold and Iberian steel weapons and
-armor for cask after cask of bhang. Through the bhang trade, the
-Commonwealth develops very cordial relations with the Andalusiyyun and the
-North African Sultanates, a fact which greatly displeases the Church.
-This papal displeasure eventually requires the Serendibians put the weapons
+This papal displeasure eventually requires the Serendibians put the weapons and armor to good use. As will happen in Ultima Thule, prosperity attracts predators. The depredations of Norse corsairs are largely halted by the Knights of Ultima Thule, but their are others.
-and armor to good use. As will happen in Ultima Thule, prosperity attracts
-predators. The depredations of Norse corsairs are largely halted by the
-Knights of Ultima Thule, but their are others.
@@ Line 3388: / Line 3326: @@
 - Republic of Annwyfn [approximately OTL's Alabama and Mississippi]
-To call Annwyfn a 'republic' is to lay quite a bit of gilt on the lily. It
+To call Annwyfn a 'republic' is to lay quite a bit of gilt on the lily. It is a republic in the sense that it has no monarch. Or any government at all, for that matter. Shortly after the arrival of the last flotilla from Gwynedd in 1175, Madoc had one of his trademark mood swings, triggered by some persistent squabbling among the leading families. And, abandoning his charges, off he went, deep into the wilderness, eventually settling high in the mountains at Dywydd Briga ["Weather Top" OTL's Lookout Mountain] with
-is a republic in the sense that it has no monarch. Or any government at
+about a dozen or so dedicated followers. Among those he left behind, disorder ensues, as does a series of [in]felicitous accidents, homicides and what-not, the Welsh settlers find themselves almost entirely without a noble class. The peasantry, by now quite discontent and disillusioned with the people who led them across the Mor Werydh ["western seas"] only to desert them, turn on the few surviving nobles. When all is said and done, they are left on their own to clear the land and make a life for themselves. As Brihtwine puts it, "the Welsh of Annwyfn will suffer no governance and do not hesitate to raise their hands against any man who attempts to issue commands or take on lordly airs." In other words, they have a state with no government above the village level - no king, no Thing, no aristocracy, no logretta, no folkhagi, no doge, no armadir, no podesta, no khan, no sultan. There are no feudal obligations or regular taxation. Every man is obliged to keep arms and join in the militia when it is summoned by the village governments, all of whom have pledged mutual aid in case of attack.
-all, for that matter. Shortly after the arrival of the last flotilla from
-Gwynedd in 1175, Madoc had one of his trademark mood swings, triggered by
-some persistent squabbling among the leading families. And, abandoning his
-charges, off he went, deep into the wilderness, eventually settling high in
-the mountains at Dywydd Briga ["Weather Top" OTL's Lookout Mountain] with
-about a dozen or so dedicated followers. Among those he left behind,
-disorder ensues, as does a series of [in]felicitous accidents, homicides and
-what-not, the Welsh settlers find themselves almost entirely without a noble
-class. The peasantry, by now quite discontent and disillusioned with the
-people who led them across the Mor Werydh ["western seas"] only to desert
-them, turn on the few surviving nobles. When all is said and done, they are
-left on their own to clear the land and make a life for themselves. As
-Brihtwine puts it, "the Welsh of Annwyfn will suffer no governance and do
-not hesitate to raise their hands against any man who attempts to issue
-commands or take on lordly airs." In other words, they have a state with no
-government above the village level - no king, no Thing, no aristocracy, no
-logretta, no folkhagi, no doge, no armadir, no podesta, no khan, no sultan.
-There are no feudal obligations or regular taxation. Every man is obliged
-to keep arms and join in the militia when it is summoned by the village
-governments, all of whom have pledged mutual aid in case of attack.
 But there is law. Judges, juries are and sheriffs chosen on an as-needed