The History of the World VII . . . .

[deity]

A great prophet suddenly appeared from the western seas in these modern times.

Buddhist shrines of old were upgraded and renovated and the Mahabodhi shrine was brilliant. The people were fulfilled spritually and Choson was strong.

[OzzyKP]

سيوجه كلمة

"Al-News, Al-the Time"

June 17, 1485 a.d.
1/10 Gold Piece

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TOP STORY
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Restructuring of Islamic Leadership

After centuries of rule by various Caliphs stretching back to the days of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, himself the Caliphate has officially ended. With the death of legendary Caliph Haroun al-Raschid in 1334 AD, and the end of the Abbisad Dynasty the Empire fell into chaos and civil war once again as various claimants fought for the title of Caliph as has happened many times in the past.

One claimant, Aziz Ibn Ishmael took power over a significant portion of the nation but his cruelty and incompetence soon angered the people. Finally the people rose up and killed the evil Caliph Aziz Ibn Ishmael and the nation once again fell into chaos. It was then a young general named Salah ad-Din (known as Saladin among non-Arabs), a Kurd from east of Baghdad defeated various warlords and claimants to the Caliphate. He consolidated his power but wisely knew that the quest for the Caliph has ripped apart his people for too long so dissolved it altogether and was crowned Sultan of Arabia.

He knew too that with the ever growing Muslim world beyond Arabia's borders, a true Caliph - leader of the Islamic world - was politically impossible. Under his new structure Arabia's temporal leader would be a Sultan and Caliph would be a title reserved purely for religious leadership. There were many grumbles among the people, and accusations that Saladin was really a Shiite, but revolts were only sporadic and put down quickly. Even the long serving Córdoba Caliphate, the last vestige of the Umayyad Dynasty crumbled in this period and Al-Andalus was once again put under proper control by the Sultan in Mecca.

Saladin's reign was long, peaceful and prosperous.

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DOMESTIC NEWS
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Military Restructured Under Saladin

In order to retain control over the fractured nation and to prevent further outbreaks of factional conflict, the Sultan greatly expanded and relied on the Mamluks for the military. The Mamluks were captured slaves from Al-Andalus and the result of Old World wars who converted to Islam and formed a powerful military caste. The mamluk system gave Saladin troops who had no link to any established power structure. The local warriors were often more loyal to their tribal sheiks, their families or nobles other than the sultan or caliph. If some commander conspired against the ruler, it was often not possible to deal with him without causing unrest among the nobility.

After mamluks were converted to Islam, they were trained as cavalry soldiers. Mamluks were to follow the dictates of furusiyya, a code of conduct that included values like courage and generosity but also doctrine of cavalry tactics, horsemanship, marksmanship and treatment of wounds.

Mamluks lived within their garrisons and mainly spent their time with each other. Their entertainments included sports like marksmanship competitions and presentations of mounted combat skills at least twice a week. The intensive and rigorous training of each new recruit helped ensure a great deal of continuity in mamluk practices. The Sultan's mamluk army was the best trained in the world. Their main training facility in Baghdad produced not only the best infantry and cavalry in the world, but also the most skilled naval officers.

While technically they were no longer slaves after training, they were still obliged to serve the Sultan. The Sultan kept them as an outsider force, under his direct command, to use in the event of local tribal frictions. The Sultan could also send them as far as the Muslim regions of Al-Andalus.

The center of the mamluk leadership was the newly built Pentagon in Jerusalem. The building was modern in construction and was a vast headquarters for the best trained and one of the largest armed forces in the world.

Industrial Revolution Hits Arabia
Arabia is a leader in advanced technology and has been at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution now sweeping the globe. With tremendous growth throughout the empire a vast need for consumer goods, new construction, and military supplies has necessitated faster and more efficient means of production. Automated processes spurred by the invention of the steam engine and the assembly line have brought magnificent factories to most major Arab cities. The boost to the Arabian economy and production capacity has been great and is continuing to grow.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
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Islam Becomes World's Top Religion

Following a meteoric rise in popularity, Islam is now followed by 24% of the world's population making it far and away the world's largest religion. The Kushren, Celts, and English have all made Islam their officially recognized and endorsed religion. While the Inca and Chinese endorse no official religion, Islam is widely believed to be the most widely held faith in both societies. Islam has near equal acceptance in Bulgaria with their state religion, Taoism. Islam also has large toe holds among the Indians, the New Republic and in the Egyptian New World.


Diplomatic Mission to New Republic

The capital of the New Republic, Bjoergyn, widely believed to be the world's busiest port, has become increasingly cosmopolitan and has become a great diplomatic capital. The Vikings had long been icy and non-communicative to the outside world after many changes in leadership over the years, but under the New Republic, ambassadors from around the world have been invited to Bjoergyn. Currently ambassadors from the English, Inca, Chinese, Choson, and Arabs call Bjoergyn home for their diplomatic missions. Under the new warming relations between Arabia and the New Republic Islamic missionaries have been welcomed to preach inside their borders and the natives have taken to the new religion with interest.

[Robert]

The boring days of Balgangadhar Tilak

The days of Balgangadhar Tilak were boring.
The cities grew, the activities grew and the number of colonies grew. Three islands of Tan were populated with Indian colonies. The island of Bombay contained two Indian cities, quickly growing culturally.
The smaller islands of Bangalore and Calcutta also contained one city.

Calcutta grew rapidly because of the huge ammount of sea fruit in the surrounding oceans. The two-tile island was of major importance for the Indian fishproduction.
The city of Bangalore was most important for it's access to oil.

The colonies had quickly grown into great importance for India. The cold Indian territories in the old world were so different then the new Indian territories surrounding the equador.

Despite Balgangadhar Tilak's abilities to re-invent the nation, he was able to keep both worlds together and improve the Indian activities.

May his days be long.

[OzzyKP]

EIGHTEENTH SESSION 1498 AD

India(Gandhi) - CyberShy
Egypt(Ramses) - condor223
New Republic(Ragnar Lodbrok) - Rykoffe
China(Qin Shi Huang) - KunojiLym
Choson(Wang Kong) - Deity
Inca(Huayna Capac) - Levi_the_Oracle
Kushren(Napoleon Boneparte) - AI/Conquistador45
England(Victoria) - Glohithia
Celts(Brennus) - dacole
Arabs(Saladin) - OzzyKP
Bulgaria(Cyrus II) - Toni


Session 17 Number of Cities (since session 14)

Vikings - 18
Bulgaria - 17 (+1)
Arabs - 15
Choson - 15
China - 15 (+1)
Egypt - 14
India - 11
Celts - 10
Kushren - 10
England - 9 (+2)
Inca - 8 (-3)

[/QUOTE]

[OzzyKP]

pg:

[OzzyKP]

gnp

[Robert]

Balgangadhar Tilak, bringer of peace

All hail Balgangadhar Tilak!
In difficult times it was the King of India who brought peace back to Terra.
His plan to end all hostilities was the key to success.
It was Balgangadhar Tilak who ended the war between England and the Incas.

The New Republic failed, the Chinese were without power, the Bulgarians, great in numbers, couldn't establish peace, the Arabians, powerful and strong, did not achieve what Balgangadhar Tilak did, the Choson, strongest with weapons, weak with the tongue. But Balgangadhar Tilak, from the weak nation of India, gave full proof that wisdom is with the wise and not with the strong.

All hail Balgangadhar Tilak, all follow Balgangadhar Tilak to a bright road of peace.
Vote for Balgangadhar Tilak to be the president of the United Nations, if something like that will ever exist.

[deity]

Originally posted by CyberShy
Balgangadhar Tilak, bringer of peace

All hail Balgangadhar Tilak!
In difficult times it was the King of India who brought peace back to Terra.
His plan to end all hostilities was the key to success.
It was Balgangadhar Tilak who ended the war between England and the Incas.

The New Republic failed, the Chinese were without power, the Bulgarians, great in numbers, couldn't establish peace, the Arabians, powerful and strong, did not achieve what Balgangadhar Tilak did, the Choson, strongest with weapons, weak with the tongue. But Balgangadhar Tilak, from the weak nation of India, gave full proof that wisdom is with the wise and not with the strong.

All hail Balgangadhar Tilak, all follow Balgangadhar Tilak to a bright road of peace.
Vote for Balgangadhar Tilak to be the president of the United Nations, if something like that will ever exist.

Congratulations to the New Republic for creating the environment for peace to evolve.

Congratulations to all parties who participated and the various proposals put forward.

Congratulations to Balgangadhar Tilak of India for finding the agreed solution...

[Toni]

To the Inca nation

We demand an apology for the insulting words used lately. Such words as traitors have been very insulating. Also you closing all diplomatic relations towards us was very disrespectful when we have supplied your nation for so long with units, resources and technology.

President Pervanov

[Toni]

The New Republic failed, the Chinese were without power, the Bulgarians, great in numbers, couldn't establish peace, the Arabians, powerful and strong, did not achieve what Balgangadhar Tilak did, the Choson, strongest with weapons, weak with the tongue. But Balgangadhar Tilak, from the weak nation of India, gave full proof that wisdom is with the wise and not with the strong.

Bulgaria congratulates all the nations which were involved in finding a solution to this recent war. But we disapprove the declarations of war by some in support of the Incas. We the Bulgarians though that the world nations agreed that it will be best if the conflict does not broaden, Bulgaria stayed neutral as many did. Not like the Chinese which used this situation for their own good. The involvement of China in this war was a very bolt decision for which we request a detailed explanation.

The Bulgarians still remember their past aggression towards us; the Chinese have never tried to make up for what they did to our lands and people. Even no attempts have been made to start a dialogue of how to build a better future together. We are worry about their cultural pressures on our two holy cities and from the Chinese scouting ships in our new colonies.

We are willing to start talks of how to ease some of these tensions; we seek only peace as we always have, other options are available as well. But we choose to persue the peace path for now.

[Glohithia]

Yoth Iria, Samaels twin brother, was furious. "How could you make such a deal? My plans, excecuted to perfection, are for nothing! We get a back-water Carthaginian village? You cant be serious, have you completely lost your senses? You have betrayed England brother! We had defensless cities prostrate before us, ripe like fruit for the plucking. And what do you do? Who taught you how to negotiate brother?"

"You forget yourself!", Samael tried to remain calm. "We had the world watching. We had the world against us, willing us to peace. Two nations had already joined the Incan's, would you have us eventually fight the entire world? Even our allies publically and privately urged us to accept this deal."

"We are an autonomous nation Samael, we dont need to submit to the will of others. This sits poorly with me, we put ourselves at great risk and we turn down the reward. Its madness! At least keep the city of Cori as compensation".

"It is not possible", Samael sighed. "What is done is done. I will have no more arguements about it. Garrison the troops and prepare for the worst."

[Glohithia]

With no peaceful solution to the Hastings problem, England went forward with the plan to take the Incan city of Olly.

The first step involved the massive undertaking of training a large, but outdated, army. Making them into the elite warriors they are now. Many resources were commited to this project, with the all important goal of making it happen NOW. It was costly. Many area's of the English ecomony suffered. The people were asked to understand, to make sacrifices. All for the greater glory of England.

England fielded two armies, one was headed for Curi and the other for Olly. When England did attack, it was swift and successful. Curi was the first to fall. Cannons pummeled the city defenses while Infantry stormed the defenders and took the city with no casualties. A garrison was left to keep the city while the rest of the army was force marched to Olly to support the seige there. Olly's defenses were destroyed, but before an attack was launched by the ground troops, an emissary from the New Republic's council called for a temporary cessation of hostilities to discuss terms between the English and Incans.

Most nations of Terra were present and all had input. Notably, the Choson, the Republic, and India offered solutions. England herself had a definite goal and communicated that to all, to keep Olly. In the end, with urging from Englands allies and the rest of Terra, England did adopt the Indian solution which had Hippo turn English and gave the Incans back Curi. In addition, the Incan's would become vassals of the English King. So Olly was left intact and in Incan hands, spared destruction by the intervention of the council of the New Republic.

This solution did also settle the long standing feud between the ancient Carthaginian empire and England over the capture of Old Utica, now Southampton. The peoples of England did rejoice as this was always a source of contention between those nations and even though Carthage was no longer, having been folded into the Republic, many Carthaginian ancestors still prosper in the Northland. Now that score has been settled.

So peace has been restored again, if only temporarily. Bad blood certainly exists now. The King certainly had suspicions that the Incans were helped, with troops and/or money, by one or more nations. English intelligence is working on verifying that now and if any proof comes to light, there may very well be consequences.

The King also had to ask himself about Arabia and Bulgaria. The decision to remain neutral was an interesting one. Did that decision support England or the Incan's more? The war did put them in a bad position, the King conceded to himself. Looking back, hind sight being what it is, it certainly didnt hurt England to have them stay on the sideline. England needed no help, so no harm done. Yes, it was as the King had thought earlier, old bonds are the strongest. Samael went to sleep that night secure in the knowledge that friendships, forged in conflict and travail, can be stronger than iron.

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by deity
[ That is absolutely brilliant Ryke! With tabbed browsing I could keep listening to the story and read the text if I wanted too plus jump back to see the next sketch
I think I missed a few nuances so I'll have to play it again soon! ]

Wow, just wow. I agree with Deity (for once) that is absolutely brilliant!!

The stories are great on their own, but to have them read and illustrated makes them come alive like no other diplogame post i've ever seen. Since I was on vacation, and then sick, I didn't get around to watching/reading it, but I did just now (twice). Fantastic, fantastic stuff. I am blown away.

If we gave away awards for best individual posts I would without hesitation nominate you for the best diplogame post of all time. Really quality work, thanks for the time you put into that, I am very impressed.

[deity]

Yes! I wondered why no one else said anything! Can everyone confirm that they were able to play it please. It's well worth it.

[KunojiLym]

Foreign Affairs Office
The Republic of China

We write to address the concerns of Bulgeria, regarding our recent intervention in the Anglo-Incan war, and related matters.

The Incan ownership of Chengdu had long been a thorn in the side of relationships between China and Inca. Naturally, we did not wish for this state of affairs to continue, which is why we concluded the deal with our northern neighbors. Of course, we are also amendable to making deals with our Bulgerian neighbors as well, though before that, there are a few things that we wish to make clear.

According to our records, there were several reasons for the war between Bulgeria and China. One was the megalomania of the Tang Empress Wu Zetian, who, we surmise, was attempting to take advantage of the then King of India, Asoka's animosity towards Bulgeria to make inroads into the holy cities of Taoism and Confucianism. Another was the perceived slight that the Tang court had felt on behalf of Egypt when an agreement to share ocean-faring technology was regnaged upon. There were likely other reason, but these seem to be the two principle reason. Of course, such factors have long sunk into history; China is no longer an Empire, and Egypt has since managed to secure footholds on the New World. We acknowledge, though, that the destruction dealt by Tang troops during the war was out of line with human decency, and therefore, in the interest of peace, we offer here a full and unconditional apology.

Moving onto more contemporary issues, we believe that Guangzhou is not exerting undue pressure upon the two Bulgerian holy cities; however, we are willing to suspend future cultural developments there. As for our caravels, they are on a permanent mission of exploration, to fill up the few holes left in the maps of our cartographers. If they are truely such a concern to Bulgeria, we can recall the caravels to their home ports, though it would take a long time indeed.

We are willing to have further talks on issues between our two nations. After all, China has no wish to awaken a sleeping tiger right by her doorstep. May this be the basis for a lasting and cordical peace.

Signed:

Li Wenxiang
Foreign Minister