cNES: 1498

[civman2000]

The year is 1498. The great powers of Eurasia--Venice, China, Persia, and Turkestan--are preparing to impose their rule on Africa, and perhaps other lands as well. The two Sunni Caliphates of Singapore and Al-Andalus also have imperial designs, but may lack the power needed to execute them. In northern Europe, the Golden Horde, Holy Roman Empire, and the Triple Kingdom are economically weak and technologically lagging feudal empires. In East Asia, the Union of Honshu serves China obediently, but under the surface is seething with rage and longs for a renewal of Japan. In Siberia, Australia, and Africa, native kingdoms are suddenly finding themselves being colonized.

The Major Nations:
Empire of China (red)
Ruler: foolish_icarus
Large Army
Large Navy
Booming Economy
Confucian Religion
Monarchy
Background: In the early 1400's, Cheng Ho led many expeditions from China. IRL, afterwrd China turned inward and became isolationist. In this world, they did not. Cheng's voyages marked the beginning of a grand era of Chinese expansion which still has not ended.

Khanate of Turkestan (dark purple)
Large Army
Small Navy
Stagnant Economy
Sunni Muslim Religion
Monarchy
Background: Turkestan once was a great Mongol Empire, stretching from Finland to Turkey to the Ganges. However, In the past century the Golden Horde and Persia have split off from it, and its economy has begun to falter. Still, it hopes of recreating the ancient empire of the first great Khans.

Empire of Persia (blue-green)
Ruler: civman2000
Medium Army
Small Navy
Prosperous Economy
Shiite Muslim Religion
Theocratic Monarchy
Background: Persia revolted from Turkestan 70 years ago, and ever since it has been the defender of Shiites everywhere. Most of its Arab subjects are Sunni and revolt from time to time. Recently, in conquered several kingdoms in soutehrn India.

Duchy of Venice (sea green)
Ruler: Giovanni Wine
Small Army
Large Navy
World Leading Economy
Greek Orthodox Religion
Mercantile Aristocratic Monarchy
Background: Some of the Crusades went terribly wrong, and the result was the Venetian conquest of the Byzantine Empire. Maintaining the humble title of Duke, Venice's ruler is perhaps the most powerful person in the world. After several wars, Venice agreed to establish a peaceful border with Al-Andalus, and then turned east to Persia. In a few key battles, Venice took control of the Red Sea, and thus has begun to colonize east africa.

Caliphate of Singapore (green)
Ruler: Methril
Medium Army
Medium Navy
Growing Economy
Sunni Religion
Theocratic Monarchy
Background: Just before China began building its empire, Singapore started its. Conquering Indonesia and Thailand, the city-state turned empire imposed its religion on the unhappy inhabitants. Together with Turkestan, Singapore conquered Burma and some of eastern India.

Khanate of the Golden Horde (light brown)
Ruler: Nimitz
Medium Army
Small Navy
Declining Economy
Sunni Muslim Religion
Feudal Monarchy
Background: After splitting off from Turkestan, the Golden Horde established a feudal system. For the past 60 years it has done little but stagnated, as the kingdoms to its south advanced.

Caliphate of Al-Andalus (purple)
Ruler: Sheep
Medium Army
Medium Navy
Booming Economy
Sunni Muslim Religion
Monarchy
Background: Despite claiming to be the Caliph of all of Islam, Al-Andalus has become a very religiously tolerant society. After its defeat by Charleslemagne at Tours centuries ago, it abandoned its dreams of expanding into France and focused on the Mediterranean. In a series of wars with the quickly declining Papacy and Venice, it established its control of most of Italy, causing the Vatican to flee to France. After conquering Italy, the Andalusians conquered the north african kingdoms from which they originally came. Now, the Caliphate is the economic center of western europe, and while not building an empire, it is becoming an important commercial force.

Holy Roman Empire (brown)
Ruler: War of Art
Meidum Army
Small Navy
Shattered Economy
Catholic Religion
Feudal Monarchy
Background: Established by Charleslemagne, the HRE continued to expand after his death. However, as the feudal system took hold of the Empire, it became less and less centralized, Although it is more of an empire than IRL it was, it is very backward and disunited.

Triple Kingdom of Normandy, England, and Denmark (pale yellow)
Ruler: Frozzy
Small Army
Medium Navy
Growing Economy
Catholic Relgion
Feudal Monarchy
Background: In 1066 William of Normandy conquered England, thus establishing a Double Kingdom. His descendants expanded the Kingdom, conquering Scotland, Ireland, and the low countries. In a great diplomatic victory, the DOunble Kingdom and Denmark were united by marriage, creating the Triple Kingdom. Although it is somewhat backwards and feudal, it is more advanced than the Horde to the east and HRE to the south, and has begun establishing permanent colonies in the islands to the northwest.

Union of Honshu (maroon)
Tiny Army
Small Navy
Stagnant Economy
Shinto Religion
Feudal Monarchy
Background: Recently, most of Japan was conquered by China. However, to avoid constant revolts, CHina allowed Honshu partial independence. Honshu agreed, but still wants revenge against the western cnquerors.

The Native Kingdoms:
The SIberian COnfederacy (gray)
The Aboriginal COnfederacy (dark blue0
Ethiopia (light blue)
Dahomey (orange)
!Xhosa (blue)


Little is known of the Native kingdoms, so be careful in attacking them. However, you are assured that they are less advanced than the major kingdoms.

How to explore: Say that you are exploring an area. Please keep it reasonable and try not to use RL names; reference them relative to already known lands. I will show the exploration in the next map update. To make colonies, say so; however colonies are not always successful. OTher than these thigns, I will tr not to moderate much.

1 day=2 years.

[foolish_icarus]

very cool

china please

[Methril]

Ill take Singapore.

To: China and Turkestan

We need the early alliance!!

Orders:

try to establish colony in West Australia

increase army

[civman2000]

Update of 1500

Singaporese (?) colonization: The colony got off to a good start but then was hit by horrible weather in the winter and spring. With the help of some friendly natives, however, they have managed to maintain their colony, though only 1/4 of teh colonists are still alive.

[Giovanni Wine]

Nice alternative game:
A 1400 World without France, Spain, Austria, Ottoman, Portugal and Russia (as well as Mughals in India and so on).

I will play as the Duchy of Venice

To: Al-Andalus
From: Venice

We would like to create an alliance with you, together we will rule the Mediterranean and we will control the world trade, what do you say?

In Friendship
Duke Giovanni Bernardin

To: Ethiopia
From: Venice

Our religions are very similar (in RL Ethiopia is following a Cristian religion similar to the Greek-Orthodox one) and that's why we have great respect for your nation, therefore we would like to ask your permission to expans our current colonies in Somaliland. We hope you will agree.

In Friendship
Duke Giovanni Bernardin

Saluti

[civman2000]

Ethiopia to Venice: Hmmm...maybe if you gave us a coastline on the Red Sea we'd consent.

OOC: If no one takes the playable nations you've sent messages to within 2 days, I'll repsond, but I don't want to have to moderate all of that and all that has been asked for is alliances.

[Frozzy]

I'll take Normandy

Norman Diplomacy

Emissary to Venice: We believe it is in our interests to sign a pact guaranteeing our security in Europe

Sapiens fortunam fingit sibi

Frozzy of Normandy

Norman Military

West Ocean Exploration
King Frozzy has, on the best advice of his knights, given the order to explore the ocean west of Ireland (henceforth known as the "Atlantic").

[Sheep]

I will take Al- Andus.

The Caliph strode out and looked out onto his capital of Almty from his favorite balcony. The Caliphiate was indeed growing strong, the true Empire of thw world, he sought against his advisors to allow diffrent religions and won.

He however sought more domains more power. The people of the Caliphiate sought to welcome their fellow brothers into what has been dubbed the peaceful Kingdom.

The Caliph thought about the consquences of such an expansion would ensure, he sought needed answers, and allies. Dispatches have been sent to the most powerful empire other thatn his own. Those the Caliph deemed worthy of helping the Kingdom to greater heights and helping themselves too.


Caliphate of Al-Andalus (purple)
Medium Army (upgrading 2 years)
Medium Navy (upgrading 3 years)
Booming Economy (upgrading 4 years)
Sunni Muslim Religion (offical) Many religions.
Monarchy


To Venice: Accepted may this alliance stand the test of time people always speak of. May our freindship truly be enternal.

To Singapore: We are intrested in froming a relationship with your great people. The People of oure religion must unite and stay strong in brotherhood lest the people of the outside world destroy everything we hold dear.

To the Golden Horde: Our Kingdom welcomes people of faiths, and we welcome you we would like to secure an alliance so we can work together for the good of both our peoples.

[Jamski]

I'll take the HRE.

The Electors gather in Frankfurt for the coranation of Kaiser Otto IV, Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt. Attending can be seen the Count of Provence, the Duke of Torino, the King of Saxony, the King of Bavaria, the Bishops of Mainz, Trier, Salzburg, Aachen and Frankfurt, the Archbishop of Köln, the Count Palantinate of the Rhineland, the Duke of Brandenburg and the Burgermeisters of Hamburg, Bremen and Rostock. The whole minor nobility is there too. After the ceremony they all go hunting in the foothills of the Taunus. The new Emperor spends hours with his advisors looking at a map of the world. Eventually he finds the Grand Duchy of Coburg - the Duke will pay for voting against his election...

(To be continued... Who needs colonies when there's so much trouble at home?)

-Jam

[Methril]

Singapore

To: Al-Andulas

We would accept an alliance or a promise of no aggression.

[Nimitz]

I'll take the Khanate of the Golden Horde.

grow Army to large

To: Persia

We would like an alliance against Turkestan they are an evil.

To: Turkestan

We demand all the land added to us from you in this map.

[civman2000]

as well as Mughals in India

Actually, the RL Mughals are the same empire as Turkestan in this game


Map with Norman exploration (they discovered Newforundland)

[Nimitz]

To: Al-Andalus
From: Golden Horde

We would accept an alliance.

[foolish_icarus]

The Emperor Hongzhi liked exploration and expansion very much. He was also somewhat permissive among his chosen counselors and favored members of government, which was why one of his advisors was permitted to speak out on this occasion. “FOUR expeditions, your excellency??”
“That’s right,” the Emperor responded. “One overland westward from the north, one from the south, and sailing expeditions to the east and southeast of our New Guinea colony and around India to the coast of Africa. We’ve done it before, it shouldn’t be too hard, but I want it more detailed this time. As you know, the Council and I are considering a colony there, and we need suitable information should we decide in favor of it. How soon can expeditions be sent?”
The head of the treasury stepped forward with the figures he had prepared upon first hearing of these plans, bowed deeply, and handed the emperor the tally. “Sire, our treasury can withstand sending one overland expedition and one seafaring by the end of this year. The remaining expeditions will have to remain until next year and the one after that if we are not to exceed our funds and keep the present tax levels.”
“See to it.”

Later that day, the head diplomat came to the Emperor. “Sire, diplomats from Singapore have arrived. They wish for a treaty.” He presented the proposal. It was fairly straitforward, an open-ended alliance. The next day, after discussion with the head of his court, the Emperor had the head diplomat summoned again. “Tell the diplomats that we agree. An sent the governors of the Australian colonies word that we are pleased with their progress, and that they are to expand their holdings further. ”

[Frozzy]

Norman Diplomacy
Emissary to the Holy Roman EmpireCONFIDENTIAL
We should protect our nations from Barbarians willing to pillage and rape our free peoples. I suggest we proclaim an alliance between us, The Pact of Mithril, to stand the test of time, not too unlike our prosporous nations.

Also, in an unrelated venture, we wish to proclaim a trade route open between our nations. Hopefully this will improve our economoies more so than if we were to swing axes and swords blindly at one another.

We support your move against the Duke of Coburg. Our intelligence reports he is up to no good, already plotting the downfall of your Kaiser. We of course recommend taking measures to quell his vile actions of terrorism.

Norman Military
[i]Continued Newfoundland Exploration[i]
Having discovered the coast of Newfoundland, it is the wish of King Frozzy to continue to prospect the coast south of the area.

Norman Domestic Affairs
Newfoundland colonisation
King Frozzy has gathered 500 willing peasants from the farms of England, Normandy and Denmark to start a new life of freedom, exploration and adventure in Newfoundland. King Frozzy was extremely emotional when giving his farewells to the bold adventurers, taking a giant leap in the history of Normandy.

Conscription push
King Frozzy has been gifted with people willing to commit themselves to the collective security of Normandy, and with the current rate of new recruits in the Norman Army, it appears that the Army will swell to international standard "Medium" in 3 years. The Navy will amass enough vessels to proclaim itself equal to the world's best navies, as it becomes known as "Large" in another 3 years.