Almeraei
This article is incomplete because it is pending further input from participants, or it is a work-in-progress by one author. Please comment on this article's talk page to share your input, comments and questions. Note: To contribute to this article, you may need to seek help from the author(s) of this page. |
Republic of Almeraei ܐܠܟܬܘܝ ܐܠܡܪܐܝ (Almeraei) Melkatu-ī Almeraei | |
---|---|
Anthem: | |
Capital and largest city | Elarai |
Official languages | Almeraei |
Recognised regional languages | Fallish Hyacinthean Ruthish |
Ethnic groups (2024) | 82.4% Almeraeites 8.3% Abarians 5.6% Chals 4.3% Altiqors 2.2% Chaburs |
Religion (2024) | 78.2% Adorationalism 12.3% Himaya 7.2% Irreligious 2.1% Palmerism |
Demonym(s) | Almeraei |
Government | Unitary presidential constitutional republic |
Hannah Arammu | |
TBD | |
Jeremias Ereshanel | |
TBD | |
Legislature | National Congregation |
Formation | |
• Establishment of El-Cimir | TBD |
• Establishment of Aimur Empire | TBD |
• Subjugation by Ra’hat | TBD |
• Establishment of the Kingdom of Almeraei | TBD |
• Colonization of Southeast Abaria | TBD |
TBD | |
Area | |
• Total | 824,569 km2 (318,368 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | 2.8% |
Population | |
• 2024 estimate | 102,381,091 (4th) |
• 2020 census | 95,009,652 (5th) |
• Density | 124.163/km2 (321.6/sq mi) |
GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $4.82 trillion |
• Per capita | $47,070 |
GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $2.97 trillion |
• Per capita | $28,969 |
Gini (2023) | 33.4 medium |
HDI (2024) | 0.841 very high (8th) |
Currency | Almeraei talminel (=)(ALA) |
Time zone | UTC -2 |
Date format | mm-dd-yyyy |
Driving side | right |
Calling code | +85 |
Internet TLD | .al |
Almeraei (Almeraei: ܐܠܟܬܘܝ; hernicized: Almeraei), officially the Republic of Almeraei (Almeraei: ܐܠܡܪܐܝ ܐܠܟܬܘܝ; hernicized: Melkatu-ī Almeraei), is a sovereign state located in Southeast Abaria. With a population over 102 million people, Almeraei is the fourth-most populous country in the world; aditionally, it is the 5th-largest country by land area in Abaria, and the 7th-largest in the world. It borders thirteen countries by land to its west, north and east, and the Almeraei Sea to the south. The capital and largest city is Elarai.
Almeraei is the location of one of the earliest formations of an advanced agricultural society and is known as one of the world's cradles of civilization, with evidence of non-agricultural sedentism accruing in the region as early as 24,000 years ago during the late Epipaleolithic. Agricultural settlements, fueled by the domestication of cereals and animals, spurred the development of some of the world's first cities and civilizations, the most notably being the settlement of El-Cimir along the Imir River approximately 9,000 years ago. Situated within the tricontinental nexus, the region encompassing modern Almeraei has experienced periods where local polities exerted regional domination or were subject to external domination, the most notable periods being the ancient Aimur Empire, the vassalage era under Ra’hat, the growth of Himaya under the Shiraqic Qal'aldesh and as a colonial state subject to Hyacinthean Empire.
During the Second Hyacinthean Revolution, the Adorational diaspora immigrated to colonial Abaria in an effort to assist the indigenous Almeraeites in establishing an Adorational State predicated on the ideology of Canonical Return and rebuilding the National Altar. Efforts to establish an independent Adorationalist State was spearheaded by the National Adorationalist Front (NAF) and the International Adorational Socialist Society. On December 1, 1923 the Republic of Almeraei declared itself independent from Hyacinthe, igniting the First South Abarian War which continued until 1928. Bordering nations of Almeraei invaded in 1936 during the Great War in a confined regional conflict known as the Second South Abarian War. Despite securing recognition from the global international community, the neighboring Hamin and Palmerian states have refused to acknowledge its independence.
Almeraei is a unitary parliamentary republic with an executive president who serves as both the head of state and head of government. The president is elected by popular vote and the prime minister is elected by the the National Congregation, the unicamerial legislature of the republic. Hannah Arammu has served as president since 2021, and Jeremias Ereshanel has served as prime minister since 2015. Almeraei is a member of the United Congress (UC), Abarian Regional Forum (ARF), W20, and World Monetary Fund (WMF).
Etymology
The name Almeraei is closely linked to the polytheistic deity Oraei, who was a central figure in the ancient Almeraeite pantheon. Oraei played a dominant role in the religious and cultural life of the Almeraei people, particularly after the rise of the city of El-Arai and the establishment of the Aimur Empire. The nation's name is a combination of the words "Alm", meaning people, and "Iraei' which derives from the name Oraei who was the patron god of the city of El-Arai, and the combination of the two means plainly "the people of Oraei" or "the people of El-Arai".
As Oraei became the most prominent god in the pantheon, his name influenced the identity of those outside the city of El-Arai, leading to the word Almeraei being associated with both the land and its divine protector.
History
Prehistory
Humans first entered what is now the modern state of Almeraei approximately 1.2 million years ago during the early Pleistocene. Archeological evidence suggests that four distinct Archaic Hominoids coexisted in close proximity, engaging in extensive interbreeding beginning around 500,000 years ago. Full homogenization of these groups did not occur until the arrival of Homo sapiens between 90,000 and 79,000 years ago. Almeraei is one of the earliest known sites of Homo sapien exploration outside of Hylasia. The earliest evidence of modern human sedentism in Almeraei dates back to approximately 24,000 years ago, during the late Epipaleolithic period, and is attributed to the nomadic Onnu culture. Agriculture emerged with the Imirian people, who founded the city of El-Cimir around 9,000 years ago on Cimir Island, located in the center of Lake Cimir.
Archaeological findings, including mass burial grounds preserved by peat bogs, provide evidence of El-Cimir’s population and significance. Around 6,000 years ago, it is hypothesized that settlers from El-Cimir established the city of El-Arai following an inundation event that temporarily led to El-Cimir's abandonment. El-Arai became a catalyst for regional urbanization and the formation of one of the earliest civilizations in Almeraei. Several cities, including El-Mur, rose to prominence in this period, with one of the oldest inscriptions in the region, dated to 5,500 years ago, found in El-Mur. Other notable inscriptions from this era include the Almeraeite Regnal Testament, which documents the kings of El-Mur, El-Arai, and the reestablished second city of El-Cimir.
Ancient
One of the most defining features of Araite settlements was the construction of royal burial mounds. Araite rulers practiced a tradition known as "mound swathing," in which they were buried on top of their predecessor's mound. These earthen mounds were first encased in stones and later covered by additional layers of earth and stones. This process led to the creation of the largest tumulus in the world, which now appears as a prominent forested hill in the middle of the modern city of Elarai.
Between 5,300 and 5,000 years ago, cities and their surrounding regions grew in societal complexity. Large-scale irrigation and flood control systems were developed to manage the Rul River, and sophisticated bureaucracies emerged to support the religious and political institutions of the cities. During this period, a religious pantheon was codified, officially recognizing specific deities and their cults as the state religion of the independent city-states. Around 4,900 years ago, an internal theological dispute erupted among religious scholars, driven by the assertion of the El-Arai cult that their deity was the chief of the pantheon. This religious conflict was part of a broader struggle for dominance among the city-states.
Oraei, the chief deity of El-Arai, rose to prominence in the Almeraei pantheon after El-Arai established political and economic dominance over its neighbors, forming the Aimur Empire, one of the earliest known empires in Abaria. The name "Aimur" is a combination of ‘Arai’ and ‘Mur,’ which were the two most powerful cities in the region at the time. Al-Hinnari, the King of El-Arai, conquered El-Cimir, El-Mur, and El-Rheol around 4,900 years ago, becoming the first King of Aimur. The city-state of Xir was able to maintain its independence.
Al-Hinnari assumed the regal title of "Righteous and Divine Reflection of the Eternal," or simply the "Righteous Reflection" (Alraakuru-ur-Aimur, literally the Righteous Reflection of Aimur), after approximately 20 years of religious, political, and economic integration. The fascination with mirrors and their connection to the divine was incorporated into the codified Almeraei religion and remains an important element of religious tradition today. Almeraei governmental officials and soldiers are required to swear an oath before their own reflection. Scholars believe that during Al-Hinnari's reign, the Regnal Testament was revised to include roughly 25,000 years of dynastic rule.
The Aimur Empire maintained its hegemony over the Almeraei city-states for approximately 230 years, but it collapsed around 4,670 years ago. It is believed that a combination of external forces from the north and domestic disputes between the states led to Aimur's downfall. Aimur was subjected to northern rule for approximately 300 years, until the collapse of the northern empire around 4,370 years ago. By the end of the northern empire’s dominance, the cult of Oraei had lost its prominence, and the Almeraei city-states had returned to patronizing local deities as well as some foreign gods.
Antiquity
The Adorational Canon (natively the Uhura, sometimes referred to as the Uhuraic Canon) details the oral traditions of the captured peoples of the former Aimur Empire in the lands to the north. According to the Adorational Canon, the God of the Almeraei, Alraakuru-ur-Almeraei (pronounced al-raaq-ur-al-mar-rye), sent the serapah Imirner before the agricultural slave Raeianar and his wife Innaram to instruct them in agitating the enslaved Almeraei into rebellion against Ra’hat. Imirner instructed Raeianar to select either himself or a faithful associate to act as a communicant with God in desperate circumstances. Imirner provided Raeianar with the Sacred Mirror, informing him that any mortal who gazed upon it would be blinded by the radiance of God and destined to bear no future children.
Raeianar convinced his close relative, Eamurai, to become the Supreme Priest and Divine Communicant of God. Raeianar chose not to inform Eamurai of the potential consequences associated with the Sacred Mirror, finding solace in this deception due to Eamurai already having a son and daughter. During the Battle of Kemenu, a pivotal event for the Almeraei in their rebellion against Ra’hat, Eamurai entered the Reflecting Tent, gazed upon the Sacred Mirror, and directly communicated with God. According to the Adorational Canon, the Reflecting Tent transformed into the Reflection of Creation, revealing all truths to Eamurai. A full canonical chapter is dedicated to this interaction, forming the foundation of Adorationist theology. Eamurai asked God for a swift conclusion to the battle, and God agreed, though Eamurai was blinded upon emerging from his prophetic trance.
The Arm, Sword, and Cloud of the Lord appeared before Tenir, the King of Ra’hat, and pierced his heart with a saber, causing his forces to retreat in terror as malformed birds attacked them. Raeianar was informed by Imirner that Eamurai had been renamed by God as Alraakuru-ur-Eamurai, a title typically reserved for God. Confused, Raeianar asked, “Is it not He who is the only eternal reflection of the divine?” Imirner replied, “He who looks upon the reflection of the Sacred Mirror looks upon the true appearance of God.” This established the belief that the appearance of God was the same as Eamurai, leading to ongoing theological debates about whether Eamurai is an essence of the monotheistic God. Raeianar, fearing disbelief in God's power due to Eamurai’s weakened state, forbade anyone from looking upon him. This tradition continues within Canonical Adorationalism, where the physical identity of the Supreme Priest or Priestess is concealed from the public. After departing from the north, the Almeraeites returned to Almeraei and began generational wars and conquests to reestablish the dominance of Oraei and end polytheism. In the modern Republic of Almeraei, the Supreme Priestess Hinara Eamurai holds a legal status similar to a sovereign, immune from both national and international law, although she lacks the authority to appoint secular officials.
The Kingdom of Almeraei was established after 30 years of wars and conquests, reestablishing an empire on the scale of Aimur. The consolidation of Almeraei was completed approximately 2,830 years ago. The kingdom maintained its dominance for around 300 years, during which the Sacred Mirror, the Supreme Priestess of the Eamuraic line, and the Temple of El-Arai (now the National Altar) gained prominence. The symbol of Almeraei during this period was the Sacred Mirror. However, internal divisions eventually shattered the dominance of the Raeianar dynasty, leading to the reestablishment of numerous states around the ancient cities. Despite this, the worship of the single God, Oraei, and the Temple of El-Arai remained central to Almeraeite religious life.
Medieval
500 CE to 1500 CE
Modern
1500 CE - 1800 CE
Contemporary
1800 CE - Current Date
Geography
Samuriel Island, located outside
Climate
Almeraei experiences a wide variety of climates, ranging from humid subtropical, oceanic to continental. Situated between the 40th and 30th parallel north, its climate can be generalized as as being temperate, with cool to mild winters and warm summers. Summers are fairly humid, with the Almeraei Sea acting as a heatsink during the summer which absorbs heat and cools the air before it is swept up by the westerlies and dispersed across the relatively flat central interior. Average temperatures in the central river basin are relatively mild at a yearly mean temperature of 14.6°C (58.3°F), with the month of August being the warmest with a mean temperature of 28.6°C (83.5°F) and the month of January being the coolest at 9.5°C (49.1°F). Most parts of the country experience mild variations in seasons, with the exception of southern Almeraei. Summer last three months, from June to early September, and Winter lasts from December until February. Almeraei experiences thunderstorms, tornados and hailstorms.
Average annual precipitation is 1,651 millimeters (65 in), with an average of 1 centimeters (0.4 inches) of snow accumulation. Out of the year, there is an average amount of 189 days of rain, and 2,174 hours of mean monthly sunshine.
Biodiversity
Government and politics
Almeraei is a unitary parliamentary constitutional republic with a directly elected head of government who also serves as the state. The government is established by the constitution, and is divided into three branches, the executive, legislative and judiciary. Almeraei is comprised of sixty-four administrative divisions, which are further subdivided into prefectures, subprefectures and local governments. The legislature and the executive share power regarding the administration of state functions, and the appointment of ministers. Hannah Arammu is the president and Jeremias Ereshanel currently serves as prime minister.
Almeraei's legislative organ is the National Congregation, a unicameral legislature with 500 seats and is elected by popular vote every three years.
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
Military
The Almeraei Armed Forces (AAF) is the military force of Almeraei, comprising the Almeraei Army, Almeraei Navy, and Almeraei Air Force. The Almeraei Armed Forces is a prominent force within the region, known for its strategic capabilities and its emphasis on both territorial defense and regional projection. With approximately 615,000 active duty personnel, supported by around 1.4 million reserve personnel, Almeraei has a large military force in comparison to its neighbors. For approximately a century the armed forces have focused on maintaining a technological edge over local opponents, combined with a large, well-trained military presence capable of rapid mobilization. Almeraei officially denies having a nuclear weapons program, though the country’s technological infrastructure and sophisticated military capabilities have led to speculation about its potential to develop such weapons.
- Almeraei Army (AA): The Army is the largest branch of Almeraei’s armed forces, and due to the nation's border concerns is the the most comprehensive in terms defensive and offensive military capabilities. It is composed of roughly 350,000 active-duty soldiers, with conscription ensuring a steady flow of trained personnel into both active and reserve roles. The army also benefits from a large reserve force, with around 800,000 personnel ready for mobilization in times of conflict or emergency.
- Almeraei Navy (AN): The Navy is the maritime arm of the republic's armed forces, tasked with protecting the nation’s coastal borders, securing sea lines of communication, projecting power across regional waters and protecting the two key straits to the open seas. As of 2024, the Navy reported having approximately 100,000 personnel. The navy fields a balanced mix of surface combatants and submarines. It operates two cruisers, five destroyers, 16 frigates, 15 corvettes, and 10 amphibious warfare ships.
- Almeraei Air Force (AAF): The Air Force is the armed forces aviation branch responsible for maintaining air superiority, providing close air support to ground forces, and conducting strategic bombing and reconnaissance missions. The air force has approximately 550 combat aircraft.
Law enforcement and crime
Economy
As of 2024, Almeraei is the second largest economy (by PPP) and the 5th largest economy (by nominal) and is classified as a high-income mixed economy. As of September 2024, the World Monetary Fund estimated that Almeraei had a GDP (PPP) of $4.82 trillion and a GDP (nominal) of $2.97 trillion. Almeraei's economy is influenced by the central government through regulations, planning and intervention, and historically pursued a policy of import substitution industrialization. Almeraei is an industrialized nation and is a member of the Intercontinental Trade Organization (ITO), the Tricontinental Economic Forum (TEF), Abarian Regional Forum (ABF), Transnational Organization of Petroleum States (TOPS) and the W20.
Almeraei's economy is partially diversified, with a large portion of the workforce employed in sectors related to hydrocarbons and manufacturing. As of 2024, approximately 34% of the workforce was employed in the industrial sector, 16% in the agricultural sector and the remaining 49% working in services. In terms percentage of GDP (PPP), industry employment and output contributed 48.1% to the national gross domestic product, services contributed 42.1% and the remaining 9.8% was from agricultural employment and output.
According to recent geological surveys and exploration, approximately 8.5% of the world's proven oil reserves and 12% of all currently accounted for gas reserves are located within Almeraei. It is the fourth largest producer of oil in the world, producing 5,190,000 barrels of crude oil annually. As of 2024, there are 12 major oil refineries and has a crude distillation capacity of 5.197 bd/cd
Almeraei is the third largest producer of manufactured goods in Abaria, exporting $690 billion in physical merchandise and commodities to foreign markets annually. In 2023 its top exports included crude petroleum, refined petroleum, petrochemicals, liquefied natural gas, industrial metals, passenger and cargo ships, vehicle parts, medical instruments, heavy equipment, and hardwood pulp.
Agriculture
Almeraei’s temperate climate, characterized by mild seasonal variations and ample rainfall, supports a diverse agricultural sector. Agriculture in central Almeraei benefits from loamy soils rich in humus, phosphorus and ammonia. An extensive irrigation system of locks, dams, dykes and canals was developed in ancient times some 7,000 years ago to assist in the control of perennial flooding. While the irrigation system is essential to agricultural activity, structural failures within the system have resulted in some of the most devastating losses of life in the region. Planning and management of Almeraei's early irrigation systems was one of the catalysts for the development of early complex human civilization and the establishment of centralized states.
As of 2024, agriculture accounts for approximately 9.8% of Almeraei's GDP by purchasing power parity, amounting to roughly $471.4 billion. About 16% of the national workforce, or approximately 10.2 million people, are employed in the agricultural sector. Primary crops include cereals such as wheat, sorghum, soybeans, corn, and rice in the far south. In 2023, wheat production reached around 32.8 million metric tons, the mostly cultivated grain in central Almeraei.
Livestock, primarily cattle, sheep, and poultry, comprises about 8% of the agricultural sector’s value and generated approximately $5 billion in income from exports in 2023. Domestic consumption of meat has increased over the last half century, resulting in a decline of surplus for export. According to the United Congress Food Bureau, if domestic production of livestock does not increase within the next 25 years, Almeraei's consumption of meat will result in it's reliance of foreign meat imports.
Almeraei’s agricultural sector operates under significant state oversight, conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MAI), the superseding ministry of the State Agricultural and Irrigation Maintenance Commission (SAIMC), an entity which controls the National Irrigation System (NIS). The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, through the Agricultural Stabilization and Development Commission provides small and medium-sized farms subsidies, in an effort to support rural employment and help balance import substitution with the production of high-value exports, including livestock and specialty crops.
Energy
Almeraei has an extensive energy sector, driven by its oil and natural gas reserves. In 2024, 90.5% of all electric generation was sourced from fossil fuels, the largest portion coming from natural gas (82.21%) and the second largest being petroleum (8.33%). The remaining 9.5% of electric generation originated from renewable energy. Almeraei's third largest energy source comes the hydroelectric dams (7.14%) attached to the various locks and dams on its numerous rivers. In 2004, Almeraei constructed its first nuclear powerplant, and in 2024 nuclear power (2.32%) contributed the smallest portion to domestic electric consumption.
Electric generation and distribution was formerly controlled by the Ministry of Energy through it's subordinate agency the Almeraei State Power Authority Board (ASPAB). In 2017 the State Power Authority Board was privatized by the government, and numerous private corporations were established. In 2013, the Elarai Generation Station became the largest gas-fired power station in the world, with an installed capacity of 8,142 MW. Other major generation stations include the Imir Basin Fuel Plant with an installed capacity of 3,642 MW, the fifth largest fuel oil-fired power station in the world, the Elkahr Nuclear Station with an installed capacity of 1,200 MW, and the North Talabar Dam with a 3,800 MW capacity.
Transportation
Demographics
Language
Almeraei is the official and most widely spoken language in the nation, and is used in officially in government, education, and public media. Other commonly spoken languages, primarily used by the Adorational diaspora, includes Fallish, Hyacinthean, and Ruthish.
Religion
According to religious survey's conducted in 2024, Almeraei is predominantly Adorationalist (78.2%), or roughly 80 million people, with the remainder of the population belonging to other Imirianic religions, 12.3% practicing Himaya, approximately 12.6 million people, and 2.1% practicing Palmerism, or roughly 2.15 million people. In 2024, 7.2% or 7.4 million people who responded to religious surveys stated they were irreligious or unaffiliated.