Saukania

Confederation of the Saukanians '
Seal of the Confederation
Location of Saukania in Thrismari
Capital	Kula (winter capital) Khodan (summer capital)
Largest city	Kula
Ethnic groups (2020)	93.6% Saukanian 6.4% Other
Religion (2020)	79.4% Saukanian paganism 10.2% Christianity 6.6% Islam 3.8% Other
Demonym(s)	Saukanian
Government	Confederation of sovereign city-states
Legislature	Confederation Council
Area
• Total	1,116,863 km2 (431,223 sq mi)
Population
• 2020 estimate	27,214,000
• Density	24.3/km2 (62.9/sq mi)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	left
Internet TLD	.sg

Saukania, formally the Confederation of the Saukanians or the Saukanian Confederation, is a landlocked country in northwestern Thrismari. Saukania is bordered by Bezuria and Shirua to its south and south-west, and Sarocca to the north. At 1,116,863 million square kilometers, Saukania is one of the largest countries in Thrismari, though very sparsely populated, with a population of 27.2 million people. The Confederation is broadly coextensive with the Saukanian physical region, to which the Saukanian peoples (identified by their speaking of the Saukanian languages) are native. It is an arid country, comprised almost entirely of desert and steppe.

Human habitation in Saukania began in the Palaeolithic. Neolithic and Chalcolithic settlements centred on the fertile oases that supported irrigation and agriculture gave rise to city-states, which grew wealthy and powerful with their strategic position along overland Thrismari trade routes. Saukania's history is largely defined by wars between rival cities to establish hegemony and collect tribute, and conflict between the settled and nomadic populations of the desert. Modern city-states such as Acha, Khodan, and Kula have historically been the centre of these tributary empires. Conflict with neighbours beyond the limits of Saukanian civilization is another prominent dimension of their history.

The modern Confederation established itself over the 18th and 19th centuries in response to significant foreign pressure and the risk of subjugation, due to the competing colonial interests of Nyalan and Riamo. It is a decentralised body, with its constituent states governing themselves according to their own laws, but voluntarily ceding independent foreign relations to a corporate representation. The ancient and prestigious cities of Kula and Khodan serve as the Confederation's joint capitals, and are the two largest city-states by population. Since its foundation, the Confederation has grappled with internal instability arising from its tribal and multiethnic composition, limited economic development, and sectarian issues.

Saukania is a heavily agrarian country with a large rural population and sizeable nomadic minority, with its urban centres serving as the core of industry and culture. Its native population, the Saukanians, are a closely-related yet diverse array of ethnic groups with strong regional and local identities, a history of tribalism, and with profound linguistic, cultural, social, and religious distinctions. Exports of fruits, vegetables, and other cash crops are a major source of revenue, as is the export of finished material goods such as textiles, with Saukanian carpets being famed throughout much of the world. Tourism to Saukania is common for its historic archaeological sites and unique culture, expressed through its cuisine, art, music, and entertainment.

Name

Main article: Names of the Saukanians

History

Main article: History of Saukania

Prehistory and antiquity (before 7th century AD)

Further information: Ancient history of Saukania and Archaeological sites in Saukania

Examination of prehistoric sites in Saukania has yielded an estimation of human habitation as far back as 61,000 years ago. With northern Thrismari a potential candidate for the origin of the human species, prehistoric Saukania may have been one of the first areas early man spread to in a southward peopling of the rest of the continent. Artefacts typical of the late Middle Palaeolithic, Upper Palaeolithic, and the Mesolithic have been discovered in Saukania. A number of sites yielded items from several eras, though the majority were confined to periods of (relatively) brief habitation in certain eras, before being abandoned. Changing climate and the somewhat cyclical expansion and retraction of the Western Thrismari Desert is likely to explain these differently situated habitation sites, and several sites were discovered in areas of modern Saukania which are sparsely inhabited if at all.

Permanent habitation and agriculture in prehistoric Saukania is not detectable until the beginning of the Neolithic around 11,000 years ago. As with prior eras, Saukania's climate and ecoregions were likely quite different than they are today, as a number of ancient Neolithic sites are located in what are presently fairly inhospitable regions of Saukania. Other presently inhospitable regions have yielded little-to-no evidence of prehistoric habitation. The agricultural development of Neolithic Saukania have been associated with a population termed Early Northern Thrismari Farmers or ENTF, a somewhat diverse yet related genetic grouping of people who gave rise to numerous successive archaeological cultures across the Neolithic period. Traces of hunter-gatherer populations have also been detected, potentially conserving older Mesolithic subsistence strategies before gradually being forced out or assimilated into the ENTF cultures. ENTF cultures over the Neolithic period include the Lower Laxad River Culture, the Sharp Angled Pottery Culture, the Keledan Culture, and the Mardan-Turana Cultural Complex.

Geography and climate

Main article: Geography of Saukania

Saukania has an area of 1,116,863 square kilometres (431,223 sq mi), and is one of the largest countries in Thrismari by total land area. It is a dry and landlocked country, bordering Sarocca to the north, Shirua to the west and southwest, and Bezuria to the south. Though the country has no outlet to the sea, Saukania comprises approximately half of the coastline of the inland Argan Sea.

The country lies between longitudes 43° and 59°W and latitudes 22° and 32°S.

Physical geography and georegions

Saukania has a diverse physical environment. The relatively flat, desert topography that comprises the majority of Saukanian land area gives way in the south to grassland and shrub-steppe, and then to the forest-steppe foothills of the Ghuran Mountains and the montane grasslands and shrublands of the mountains proper.

The vast Western Thrismari Desert dominates the northern and central portion of Saukania. There are a few large ergs in the Saukanian region of the desert trending north, while much of the desert is comprised of desert pavement and bare rock.

In the south and south-west of the country is the Saukanian steppe, forming a wide U-shaped arc. Receiving more rainfall than the desert to the north, the steppe is comprised primarily of grass and shrub, with some forest steppe interspersed. This forest-steppe is more abundant along riparian zones formed by the rivers that descend from the Ghuran Mountains, and in the foothills of the mountains themselves. The elevation rises from the broadly flat surrounding landscape at the foothills and up to around 3500m at the mountain range itself. This area is known as the Saukanian uplands or highlands. Montane grass and shrublands replace the temperate steppe regions as the elevation increases.

Climate

Saukania is possessed primarily of an arid continental climate. Average rainfall is low, and the majority of the country is comprised of desert and steppe climate. The highlands to the southwest receive a larger amount of rainfall than the lowlands, owing to their high elevation, which comprised with snowmelt in the summer, provides the waterflow of Saukania's rivers. The steppe climate borders this highland zone, and has more grass and vegetation than areas further northeast.

Environmental issues

A fragile ecological area, Saukania faces a number of major environmental problems, such as land degradation in farmed areas and increased desertification. These issues are felt most keenly by the country's nomadic population, who face losing pasture land to encroaching dunes or harsher desert conditions which they need to graze their herds. Deforestation of Saukania's already limited supply of wooded areas is also a major concern.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Saukania

The population of Saukania was estimated at 27.2 million as of 2020 by the Saukanian Statistics Authority. While the Confederation's members hold synchronised decennial censuses for the sake of accuracy, reliable numbers are often hard to obtain in particular districts and among the nomadic and highland populations. A combination of refusals to divulge information, isolated and hard to access terrain, as well as the mobility of the nomadic groups, makes assessment of the more marginal Saukanian communities harder. Many highland communities are known to give false information in the form of inflated male counts and underreported females in order to appear more threatening. In a 1980 census conducted by Khodan over the highland areas in its jurisdiction, one valley's reported population amounted to a gender imbalance of some 92% of inhabitants being male.

Nevertheless, estimates suggest approximately 5.7% of the population, around 1.55 million people, live nomadic lifestyles in one of the numerous nomadic ethnic groups and tribes populating the country. Of the remainder, approximately 41.2% were urban, and the remaining 53.1% live in rural areas. Saukania's urbanization rate has grown significantly in the last half century, as economic modernisation increases opportunity for rural inhabitants. The share of nomads has also declined as individuals or family units adopt semi-sedentary and fully sedentary lifestyles. Population growth in all segments of society is high, with an overall average of 1.67% annually. Fertility is the primary contributor to this growth, though it has slowed in recent decades. In 1960 the estimated TFR was 7.6 children per woman, which fell to 4.3 in 2010. Many Saukanians seek work in foreign countries, leading to a steady rate of emigration, though not enough to offset growth. Healthcare improvements and the lowering of the infant mortality rate have also contributed to longer lifespans and greater overall population.

Urbanization

Of the 41.2% of the population living in cities, just under half, or about 5 million, live in the four largest cities: Kula, Khodan, Acha, and Sardasar. Kula alone boasts a population of 2.1 million. As noted, urbanization rate is increasing with the influx of rural populations into the cities for work. This urbanization is not without tension however. The ethnic diversity of the cities has always been higher than surrounding countryside, but has intensified in recent decades with the economic potential. Tensions between different Saukanian populations are ever-present, and incidents of violence not unknown. Increased urban development in the highlands has also fuelled tension and even conflict, as enlarged population centres increasingly come to reflect the more cosmopolitan and lowland-style system of government and overall culture, antagonising the surrounding highland peoples.

Ethnicity

Main articles: Ethnic groups in Saukania, Saukanians, and Nomads in Saukania

Saukanians are divided into several ethnolinguistic groups. Saukanian-speaking peoples form the majority of the population, but adhere to a number of independent ethnic identities. The two largest ethnic groups are the Takhrians and the Arshanians, at approximately 34% and 31% of the population respectively. Both groups are Saukanian-speakers, of the northern-western and southern-eastern branches respectively. Takhrians and Arshanians form the political and economic elite of Saukania, and are the dominant ethnic group in most of the city-states (Takhrians in the north, Arshanians in the south). Around a quarter of the highland tribes are Takhrian. A third to half of the nomads consider themselves Arshanian. Smaller Saukanian-speaking ethnic groups include the Asmurians, Ghazanians, Khanorians, Sizerians, and Thagarians, none of which comprise more than 10% of the total population. Non-Saukanian ethnic groups include Arabs, Bezurians, Jews, Shiruans, and Turks, all of which are minorities.

Language

Main articles: Saukanian languages, Arshanian language, and Takhrian language

Takhrian and Arshanian are the two dominant languages of Saukania. Bilingualism is common, either in the form of Takhrians being fluent in Arshanian, vice-versa, or speakers of another language knowing at least one of these. The two languages are also sometimes called Khodanian and Kulean respectively, after their most prominent dialects. The languages are closely related, though not mutually intelligible. Like most languages spoken in Saukania, they are Saukanian languages. Often, when the term 'Saukanian' is used linguistically, it is referring either to Takhrian or Arshanian, though these are not the only members of that family.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Saukania

Major cities

Main article: List of major cities in Saukania

Government and politics

Main article: Government of Saukania

The Saukanian Confederation is defined as an alliance of eleven city-states, each of which is granted autonomy in domestic affairs, while ceding foreign affairs to a unitary body. This body is the Saukanian Confederation, recognised as a sovereign state. For recognition of their historic statuses and populations, Kula and Khodan hold the positions of joint-capital of the Confederation. For ease of administration, Khodan is the designated summer capital and Kula the designated winter capital.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Saukania

Military

Main article: The Saukanian Army

Culture

Main article: Culture of Saukania

Culture in Saukania is dictated as much by lifestyle (sedentary or nomadic) and living density (urban versus rural) entirely as much as it is by the distinct ethnic populations that inhabit the country, and the city-states that comprise these groups. While Saukanians do share many common cultural features, specifics are highly variable. The family is the pillar of Saukanian society, and the city-states regard themselves as comprised of families rather than of individuals. The family and its wider clan are older institutions than the city-states by far, and continue to hold a sacrosanct status that leaves many legal and formal responsibilities to kinship dynamics which in contemporary societies have been subsumed under the state. Saukanian families are patriarchal. In Saukania's many thousands of rural villages, families typically occupy mudbrick or stone houses, sometimes in compounds where extended families may live in several connected dwellings. Villages typically have a headman, the patriarch of the most influential or respected family. The rural population is overwhelmingly involved in agriculture, either growing crops or involvement in animal husbandry, with both subsistence and cash enterprises. Nomads frequent villages often, purchasing or trading for locally grown crops and manufactured goods, in exchange for wool, milk, and meat harvested from their flocks. Families are united in marriage, which is considered the exchange of a woman as the basis of alliance. The groom is expected to pay the bride's family. Wives are expected and raised to obey their husbands. Villages are often genealogical units unto themselves, populated by a small number of large, related families.

The urban centres of the city-states are the heart of Saukanian industry and political life. The rate of urbanization is growing, as younger people from the rural regions of the fertile oases migrate for work. Some nomads too are abandoning their lifestyles in favour of living and working in cities, while some groups stay for a while before moving on again. The city-states are the heart of Saukanian culture, producing large amounts of goods, jewellery, textiles, and art, as well as being centres of cuisine and music. Public life and presentation is important in the city-states, and Saukanians are conscious of their image and reputation. Honour, valued as reputation and standing, is very important to Saukanians both individually and as part of their corporate units; family, clan, tribe, etc. Saukanian tribal identities have endured for many centuries, more or less unchanged in their respective regions. Typically these identities are coextensive with dialects of the regional language, particular customs, as well as place of origin. As with familial descent, tribal identity is reckoned paternally.

Social structure

Main article: Social structure and class in Saukania

Further information: Women in Saukania

Honour

Main articles: Sharaven and Karsavis

Clothing

Main article: Clothing in Saukania

Architecture and art

Main articles: Architecture of Saukania and Art in Saukania

Music

Main article: Music of Saukania

Cuisine

Main article: Cuisine of Saukania

Sport

Main article: Sport in Saukania