Saukania

Confederation of the Saukanians Kuchaxa ka Sakhandelen
Seal of the Confederation
Location of Saukania in Thrismari
Capital and largest city	Kula
Official languages	Eastern Saukanian (Kulean) Western Saukanian (Khodanian)
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 Saukan
Government	Confederation of sovereign principalities and republics
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. Kula is the largest city and member of the Confederation, serving additionally as its capital. The country is extremely arid, consisting mostly of desert and semi-desert ecoregions, with areas of montane, riparian, and temperate ecoregions in which the vast majority of the population resides.

Human habitation in Saukania began in the Palaeolithic. Saukania has been home to a number of peoples, the earliest recorded of which settled in the fertile regions of Daskhia, Kugeria, Parharia, and Turoka. It has been a historical battleground between its own native inhabitants, as well as neighbouring Shiruans, Saroccans, Kakish crusaders, and Riamese colonial interests. Modern Saukania traces its history and identity back to the numerous oasis kingdoms and republics in fertile river valleys within the Ghuran Mountains or the Laxad river basin, controlling overland trade routes through the desert and growing wealthy on commerce and agriculture. Nevertheless, the influence on Saukanian culture by pastoral nomads, mountain tribes, and foreign invaders has been significant.

The modern confederation established itself in 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 largely decentralised body, with its constituent states governing themselves according to their own laws. The Confederation Council serves as the executive of the Confederation, including leaders and representatives of the members.

Saukania is a heavily agrarian country with a largely rural population, with its urban centres as the core of industry. 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

'Saukania' is a formation from the noun 'Saukana', an old ethnonym used by the Bronze Age invaders that conquered the area from the previous inhabitants. 'Saukanian', in turn, is formed out of 'Saukania', and is essentially interchangeable with 'Saukana' as an ethnonym. In some sources and records, 'Saukana' is used for the name of the land as well as the people.

Due to the historically disunited nature of the Saukanians, they have often preferred to identify more with the tribe or state to which they feel allegiance, rather than to a concept of a whole Saukania. According to a saying, "A Saukanian is only so when he meets someone who isn't."

Geography and climate

Main article: Geography of Saukania

The village of Isuk in the Sakbia valley.

At 1,116,863 square kilometers, Saukania is one of the largest countries in Thrismari by total land area. It is however extremely arid, and supports a relatively small population. Most of Saukania lies within the Western Thrismari Desert, the largest of the continent's four deserts. The south and west of the country are less arid, though still dominated by semi-desert areas, interspersed with montane grassland, riparian woodland, and temperate forest. The Ghuranian Mountains form a major natural boundary to the southwest, covering the border with neighbouring Bezuria, and much of the border with Shirua. The foothills and valleys of these mountains are well populated, irrigated by innumerable streams and rivers descending from the snowmelt in summer.

Arcing through the desert in an easterly and then southerly course is the Laxad river. This river feeds a number of major oases located in otherwise largely inhospitable desert conditions, supporting stretches of woodland and providing irrigation for many hectares of farmland and grasses for pasture. At its mouth it empties into the Argan Sea, an inland body of water that is the centre of Saukania's endorheic basin, located at the extreme southeast of the country. The Laxad's source in the northern Ghuran is one of the most fertile areas of Saukania, formed from the two major tributaries of the Jagar and the Kergan. It is joined midway through its arc by Saukania's second most vital river, the Turora, providing a smaller yet still invaluable region of farmland and pasture. These rivers are invaluable for Saukania's primarily agricultural economy, with droughts and climate stress placing many rural communites under extreme pressure.

A photo of the Western Thrismari Desert at sunrise

Saukania's populated urban centres also lie on these river routes. Kula, the largest city and the Confederation's capital, is located on the left bank of the Laxad as it empties into the Argan. Khodan, Saukania's second largest city, is located in the mountains by the Kergan. Founded as defensible locations in fertile, irrigated oases and valleys, these cities have grown considerably in modern times, though much of the country remains rural.

Rainfall is extremely limited, occurring mostly in the high Ghuran mountains, where summer heat releases it into the Laxad and Turora.

History

Main article: History of Saukania

Prehistory (Palaeolithic - c. 4th century BC)

Main article: Prehistory of Saukania

Anatomically modern Homo sapiens are known to have arrived in what is now Saukania as recently as 32,000 years ago, with inconclusive evidence of earlier H. sapien and other Homo genus habitation stretching back many more thousands of years. Most of this evidence comes from southern Saukania, as the sand dunes of the northern desert leave little trace. Agriculture is thought to have begun at a limited level around 8,000 years ago, giving rise to sedentary communities who eventually developed metallurgy, producing copper and later bronze artefacts, known as the Geometric Band Culture (GBC).

Ancient history (4th century BC - 7th century AD)

Main article: Ancient history of Saukania

Feudal Saukania (7th - 15th centuries)

Main article: Saukanian Medieval Age

Early modern history (15th - 18th centuries)

Main article: Early modern period of Saukania

Modern history (18th century - present day)

Main article: Contemporary Saukania

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Saukania

Ethnicity

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

Ethnic Saukanians are the largest group in Saukania, representing over 93% of its total population. Minority groups include Shiruans, Saroccans, and Bezurians. Ethnic Saukanians identify themselves and one another by use of the Saukanian language, through common bloodline and heritage, and, to a lesser extent, participation in their polytheistic and animistic religion.

Saukanian identity is divided, however, as members of its four constituent polities identify more strongly with their regional identity. There are cultural and linguistic differences between the Arimazi, Kanthali, Lukarani, and Tukari, though they are conscious of and accept a shared Saukanian heritage. Nevertheless, some observers have considered the four groups to be ethnic groups in their own right.

Language

Main article: Saukanian language

Saukanian is an Oskuri language that takes its name from the Saukan tribes. The only surviving member of the Oskuri language family, Saukanian itself has branched out considerably over the centuries it has enjoyed dominance as the primary language of the four federations. It is itself increasingly considered to qualify as a group or small family of languages, as Saukanian dialects between and within the federations are increasingly varied enough as to make various tongues largely unintelligible to one another.

Use of the Saukanian language is considered an essential but not alone qualifying demonstration of Saukanian ethnic identity. While foreigners who know the language are not accepted on that basis alone as a Saukanian, there is a commonly held feeling that a blood Saukanian who does not know the language is not really a Saukanian. As use of the language is a sign of ethnic identity and pride, Saukanians are somewhat reputed for their reluctance to speak to foreigners in any language except Saukanian. Rudimentary knowledge of Common is fairly widespread in Saukania, though fluency is much less prevalent, and concentrated primarily among the social elite.

The Saukanians regard other languages as lesser to their own, and a common insult for "barbarians" or those who do not speak Saukanian translates roughly as "dirty-tongued"

Religion

Main article: Religion in Saukania

Religion in Saukania (2020 est.)

  Saukanian paganism (79.4%)

  Christianity (10.2%)

  Islam (6.6%)

  Other (3.8%)

Major cities

Main article: List of major cities in Saukania

Government and politics

Main article: Government of Saukania

The Saukanian Confederation is an alliance of four sovereign federations; the Arimazi, Kanthali, Lukarani, and Tukari. Each federation is independent, passing its own laws, possessing its own military, electing its own leaders, etc. The core of the modern alliance is the Treaty of Confederation, an agreement signed by the leaders of the four federations in the 19th century to come to the defence of any signatory if attacked.

The four federations have a relatively uniform political system, derived from their common heritage. Essentially aristocratic republics, the Saukanians hold elections to determine their leaders, though these elections are not what international norms would classify as "free and fair". Each of the four federations is led by a magistrate called an uhtris.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Saukania

Military

Main article: The Saukanian Army

Culture

Main article: Culture of Saukania

Saukanian society is highly conservative, as Saukanians are suspicious of foreigners and foreign ideas. Tradition is central to their religion and way of life. The traditional code of conduct, larni mefinaeun, is fundamental to Saukanian society. Its basic tenets include hospitality for guests, bravery for men, modesty for women, and the necessity of vengeance. Family is a pillar of their society, and Saukanians have a great concern for personal and familial honour. They are strictly patriarchal, and women adhere to an ideal of seclusion called karsavis.

Rural and urban Saukania differ in their particular customs, as rural Saukanians live a harder life in the desert, steppe, and mountains closer to their traditional roots. Customs also vary between regions of Saukania. Sedentary Saukanians again differ from nomads, whose pastoralist lifestyle herding sheep, goats, and camels from oasis to oasis has resulted in a unique expression of Saukanian identity.

Social structure

Main article: Social structure and class in Saukania

Further information: Women in Saukania

Saukanian social status and class is a multipolar hierarchy involving multiple and overlapping statuses, resulting in a complex development of self and group identity. In the four federations, where the class systems are more or less uniform, there are five primary categories by which an individual's status is determined: ancestry, age, gender, citizenship grade, and wealth census rank.

The origin of these distinctions arises out of the agricultural tribal city-state traditions of ancient Saukania, which, owing to modern Saukania's largely agrarian economy, has not substantially changed in that time.

Honour

Main articles: Larni mefinaeun 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