Ghant

Ghant
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: Ohorea Beti ("Honor Always")
Anthem: Antzinako Aberria Oda Ode to Our Ancient Homeland
Location of Ghant (dark green)
Political map of Ghant Political map of Ghant
Capital	Ghish
Largest city	Onmutu
Official languages	Ghantish
Recognised regional languages	Various local dialects
Ethnic groups (2012)	Ghantish (95%) Other (5%)
Demonym(s)	Ghantish
Government	Parliamentary Executive Federal monarchy
• Emperor	Nathan IV
• Empress	Sophia of Dakmoor
• Prime Minister	Nymun Izarbegiratzeak
• Majority	Independent Coalition
Legislature	Legegilea
• Upper house	Jauneketxea
• Lower house	Legebiltzarra
Formation
• The Seven Lords of Ghant	350 BCE
• Overlordship of Ghant	563 CE
• Kingdom of Low Ghant	15th May 912
• Unification	15th May 1800
Area
• Total	14,080,522 km2 (5,436,520 sq mi)
Population
• 2016 census	55,482,192
• Density	11/km2 (28.5/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2014 estimate
• Total	$6.300 trillion
• Per capita	$40,522
GDP (nominal)	2014 estimate
• Total	$2.045 trillion
• Per capita	$48,404
Gini (2012)	23.4 low
HDI (2010)	0.905 very high
Currency	Ghantmark (Γ) (=100 öre) (GMRK)
Time zone	(GST-6)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 ((GST-5))
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy CE
Driving side	left
Calling code	+713
ISO 3166 code	GNT
Internet TLD	.gh

Ghant (Ghantish: Ghant;/ghænt/; informally known by the name Ghanteko Inperioa, /Gant.in.per.ioa/), is a country comprising the mainland of the Ghantish continent, and numerous nearby islands, located in Ajax, to the north of the Sea of Ghant, to the west of the continent of Belisaria and to the east of the continent Norumbia. It has a population of roughly 55 million.

Ghant is named after the indigenous people called the Ghantish, who, along with the Ghantish language, are of unknown origins. Ghant is one of the least densely populated countries in Ajax, with a landscape consisting primarily of dense forests, rugged mountains, valleys, swamps, tundra and taiga.

The country has one of the oldest monarchies in the region, which has reigned continuously since 912 CE, usually sharing power with the Legebiltzarra, one of Ajax's oldest elected parliaments. Under the principle of Regere Coniugum, Ghant is a Diarchy, where the Empress has all the same powers and privileges as the Emperor, therefore also being Head of State in conjunction with him, for as long as they are married or until the Emperor’s death.

Ghant has historically pursues policies of self-determination and non-interventionism and anti-imperialism. Due to its historical reputation and strong relationship with other nations, Ghant is considered by many to be a Great Power. Modern Ghant is an executive monarchy, a parliamentary democracy, and a member of the Forum of Nations. It is also a member of the NATA.

History

Main article: History of Ghant

Ghantish civilization is one of the most ancient civilizations in Ajax. The first specks of Ghantish civilization originated around the southern coast and in the northwest, and as time progressed tribes and clans organized into amalgamations of lords and kingdoms. Ghant did not become a unified continent until 1800 CE, when it was united under the Gentry Dynasty who ruled the Kingdom of Ghant, formerly the Kingdom of Low Ghant. From that point onward, the country was simply referred to as Ghant.

Beginnings

There is great debate among historians as to when Ghant was first inhabited, but what is known for sure is that the Ghantish have been in Ghant for at least 12,000 years as indicated by archeological records. The Ghantish are known to be a genetically distinct race from others found in nearby Belisaria and Norumbia, and their language is also unrelated to others in the world. The Ghantish were organized into tribes, and many of these tribes organized into petty kingdoms including Gauekoizarra, Roika, Jehenna and Odolargia in the north, and Onmutu, Coru and Baztan in the south. These city-states and petty kingdoms fought amongst each other for the next several thousand years.

Early Era

Incursions from Celts, Sjömännen and other intruders resulted in a need for the Ghantish states and tribes to join together in order to repel the invaders. In spite of that, the Ghantish were few in number, poorly equipped and highly disorganized. They only succeeded against intruders due to the variable terrain, harsh winters, and stiff resistance of the indigenous population. This eventually resulted in the unification of Southern Ghant into a Kingdom in 912, called the Kingdom of Low Ghant.

Middle Ages

The next few centuries saw large amounts of unrest across the island, with wars, disputes and territory changes common as different lineages mingled and conquered. Despite that, the net prosperity of Ghant increased, as result of trade due to a demand for the Ghantish precious metals, minerals, and other natural resources, which were vast in number. This is evidenced by its relative international importance during the period, and the Kings of Ghant forged alliances and interacted with foreign states, especially in Belisaria. The ruling dynasty of Low Ghant passed into the hands of a dynasty of Ottonian descent, who developed a policy of expansion and centralization, which accelerated the development of the Ghantish state. A large-scale war later saw the removal of this dynasty from the throne, and Ghant was left weak. This was made worse in 1355 by the introduction of the Black Death, which ravaged the continent.

Renaissance

Ghant became punctuated by religious strife, with the large remaining kingdoms in Ghant practicing different religions. Religious wars defined Ghant during the 16th and 17th centuries, until King Samuel V of Low Ghant succeeded in reconciling the various religious interests in Ghant. He was the first to unify half of the continent under his rule, due to a combination of political maneuverings and military campaigns, and he was the first to claim the title “King of Ghant,” which continued among his successors. During the 1700s, that process continued, as the Kingdom of Ghant continued to expand north and absorb more of the petty kingdoms and tribes into the realm, though not without great difficulty.

Unification

In 1800, King Nathan I, in tandem with his Latin wife Paulina Claudia, succeeded in finally uniting the entire continent into one state. This new state was renamed simply Ghant, and King Nathan was elevated to the title of Emperor. This marked a new period when Ghant was near the forefront of the industrializing world, with Southern Ghant in particular benefiting from this change, as well as agricultural areas, which saw outputs multiply rapidly, freeing up laborers for factories in the cities. The Emperor helped the country transition into an industrialized, developed economy during this period due to his many reforms of the political and economic systems; he abolished serfdom, instituted legal reforms and vastly increased the power of Parliament in law-making, while also extending suffrage for Parliament. This process was not completely without difficulty however, as a series of dynastic conflicts with the High Kingdom of Gaemar known as the War of the Thistles lasted from 1800 until 1850, and proved to be a serious early test of the unified nation’s strength. The Emperor ultimately prevailed in this conflict, though this left his forces weak and his rule over the continent disjointed.

Ghantish Civil War

The situation broke down in 1863, when, upon the death of Emperor John III (the successor of Nathan I), Nathan's oldest son Charles by his second wife claimed the Obsidian Throne of Ghant in opposition to John’s son Nathan II. He was supported by Northern Ghant, which was very traditional, and opposed to the modernization efforts of the south. Meanwhile, Nathan II endeavored to further the modernization efforts and liberalization efforts of Ghant, and was supported by Southern Ghant. After a bloody civil war that lasted ten years, Nathan II was recognized as the Emperor of Ghant, but had to make several concessions to the Northern provinces in exchange for peace.

It was after this war that an uncodified constitution was agreed upon, and the first Prime Minister, Irat Ismos, was elected. The first two political parties were the Whigs and the Tories. Irat Ismos served as the first prime minister from 1872 until 1880. His government helped put to ease the civil strife in Ghant with successful domestic policy. Ghant was still recovering from the Civil War, and there was much rebuilding to be done. Despite this, there would be at least two more, albeit smaller "Civil Wars" before 1900.

Early 20th Century

From 1896-1904, Artor Vorgha presided over the start of an Industrial Revolution, a population boom and the creation of a detailed foreign policy agenda. The growth in the population allowed for the expansion of agricultural land. Farming became more efficient, and poverty and hunger became reduced in both rural areas and the industrial cities. When asked why the Northerners stopped rebelling, Vorgha responded with, "because they are eating so well, they don't have the stomach for fighting."

The Mad Emperor

Despite the era of good feelings in the early 20th century, radical ideologies began to proliferate in Ghant, some of which advocated the abolition of the monarchy, seeing it as an antiquated form of government. This was exacerbated by Emperor Nathan III, who was paranoid and tyrannical. The Emperor brutally suppressed leftist movements, to the point that they were killed upon accusation. After he imprisoned the Labor MP Malderi Haribec in 1935, the Emperor was faced with an armed rebellion intent on overthrowing the monarchy, exacerbated by abuses that he perpetrated against the nobility. In 1939, the Emperor died under unusual circumstances (allegedly assassination), and his grandson ascended the throne as Michael I. He released Haribec from prison and granted him a full pardon. Michael than appointed Haribec Prime Minister of Ghant, and worked to preserve the monarchy within a democratic system after a failed referendum to abolish it in 1940. He reconciled the opposing factions in Ghant and unified them towards the greater good of the country. He remained Prime Minister until his resignation in 1974.

21st Century

The latter half of the 20th century was punctuated by various political parties holding power under Emperors Michael, Albert and Nathan IV, the latter of whom was under a regency during his age of minority headed by his conservative reactionary uncle Prince Albert, which ended in 2006. The 2000s have been an era of change in Ghantish society. The proliferation of technology and access to the outside world via television and internet has allowed the Ghantish to become exposed to new ways and ideas. Ghantish society in many ways remains bizarre and different from the rest of the world, but it is slowly catching up.

Geography

Ghant is a generally rugged country, with reasonable numbers of mountains and hills but plains in the south and east, and marshland in the west. Ghant's highest mountain is Jagaboro, which lies in the Thula Mountains on the border of the Eskura and Thule regions, and rises to 8850 meters above sea level. Other major mountainous areas include the Grisa Mountains between the Izotza and Eskura regions, the Ilun Mountains between the Eskura and Arrautsa regions, the Arraut Mountains between Arrautsa and Low Ghant and the Morea Mountains between the Eskura, Arrautsa and Dakmoor Regions. By contrast, the country’s lowest point is the Loi Marsh in Dakmoor, with an elevation of −3.5m below sea level.

Ghant in general is a land of harsh mountains, stony shores, and verdant forests. It consists of vast mountain ranges with the people living in valleys between them and along the coast. The geography of Ghant does vary from region to region. For the most part, it consists mostly of high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; and arctic tundra only in the extreme north. Frozen ground all-year can also be found in the higher mountain areas. Stunning and dramatic scenery and landscapes can be found throughout Ghant. Dense forests, vast green fields, large blue lakes, tall mountains and high waterfalls dot the landscape.

Due to the large latitudinal range of the country and the varied topography and climate, Ghant has a large number of different habitats. Common to all of these habitats are wolves, deer, elk, bears, foxes and a variety of small rodents. The coastal regions feature a wide variety of sea-faring mammals including seals, sea lions, walruses and sea cows, and birds such as puffins and auks. The Great auk is the national animal of Ghant.

The population in Ghant is mainly concentrated in the cities in the south, especially the provinces of Gahen, Nathia, and Langael. The south is characterized by hills, plains and river valleys. Mountains and forests occupy most of the rest of the country. Apart from the mountain regions, land in the far south is very fertile and used for farming, especially vegetables, wheat and barley. Agriculture is most common on the eastern plains, with the area between Lurberdea and Gaemar being seen as a breadbasket. Ghant has a high percentage of forested areas, much of which is protected by imperial law.

Climate

Ghant has a subarctic climate, characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers. Temperatures vary greatly from north to south, with the southern areas having more balanced seasons then the north. Numerous records for cold temperatures have been set in the northern parts of Ghant.

In winter, temperatures can drop to −80 °C and in summer, the temperature may exceed 30 °C (86 °F). However, the summers are short; no more than three months of the year (but at least one month) ever have a 24-hour average temperature of at least 10 °C (50 °F).

With 5–7 consecutive months where the average temperature is below freezing, all moisture in the soil and subsoil freezes solidly to depths of many feet. Summer warmth is insufficient to thaw more than a few surface feet, so permafrost prevails under most areas not near the southern boundary of this climate zone. Seasonal thaw penetrates from 2 to 14 ft (0.61 to 4.27 m), depending on latitude, aspect, and type of ground. Some northern areas with subarctic climates located near the ocean have milder winters and no permafrost, and are more suited for farming unless precipitation is excessive. The frost-free season is very short, varying from about 45 to 100 days at most, and a freeze can occur during any month in many areas.

Flora and Fauna

Ghant is home to a diverse array of wildlife. Wolves, foxes, deer, weasels, marmots, beavers, and cynomys can be found throughout the continent. In the north, one can also find several species of bears, moose, elk, mountain sheep, pumas, lynx, lemmings, wolverines and in the extreme north regions, wholly rhinos, mammoths and saber-toothed cats. Dakmoor is also home to giant salamanders and other swamp-dwelling animals.

Government & Politics

Ghant is an executive monarchy, a federal monarchy and a parliamentary system democracy. The Monarchy of Ghant has limited powers in modern times, with Emperor Nathan IV of House Gentry being the current monarch and head of state. The current head of government is Prime Minister Nymun Izarbegiratzeak.

Administrative Divisions

Ghant is governed as a federal state. The country is divided into Regions, which are further divided into provinces, as well as 4 "special districts". The cities of Ghish, Onmutu, Bargona and Atebeltza make up the special districts, otherwise known as the "free cities".

Provinces are divided into municipalities called Udalerrias with various degrees of autonomy within a province as well as special autonomous municipalities, the latter reserved for distinct communities which hold a distinct identity from the rest of the province, however not enough for it to be a separate province.

Regions

Flag	Name of Region	Capital	Map
File:ArrautsaFlag.png	The Kingdom of Arrautsa	Arragara	File:ArrautsaMap.png
File:DakmoorFlag.png	The Kingdom of Dakmoor	Dakar	File:DakmoorMap.png
File:EskuraFlag.png	The Confederation of Eskura	Eskualda	File:EskuraMap.png
File:GaemarFlag.png	The Kingdom of Gaemar	Gaemarlen	File:GaemarMap.png
File:IzotzaFlag.png	The Kingdom of Izotza	Izuna	File:IzotzaMap.png
File:LowGhant.png	The Kingdom of Low Ghant	Ghish	File:LowGhantMap.png
File:OdolargiaFlag.png	The Kingdom of Odolargia	Odola	File:OdolargiaMap.png
File:Thule.png	The Kingdom of Thule	Tor	File:ThuleMap.png

Provinces

Provinces are subdivisions of Regions

Flag	Name of Province	Capital	Name of Governing Region
File:UgartaFlag.png	The Kingdom of Ugarta	Hirukia	Low Ghant
File:EltanlandFlag.png	The Kingdom of Eltanlurra	Eltana	Low Ghant
File:GahenFlag.png	The Province of Gahen	Gendulain	Low Ghant
File:Langael.png	The Province of Langael	Galan	Low Ghant
File:NatxiaFlag.png	The Province of Natxia	Lianu	Low Ghant
File:Oholesia.png	The Province of Oholesia	Lorazaina	Low Ghant
File:Onia.png	The Commonwealth of Onia	Oniaherri	Low Ghant
File:ZazpilurraFlag.png	The Province of Zazpilurra	Gadea	Low Ghant

Free Cities

Free Cities consist of free imperial cities and other areas that do not belong to a province- but rather function as sovereign units. These consist of the capital city Ghish and the cities of Bargona and Onmutu, and Atebeltza.

Name
File:AtebeltzaFlag.png Atebeltza
File:BargonaFlag.png Bargona
File:GhishFlag.png Ghish
File:OnmutuFlag.png Onmutu

Time Zones

Time in Ghant falls into a single time zone known as Ghantish Standard Time (GST).

Political System

File:GhantishParliament.svg

Composition of the Legebiltzarra
List of Parties:

  Independent Coalition: 375 seats

  Labor Party: 112 seats

  Liberal Party: 90 seats

  Conservative Party: 70 seats

  Green Party: 40 seats

  Progressive Party: 36 seats

  Social Democratic Party: 20 seats

  Socialist Party: 15 seats

  Nationalist Party: 10 seats

Since 1940, the National Reforms of Ghant have limited the monarch to having only a few powers. These include immunity, affirmation of elected ministers, veto power, pardons, and dismissal of the government. An unusual feature of imperial law is that there is no mechanism for abdication.

Legislative power is vested in the Legegilea, which is divided into two chambers, the directly-elected Legebiltzarra (House of Commons) and the unelected Jauneketxea (House of Lords). Although majority approval from both chambers is needed to pass legislation, the House of Commons is far more powerful, and has additional powers such as selecting the Prime Minister of Ghant.

House Elections take place at least once every four years. The 768-seat House of Commons is elected directly through the Party-list proportional representation system, using the Sainte-Laguë method. The 1000-seat Jauneketxea is occupied by the nobility, and seats are inherited. While the government can request a snap election at almost any time for the House, the House will only be elected to fill out the remainder of the previous House's term.

Following the 2018 general election, the current prime minister is Nymun Izarbegiratzeak of the Independent Coalition. The party holds a majority of seats in Parliament.

English name	Ghantish name	Abbr.	MPs
Government			375
Independent Coalition	Koalizio Independente	(I)	375
Opposition			278
Labor Party	Alderdi Laborista	(La)	112
Liberal Party	Alderdi Liberal	(Li)	90
Green Party	Alderdi Berdia	(B)	40
Progressive Party	Alderdi Progresiboa	(P)	36
Other			115
Conservative Party	Alderdi Konsterbadorea	(K)	70
Social Democratic Party	Sozialaren Alderdi Demokrata	(D)	20
Socialist Party	Alderdi Sozialistak	(S)	15
Nationalist Party	Alderdi Jeltzaleak	(J)	10
		Total seats	768

Executive

Leader	Name
Prime Minister	Nymun Izarbegiratzeak
Deputy Prime Minister	Kattalin Eguskine
Leader of the Opposition	Sara Haribec

Politics of Ghant

Ghant is a multiparty Parliamentary democracy, with the Labor and Conservative parties remaining the parties with the strongest levels of support, in spite of the dominance of the “Independent Coalition” which is currently serving in its second consecutive term of government.

Cabinet

Ministry (English)	Minister	Party
Prime Minister	Nymun Izarbegiratzeak	Independent Coalition
Deputy Prime Minister	Kattalin Eguskine	Independent Coalition
Minister of State	Maren Kerbasi	Independent Coalition
Minister of Defense	Jacodo Imanol	Independent Coalition
Minister of Justice	Amets Salbatore	Independent Coalition
Minister of Development	Terese Erdotza	Independent Coalition
Minister of Finance	Gorka Sabarra	Independent Coalition
Minister of Postage	Luda Yarubi	Independent Coalition
Minister of Foreign Affairs	Leonor Bozagua	Independent Coalition
Minister of Environmental Affairs	Yuli Catanzaro	Independent Coalition

Justice

The National Laws of Ghant states that everyone is entitled to have their case heard by a court or an authority appropriately and without undue delay, and in the case of criminal offences, by a jury of peers or panel of magistrates. To implement this policy, Ghantish courts are divided into four levels.

The lowest level of general courts are the Civil Courts (Ghantish: Auzitegia Zibilak) that deal with criminal cases, civil cases and petitionary matters. A civil court is headed by a Judge, or in smaller municipalities as an "Administer of Justice" or “Justiciar”.

Trial by audience is in inherent right. In most civil cases, there are a combination of professional judges and public jury involved in the process depending on the offense and the jurisdiction. In criminal cases, the common sense and popular sense of justice are represented by the three magistrates. However, they participate both in the trying of fact and of law, as well as in sentencing, in conjunction with the jury's verdict.

Appeals from the Civil Courts are addressed to the Provincial Courts (Ghantish: Auzitegia Probintzia) located in the provincial capitals. Most of the cases dealt with by the Provincial Courts are appeals against decisions of the Civil Courts, and can be appealed to the regional courts.

The next highest courts are the Regional Courts (Ghantish: Auzitegia Eskualdeko). There is only one Regional Court per Region, located in the capital city. These Courts usually resolve appeals made from the lower courts. In addition, Regional Courts decide, as the first instance, matters of treason and high treason, as well as certain offences in public office. Usually the Regional Courts are able to solve most cases, and only very rarely do cases advance to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court (Ghantish: Auzitegi Gorenak) located in Ghish is the supreme judicial authority in Ghant. It consists of a Chief Justice and ten associate justices who are nominated by the Prime Minister and confirmed by the Parliament. Once appointed, justices have life tenure unless they resign, retire, or are removed after impeachment. The Supreme Court acts as a constitutional court, ruling which laws are unconstitutional and as the supreme judicial court, ruling on important points of law in cases which are significant for the entire legal order, guiding the administration of justice in future cases. Decisions of any other court may be appealed against to the Supreme Court, provided that it grants leave to appeal.

Military

The Ghantish Imperial Forces (Ghantish: Ghanteko Inperiala Indarrak) contain a total of 200,000 active members, 300,000 reserve members and 500,000 militia members. The GII itself is divided into three branches: the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Imperial Legion. The Prime Minister is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, with all members swearing an oath of allegiance. Ghant spends nearly 3% of its GDP on defense.

Economy

Ghant operates a mixed-market capitalist economic system. The word batera ("get along") describes the system of negotiation and consensus between employers, trade unions and the government which developed during the 20th century.

Ghant was a rather late participant in the Industrial Revolution. The majority of the population are now employed in the tertiary sector. Nevertheless, Ghant has a prominent manufacturing and agricultural industry. Well known Ghantish companies operate in the fields of information technology (Ziztadak), chemicals (Osabamatt), electronics (Arranowar) and brewing (Voor’s).

The currency of Ghant is the Ghantmark, which has been in circulation since 1250. The Ghantmark is issued by the Ghantish Imperial Mint while the semi-independent Imperial Bank of Ghant is responsible for issuing currency and determining monetary policy. Another important financial institution is the Onmutu Stock Exchange, one of the oldest stock exchanges in Ajax.

Ghant's economy is almost exclusively classified as developed, with relatively high average incomes and GDP in addition to a generally high quality of life in the southern and coastal areas. Workers' ability to unionize is well-guarded by law, with major labor unions such as the United Miners Union holding considerable political weight. Despite this, Ghant has a national right-to-work policy.

The economy is geographically very contrasting, with manufacturing bases in the north, financial strength in the south farming in the southwest, and minesin the center. The balance of different industries has traditionally played an important part in the country's economy. In addition, moderate regulation has limited manufacturing moving overseas and reasonably priced mining operations; and there has been a large increase in tourism, especially along the south coast and financial incentives for high-tech manufacturing and research businesses in the south. These sectors are aided by the stringent Ghantish preservation and environmental standards and a well-educated workforce, respectively. In the southwest part of the country, agriculture is a major part of the economy, comprising 10% of total GDP; this is enhanced by the favorable climate and terrain. Ghant produces one greatest amounts of wool per capita in Ajax, as well as oil; one of Ghant's largest exporters is Olionena, an oil producing, refining and marketing company.

Resources

About 38% of the labor force work in agriculture and another 2% work in other primary industries. Ghant's agricultural sector is moderately mechanized and benefits from the fertile land; as a result the country is a net exporter of food, especially considering its low density population. Ghantish farms and exports vegetables, flowers and animal produce. The country also has extensive fisheries in its open waters, while freshwater fish such as salmon are farmed in the mountains.

Since the 1910's, several natural natural gas fields have been discovered in Ghant, particularly in the region of Arrautsa. Oil has also been discovered and extracted from the country's waters, and the country is a net exporter of oil. In the 1950s, exploitation of fossil fuels increased the value of the Ghantmark. In order to avoid the infamous "Ghantish disease", Ghant focused on slowing the appreciation of the real exchange rate and by boosting the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector. Despite this, the government has also made a major effort to generate more renewable energy, especially through wind turbines, in an effort to wean itself off of oil dependency.

Exports are geared around oil, electronics, agricultural products, hard liquors, metals, wool and chemicals, while major imports include medicines, food, electronics and automobiles. Ghant's biggest export and import partners are generally nearby nations.

Transport

As with most countries, the car is the most popular form of transport in Ghant. However, there are also popular alternatives. In the south, Cycling is very common, especially for traveling around towns or to school, and accounts for nearly 25% of all journeys made. This rises to as high as 40% in some cities. Ghant has a highly developed network of cycle paths and infrastructure which makes cycling easy and safe. In other parts of Ghant, the use of horses, mules, donkeys and mountain goats is still common, especially in areas that are difficult for cycles and cars to get around.

In the south, between Ghish and Onmutu, there is also has a dense and busy railway network, operated primarily by Garraio Publikoa, though private companies and public-private partnerships operate some lines on the network. eight cities have a metro network and eight others have a tram system. The country was unusual in that its railway usage remained stable during the period of 1950-1990 at a time when it was in decline worldwide. This was due to the vast distances in between cities, and a lack of means to get from place to place with ease.

Demographics

Ethnicity

Ghantish people comprise roughly 95% of the population of Ghant. There are also smaller populations of Ottonians, Ostmarkers, Audonians, Latins and Jews that live in the southern cities.

Language

96% of the population speak the Ghantish language, (Ghantara) as their first language and almost all of the population can speak it fluently. Standard Ghantish is the lone reprehensive of the Ghantish language group, although there are dialects spoken throughout the continent. As a result of there being a lack of an indigenous alphabet or writing system beyond runes, the Latin alphabet was adopted for spelling the language, after its introduction by outsiders.

Religion

Religion in Ghant
Religion			Percentage
Lutheranism			25.0%
Ipargurutze			25.0%
Jainkozaharra			20.0%
Roman Catholicism			15.0%
No religion			10.0%
Other religions			5.0%

For much of its history, the Ghantish pagan religion known as Jainkozaharra has been the dominant religion in Ghant. The introduction of Christianity in the first millennia CE began to supplant it as the dominant religion of Ghant, especially in the south; in the most recent census just over 65% of the population identified it as their religion. The most popular sects are the Church of Ghant (25%) and Ipargurutism (25%). The Ipargurutze Church is a Protestant-inspired religion, with elements of Christianity mixed with Jainkozaharrism. Ghant is a secular state, because it has no officially recognized state religion. Imperial Law enshrined the right to religious freedom, which was also protected by the Old Laws previously.

Health

Healthcare in Ghant is dominated by government-funded universal healthcare, which is generally of a high standard. It is available to all permanent residents, and although it is a major strain on government funds, results in relatively cheap healthcare, with only 6% of GDP spent on health. The Ghantish life expectancy is 81 years for women and 80 years for men, due to good healthcare coverage and a relatively healthy diet. However, the regional and generational differences are vast, with those who grew up in the North being statistically far more likely to die from preventable causes than Southerners.

Culturally, private healthcare is frowned upon by most people, and is taxed, albeit controversially, by the government. Private healthcare is mostly geared towards niche medical treatments and all-inclusive care for the rich, including the nobility. As such, 97% of medical ailments are treated by the government-run health care system, which is the authority responsible for administering treatment.

Ghant has few dietary health problems, which can be attributed to a healthy diet and resultant low obesity rate. The biggest dietary problems are caused by eating raw or infected animal meat, as well as drinking tainted water.

Education

Ghant is unique in that education is non-compulsory. Each Region has its own Department of Education, and provides educational opportunities for people from the ages of 5 to 18, though from the age of 16 onwards, they may enter the workforce in an apprenticeship. The school year runs from mid-August to late June, with holidays for the Summer and Winter festivals. While most pupils go to comprehensive schools, Ghant has a tradition of offering private schools, which 10% of students currently attend. Homeschooling and private tutelage are also practiced.

Students attend a Eskola Baxua ("low school") from the ages of 6-10. They then attend Eskola Erdiko ("middle school") from the ages of 10 to 14, which ends with an exam to gauge students' abilities. Higher education takes place at a Eskola Handiko ("high school") for the rest of their education. In their first three years, the students study a mix of optional and compulsory subjects and finish with a Diploma. In their last two years they study a narrower range of courses and finish by taking the academic Ghantish Baccalaureate (batxilergoa) or a vocational qualification.

There are 100 universities in Ghant and over 500 colleges and institutions of tertiary education. The oldest, the University of Ghish, was founded in 1400, followed by the University of Onmutu in 1450. Tuition is free to citizens and moderate fees are charged for foreign students. It is currently estimated that 25% of the population hold a tertiary degree. Degrees are awarded in compliance with the Bologna process.

Culture

Since its inception, Ghantish culture has been characterized as highly eccentric and bizarre, defined by its people, the Ghantish. Ghantish culture is defined by divisions between different population clusters, often inhabiting neighboring valleys. They historically divided the land into multiple city states, local lordships and minor kingdoms. The rugged highland strongholds and isolated valley settlements have encouraged the fierce independence of the various local Ghantish clans, resisting integration into a formal governmental unit or national identity. Although these areas are a part of Ghant today, they enjoy a large degree of autonomy. Nonetheless, their language, traditions, and heroic legends are a unifying legacy.

Although the Ghantish are divided into numerous, sometimes antagonistic groups, their manner of speech, architecture, and even clothing seems fairly uniform to an outsider. A common anecdote suggests that an outsider only needs to visit one or two Ghantish towns before he has an understanding of the entire country. The Ghantish have a strong tradition of being regarded as powerful warriors, and this is especially true in the more remote areas. In regions such as Eskura and Thule, the nobility can trace its lines through the warrior guilds, and children are tested at a young age for combat affinity. Tribal warfare is practiced by independent Lords and warrior guilds in the more remote regions of the North.

Much of this has diminished over time, but in the remote areas of Ghant this is still quite prevalent, and people are content to live archaic lifestyles. Ghant in modern times could be described as a progressive culture, albeit with a certain conservative restraint and adherence to cultural traditions.

One of the core components of Ghantish culture is the Foruen, or the "old laws". These old laws have been in circulation in Ghant for thousands of years, and are thought to predate traceable Ghantish society, as the origins or the old laws are unknown. However, they form the backbone of contemporary Ghantish laws, and possess a strong influence on Ghantish culture even today.

It is notable that the Ghantish have a tradition of defining their race along ethnic and biological lines, to such an extreme that Ghantish families have records dating back over a thousand years, in order to prove their "blood purity" (Limpieza de sangre). The common belief is that if someone is not "100% Ghantish", then they are not Ghantish at all. Despite this, there are, and have never been, any legal or cultural consequences to this, beyond "bragging rights" (Eskubide harrotuz). Ghantish people are historically known to be accepting of other peoples.

Ghant has also been known as a trendsetter for a number of issues historically. For instance, pornography, soft drugs and abortion (in cases of rape, incest, or endangerment) were more often than not legal in Ghant. Ghant has also historically enjoyed high levels of civil liberties and equality, due in large part to the Foruen.

Cinema

Cinema in Ghant dates back to the earliest years that the medium was invented. During the silent film era, Ghant imported many films from other countries, though since the 1940s the Ghantish film industry has grown and expanded beyond the country.

Media

Newspaper readership is high in Ghant and every city has its own newspaper, in addition to the larger newspapers that are available nationally, such as the Ghish Post, the Onmutu Times and Gimme News.

“GEK” (Ghantish Broadcasting Corporation, or "Ghantal Emisio Korporazio") is the largest broadcasting organization in Ghant and operates as a license-funded public broadcaster. Other networks are privatized. These include major TV stations such as the Onmutu Broadcasting Network, or "Onmutu Korporazio Igortzen", and the Ghish Daily News, or "Ghishal Eguneroko Berriak", Most homes in non urban areas are covered by satellite television, while cable television is most widely used in the cities.

In addition to the TV operations, there are several five national radio stations, with the oldest being created in 1925. Non-profit community radio stations were first licensed in 1960, with many often working in partnership with GRK. Commercial radio stations were not available for licensing until 1965. Both TV and radio broadcasters are not required to be politically neutral in their charters, leading to often politically charged arguments and debates.

Literature

The Ghantish are legendary throughout Ajax for their penchant for lore, legends and poetry. These stories play an important part in Ghantish society, especially because historically, ideas were passed on orally, since there was no written language. As such, Ghant has an incredibly rich oral tradition.

The oldest surviving literature in Ghant consists of rune carvings, with the most famous being the Foruen Runestone which dates from approximately 3,500 BCE and is now on display at the Museum of Gauekoizarra. It is the earliest known version of the Foruen. The Ghantish emphasized saga story-telling and epic histories, such as the Ghantabriak.

After the Christianization of Ghant, writing and literature became concentrated in monastic communities and took place in Latin.

Music

Ghant has a rich musical tradition, mostly consisting of folk music and classical music. Most of the folk music originates from the Middle Ages, and has been preserved via oral tradition.

Sport

11 people playing Giza-abere probak by dragging a 4-ton stone.

Hockey is the most popular sport in Ghant, followed by Association football. The country's national hockey team and national football team compete in several Cornellian and interregional events. Club teams compete in the Ghantish league system, which includes 154 professional clubs and over 5,000 amateur clubs. The most popular alternative team sports are rugby football, baseball, handball, pelota and basketball. The most popular individual sports are tennis, golf, bicycle racing and horse racing.

Ghant is also famous for its rural sports, including:

• Aizkolaritza (wood chopping)
• Giza-abere probak (dragging games)
• Harrijasotzaileak (stone lifting)
• Harri zulaketa (hole drilling)
• Ingude altxatzea (anvil lifting)
• Lasto altxatzea (bale lifting)
• Lasto botatzea (bale tossing)
• Lokotx biltzea (cob gathering)
• Ontzi eramatea (churn carrying)
• Orga jokoa (cart game)
• Sega jokoa (scything)
• Sokatira (tug-of-war)
• Trontza (sawing)
• Txinga eramatea (weight carrying)
• Zaku eramatea (sack carrying)
• Ahari topeka (ram fighting)
• Aitzur jaurtiketa (hoe throwing)
• Antzar jokoa (goose game)
• Ardi ile moztea (sheep shearing)
• Asto arineketan (donkey races)
• Blankolari (shooting)
• Bola jokoa (bowls)
• Espadrila jaurtiketa (espadrilles tossing)
• Estropadak (rowing competitions)
• Goitibeherak (soapbox cars)
• Igel jokoa (frog game)
• Korrika (racing)
• Kukaina (yard climbing)
• Laiariak (laia competitions)
• Makil tira (stick pulling)
• Oilar jokoa (chicken game)
• Palanka jaurtiketa (metal bar throwing)
• Pegarra lasterketa (pitcher race)
• Ghantish Pilota
• Pulsolariak (arm wrestling)
• Errekorteak (bull-leaping)
• Soka-muturra (bull-herding)
• Toka
• Txakur probak (sheepdog trials)

Cuisine

Cuisine and the kitchen are at the heart of Ghantish culture. It is often said that "nobody eats as good as the Ghantish", and eating is widely considered a national pastime among the Ghantish. Traditional Ghantish cuisine is characterized as being extravagant; it developed as a result of there being an excess amount of food, robust Ghantish metabolism, and the influence of hunter-gatherer society. Breakfast, brunch and lunch would consist primarily of meat and vegetables, while dinner meals consisted of meat, vegetables, potatoes, bread and wine, usually consisting of contrasting flavors. As a result, Ghantish dishes and Ghantish chefs grew in demand abroad.

Ghantish cuisine is influenced by the abundance of produce from the sea on each side and fertile valleys in between. The mountainous nature of Ghant has led to a difference between coastal cuisine dominated by fish and seafood, and inland cuisine with fresh and cured meats, many vegetables and legumes, and freshwater fish and salt cod.

The country is noted for its diverse range of meat. The Ghantish typically eat all kinds of animals, and an old saying is, "if it's not a person but it has a mother, it can be eaten." Despite this, the consumption of cats, dogs, horses and rodents in the south is widely frowned upon, although in the north finding dishes which consists of those animals is not unheard of.

The most commonly consumed alcoholic drink by far is kalimotxo, followed by wine and then vodka. There is also a large alcohol industry in Ghant which specializes in liquor, including famous brewers such as Voor’s, Zeem and Gogorra.

Typical dishes

Bacalao al Pil-Pil.

• Marmitako
• Pintxos
• Bacalao (salt cod) al Pil-Pil or a la Vizcaína
• Elvers (young eel)
• Talos
• Gâteau
• Porrusalda
• Cuajada (Mamia)
• Piperade (or 'Piperrada')
• Kokotxas (cheeks of hake)
• Wood pigeon
• Ttoro
• Txangurro (spider crab)
• Percebes (Gooseneck barnacles)
• Pisto
• Grilled and roast meats
• Txipirones (baby squid) in their ink

Drinks

Ghantish cider

• Txakoli wine
• Irouléguy AOC wine
• Ghantish cider served in Ghantish cider houses (Sagardotegi)
• Patxaran liqueur
• Izarra liqueur
• Pili (mandrake-root liqueur)

Holidays

National holidays are issued by proclamation, though some have existed since ancient times.

Many festivals originate as a result of the country's ancient history or Christian heritage. Some like Christmas, Easter and Pentecost are celebrated as a secular festival as well as a religious holiday. Some other notable national festivals are Ferminak, which lasts from July 6th to July 14, and the equinoxes and solstices.

Date	Name	Notes
1 January	New Year's Day	The exact date is a day of rest.
20 March	Ekinokzio Martxoaren (March Equinox)
variable	Good Friday	Since the 19th Century, Easter has been calculated in accordance to the traditions of Western Christianity. Easter Sunday is defined as being the first Sunday after the first full moon after the March equinox. Good Friday and Easter Monday are both days of rest.
	Easter Sunday
	Easter Monday
1 May	Laneguna (Labor Day)	The first Monday of May is a day of rest.
2nd Sunday of May	Mother's Day
15 May	Ghantegun (Ghant Day)	The anniversary of several notable events in Ghantish history. The day is celebrated and accompanied by a day of rest, and is used as a day to promote the teaching of national history.
variable	Pentecost	The date is calculated as being 49 days after Easter Sunday and always falls on a Sunday. The following day (Monday) is a day of rest.
6 June	Konstituzio Eguna (Constitution Day)	The anniversary of the inauguration of the Ghantish Constitution.
4th Saturday of June	Udako Solstizioa (Midsummer)	The celebrations of the summer solstace, the Ghantish celebrate the Summer Solstice.
6-14 July	Ferminak (The Fermin Festival)	The biggest holiday in Ghant- an 8 day festival.
24 July	Christmas Eve in July
25 July	Christmas in July	The exact date is a day of rest.
3rd Sunday of September	Höstshöütid (Harvest Festival)
21st or 22nd of September	Ekinokzio Irailaren (September Equinox)
25 October	Herriaren Eguna (Day of the People)	Celebrates Ghantish culture.
2nd Sunday of November	Father's Day
4th Saturday of December	Neguko Solstizioa (Midsummer)	The celebrations of the winter solstace, the Ghantish celebrate the Winter Solstice.
24 December	Christmas Eve
25 December	Christmas Day	The exact date is a day of rest.
26 December	Boxing Day

National symbols

The Flag of Ghant was first adopted in 912 by King Robert I of Low Ghant, based on the Ghantish Cross design. The flag consists of a white cross on a black background. The white color represents peace, purity, and righteousness. The black color represents determination, heritage, and triumph. Another national symbol is the Obsidian Throne, forged by King Robert I beginning in 912, and being finished in 915. Every monarch of Low Ghant / Ghant since then has sat upon it, and it remains a symbol of the monarchy and of Ghant as a whole.

Although Ghant has no national personification, the cartoon character Ghantboy is often regarded by Ghantish people as the "unofficial" personification of Ghant, and is widely associated with being the most commonly recognized symbol of Ghant.