GHawkins

GHawkins
Flag of Flag
Motto: "Strength in Unity"
Anthem: "United we stand"
GHawkins' location within the region of Astyria GHawkins' location within the region of Astyria
Capital	GHawkins City
Largest	GHawkins City
Official languages	Dutch, English
Demonym(s)	GHawkins
Government	Republic
• President	Galen Howard
• Vice President	Briana Bolster
Establishment
• Unification of the twelve empires	1480
• Organization into the Republic	1481
Area
• Total	9,629,091 km2 (3,717,813 sq mi)
Population
• 2014 estimate	964,492,290
• 2008 census	958,202,459
• Density	102.6/km2 (265.7/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Total	45.16 trillion cb
• Per capita	46,846 cb
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	45.16 trillion cb
• Per capita	46,846 cb
Currency	Cubit (CUB)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+296

GHawkins, officially the Republic of GHawkins, is a developed country located in Western Astyria. It comprises three large continental islands, separated from the rest of the Astyrian landmass. The closest nations to GHawkins are the Kingdom of Nikolia and the Republic of Terre des Gaules, which lie to its east. The three landmasses are home to a large variety of wildlife, thanks to the diverse geography and climate throughout the land.

The Republic of GHawkins is a federal republic, consisting of twelve provinces and one federal district, GHawkins City, which is also the capital. It has a population of around 964 million, making it one of the largest countries in Astyria by population.

The earliest traces of humanity found within the Republic’s borders date back to before 50.000 BC. These appear to have been small groups, living primarily as hunter-gatherers and having adopted a nomadic lifestyle. The oldest traces of sedentism date back to approximately 8500-8000 BC. Around this time, though separated and isolated from one another, several groups abandon their nomadic lifestyle and make their first (successful) attempt at agriculture.

Around 0 AD, twelve of the tribes that had adopted sedentary life had grown from small city states to full-fledged state-like entities, preventing any one tribe from gaining supremacy over the others. These states would continue to alternate between a state of war and co-operation with one another for nearly another 1500 years.

In 1481, after a long process of negotiations, the twelve empires agreed to unite under one banner to be better prepared against the threat supposedly upon them from Teudallum. The result of this is the creation of the Republic of GHawkins, named for Galen Hawkins, who was a lead figure in this process.

After defeating Terre des Gaules following an invasion of GHawkins and a civil war as a result of that invasion, GHawkins adopted a policy of non-interference which lasted short of a hundred years. The Republic of GHawkins emerged from the first Great Astyrian War as a regional military superpower, a status which was affirmed following the second Great Astyrian War. It was one of the first countries in Astyria to develop nuclear weapons. Currently, the primary superpower rivalling the Republic of GHawkins within Astyria is the Blackhelm Confederacy.

The Republic of GHawkins is a highly technologically advanced nation, one of the leaders in scientific research and technological innovations and is one of the foremost military powers in present-day Astyria.

History

Prehistory

GHawkins has been inhabited by humans since at least 50.000 BC. The peoples that lived from that time until about 8000 BC primarily lived in hunter-gatherer societies. The earliest traces of settlement and attempts at agriculture by a multitude of native tribes date back to approximately 8500-8000 BC, though this is highly disputed amongst historians.

By 6000 BC, it is estimated that between 100 and 200 tribes successfully adapted to a sedentary lifestyle, abandoning their nomadic existence after discovering agriculture could be used to sustain a population far better than their previous hunter-gatherer methods. Many tribes that did not settle continued to roam, ceased to exist or were taken into other tribes.

Around 4000 BC, the number of surviving tribes had decreased once more, almost certainly below 100. The reasons for this decrease range from bad harvests, diseases, incest to conquest. A number of tribes which had proven genetically strong or simply superior in numbers subjugated other tribes, thus growing again.

The oldest written records date back to approximately 3250 BC, during the rise of the first civilisations. Even though objects and wall paintings with religious purpose have been found dating back far before the script, this is the first indication that the tribes were attempting to spread their religion. Several of these records, written in some sort of Cuneiform, have survived. The script and the spread of it, combined with the new-found knowledge of how to work bronze into weapons and tools made expansion of the tribes more efficient.

There is evidence that by 2600 BC, the twelve largest tribes had all adopted some form of script and were actively working bronze.

Aggression period

The era between 2600 BC and 1500 BC is considered as the early Imperial age. The thirty or so largest tribes, which had by now grown large enough to earn the name of city-states, continued their expansion and kept conquering more independent settlements. Through conquest or peaceful takeovers, they introduced them to their advanced technologies and religion. This caused many of the captured settlements to adopt the culture of the tribe that now ruled them.

However, by 1500 BC, many of these city-states had fallen as independent entities, being taken into the remaining city-states which had either caused their collapse through war or were quick to take the spoils and occupy the settlements that remained. The ancient historian, Maltonios, has written several books during his travels, describing wars and battles between the city-states.

In 1000 BC, only twelve noteworthy city-states remained that had, several hundred years before, rapidly adopted iron working over bronze working. This resulted in a dominance over lesser city-states which had yet to introduce iron working, most of which quickly fell in military conquests.

• Aerilon
• Aquaria
• Canceron
• Caprica
• Gemennon
• Leonis
• Libran
• Picon
• Sagittaron
• Scorpia
• Tauron
• Virgon

Over the course of the next 1000 years, these city-states would wage war with one another a total of two hundred and forty-three times. Because of the long periods between wars and the wars usually ending in stalemate, no city-state dared to wage total war. , which would weaken even the victorious state enough to be vulnerable to both ally and foe, leading to its own downfall. As a result, skirmishes were common along the borders in an attempt to gain control over resource-rich border territories.

By 0 AD, many of the city states had switched forms of government many times, ranging from oligarchy, to aristocracy to tyranny. Caprica had been the first to adopt a democratic form of government in 70 BC, paving the way for a millennium of progressive democratic reforms.

As of 500 AD, the population in all states was experiencing rapid growth as a result of increased economic relations between the states. Wars had become uncommon as the futility became apparent after centuries of limited warfare without substantial changes in both political influence and territory.

Because relative piece ensued, resources that were usually reserved for military purposes were now freely flowing into the economy. The influence of this development can still be seen present-day in the economy of every province.

Reconciliation era

From 750 AD onwards, wars between the states were so uncommon that an era of peace ensued. Because of the increasing diplomatic ties between the states, this is now called the reconciliation era.

The population continued its rapid growth for the next two hundred years, a result of the abundance of food an the absence of wars which were no longer claiming the lives of young men. Subsequently, many new settlements which eventually grew into cities were founded. By the year 1000, more than forty percent of the population lived in cities or close by them. Several cities contained more than a million inhabitants.

In 1001, a disease often likened to the plague that struck Hysera and Trellin 300 years earlier started spreading throughout the poor states. Records from that time lead modern scientists to believe that, just like has been concluded in Trellin and Hysera, a form of Bubonic plague was the case.

As a result of this plague, which spread through the lands between 1001 and 1020, resulted in a sharp drop in population with an estimated 2-3 million people killed as a direct result of the disease. The high urbanisation level in the states meant that effected cities became hubs which further spread the disease. It would not be until the 15th century that the population was back at pre-epidemic levels.

Early Modern period

The early modern period stretches from 1480 to 1800. Throughout the prior years, the population was recovering from the plague that hit in 1001. The economy had come to a standstill.

By the early 1400's, the economy had however sufficiently recovered to once again drive large volumes of trade between the different states. This lead to a renewed interest in co-operation between the twelve states.

Unification

Since at least 3000 BC, the twelve states had all adopted a religion similar to one another yet all worshipping different deities. A polytheistic faith.