Mekabiri

State of Mekabiri
Flag Emblem
Motto: Somnium vita est Life is a dream
Capital	Piri
Largest	Mi‘irabi
Recognised national languages	Cristinese Oharic
Recognised regional languages	Mahanan, Tosyrai
Demonym(s)	Mekabirian
Government	Unitary presidential republic
• President	Rahaēli Sērafīmi
• Vice President	Richard Haller
Legislature	National Congress of Mekabiri
• Upper house	Càmara dos Senadores
• Lower house	Càmara dos Deputados
Independence from Orioni
• Independence	1882
• Constitution	1885
Area
•	522,586 km2 (201,772 sq mi)
Population
• 2022 estimate	9,155,000
• 2020 census	9,149,522
Antipodes	Bexshaw, Eulycea, Oyussa
Driving side	right
Internet TLD	.me

Mekabiri, officially the State of Mekabiri and internally known as Mek'abiri, is a sovereign state in Eastern Europa on Eurth. It is situated on the western shore of the Byzantine Sea and the northern shore of the Azure Sea. The country is bordered by Mahana to the north, Tamurin and Orioni in the east, and Miiros in the southwest. Piri is the capital and Mi‘irabi is the largest city; other major cities include Mazqabr and Mek’idesi. Mekabiri is approximately 522,586 km² (201,772 sq mi) in size, without the territorial waters. The country is home to 9,149,522 inhabitants.

Mekabiri is a bicameral unitary presidential republic. The country's head of state is president Rahaēli Sērafīmi, supported by his Vice President Richard Haller. The territory that is now Mekabiri was first settled in prehistoric times. From the 14th century, it was a colony of Orioni until 1822 when the country gained its independence as a republic. Culturally, Mekabiri is still considered part of the Orinese diaspora.

The country's wealth comes largely from the industrial and tourism sectors, with limited contributions from fishing and services. International cooperation with Orioni represents a large share of the country's domestic product. Mekabiri is part of several international and intergovernmental institutions, including the Assembled Nations and Entente of Oriental States.

Etymology

The name of Mekabiri is an exonym, originating as the Oharic word Mek’abiri (መቃብር, "grave"). This name is a reference to the relative position of where the Sun sets or "goes to die" when viewed from Orioni. During the colonial period (1349-1822) the country was called Birlini. Other names have also been used, for example Mi'irabi ("west"), a term which applies to both Mekabiri and neighbouring Miiros. The frequent misspelling Merikebi ("ship" or "vessel") is a reference to the many ships that once sailed back and forth between Mekabiri and Orioni. Late Aroman historical sources have come to associate Mekabiri's hot and unforgiving climate with the macabre, a place described as "having the quality of having a grim or ghastly atmosphere".

Geography

Map of Mekabiri.

Köppen climate classification map of Mekabiri (north to south).

WIP

• Landscape. Mekabiri is characterised by its mountains and dry climate, and its lack of major rivers. There are many small forests along the southern coast, whose trees grow big and strong because of the rich soil.
• Climate
  •   Hot desert climate (BWh)
  •   Cold desert climate (BWk)
  •   Hot semi-arid climate (BSh)
  •   Dry-winter humid subtropical climate (Cwa)
  •   Tropical savanna climate with dry-summer (As)
• Southern coast is habitable. Rest is desert.
• Capital at an estuary, in a well-defensible position. Natural harbour? Ancient dock of the Pearl Road?
• Keep Emakera as a border province. Influence from nearby authoritarian Mantella, who attempted to detach this territory from Mekabiri by emphasising the north-south differences and exploit cultural differences.

History

Pre-colonial era

Caption.

• Early population came Azania and Amutia in the west. Land used to be much greener, but after the last ice age ended the climate became warmer with increased desertification.
• Prehistory: This led to more diversity in the cultures: fishermen along the coast, heders in the highlands, nomads in the desert.
• 1000-0 BCE: Small pockets of agriculture, mostly subsistence farming.
• 0-500s CE: Tied into the Pearl Road. Crossroads for many other historic nations.
• 500-1000s: Borderland against the Sacred Aroman Realm, separated by the large desert are.

Colonial period

Colonial flag of Birlini.

• 1000-1500s: Tie into the Orinese colonial expansion. First forts along the coast. Later on more defensive lines inland. Mostly extraction economy.
• 1349-1822: Official colonial period of Birlini.
• Area gives Orioni control of the Menelassar Bay.
• Colonial flag with a tower refers to the typical colonial-era forts along the coast. These could also be further inland. From a strategic point of view, there need to be at least two "choke points" along each side of the northern mountain range.

Independence

• Re-use later history from Pirilao and Emakera.

Politics

WIP

• Government.
  • Separation of Powers: Legislative, Judiciary, and Executive
  • Federalist system. 7 provinces and the Capital district.
  • Bicameral legistlative system. The Càmara dos Deputados has 100 members, directly elected by the people, which makes law projects and propositions. The Càmara dos Senadores has 100 members, also elected by the people, which vote for or against the law projects made by the deputados.
• Political parties.
• Foreign relations. Mekabiri is a member of the Assembled Nations and the Entente of Oriental States. Previously a member of the Europan Commercial Alliance.
• Military.

Economy

WIP

• Looking into the economy of RL Morocco, which is also a mostly coastal country with a dry hinterland.
• Exports.
• Currency. Wanna use the Orinese Phi, but might also go with Miiros just to snub the old coloniser.
• Employment. Might opt for Moroccan unemployment numbers, so as no to overpower any neighbours.
• Energy.
• Transport.
• Media.

Demographics

WIP

• Mekabiri's population consists mostly of Orinese settlers and native peoples, the Emakeran being the most known of them. Since intermarriage between the settlers and the natives is very usual in Emakera, most of the people have mixed ancestry in some degree. Everyone born in the country is treated as Mekabirian, independent of heritage. Racism is a unbailable crime.
• Ethnic groups. All people born in Emakera are considered to be ethnically Emakeran. Major Minorities: Alentejanos , Algarvios and Alfacinhas
• Language. Portuguese is the only official language of Emakera, and there are few regional variances. It is virtually the only language used in schools, newspapers, radio and TV, and for all business and administrative purposes. The language spoken in Brazil (and thus, in Emakera too) is slightly different from that spoken in Portugal and other Portuguese-speaking countries. Brazilian Portuguese is more archaic than European Portuguese, and has some phonological and orthographic differences, although mutual comprehension is not affected.
• Religion. Mekabiri is an secular state. Evangelical Protestant (45%), Roman Catholic (30%), Orinese faiths (15%), Salam (5%), Other Faiths (3%), No religion (2%).
• Health.
• Education.
• Mixture of Pirilao and Emakera. Adopt culture from both. Previously these two separate countries. But now they are a mixture of both. This forced colocation purposely undermines Mekabiri's internal stability. This is comparable to how Iraq was constructed out of 3 large, competing groups.
• Continue to build a shared lore with Mahana.

Cultures

WIP

• Literature.
• Visual arts.
• Music.
• Cuisine.
• Sport.