Ancient Era

Well-known Ancient artworks, each representing a certain civilisation. From left to right, top to bottom: depiction of 2 Calidum deities (Calidum Empire), the Striding Lion (Iserlon), the Qingtong Xiang (Quan), the Statue of I Ahila (Pylos), the city of Atontec (Creek)

The Ancient Era, also known as Ancient History is the period of time between the beginning of recorded history and the collapse of the Iron Age. The term Ancient Era is not to be confused with the Antiquity Era, the Era that followed the end of the Ancient Era.

During the time period of the Ancient Era (starting roughly from 3000 BCE), the world population was already exponentially increasing due to the introduction of agriculture. According to estimates, the world population increased exponentially in this period. In 10,000 BCE in prehistory, the world population had stood at 2 million, rising to 45 million by 3,000 BCE. By the rise of the Iron Age in 1,000 BCE, the population had risen to 72 million. By the end of the Iron Age in Gentu in 550 BCE, the world population is thought to have stood at 109 million.

Bronze Age

The Bronze Age begins with the end of the Cuprulithic Age. In most areas of civilisation, bronze smelting became a foundation for more advanced societies in places such as Hesterath, North Domica, Trimeshia, and Oranland. Modern historians have managed to identified 4 original civilisations which emerged in the time period.

Early Civilisations

Map of known city-states in Enasan – c. 2000 BCE.
Map of the Quan dynasty – c. 2300 BCE.
Calidum Empire and its colonies – c. 2000 BCE.
Creek city-states – c. 2100 BCE

Statue of Ibiha-Ili – Enasan
Bronze Ding – Quan
Pillars from a Calidum Temple – Calidum
The city of Atontec in modern day XXX – Creek

The first civilisation emerged in Enasan in the region of Plevapotamia in southwest Hesterath, now part of modern-day XXX along the Exore river. By around 3000 BCE, XXX city-states had collectively formed civilisation with government, religion, division of labour, and writing. Among the city-states, Ire was among the most well known.

The beginning of the Quan dynasty emerged in the Hesterath lowlands in modern day XXX along the Hang river around 2300 BCE. In this period, and there was evidence of a fully developed writing system and a centralized government based in the city of Daxia. The Quan dynasty is the first XXX regime recognized by scholars though XXX historians insist that the Shan dynasty preceded it. The Quan dynasty practiced forced labour to complete public projects. There is evidence of massive ritual burial.

In northern Naphtora, the Calidum civilisation emerged around 3200 BCE, developing along the Herito river. The civilisation's city-states were placed neatly on grid patterns that were located up and down the Herito river. By 2000 BCE, the civilisation was unified under one rule labeled the Calidum Empire by XXX historians. This made Calidum the first empire in Gentu. They formed trade routes stretching from modern day XXX to the Hesterath lowlands and their navy dominated the Zestoric Sea.

In the Domicas, the earliest known civilisation of the region appeared in the western central region of modern day XXX. The Creek civilisation of decentalized city-states flourished around 2100 BCE, the most well known was the city of Atontec which was abandoned for reasons unclear around 400 BCE.

Iron Age

Depiction of Remansete II riding into battle in his chariot during the Calidum Civil War.

Territories of Iserlon.

Territory settled by Iserlon

Territory claimed by Iserlon

The Iron Age is the second and last age of the Ancient Era, spanning from 1000 to 550 BCE. The Iron Age overall was characterized by the prevalent smelting of iron with ferrous metallurgy and the use of carbon steel. Smelted iron proved more durable than earlier metals such as copper or bronze and allowed for more productive societies.

Around 1000 BCE, the Quan dynasty was overthrown by the Cheng under the leadership of Yin Huiling. The Cheng dynasty was established shortly thereafter. During this era, Cheng embraced a feudal society of decentralized power. Cheng was then dissolved into a period of civil war in 560 BCE where possibly millions of soldiers fought each other over feudal struggles.

Also around 1000 BCE, native Proto-Flonesian groups begun to diverge from the original group such as the Auralian, Proto-Iolanan, XXX and XXX.

From around 950 to 940 BCE, Calidum plunged into civil war between the Emperor of Calidum and his brother Remansete II. The war ended indecisively resulting in the creation of the first recorded peace treaty to be ever made. Remansete II managed gain control of the archipelego of Pylos and the founding of the Kingdom of Pylos and the Remansete Period.

In Plevapotamia, the Enasan city-states were united into a single states named Iserlon under the rule of King Adamen I in 783 BCE. Around the same time came the Endus, the oldest known sacred texts for the Plecan religion. In 776 BCE, the first recorded Endoric Games were held with participants coming from 16 Pylosan cities. The games was hosted by Remansete IV who had a love of sports.

In 550 BCE, a meteor landed in the Zestoric Sea causing huge tidal waves to hit the coasts of Pylos and Calidum. The event nearly caused the collapse of both civilisations. The event marked the end of the Iron Age and the Ancient Era, and the beginning of the Antiquity Era.

Development

Religion and philosophy

Clockwise from top left:
Philosphers Chisisi, Khons, Omari, and Ur.

The rise of civilisation corresponded with the institutional sponsorship of belief in gods, supernatural forces and the afterlife. During the Bronze Age, many civilisations adopted their own form of religion. Usually, polytheistic Gods, who manifested human personalities, strengths and failings. Early religion was often based on location, with cities or entire countries selecting a deity, that would grant them preferences and advantages over their competitors. Worship involved the construction of representation of deities, and the granting of sacrifices. Sacrifices could be material goods, food, or in extreme cases human sacrifice to please a deity such as in Hoth in Creek religion. Over time, a great variety of religions developed around the world, with some of the earliest major ones being Plecanism (around 800 BCE). The Afran religions trace their origin to XXX, around 1700 BCE.

The ancient Plevapotamian philosophy is a fusion of two ancient traditions: Sauran tradition and Isorlon tradition. Plevapotamian philosophy begins with the Endus where questions related to laws of nature, the origin of the universe and the place of man in it are asked. XXX and XXX are continuation of the Sauran school of thought.

In Cheng, schools of thought were to dominate their thinking until the modern day. These were Weilism, and Kaoism. The Kaoism tradition, which would attain dominance, looked for political morality not to the force of law but to the power and example of tradition. Kaoism would later spread into the Eyoseoul peninsula and toward Horapon.

In Calidum and Pylos, philosophical tradition, represented by Chisisi, Khons, Omari and Ur, which would later influenced the thinkings of Oranland and much of northern Naphtora in the 4th to 3rd century BCE largely thanks to Calidum, and later Pylosan Imperialism.

Science and technology

Aqueducts of Calidum architecture in modern day Pylos.

In the history of technology and ancient science during the growth of the ancient civilisations, ancient technological advances were produced in engineering. These advances stimulated other societies to adopt new ways of living and governance. Sometimes, technological development was sponsored by the state.

The characteristics of Calidum and Pylosan technology are indicated by a set of artifacts and customs that lasted for thousands of years. The Calidum invented and used many basic contraptions, such as the ramp, the lever, and the aqueduct, to aid construction processes such as large temples and palaces. The Calidum also played an important role in developing Zestoric maritime technology, including merchant ships, warships and lighthouses. Inventions that are credited to the Pylosans such as the gear, screw, bronze casting techniques, water clock, water organ, torsion catapult and the use of steam to operate some experimental machines and toys. Many of these inventions occurred during the early 6th century BCE.

The history of science and technology in Plevapotamia dates back to ancient times. The city-states of Enasan yields evidence of hydrography and both sewage collection and disposal being practiced by its inhabitants. Among the fields of science and technology pursued in Plevapotamia were metallurgy, astronomy, and mathematics. The history of science and technology in the Cheng dynasty shows significant advances in science, technology, mathematics, and astronomy. The first recorded observations of comets and supernovae were made in Cheng. Traditional Cheng medicine, acupuncture and herbal medicine were also practiced.

Maritime activity

Model of a Calidum Boat.

The history of ancient navigation began in earnest when men took to the sea in planked boats and ships propelled by sails hung on masts, like the Narmar ship from 600 BCE.

The Calidum and Pylosans were seafaring civilizations. Thus they had one of the most advanced navies in the Ancient Era. One of the most intact ships found was a merchant ship discovered in XXX in the tomb of Sadiki II.

Asim was a Calidum explorer (around 1200 BCE) and the first explorer of whom there is any knowledge. He made the first recorded exploring expedition, writing his account of his exploration in stone. Asim travelled along the coast of the Zestoric, and sailed to what is now part of XXX . He returned to Calidum with great treasures, including precious myrrh, metal, and wood.

Warfare

Depiction of a Plevapotamian army.

Ancient warfare is war as conducted from the beginnings of recorded history to the end of the Ancient Era.

The difference between prehistoric warfare and ancient warfare is less one of technology than of organization. The development of the first city-states, and then empires, allowed warfare to change dramatically. Beginning in XXX, states produced sufficient agricultural surplus that full-time ruling elites and military commanders could emerge. While the bulk of military forces were still farmers, the society could support having them campaigning rather than working the land for a portion of each year. Thus, organized armies developed for the first time.

These new armies could help states grow in size and became increasingly centralized, and the first empire, that of the Enasan, formed in Plevapotamia. Early ancient armies continued to primarily use bows and spears, the same weapons that had been developed in prehistoric times for hunting. Early armies in Calidum and Cheng followed a similar pattern of using massed infantry armed with bows and spears.

Artwork and music

Ancient music developed in literate cultures, replacing prehistoric music. 'Ancient music' refers to the various musical systems that were developed across various geographical regions such as PLevapotamia, Hesterath lowlands, northern Naphtora, and Pylos. Ancient music is designated by the characterization of the basic audible tones and scales. It may have been transmitted through oral or written systems. Arts of the ancient world refers to the many types of art that were in the cultures of ancient societies, such as those of Calidum, Iserlon, Creek, Cheng, and Pylos.

Timeline

By Region

TBA

Maps

Political and Societal maps depicting the Ancient Era

Map of Gentu in 2000 BCE
Map of Gentu in 1000 BCE
Map of Gentu in 550 BCE

WIP

Ancient Era

Contents

Bronze Age

Iron Age