Mbuntrare

The Republic of Mbuntrare Kiliwindi za Mbuntrare
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Anthu Ndi Dziko Zimapanga Kiliwindi" Common: "The People and the Land Make the Republic"
Anthem: Kiliwindi Apa Kukhala Common: The Republic Here Stays
Capital and largest city	Ketonbo
Official languages	Mbuntrarean
Ethnic groups (2018)	Mbuntrarean, Senefpatian
Demonym(s)	Mbuntrarean
Government	Semi-Presidential Constitutional Republic
• Pulezinti (President)	Kwanfulo Chirambo
• Ndunaykulu (Prime Minister)	Chingoza Etamwe
Legislature	Congress
• Upper house	Mbuntrarean Parliament
Establishment
• Independence	March 29, 1986
Area
• Total	50,139 km2 (19,359 sq mi)
Population
• 2022 estimate	709,735
• 2018 census	708,992
• Density	14.14/km2 (36.6/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2021 estimate
• Total	10.11 billion
• Per capita	$14,247
HDI	.78 high
Currency	Mbuntrarean Pound
Time zone	UTC+10
Date format	yyy.mm.dd
Driving side	right
Calling code	+640
Internet TLD	.mb

Mbuntrare, officially the Republic of Mbuntrare (Mbuntrarean: Kiliwindi za Mbuntrare) is a small country located in central Meredonne, bordered by the Paisi Ocean to the north and the Chelanewok Mountains to the south. It's found on the Gombakuda Coast which is the strip of land found between the Chelanewok Mountain Range and the Paisi Ocean. It's borders are mostly defined by the Mbuntre River Watershed with all land that eventually drains into the river considered part of Mbuntrare. Other watershed that define Mbuntrarean borders are the Okwelta River and Mwirefu Delta. It's capital and by far largest is Ketonbo with around 400,000 people and containing around 2/3 of the country's total population. The only other cities with more than 10,000 people are Cannilok, Nbembera, Monroeville, Abilone Mill, & Port Nimshoq. Mbuntrare is divided into 18 regions which each send 2 members to the Mbuntrarean Parliament. Mbuntrare is a Semi-Presidential Constitutional Republic where it is ruled by a President as Head of State and Prime Minister as Head of Government.

The country was a Senefpatian colony and later territory for almost 200 years from 1788-1986. Before that, it is believed that settlement of the area began around 15,000 BC and permanent settlements came about around 500 BC. The Senkanta Kingdom which came about in the 2nd Century is the first advanced civilization most scholars can agree arose in Mbuntrare and would be followed up by a number of sequential kingdoms until 1793 when Senefpat abolished the royal line in Mbuntrare and formally controlled all government in the colony. Mbuntrare is rich in archaeological sites which provide most information about the periods before colonization. During colonization, Mbuntrare was used mostly for it's large deposits of gemstones; rich soil, and good climate for growing crops and spices, and as a trading hub for other countries in Meredonne. Mbuntrare received independence on March 29, 1986 and had it's first president, Joel Nchentoga, sworn in the next day. Since then, Mbuntrare has been fairly peaceful, diversifying it's economy little-by-little and developing new industries in the country such as tourism and banking.

Today, Mbuntrare retains strong connections to Thuadia where a majority of it's exports go due to the large markets found there, with a smaller part going to Olivacia and Hiraethia. It's economy is still largely based upon mining, agriculture, and regional trading, which is what made it such a valuable colony for Senefpat. The mountains in the south of the country have provided valuable gemstones, most notably sapphires, emeralds, and amethyst. While the northern parts of the country are great for agriculture producing many products such as fruits like oranges and mangoes, and spices such as vanilla and ginger.

Etymology

The name of Mbuntrare derives from the Mbuntre River that flows through the country. The name of the country itself is first cited when Senefpatian colonists arrived and gave the land the name Mbuntre-are, it would later be shortened to Mbuntrare when the land was officially annexed by Senefpat.

History

Mbuntrare's history can date all the way back to the first Mbuntrarean human settlement in 15000 BC, however history since the 19th Century has been dominated by Senefpatian Colonization and its impacts on the local culture, and economy.

Prehistory (15000 BC - 180 AD)

The Ebmintwi Caves found at the base of the Chelanewok Mountains, one of the best preserved cave paintings in Anteria.

Mbuntrare was first settled by the Gombakudan people, who were descendants of the ‘Paleo-Viatoribus’ people at around 15,000 BC. The Gombakudan people were notable from other Paleo-Viatoribus people for their unusually dark skin tone and only found in modern-day Mbuntrare. Stone tools have been found in Mbuntrare dating back to 14500 BC at the Gbakola Archaeological Site. Later on, around 7000 BC, cave paintings emerged around the country and depict hunting, cooking, and landscapes found in Mbuntrare. Some notable cave panitings include the Hasidu Chalk Drawings, Gbalentombe Cave, and the Ebmintwi Caves.

Around 200 BC native Mbuntrareans evolved from primarily hunter-gatherer societies into agrarian ones and the first permanent settlements in Mbuntrare started showing up, the earliest of which being the town of Kwentare found in Central Mbuntrare. Around 100 AD, Mbuntrare entered the Iron Age, skipping the Bronze age entirely primarily due to the lack of copper in the area. Mbuntrare would be in the Iron Age all the way until Senefpatian colonization, nearly 1,700 years later.

Early Kingdoms (180 AD - 1162 AD)

Around 180 AD was when the first advanced civilizations started to appear in Mbuntrare around already established cities. None of the Early Kingdoms expanded outside of modern-day Mbuntrare and were usually confined to the fertile land found close to the Okwelta River and Paisi Ocean.

The first of these Early Kingdoms was the Sekanta Kingdom which is regarded as the first kingdom and advanced civilization to exist in the modern territory of Mbuntrare. The capital is believed to be at the Ruins of Kewiri just southeast of Ketonbo. No written records exist from the period, but many archaeological sites have been found around the country. Some modern scholars believe that the Sekanta Kingdom was not a single civilization, but more a combination of many separate kingdoms that occupied the same area and had the same culture based on the artifacts that remain today. The Sekanta Kingdom was based heavily around... The Sekanta Kingdom was taken down by the Zyambe Kingdom in 625 in the first documented war in Mbuntrarean history, the 1st Mzintwe War. The 1st Mzintwe War was written about extensively by Mbuntrarean Anthropologist and Author Sepunlamentewe Luso during the 1950s which brought much more attention to early Mbuntrarean history to historians in Mbuntrare and Senefpat.

The Zyambe Kingdom followed the Sekanta and was the first Mbuntrarean civilization to enter the Iron Age. Iron was found in the Chelanewok Mountains which was previously uninhabited due to unfertile soil for agriculture. Iron would mainly be used to develop speartips and cookery. The Zyambe Kingdom also founded the Mbuntrarean capital, Ketonbo, in 847 after their old capital of Mpeleson got flooded in the same year. Although limited, written records started appearing during this time which provide the first details of society and government in Mbuntrare. The records were written in an early form of Mbuntrarean and have been partially translated by archaeologists and linguits. The Zyambe Kingdom would be taken down by a lengthy civil war which would end in King Matambe IX being deposed in 1162 and getting taken over by Hasogbe I.