Oh, and in case you haven't noticed, this is pretty much the history of 'Western Civilization' in my world. Didn't get a chance to do the whole world yet ;)
113 A.C.
The Pax Namoria
Despite the 'eccentricities' and inconsistencies of the heirs of Octavian, the first century of the Empire sees dramatic growth and development. To the North, the lands of Bretonnia and Wendar are conquered (though the latter is actually 'ceded' to the Empire by Sylvanor to serve as a buffer between that realm and the wild lands to the north and east). Towards the end of the century, Ravenovia and parts of Sind (Mesopotamia) are conquered as well—marking the largest extent of the Empire. There is even an abortive attempt by the Empire (under the mad Nero) to invade Sylvanor and Daengar, but for the most part, much of the continent sees unparalleled growth and prosperity.
275 A.C.
Decline of Empire
The throne of the Emperor continued to attract all manner of woe, even as the Empire persisted. Men rose and fell. Poisonings, betrayals and even civil wars began to fracture the solidarity of the realm—and at one of the worst possible times. In the far northlands, the Giants of Jotunheim united under a series of charismatic leaders. They drove south into the lands of men, accompanied by hordes of lesser humanoids. Nordian barbarians, pressed by this assault, moved south as well—crashing against and through the northern borders of the Empire (Wendar and Bretonnia) and continuing south.
313 A.C.
Birth of the Vatic Faith
In the midst of all this chaos, a new religion had been taking root in the Empire—the Vatic faith (named after the Talean city in which it was born). In this faith, the division of religion into various sects—each dedicated to an individual patron—is set aside in favor of a more unified and enlightened approach. This is accompanied by many reforms in theological process to encourage the church to serve the people instead of the other way around. Of course this met with a great deal of resistance from the existing religious orders and the nobility—but the power of true spiritual magic that the Vatic priesthood wielded as well as their personal persistence eventually won the day. In 313 A.C. Emperor Constantine adopted the Vatic faith as the state religion of the Namorian Empire. The symbol of this faith was the Sun, often represented by a cross of four points, backed with a smaller, diagonal cross of four points.
365 A.C.
The Sundering of Namoria
Despite the rapidly increasing strength of the Vatic faith, the Namorian Empire continued to decline in the face of barbarian and humanoid invasions, internal corruption and continual squabbling over the throne. In 365 it was decided to divide the Empire in two—to make each half easier to control. That was the theory in any case. In reality, neither East nor West was prepared for the continuing strife. More and more provinces were simply abandoned: Bretonnia, Wendar, Africa, Nithia (Egypt) were increasingly left to their own devices.
432 A.C.
Birth of the Ylari Faith
Based upon the mediations, philosophy and lifelong quest of a holy man named Al-Kalim, a new faith begins to spread through the Ylari peninsula—and then quickly through Sind, Nithia and Northern Africa. Much like the newly ordained Vatic faith, the Ylari was a re-examination and restructuring of many existing faiths, folding many cultural patrons into an entirely new belief system. And again like the Vatic, the Ylari faith was initially resisted by by the established order—until the true spiritual power of its adherents silenced all doubters. The symbol for this faith was the crescent moon.
450 A.C.
The Jun Horde
All the strife leading up to the dividing of the Namorian Empire paled, however, in comparison to the onslaught of the Jun. The Ethengarian Steppe had long been home to bands of horse nomads—but until this time, they had always been too disorganized and divided to pose any serious threat to an organized defense. All that changed under the great Khan Attila. Sheer force of will allowed him to gain control of a huge horde composed of many different tribes—all united in a single purpose: the sack of the Westron realms. But it was not simply numbers that make the horde so fearsome. Their mounted combat tactics, matched with a newfound skill in siege warfare caught everyone by surprise. All peoples, barbarian and 'civilized' alike, were swept before this tide of destruction. Both Namorian Empires sought to use and manipulate the Jun to their own ends (or at the very least deflect their wrath upon other peoples), but in the end, Attila proved craftier than the most corrupt Namori politician. For a year, the Jun crushed all in their path. In 451, a costly battle in the far fields of Reynardy (against a force of allied Nordian Barbarians and Namori legions) finally forced them to turn back. Even then, they lingered, settling in central Europe to continue their raids into the Eastern and Western empires. In 452, Attila plunged all the way down the Talean Peninsula to threaten Vatica—the capital of the west. As the Jun's breached the city defenses and the Emperor fled aboard his private galley, Patriarch Leo of the Vatic church went forth to confront Attila himself. The sheer force of the holy man's righteous zeal gave he barbarian king pause—as did the display of spiritual magic the Patriarch invoked. Cowed for the first time, the Jun retreated from the city, and indeed out of Talea itself. Attila turned his gaze towards the Eastern empire then, but his campaign there was cut short when the great Khan died at his latest wedding celebration. The Jun fell to infighting, with most tribes eventually retreating (or being driven) back east, onto the Steppe.
476 A.C.
The Fall of the West
With the immediate threat of the Jun horde gone, the alliance of necessity between Nordian barbarians and the Namori empire fell through. A combination of greed and betrayal on both sides led to a new wave of invasions against both East and West. It was in the West that this stroke fell hardest. The Empire collapsed, with Nordian tribes sweeping through Darokin, Talea, Reynardy and Spaña. Even the Patriarch in Vatica could not prevent the sacking of his city this time. The East fared little better, with all its European possessions being overrun and the crown city of Namoria placed under siege. It seemed as if nothing could stand against the wrath of the Northmen. Emperor Bascilicus did little but lament the failures of his underlings—who in turn blamed those beneath them. The rotten core of the Empire was finally getting its comeuppance. But a savior arose from the unlikeliest of places—the slave pits of the great Arena of Namoria. Promised freedom by the Empress, a Nordian gladiator hero named Thrainkell organized a band of fellow slave-warriors who managed to turn the tide of the siege. So feared and respected was this man that he gained the loyalty of the remnants of the Imperial legions—whom he lead in a brilliant campaign to reclaim much of the Eastern Empire's continental territories. General Thrainkel returned to Namoria triumphant, discovering that in his absence the Emperor had died of a mysterious illness. In a shocking turn of events, the Empress took Thrainkel as her husband, making him the first non-Namori Emperor. This signified a huge change in Namoria. Under Thrainkel, many former Nordian 'enemies' were given a home within the Empire, provided that they in turn defend it from other barbarians. This influx of people caused a melding of cultures that formed the basis of Western civilization to come—and indeed gradually spawned the Westron 'common' language, which is a mixture of Nordian and Namorian. (OOC: Westron is essentially English).
525
Ylari "Empire of Faith"
With its core in Ylaruam, Sind and Nithia, the Ylari faith spreads. It's teachings win over the peoples of North Africa and Makistan (in the far East), but it is through the sword that the word of Al-Kalim first spreads into Europe. The former Namori province of Spaña falls under the sway of Ylari Emirs, as do many of the isles of the Mediterranean. As the Ylari press against Talea and Namoria the Vatic and Ylari faith come into direct confrontation—setting the stage for an enduring religious conflict. Despite it's unified front, however, this "Empire of Faith" begins to show cracks, resulting in a major religious schism in 550 when Sind and much of the Eastern most Ylari territories adopt a stricter and more warlike interpretation of the doctrine—urging the destruction of all 'infidels'. The western Ylari struggle to maintain a more moderate outlook. This conflict gives the Westron Vatic countries some breathing room. Indeed, if the schism hadn't happened, it is possible the whole of the West may have fallen again.
540 A.C.
The Dark Ages
Despite the survival of the Eastern Namori Empire, much of Europe (and indeed the Empire itself) was left in a shambles in the wake of decades of warfare, chaos and disease. Europe was divided into the petty kingdoms of Nordian warlords, ruling over mixed populations former Namori citizens and their own people. Vatic priests did what they could to help the lot of the common man—but found it difficult at first to make headway against the fierce Nordian religious traditions. Still, the spiritual power of the Vatic priests was formidable, and to many wearied by the years of strife, the message of peace and brotherhood was an appealing one. Much of the lore and science developed by the Namori had been swept away in the invasions—but here again the Vatic priests did what they could to preserve what remained. Despite all these efforts, the wars and diseases continued—a seemingly endless cycle that would surely drive the West in a downward spiral.
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