Introduction
Greetings dear readers and sincere apologies for you who have waited for
the first article of the Steamfolk Tales. The Independent Weekly has
received a fine article about the history of the civilization from
Professor Cunning of Albertshill University, and our dear
editor-in-chief has decided that this is more important that our freshly
announced Steamfolk Tales. Of which we have received a remarkable
amount of letters from you, our dear readers, by the way.
We will try to make this up for you next month as we will have an
interview of the famous inventor-genius
Dr. Dominic Johnnel, the
inventor of the Crystal Intelligence Clockenspiel. He will tell us of
his background and of his inventions and plans. We might hear a bit of
his travels in the mysterious Crimson Empire.
I hope you enjoy the scientific article about the history of civilization.
Introduction by: Harold T. Chapman, the reporter of Steamfolk TalesThe History of Human Civilization in Erthair
Essay by: Sir Edward J. Cunning, Professor of History and Anthropology, Albertshill UniversityWritten: 20.5.1797
Until about 10,000 years ago, most humans lived as hunter-gatherers,
usually in small nomadic groups. The advent of agriculture led to the
formation of permanent human settlements, the domestication of animals
and the use of metal tools for the first time in history. Agriculture
encouraged trade and cooperation, and led to a more complex society than
before.
About 4,000 years ago in the southern part of the continent, the tribe
of Kheim united the whole area under their rule. The whole Empire of the
Sun was formed in less than 200 years' time. The Kheimani spread their
language and their religion all over the Empire. The Kheimani were more
developed than other tribes in the area. It is presumed that it was
bronze weaponry and swords that allowed the Kheimani to conquer all of
the southern continent and spread the newly formed Empire of the Sun
effectively.
About 3,000 years ago a new philosophy started spreading in the eastern
Empire of the Sun. The local historians point to a prophet whose
teachings had become popular in the area. This led to a civil war
lasting several centuries and a feud between the Empire of the Sun and
its eastern rebellious areas. The Empire of the Sun was then divided to
two: the western Kheiman Empire and the eastern Crimson Empire.
While the southern part of the continent was in a state of civil war,
the loose tribes of the northern part of the continent were united under
a single banner of the Empire of Frost. Many of the tribes kept their
areas and traditions but were united under the same rule. The tribal
languages were forgotten and the ancient version of the Northern
language was born.
Not much is known of the reasons for the great war, but it started about
2000 years ago between the three empires that ruled the world; the
northern Empire of Frost, south-eastern Crimson Empire and the
south-western Kheiman Empire. It is known that the majority of the war
was fought with iron weaponry, but there has been discussion in the
scientific community whether all of the three empires knew the art of
smelting iron before the war or whether the knowledge spread during the
first years of the war. The war lasted at least 200 years and its end
was marked in all of the empires as the year 0. This is known as the
Treaty of the Emperors. From this point on there are records of peaceful
interaction between the nations.
Around the year 500, the six western provinces of the Empire of the
Frost united, starting a civil war to gain their freedom from the
Empire. The Empire lost five of the western provinces and much of the
islands in the Western Sea. The remainder of the Empire was renamed as
The Empire of Wulffgart according to the ruling emperor
Bronislav Wulff.
The five western provinces that gained independence stood together
against the common enemy in the east but became small separate kingdoms:
Cailea, Rocksborraugh, Neven, Chardiel and Hanseburg. The sixth
rebellious province, Gardsburg, remained under the Wulffgartian rule.
In the year 1367, after several decades of pressure and danger of war
from Wulffgart, the four western kingdoms united under the common rule.
The four former kingdoms were renamed as duchies with the former kings
named as dukes, ruling their own areas under the rule of one king. The
newly formed kingdom was named The Great Kingdom of Victora as an omen
to be victorious in the future years. The war with Wulffgart was avoided
and the foundation for the modern Victora was laid. The duchies were
not renamed as they are known today but until later. Soon after this the
islands of the Western Sea were united to Victora as a duchy of
Seahome.
During these times, the Kingdom of Hanseburg changed its name to the
Grand Duchy of Hanseburg, following the Victoran way, but remained
independent. Hanseburg held good relations to both Victora and
Wulffgart. The protective mountains around Hanseburg have made this
peaceful existence with the two large neighbouring nations possible.
After the 16th century, revolutionary ideas and technologies changed the
world. Technological innovations such as the printing press, steam
engine, railway, steam wagon and gunpowder have led to the industrial
revolution and industrialization. The grown industrial factories have
drawn people from the countryside to the overpopulated cities. The
printing press has changed the way of thinking, education, and the
spread of knowledge and innovation. This has naturally affected the
culture and life in the whole of Erthair.
Victora built a railway to the Kheiman Empire and past it to the distant
and secluded Crimson Empire around the year 1700. This, among other
political disputes led, to the war between Victora and Wulffgart in
1702. The war lasted for almost eight decades, ending in 1781, and is
now known as the Great War. During the war years many inventions were
made to fuel the wheels of war: cartridge-firing weapons, revolving
mechanism, flying airships, armored battleships and combat automatons
among other things. In 1774 the western islands united under a common
flag and joined the war to gain their independence. In the peace treaty
written in 1781, the Union of the Free Islands was recognized by all the
other nations, thus forming the first democratic nation in Erthair.
Wulffgart suffered many losses in the last years of the war and
surrendered to Victora, thus ending the war it had started in the first
place almost 80 years ago. Wulffgart agreed to pay war reparations to
Victora.
The Tzar Ivan IV of Wulffgart started transferring funds and
men from the military to civilian industries to cover the reparation
costs. A few high ranking military officers turned against the crown and
overthrew the Tzar in a quick revolution. The Tzar disappeared during
the events, and the newly-appointed
Marshal General Friedrich Krause
announced military rule in Wulffgart.