AHC: Conquer the world!
- Thread starter Gan
- Start date
I doubt this is possible without a friendly extraterrestrial interstellar chiropter.
for this to work there has to be an irrational urge to paint the map one colour, as not everthing a state could take is worth holding. broad strokes as im not smart enough for a good answer but here goes. a great man or two unites industrial europe in a secular liberal federation with a absolute monarch style personality cult going for both legitimacy of leader /office, prestige of army, and loyalty to each nation within the borders (think united states of austria). europe empire carves up world to secure capitalist ventures and to vent off population pressure. eventually independance movements take hold in the colonies and colonialism gives way to neocolonialism. sorry for outlining such a grimdark timeline : [
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Of course not. This manner of madness can only be found in SPARTA!!!111111.
Earth Judicar
Banned
Mega Roman Empire that conquers all of western Eurasia and expands inexorably to world conquest.
Alexander who conquers over half the world in a single lifetime his descendants finish the job-Toynbee's dream.
Mongolian empire unites the world by 1800 AD under the rule of the great Khan of Khans.
Anything else?
Alexander who conquers over half the world in a single lifetime his descendants finish the job-Toynbee's dream.
Mongolian empire unites the world by 1800 AD under the rule of the great Khan of Khans.
Anything else?
Deleted member 97083
Some scenarios:
- Some time from 1958-1964, the US launches a full-strength "pre-emptive first strike" (this was considered in OTL, though unlikely to actually be opted for) against the Soviet Union and all communist nations, destroying them in weeks. The comparatively much less damaged US gradually takes over the post-apocalyptic Europe and China--not to mention the remnants of allies' colonial empires in Africa--expanding to directly or indirectly control the rest of the world by 2017.
- China industrializes centuries earlier under a Qing-sized, but non-Manchu dynasty. The sheer population advantage held by an industrialized China vs. a preindustrial world, leads to world conquest nigh-accidentally, by trade wars, punitive expeditions, and colonies that just balloon into world dominance.
- A scientific and economic revolution happens in ancient Mesopotamia in 1000 BC, leading to a flourishing of trade and urbanization, and an industrial revolution by 700-600 BC. During this time, the Bronze Age Near Eastern Empires battle for hegemony, with one winner that annexes the rest. Controlling over 60% of the world's population (for reference, the Achaemenid Empire controlled 44%) and growing due to lower death rates caused by the demographic transition, this empire starts conquering the whole world, motivated by constant demand for slaves, luxury goods, coal, iron, and arable land. The primitive weapons technology and low populations outside of the Middle East make this more of a peripheral colonial conflict than anything else. The conflicts between the ruling classes of former empires while leading to short term crises, much like Roman conflicts with subjugated Italic peoples, never end up destroying the empire, though the empire does break apart for different reasons some time after they conquered the world.
- Hitler doesn't invade Russia. In 1943 or 1944, Stalin, commanding a fully prepared, undamaged Soviet Union, sends the Red Army to charge through Europe and conquers everything from Norway to Normandy (as well as taking a much greater proportion of German rocket scientists to Moscow giving the USSR an advantage in missile technology and West a disadvantage). With the additional manpower the Soviets have ITTL, and with Japanese empire surviving a few years longer leading to a more devastated China, the Soviets opt to take over China instead of aiding the PRC. Furthermore the Soviets pick up the slack in India after the fall of Japan, supporting "independence" of a communist India. The new Soviet Union spanning the continent of Eurasia begins a decades long war with the Western powers which turns hot during decolonization. Ultimately ending in a nuclear war that the Soviets "win", by virtue of controlling so much of Europe and China as a buffer, sacrificing those regions to American strategic bombers while Russia remains mostly intact, only targetable by the most long range ICBMs, shot down by the continent-sized depth of Soviet defenses. After the nuclear war, the Soviets pick up the pieces and establish their dominance over the globe.
- An ATL British Empire rises with the same industrial natural resource advantages and geographic/naval advantages as OTL, but as an absolutist, anti-liberal power instead of a parliamentary, liberal power. Economic benefits from plundering faraway lands lead to acceptance of the divine right of the king/emperor. When the autocratic British Empire controls 1/4 of the world and invents the atomic bomb before anyone else, rather than decolonize their empire to build a more peaceful world and allies in the cold war, they instead decide to sacrifice the world to keep their empire. Annihilating all the other powers and subsuming their colonial empires, the autocratic British Empire briefly rules almost the entire world, indirectly dominating the rest, before a large collapse.
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Rome somehow figures out a very efficient way to conquer and Romanize Germania. They also develop the Sun cult of Sol Invictus into a proper monotheistic religion that is tied to the State and the emperor and its tenets include conquest and spreading Roman civilization, providing a driving force for further assimilation and conquest of the barbarians. By the time the Huns arrive, the very fortified Limes is on the Oder all the way down along the Carpathians to the Dnieper.
The Huns are defeated decisively, the remnant of their empire get picked up in the following centuries, expanding Rome to the eastern steppes, converting the barbarians to the worship of Sol Invictus which also brings with itself Roman culture, ethos, and innovation. Like Christianity and Islam, it takes many ideas from pagan religions, making conversion easy and fast. The religion spreads beyond Roman borders, and being a worshipper practically means wanting to be Roman. Actual Roman conquest is not so far behind.
The religious militarism drives innovation in the empire towards advancements in military tactics, and engineering, with both the clergy and the state actively supporting and pushing for a technocratic society. To conquer is to be Roman, to innovate is to be Roman. Arabia and Persia are soon crushed and converted, Rome is now advancing into Central Asia. New ship designs allow for the discovery of the Americas, the immense wealth of those lands brings a new golden age and effectively spurs an industrial revolution by 1000 AD (they would not use OTL calendar of course).
The Americas are soon conquered with immense numbers of Romans leaving for the new provinces, which like US territories would get full rights and representation in the Senate, once the population and the level of civilization (as overseen by the church) are high enough. Roman citizenship no longer only applies to a select few, it can be achieved by any colonia that is accepted as a proper provincia.
The Mongol hordes soon arrive on the Eastern frontiers, and wreak much havoc along the Oxus and beyond the Urals. Their devastation actually works well for Rome as they get rid of many dissenting elements in recently conquered Persia and among the nomads of the Steppes. The great horde eventually gets defeated in 3 large battles against the Roman legions using gunpowder, muskets and modern military tactics (at this point the are around the military technology of the early 1600s AD). The Mongols retreat beyond the Oxus and the Urals, not making more that meager raids into Roman territories, while the empire consolidates the gains in America(named after a famous cartographer and navigator Americus from Mediolanium).
The empire establishes trading posts all along the now-explored African coast, the South Asian islands and makes inroads into India, conquering its small states one by one by the end of the 1300 OTL. By 1400, the Sun Cult is spread by Roman explorers to said islands, and the dissenters from the newly conquered territories are sent to Australia. The spice islands, the Philippines and Malaya(OTL names ofc) are soon colonized. By 1500, the power of steam allows the spreading of Roman Civilization even faster, and in what is called the Oriental War, the Romans decisively defeat the backwards Ming dynasty of China, fracturing their empire and giving way to the Warlord Era. This helps the empire to spread the Sun cult in the nation and slowly divide and conquer the whole region, making inroads from the great fortress of Princeps Orientalem in plains to the north, through the great mountains from India, the jungles of Indochina, and of course from the sea. The conversion of the various Chinese states proceeds at a steady pace until the Roman Emperor is proclaimed to possess the Mandate of Heaven.
With the advancement of medicine by 1600 OTL, it becomes possible to make inroads into the deepest Africa, a region yet only partially explored and mapped by Romans. The various tribes are quickly subjected to Roman rule and the Sun Cult is quickly spread among the population, albeit quite forcefully in some cases.
By 1700 OTL, the Mandate of Heaven is proclaimed and the drive for Africa is well on its way, as a large fleet of Roman steamships built of steel arrive at Japanese harbors, with menacing airships looming overhead, demanding the opening of the harbors and subjugation to Roman rule in the name of Sol Invictus.
There you go, as ASB as it gets, but I had fun writing it
The Huns are defeated decisively, the remnant of their empire get picked up in the following centuries, expanding Rome to the eastern steppes, converting the barbarians to the worship of Sol Invictus which also brings with itself Roman culture, ethos, and innovation. Like Christianity and Islam, it takes many ideas from pagan religions, making conversion easy and fast. The religion spreads beyond Roman borders, and being a worshipper practically means wanting to be Roman. Actual Roman conquest is not so far behind.
The religious militarism drives innovation in the empire towards advancements in military tactics, and engineering, with both the clergy and the state actively supporting and pushing for a technocratic society. To conquer is to be Roman, to innovate is to be Roman. Arabia and Persia are soon crushed and converted, Rome is now advancing into Central Asia. New ship designs allow for the discovery of the Americas, the immense wealth of those lands brings a new golden age and effectively spurs an industrial revolution by 1000 AD (they would not use OTL calendar of course).
The Americas are soon conquered with immense numbers of Romans leaving for the new provinces, which like US territories would get full rights and representation in the Senate, once the population and the level of civilization (as overseen by the church) are high enough. Roman citizenship no longer only applies to a select few, it can be achieved by any colonia that is accepted as a proper provincia.
The Mongol hordes soon arrive on the Eastern frontiers, and wreak much havoc along the Oxus and beyond the Urals. Their devastation actually works well for Rome as they get rid of many dissenting elements in recently conquered Persia and among the nomads of the Steppes. The great horde eventually gets defeated in 3 large battles against the Roman legions using gunpowder, muskets and modern military tactics (at this point the are around the military technology of the early 1600s AD). The Mongols retreat beyond the Oxus and the Urals, not making more that meager raids into Roman territories, while the empire consolidates the gains in America(named after a famous cartographer and navigator Americus from Mediolanium).
The empire establishes trading posts all along the now-explored African coast, the South Asian islands and makes inroads into India, conquering its small states one by one by the end of the 1300 OTL. By 1400, the Sun Cult is spread by Roman explorers to said islands, and the dissenters from the newly conquered territories are sent to Australia. The spice islands, the Philippines and Malaya(OTL names ofc) are soon colonized. By 1500, the power of steam allows the spreading of Roman Civilization even faster, and in what is called the Oriental War, the Romans decisively defeat the backwards Ming dynasty of China, fracturing their empire and giving way to the Warlord Era. This helps the empire to spread the Sun cult in the nation and slowly divide and conquer the whole region, making inroads from the great fortress of Princeps Orientalem in plains to the north, through the great mountains from India, the jungles of Indochina, and of course from the sea. The conversion of the various Chinese states proceeds at a steady pace until the Roman Emperor is proclaimed to possess the Mandate of Heaven.
With the advancement of medicine by 1600 OTL, it becomes possible to make inroads into the deepest Africa, a region yet only partially explored and mapped by Romans. The various tribes are quickly subjected to Roman rule and the Sun Cult is quickly spread among the population, albeit quite forcefully in some cases.
By 1700 OTL, the Mandate of Heaven is proclaimed and the drive for Africa is well on its way, as a large fleet of Roman steamships built of steel arrive at Japanese harbors, with menacing airships looming overhead, demanding the opening of the harbors and subjugation to Roman rule in the name of Sol Invictus.
There you go, as ASB as it gets, but I had fun writing it
A lot of bad translations at the UN, and it is given land to occupy as it's soverign territory, with the member states all acting as tributaries to it. Should last a weak until someone rephrases it. Sure, it wouldn't control the Western Sahara, and they would claim but have no control over Taiwan, but they would probably do some face saving measure.
For a moment I thought you were talking about chiropractors. Which might be needed for this. First we got to work on that streeeeeetch.
The most.. rational approach to this, in my opinion is a Stable Alexandrian Empire Timeline.
If you can resolve/reform the oddity that is the Alexandrian system, as well as ensure a stability of succession (and keep Alexander alive), I think you could start this off. (even if it leaves Greece in the unusual position of dominated by the Alexandrian Empire, via the Hellenic League, but not part of that Empire, but still colonising it).
To make the point, I think the Alexandrian System, simply based off of the behaviour of its founder, is likely to be a mostly bureaucratic system that the monarch isn't so much required to partake in, but is able to steer to purpose.
So Satraps, robust bureaucracy that is probably centred around "Royal Cities" from which the King/Bureaucracy applies its power over the Satraps.
If the Persian system is maintained, it could certainly be expanded upon, into Arabia, and if it is to believed, around Africa.
Maintain a light touch, and a Alexandrian system of cultural mixing, and slowly but surely you could have that Empire continue to expand, with Dynamic Kings either expanding the Empire, or being its ruin, and Disinterested Kings having little impact because of a bureaucracy.
The key is, how do you stop the Bad Dynamic Kings ruining things - as trying to apply checks and balances is a recipe for Royal vs Bureaucracy vs Satraps vs Independence civil wars.
I imagine you'd have to have a Royal Culture where the Royal Dynasty is essentially in a Gilded World - luxury, pleasure, anything to make them apathetic and allow the Head of the Bureaucracy to keep control.
Ensure enough marriage alliances and light rule, and you could have that system slowly or rapidly expand. Its biggest obstacles will probably be Indian and Chinese Empires, alongside internal "Empires".
Probably the best parallel is the Japanese Empire.
If you can resolve/reform the oddity that is the Alexandrian system, as well as ensure a stability of succession (and keep Alexander alive), I think you could start this off. (even if it leaves Greece in the unusual position of dominated by the Alexandrian Empire, via the Hellenic League, but not part of that Empire, but still colonising it).
To make the point, I think the Alexandrian System, simply based off of the behaviour of its founder, is likely to be a mostly bureaucratic system that the monarch isn't so much required to partake in, but is able to steer to purpose.
So Satraps, robust bureaucracy that is probably centred around "Royal Cities" from which the King/Bureaucracy applies its power over the Satraps.
If the Persian system is maintained, it could certainly be expanded upon, into Arabia, and if it is to believed, around Africa.
Maintain a light touch, and a Alexandrian system of cultural mixing, and slowly but surely you could have that Empire continue to expand, with Dynamic Kings either expanding the Empire, or being its ruin, and Disinterested Kings having little impact because of a bureaucracy.
The key is, how do you stop the Bad Dynamic Kings ruining things - as trying to apply checks and balances is a recipe for Royal vs Bureaucracy vs Satraps vs Independence civil wars.
I imagine you'd have to have a Royal Culture where the Royal Dynasty is essentially in a Gilded World - luxury, pleasure, anything to make them apathetic and allow the Head of the Bureaucracy to keep control.
Ensure enough marriage alliances and light rule, and you could have that system slowly or rapidly expand. Its biggest obstacles will probably be Indian and Chinese Empires, alongside internal "Empires".
Probably the best parallel is the Japanese Empire.
Getting them to all take the name Alexander, os some version of it, may also help lead to some god-emperor type thing, where it is seen as some eternal King Arthur. Maybe different titles or translations in different lands, or members of the dynasty also named Alexander going down there as governors and perpetuating the myth. Of course they would probably use other names at home. I expect Alexander to evolve into Caesar, which itself evolved into Kaiser and Tsar (with people also using Emperor), though in retrospect was that as a title mmore for Augustus?
Baselius Alexandros -> Baselius Xandros -> Xandros -> Andros -> Andr?
That last one actually sounds a bit swedish in my head. Alt-Vikings getting conquered by the ruling Andros, becoming known in the Viking world as "The Andr" - the Baltic becoming the Andrsea, or Andr's Sea. Just the image of a period-accurate Empire that is just "Ah, live is good, tribute from all our bordering realms, stablity, WTF THOSE BLOODY NORTHMEN JUST LOOTED A SHRINE TO Alexandros Megas?!?!?!" (Cut away to massive fleet approaching the site of modern Copenhagen) "From here, I shall ensure that the North is tamed, even Hyperborea shall bow to me."
Heh, Andros "The Andr, Conqueror of the North, Lord of Hyperborea, [Insert 30 minute list of epithets inherited over time here]".
For a moment I thought this was meant to be after the Norse become to follow the religion or rulership of one of the Alexander dynasty, but didn't see the other versions as being the same. Might be fun for things to eventually dissolve with cities and civlizations ransacking other cities, but taking the stuff from temples and palaces to put in their own. Something worthy for Al-Sander.