Shia: Technically, the Shia can never be a ‘noble heresy’ because as Muslims, they’re infidels, not heretics. De facto, the Shia communities in Roman Syria/Palestine have been lumped into that group as a tool for helping to keep the Sunnis down.
Since the Roman government is in an organizing-reforming mood, once the Sunnis are destroyed or expelled, there will probably be some ‘tidying’ of the eastern minority groups. One example already shown was the councils to bring the Assyrians into communion with the Orthodox Church. The Druzes and Alawites would get protected status, with the miscellaneous Shias ‘encouraged’ to convert to Orthodoxy or at least one of the protected categories, or else. The Romans want the minorities organized with a hierarchy that can be favored, cajoled, or threatened as needed.
Defensible eastern border: The Zagros is really the only option for a geographically defensible border. Going west from the Zagros, the next good defensible line is the mountains that separate Cilicia from Syria. Everything else is just a random line in the sand. That said, the Roman-Persian borders didn’t move too much in 500+ years of warfare.
Not getting into philosophy much. Not my cup of tea.
Interesting. Didn’t realize that they were that tough. Although Manila galleons were huge. Fregatai would be much-more lightly built, even if out of the same timber, so they wouldn’t be as tough.
Small. It’s colonial Canada but Norse.
No. Sumatra has some western trading posts along the east coast but that’s it. Compared to the Spice Islands or Java or Malaya, Sumatra just wasn’t a big deal during this period. Not much business.
Since the Roman government is in an organizing-reforming mood, once the Sunnis are destroyed or expelled, there will probably be some ‘tidying’ of the eastern minority groups. One example already shown was the councils to bring the Assyrians into communion with the Orthodox Church. The Druzes and Alawites would get protected status, with the miscellaneous Shias ‘encouraged’ to convert to Orthodoxy or at least one of the protected categories, or else. The Romans want the minorities organized with a hierarchy that can be favored, cajoled, or threatened as needed.
Defensible eastern border: The Zagros is really the only option for a geographically defensible border. Going west from the Zagros, the next good defensible line is the mountains that separate Cilicia from Syria. Everything else is just a random line in the sand. That said, the Roman-Persian borders didn’t move too much in 500+ years of warfare.
I know this is a hella of a loaded question but what's the state of philosophy in the empire? Has the modern empire produced anybody to rival the likes of Plato or Socrates? It would be interesting to see some philosophers inspired by eastern tradition due to the connection Rome has to those nations
Not getting into philosophy much. Not my cup of tea.
i have been lately been reading on south east asian built warships. island asia built galleons are far superior than european and american counterparts due to tropical hardwood.
otl British frigates Panther and Argo tried to beat up the locally built (bicol) galleon Santisima Trinindad. 1000 shots of each 18 and 24 pounders. sides still intact but was disabled and captured. the hardwood does not splinter. All according to Manila-Acapulco Galleons by Shirley Fish
If the Romans built the same local materials as otl spanish, the sides should be intact if fighting 18 or 24 pounder cannons. i think the point being if the atl Romans used local hardwood, the Atl spanish european built will be far inferior in durability.
The fregatai if locally built in Pyrgos being used by Napoleon should be more durable than whatever the atl Spanish got or even whatever the Roman, triunes are building in Europe.
Interesting. Didn’t realize that they were that tough. Although Manila galleons were huge. Fregatai would be much-more lightly built, even if out of the same timber, so they wouldn’t be as tough.
What is the population of the Scandinavian colony in the new world? Whats the biggest settlement?
Small. It’s colonial Canada but Norse.
Do the spanish have any possessions on sumatra? On my map I have an outpost on the northern tip of the island and another outpost along the straits of Malacca
No. Sumatra has some western trading posts along the east coast but that’s it. Compared to the Spice Islands or Java or Malaya, Sumatra just wasn’t a big deal during this period. Not much business.