It's an easy mod to do to; just crank up American and Soviet technologies.
Map Thread IX
- Thread starter Vexacus
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It's an easy mod to do to; just crank up American and Soviet technologies.
Revolutionary Todyo
Banned
Damn illegal immigrants, even to tiny ice locked island, is no where safe?
"Nothing ever happens in South America". Probably one of the more common AH.com tropes. There isn't really a reason, people just don't care or know anything about South America.
Speaking of South America, here's my map for the current contest.
Ok. POD is that an Inca military genius independently invents the notion of pike squares as a way to deal with charging horses, and does some pretty damn innovative stuff with mountain warfare. This is not enough to kick the Spanish out of Peru, especially with plagues still screwing things up every few years, but he does manage to make it hot for them for a while. Finally, old and worn out, he makes his peace with the Spanish, converting to Catholicism and becoming a largely autonomous vassal of the Spanish monarchy. He is helped by the Spanish discovery of the mines of Potosi, which focuses their attention to the south of his territory.
Other Spanish allies did occasionally make such deals, only to be later betrayed and swallowed up, but his heirs manage to maintain a strong enough state to discourage such measures, and in any event the high mountains and the jungles beyond aren't all that appealing for settlers. More Spanish settle to the south and east, leading to a stronger future *Argentina. In the 1670s, with Spain in deep doodoo in Europe, a restive rural population is persuaded to rise by the Duke of Cuzco, and by the time the dust is settled, a new Empire of the Four Corners has been declared, and the new High Inca has a vitally important sea coast, allowing for trade and import of new ideas and technology from non-Spanish nations.
Tahuantinsuyu would enter the 20th century as the first non-European nation to successfully modernize: although Catholicized, they would retain their old language and much of their own culture, and a fine contempt for all European declarations of "missions to civilize" that would make them a gadfly in the global village for the century to come...
Bruce
Ok. POD is that an Inca military genius independently invents the notion of pike squares as a way to deal with charging horses, and does some pretty damn innovative stuff with mountain warfare. This is not enough to kick the Spanish out of Peru, especially with plagues still screwing things up every few years, but he does manage to make it hot for them for a while. Finally, old and worn out, he makes his peace with the Spanish, converting to Catholicism and becoming a largely autonomous vassal of the Spanish monarchy. He is helped by the Spanish discovery of the mines of Potosi, which focuses their attention to the south of his territory.
Other Spanish allies did occasionally make such deals, only to be later betrayed and swallowed up, but his heirs manage to maintain a strong enough state to discourage such measures, and in any event the high mountains and the jungles beyond aren't all that appealing for settlers. More Spanish settle to the south and east, leading to a stronger future *Argentina. In the 1670s, with Spain in deep doodoo in Europe, a restive rural population is persuaded to rise by the Duke of Cuzco, and by the time the dust is settled, a new Empire of the Four Corners has been declared, and the new High Inca has a vitally important sea coast, allowing for trade and import of new ideas and technology from non-Spanish nations.
Tahuantinsuyu would enter the 20th century as the first non-European nation to successfully modernize: although Catholicized, they would retain their old language and much of their own culture, and a fine contempt for all European declarations of "missions to civilize" that would make them a gadfly in the global village for the century to come...
Bruce
So a while ago, I mentioned in the "Weird Dream" thread that I saw a map in my metadream. I've done my best to redraw the map as I saw it in my head.
Basically, climate change continues to occur, which ultimately leads to several island nations disappearing altogether, and wreaking havoc with crops and habitable areas, sparking the Resource Wars. Around the same time, true artificial intelligence seems to be arising out of efforts in Japan and Germany, and the idea of transhumanism is gaining traction and science and technology continue to take great leaps forward. It all comes to a head in a global conflict of social, moral, ethical, and religious ideas ultimately called the Transhumanism War, which is essentially a weird kind of WWIII.
This map is several years after the climax of the War, which the Transhumans and AI robots pretty much won. Existing treaties with natives in nations are upheld, and new nations and/or human zones are established around the world.
----------
North America:
1: The North American Union, a loose federation between Canada, Alaska, and Greenland, was formed after the riots in America began to spiral into clashes. Many Americans sought temporary refuge in Canada and Mexico, beginning to fundamentally alter those countries. When the situation in the states deteriorated, it spurred unrest and economic troubles in Canada. Many returned to the States, but those who wished to be transhumans or were sympathetic to the idea along with artificial intelligence migrated northwards, fearring backlash in the States. With this new influx, came more clashes, putting the nations of North America into civil war. Canada, Alaska, and Greenland, with smaller populations, soon perservered after brief civil wars and banded together to form the North American Union, which embraces transhumanism and artificial intelligence.
2. The United States of America, now a CCA (Contained Conflict Area), continues to wrestle with itself on the subject of transhumanism and artificial intelligence. Major population centres have mostly been destroyed, with minimal resistance remaining, but with stiff clashes occuring across the country. The Northeast, which was hit particularly hard, has been peacefully rebuilding, and is attempting to become a Protected Transitory State, independent of America.
3. The American HAZ (Human Autonomous Zone), also known as the "Mormon Zone" and "Deseret", is North America's only mainland HAZ, formed when influential politicians and members of the Mormon community managed to convince the increasingly victorious transhumans and AI robots that they would pose no threat so long as they had a safe haven of their own. Pacifica (4), eager for buffer states between them and the chaos across the mountains, pushed for its formation.
4. While initially devastated, the Rocky Mountains served as an insulator of sorts that kept the west coast relatively isolated and safe, resulting in the forming of the Republic of Pacifica.
5. Eager for buffer states, Pacifica facilitated the formation of the Protected Transitory State (PTS) of America. This secured high-tech facilities and factories, while also serving as a waystation of sorts for regular humans, transhumans, and others between the American HAZ, Pacifica, and the USA.
6. As the situation in the USA deteriorated, many Americans flocked to Mexico, making it their new home and ultimately helping to push it forward into a safe and progressive state.
7. Central American CCA. Some want to give in and join the emerging New World Order, while others insist on holding onto "true" independence.
8. Caribbean HAZ. Refugees, prisoners of war, and those who wish to remain unmodified from the Americas were placed here where they could do little harm and have their own governments. HAZ's are mainly the transhumans and AI robots throwing unmodified humans a bone in terms of nation states, independence, and government.
South America:
1. North Andean Alliance. Formed by the victorious factions in Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela and were inspired by Simon Bolivar and his uniting of the three nations long ago.
2. The Guyanas. These PTS's (Protected Transitory States) are a launching pad of sorts for humans before they make the final move to the Caribbean HAZ.
3. Republic of Brazil. Nuclear power, economic juggernaut, and permanent member of the Federated Nations Security Council.
4. PTS of Peru. Essentially a transitory highway to South America's Bolivia HAZ.
5. Bolivia HAZ.
6. Chile was relatively preserved and emerged early on, thanks to influence from the United States of South America USSA and Brazil.
7. In order to better compete with Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina pooled themselves together into the United States of South America after a short but brutal period known as the "Year of Fire" which saw great upheaval in the region.
8. The South Atlantic HAZ, which is essentially an amalgamation of former British Overseas Territories.
Europe:
1. Iceland HAZ. Only difference is that there's about one million or so people on the island and they're not overwhelmingly Icelandic.
2. Scandinavian Commonwealth. Supportive of the emerging New World Order, but true to their Scandinavian roots, and a merger of the three Nordic monarchies, with the Head of State being one of the Kings or Queens rotating every five years, or until death.
3. The poorly placed Eastern European Council. While mostly a successor to the EU, they have to deal with the Western European CCA to the west and the Eastern European CCA to the east. They have nominal allies in the Scandinavian Commonwealth, Finland, and the Balkan states not plagued by civil war at the moment. It does its best to keep Europe on track and together, which was worked for the most part. It's because of the EEC that much of Eastern Europe has been spared the strife of the West, and how many nations received Protected Transitory State status, as well as establishing the PTS's of Scotland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Catalonia. They also helped ensure that Iceland, Switzerland, the mediterranean islands and the microstates would be declared HAZ's.
4. Eastern European CCA, also known in private circles as "Russia's Last 'Fuck You'", which is pretty much in a constant state of contention, factionalized violence, and strife.
5. The North Atlantic HAZ, which is primarily populated by Spanish and Portuguese humans, becoming a sort of "human government in exile".
Africa:
1. United Arab Republic. While still experiencing a wide range of problems, it's on track to become an emerging nation that will be an important part of the New World Order, with many embracing liberal ideas and policies while remaining rather conservative in several respects.
2. West African CCA. The general hope is that this area sorts itself out while the rest of Africa continues to try and make strides to catch up with South America and the Bengal Alliance.
3. Central African CCA. The most stable of the CCA's, but Kordofan's future is up in the air.
4. East African HAZ. Djibouti and the unrecognized Republic of Somaliland, opted for some independence under an Ethiopian-led merger which saw the region recognized as significant to human origin, and therefore made an excellent and appropriate choice of HAZ. Somalia is still a problem that Africa hopes will one day sort itself out.
5. The Protected Transitory States of equatorial Africa. While they (like all other PTS's) have a choice to ultimately become an emerging nation or an HAZ, these nations seem to be more comfortable with the idea of becoming an HAZ, and have chosen this path, serving as a conduit for human refugees from western and central Africa.
6. Central African Union. Sympathetic to transhumanism and AI robots, if only because they value their independence.
7. East African Federation. One of the five members of the Federated Nations Security Council, and a major player in global politics, as well as being the first nation alongside Brazil to suggest the idea of HAZ's independent from existing reservations.
8. Indian Ocean HAZ. Bit a problem area with regards to Madagascar, but is overall far more stable and even more culturally and liguistically diverse.
9. South African Union. Nuclear power, economic juggernaut, global power, and doing damn well all things considered.
Asia:
1. Siberia and the Far East HAZ. Oh, the irony. It also includes Hokkaido. It borders the DPRK, which is a HAZ if only because of North Korea's own isolation. The recent wars, while utterly devastating to the DPRK, has been seen a test by the North Koreans who now see themselves as the upholders of the entire human race, making them even crazier.
2. China is in a state of factionalized violence, with only southern China and Inner Mongolia having any kind of (albeit warped) unity.
3. PTS of Uyghuristan. Destined to become an HAZ.
4. After the fall of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a secular, artistic and progressive Iranian Union emerged, ultimately absorbing Iraq.
5. Levant CCA. Not that much has changed hered, unfortunately.
6. The Gulf Cooperation Council, essentially a puppet of emerging nations and the "Big Five", looks set to become an HAZ if only to spare the region total chaos and violence.
7. South Asian HAZ. The Iranian Union and the Bengal Alliance are doing their best to keep the region in check and are attempting to steer it towards accepting balkanization of sorts with some parts embracing the New World Order.
8. The Bengal Alliance. Nuclear power, number one economy, and generally in charge of helping to rebuild the world after the devastating wars.
9. East Asian Republic. East Asia, and in particular Japan, were hardest hit by the wars, resulting in massive population losses. When China succumbed to the chaos, there was a respite for Japan and others, who under new leadership and demographics undertook a union between them. The union consists of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Oceania:
1. Pacific HAZ. Not much to say here.
2. Melanesia HAZ. Still a little crazy at times, but major population centres are relative islands of stability and prosperity.
3. Australian Commonwealth, but after some serious strife. Became an emerging nation shortly after it was announced that New Zealand would become an HAZ.
4. New Zealand and Polynesia HAZ. Known fondly as "The Quiet Corner of the World".
And here's the map.
Basically, climate change continues to occur, which ultimately leads to several island nations disappearing altogether, and wreaking havoc with crops and habitable areas, sparking the Resource Wars. Around the same time, true artificial intelligence seems to be arising out of efforts in Japan and Germany, and the idea of transhumanism is gaining traction and science and technology continue to take great leaps forward. It all comes to a head in a global conflict of social, moral, ethical, and religious ideas ultimately called the Transhumanism War, which is essentially a weird kind of WWIII.
This map is several years after the climax of the War, which the Transhumans and AI robots pretty much won. Existing treaties with natives in nations are upheld, and new nations and/or human zones are established around the world.
----------
North America:
1: The North American Union, a loose federation between Canada, Alaska, and Greenland, was formed after the riots in America began to spiral into clashes. Many Americans sought temporary refuge in Canada and Mexico, beginning to fundamentally alter those countries. When the situation in the states deteriorated, it spurred unrest and economic troubles in Canada. Many returned to the States, but those who wished to be transhumans or were sympathetic to the idea along with artificial intelligence migrated northwards, fearring backlash in the States. With this new influx, came more clashes, putting the nations of North America into civil war. Canada, Alaska, and Greenland, with smaller populations, soon perservered after brief civil wars and banded together to form the North American Union, which embraces transhumanism and artificial intelligence.
2. The United States of America, now a CCA (Contained Conflict Area), continues to wrestle with itself on the subject of transhumanism and artificial intelligence. Major population centres have mostly been destroyed, with minimal resistance remaining, but with stiff clashes occuring across the country. The Northeast, which was hit particularly hard, has been peacefully rebuilding, and is attempting to become a Protected Transitory State, independent of America.
3. The American HAZ (Human Autonomous Zone), also known as the "Mormon Zone" and "Deseret", is North America's only mainland HAZ, formed when influential politicians and members of the Mormon community managed to convince the increasingly victorious transhumans and AI robots that they would pose no threat so long as they had a safe haven of their own. Pacifica (4), eager for buffer states between them and the chaos across the mountains, pushed for its formation.
4. While initially devastated, the Rocky Mountains served as an insulator of sorts that kept the west coast relatively isolated and safe, resulting in the forming of the Republic of Pacifica.
5. Eager for buffer states, Pacifica facilitated the formation of the Protected Transitory State (PTS) of America. This secured high-tech facilities and factories, while also serving as a waystation of sorts for regular humans, transhumans, and others between the American HAZ, Pacifica, and the USA.
6. As the situation in the USA deteriorated, many Americans flocked to Mexico, making it their new home and ultimately helping to push it forward into a safe and progressive state.
7. Central American CCA. Some want to give in and join the emerging New World Order, while others insist on holding onto "true" independence.
8. Caribbean HAZ. Refugees, prisoners of war, and those who wish to remain unmodified from the Americas were placed here where they could do little harm and have their own governments. HAZ's are mainly the transhumans and AI robots throwing unmodified humans a bone in terms of nation states, independence, and government.
South America:
1. North Andean Alliance. Formed by the victorious factions in Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela and were inspired by Simon Bolivar and his uniting of the three nations long ago.
2. The Guyanas. These PTS's (Protected Transitory States) are a launching pad of sorts for humans before they make the final move to the Caribbean HAZ.
3. Republic of Brazil. Nuclear power, economic juggernaut, and permanent member of the Federated Nations Security Council.
4. PTS of Peru. Essentially a transitory highway to South America's Bolivia HAZ.
5. Bolivia HAZ.
6. Chile was relatively preserved and emerged early on, thanks to influence from the United States of South America USSA and Brazil.
7. In order to better compete with Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina pooled themselves together into the United States of South America after a short but brutal period known as the "Year of Fire" which saw great upheaval in the region.
8. The South Atlantic HAZ, which is essentially an amalgamation of former British Overseas Territories.
Europe:
1. Iceland HAZ. Only difference is that there's about one million or so people on the island and they're not overwhelmingly Icelandic.
2. Scandinavian Commonwealth. Supportive of the emerging New World Order, but true to their Scandinavian roots, and a merger of the three Nordic monarchies, with the Head of State being one of the Kings or Queens rotating every five years, or until death.
3. The poorly placed Eastern European Council. While mostly a successor to the EU, they have to deal with the Western European CCA to the west and the Eastern European CCA to the east. They have nominal allies in the Scandinavian Commonwealth, Finland, and the Balkan states not plagued by civil war at the moment. It does its best to keep Europe on track and together, which was worked for the most part. It's because of the EEC that much of Eastern Europe has been spared the strife of the West, and how many nations received Protected Transitory State status, as well as establishing the PTS's of Scotland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Catalonia. They also helped ensure that Iceland, Switzerland, the mediterranean islands and the microstates would be declared HAZ's.
4. Eastern European CCA, also known in private circles as "Russia's Last 'Fuck You'", which is pretty much in a constant state of contention, factionalized violence, and strife.
5. The North Atlantic HAZ, which is primarily populated by Spanish and Portuguese humans, becoming a sort of "human government in exile".
Africa:
1. United Arab Republic. While still experiencing a wide range of problems, it's on track to become an emerging nation that will be an important part of the New World Order, with many embracing liberal ideas and policies while remaining rather conservative in several respects.
2. West African CCA. The general hope is that this area sorts itself out while the rest of Africa continues to try and make strides to catch up with South America and the Bengal Alliance.
3. Central African CCA. The most stable of the CCA's, but Kordofan's future is up in the air.
4. East African HAZ. Djibouti and the unrecognized Republic of Somaliland, opted for some independence under an Ethiopian-led merger which saw the region recognized as significant to human origin, and therefore made an excellent and appropriate choice of HAZ. Somalia is still a problem that Africa hopes will one day sort itself out.
5. The Protected Transitory States of equatorial Africa. While they (like all other PTS's) have a choice to ultimately become an emerging nation or an HAZ, these nations seem to be more comfortable with the idea of becoming an HAZ, and have chosen this path, serving as a conduit for human refugees from western and central Africa.
6. Central African Union. Sympathetic to transhumanism and AI robots, if only because they value their independence.
7. East African Federation. One of the five members of the Federated Nations Security Council, and a major player in global politics, as well as being the first nation alongside Brazil to suggest the idea of HAZ's independent from existing reservations.
8. Indian Ocean HAZ. Bit a problem area with regards to Madagascar, but is overall far more stable and even more culturally and liguistically diverse.
9. South African Union. Nuclear power, economic juggernaut, global power, and doing damn well all things considered.
Asia:
1. Siberia and the Far East HAZ. Oh, the irony. It also includes Hokkaido. It borders the DPRK, which is a HAZ if only because of North Korea's own isolation. The recent wars, while utterly devastating to the DPRK, has been seen a test by the North Koreans who now see themselves as the upholders of the entire human race, making them even crazier.
2. China is in a state of factionalized violence, with only southern China and Inner Mongolia having any kind of (albeit warped) unity.
3. PTS of Uyghuristan. Destined to become an HAZ.
4. After the fall of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a secular, artistic and progressive Iranian Union emerged, ultimately absorbing Iraq.
5. Levant CCA. Not that much has changed hered, unfortunately.
6. The Gulf Cooperation Council, essentially a puppet of emerging nations and the "Big Five", looks set to become an HAZ if only to spare the region total chaos and violence.
7. South Asian HAZ. The Iranian Union and the Bengal Alliance are doing their best to keep the region in check and are attempting to steer it towards accepting balkanization of sorts with some parts embracing the New World Order.
8. The Bengal Alliance. Nuclear power, number one economy, and generally in charge of helping to rebuild the world after the devastating wars.
9. East Asian Republic. East Asia, and in particular Japan, were hardest hit by the wars, resulting in massive population losses. When China succumbed to the chaos, there was a respite for Japan and others, who under new leadership and demographics undertook a union between them. The union consists of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Oceania:
1. Pacific HAZ. Not much to say here.
2. Melanesia HAZ. Still a little crazy at times, but major population centres are relative islands of stability and prosperity.
3. Australian Commonwealth, but after some serious strife. Became an emerging nation shortly after it was announced that New Zealand would become an HAZ.
4. New Zealand and Polynesia HAZ. Known fondly as "The Quiet Corner of the World".
And here's the map.
MotF entry;
Two battles a few years apart turned the tide of history against Christendom for a time. In 717, Caliph Suleiman's reinforcements reached the walls of Constantinople* and broke the stalemate, capturing the city and crippling the Eastern Roman Empire. Four years later, the Wali of Al-Andalus captured Toulouse, allowing the conquest of Aquitaine, an autonomous nominal possession of the Frankish King. The next year, the King of the Franks, Charles Martel, attempted to recapture Toulouse and was killed in battle. The fragile kingdom fell apart into bickering petty states, allowing the Muslims to piece by piece conquer Francia from the west while establishing dominance over the Balkans from the east. While the overstretched Umayyad Caliphate would soon fall and the Berbers of North Africa who made up the bulk of the Caliphate's armies revolt, Muslim successor states had taken root in Europe, and by the end of the 9th century the situation had stabilized and new polities were again leading the Muslim advance into Europe, despite their gains having been eroded somewhat in the meantime.
While it was often difficult to secure gains in Francia and Italy, the Sufi orders who traversed north found a more pliable audience in the Norse and Slavic peoples; still holding to their old pagan beliefs, in contrary to the south where the peasantry who made up most of the population clung doggedly to Christianity, they converted to the new faith wholesale. The stories of the great conquests of Muhammed and his successors in particular appealed to the Norse, and by the 10th and 11th centuries Islam was now being spread from the north as well; population pressures in Scandinavia drove them south and west in search of new lands. Heavily targeted were the British Isles, with Ireland being almost entirely overrun.
This however, would result in a reaction from the Christians. Ireland had been Christianized early and Ingland, while it had less of a Christian tradition, still strongly felt itself to be a lone outpost of Christendom in an ever more unfriendly world. In the 12th century, the Kings of the surviving Christian states of the British Isles banded together to form the Christianae Pacta — Christian Compact — an alliance against the "Infidels". Inglish troops in Ireland helped to beat back the Norse under the auspices of the pact, and at the Battle of Ferns soundly defeated them. That battle achieved almost a mythological quality, considered by the Inglish and Irish to have been the "Day that saved Christendom".
In the 13th century, the wealth and influence of the Muslim powers in Europe arguably reached it's zenith. Europe was dominated by three rival Caliphates; the Caliphate of Rum under the Perso-Turkic Begid Dynasty, stretching from the Alps to the Arabian Sea, the Caliphate of Francia under the Arab Hassanid Dynasty encompassing all of Western Europe, and the Caliphate of Maghreb under the Arab-Berber Zayanid Dynasty stretching from Hispania to Egypt. On the periphery, Scandinava had united into a handful of Emirates and a centralized Wendish Sultanate had arisen. Despite the strength of the Muslim powers, the Christianae Pacta remained undefeated, having established an uneasy truce with the Norse-Gaelic Muslim rulers of the Emirates of Alba and Ailech and the Southern Isles. Distrustful of the Pope in Rome, the the four Kings of the Pact elect their own Anti-Pope, who sits in Coventry and also serves as the closest thing the confederation has to a single secular authority; an inexorable relationship has developed between being Inglish or Irish and being Christian.
On the other hand, in some cities in Munster and Leinster the Kings of those states tolerate the populations of Norse Muslim traders there, as long as they remain inconspicuous. They also rely on the expert shipbuilding skills of the Norsemen; desperate to find another outpost of Christendom in the world and intrigued by the legends of Irish monks living on a great island across the sea and by the story of "Prester John", the Kings are increasingly occupied with the financing of new developments in the construction of ships and of great voyages, hoping to find the Lost Christians they believe reside across the horizon to the west...
Despite this, the Inglish fear the Norse more than all but the Devil himself — much more than they fear even the Caliphs or the "Cloaked Mohammedan" residing in Rome — the Norse took the romanticized tales of Arab military triumphs to heart and are fierce and unforgiving warriors and relentless sailors, and much to the consternation of the Caliphs have less compunction about respecting other "People of the Book" and less regard for the laws of war followed by the Arabs, and their theological deviations, particulary their insistence that beer is a drink never forbidden by the Prophet and one which believers are free to imbibe as they wish; many a port town in Al-Firanja knows — and fears — the wrath of a drunken Norse trader.
With no Normans as such, there was no Norman invasion of Britain, and so the English language — "Ingelsk" as it it known to it's speakers ITTL — is much more Germanic in character; as evidenced by my use of West Frisian as a stand-in for it here.
* - The POD; IOTL he died fighting the Byzantines.
Two battles a few years apart turned the tide of history against Christendom for a time. In 717, Caliph Suleiman's reinforcements reached the walls of Constantinople* and broke the stalemate, capturing the city and crippling the Eastern Roman Empire. Four years later, the Wali of Al-Andalus captured Toulouse, allowing the conquest of Aquitaine, an autonomous nominal possession of the Frankish King. The next year, the King of the Franks, Charles Martel, attempted to recapture Toulouse and was killed in battle. The fragile kingdom fell apart into bickering petty states, allowing the Muslims to piece by piece conquer Francia from the west while establishing dominance over the Balkans from the east. While the overstretched Umayyad Caliphate would soon fall and the Berbers of North Africa who made up the bulk of the Caliphate's armies revolt, Muslim successor states had taken root in Europe, and by the end of the 9th century the situation had stabilized and new polities were again leading the Muslim advance into Europe, despite their gains having been eroded somewhat in the meantime.
While it was often difficult to secure gains in Francia and Italy, the Sufi orders who traversed north found a more pliable audience in the Norse and Slavic peoples; still holding to their old pagan beliefs, in contrary to the south where the peasantry who made up most of the population clung doggedly to Christianity, they converted to the new faith wholesale. The stories of the great conquests of Muhammed and his successors in particular appealed to the Norse, and by the 10th and 11th centuries Islam was now being spread from the north as well; population pressures in Scandinavia drove them south and west in search of new lands. Heavily targeted were the British Isles, with Ireland being almost entirely overrun.
This however, would result in a reaction from the Christians. Ireland had been Christianized early and Ingland, while it had less of a Christian tradition, still strongly felt itself to be a lone outpost of Christendom in an ever more unfriendly world. In the 12th century, the Kings of the surviving Christian states of the British Isles banded together to form the Christianae Pacta — Christian Compact — an alliance against the "Infidels". Inglish troops in Ireland helped to beat back the Norse under the auspices of the pact, and at the Battle of Ferns soundly defeated them. That battle achieved almost a mythological quality, considered by the Inglish and Irish to have been the "Day that saved Christendom".
In the 13th century, the wealth and influence of the Muslim powers in Europe arguably reached it's zenith. Europe was dominated by three rival Caliphates; the Caliphate of Rum under the Perso-Turkic Begid Dynasty, stretching from the Alps to the Arabian Sea, the Caliphate of Francia under the Arab Hassanid Dynasty encompassing all of Western Europe, and the Caliphate of Maghreb under the Arab-Berber Zayanid Dynasty stretching from Hispania to Egypt. On the periphery, Scandinava had united into a handful of Emirates and a centralized Wendish Sultanate had arisen. Despite the strength of the Muslim powers, the Christianae Pacta remained undefeated, having established an uneasy truce with the Norse-Gaelic Muslim rulers of the Emirates of Alba and Ailech and the Southern Isles. Distrustful of the Pope in Rome, the the four Kings of the Pact elect their own Anti-Pope, who sits in Coventry and also serves as the closest thing the confederation has to a single secular authority; an inexorable relationship has developed between being Inglish or Irish and being Christian.
On the other hand, in some cities in Munster and Leinster the Kings of those states tolerate the populations of Norse Muslim traders there, as long as they remain inconspicuous. They also rely on the expert shipbuilding skills of the Norsemen; desperate to find another outpost of Christendom in the world and intrigued by the legends of Irish monks living on a great island across the sea and by the story of "Prester John", the Kings are increasingly occupied with the financing of new developments in the construction of ships and of great voyages, hoping to find the Lost Christians they believe reside across the horizon to the west...
Despite this, the Inglish fear the Norse more than all but the Devil himself — much more than they fear even the Caliphs or the "Cloaked Mohammedan" residing in Rome — the Norse took the romanticized tales of Arab military triumphs to heart and are fierce and unforgiving warriors and relentless sailors, and much to the consternation of the Caliphs have less compunction about respecting other "People of the Book" and less regard for the laws of war followed by the Arabs, and their theological deviations, particulary their insistence that beer is a drink never forbidden by the Prophet and one which believers are free to imbibe as they wish; many a port town in Al-Firanja knows — and fears — the wrath of a drunken Norse trader.
With no Normans as such, there was no Norman invasion of Britain, and so the English language — "Ingelsk" as it it known to it's speakers ITTL — is much more Germanic in character; as evidenced by my use of West Frisian as a stand-in for it here.
* - The POD; IOTL he died fighting the Byzantines.
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I first looked at the map and I was like: I understand this language! Then I read your post and saw that it is West-Frisian, the funny thing is, I live in West-Friesland, but never spoke a word of it. But this is just awesome.
EDIT: Tough I am not sure about West-Frisian, this: when people make Dutch or German maps you see this alot: In inEnglish countries are called Republic of Belgium, Kingdom of France etc. and when you literrally translate it you end up with Republiek van België, Königreich von Frankreich, but in Dutch and the German the "of" isnt used in the names of countries, so it should be: Republiek België, Königreich Frankreich. It is a very commom mistake made on AH.com.
So Emirat Denemark, instead of Emirat fan Denemark
EDIT: Tough I am not sure about West-Frisian, this: when people make Dutch or German maps you see this alot: In inEnglish countries are called Republic of Belgium, Kingdom of France etc. and when you literrally translate it you end up with Republiek van België, Königreich von Frankreich, but in Dutch and the German the "of" isnt used in the names of countries, so it should be: Republiek België, Königreich Frankreich. It is a very commom mistake made on AH.com.
So Emirat Denemark, instead of Emirat fan Denemark
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No comments on my map? I'd appreciate even one, since it's my first map posted in ages. 
No comments on my map? I'd appreciate even one, since it's my first map posted in ages.
I like it, it's an interesting and cool concept, and the coloring is very aesthetic.
Two things thought;
1. Why is the Eastern 1/3 of DR Congo part of the EAF and S. Sudan not, when S. Sudan is a candidate for the OTL East African Community and set to Officially Join this upcoming July?
2. Why is Eritrea, a country in which ethnic Arabs make-up less a small minority and the Arabic language only spoken by a minority of the population part of the UAR?
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It's a preference thing I think, it is essentially the difference between saying 'Kingdom of France' and 'French Kingdom', and in English more often than not official long names are the former, so people just translate them the way they're used to saying them.
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