THE EMPIRE OF DOCIARA
Athelanthiros Athropolianthis
PRE-1615 HISTORY
In 230 BCE, Aragonus the Great passed through the straits near the modern-day International District in his great territorial conquest, and emerged in a vast ocean that stretched farther than any human have thought. To the early Corinthusi, they named it the Manehathar-Formaei, the "Waters at the end of the World". Decades later, with one of the earliest expeditionary navies, they hopped across the islands of the Southern Sea and arrived in modern-day Aprosia. Through expert navigation, close relations with the natives, and a vast network of ships and goods, one of the earliest trade routes in the Western Isles was formed, the "Golden Winds" as it was called, for it brought prosperity to much of the classical world. However, the collapse of Corinthus in 524 CE left the trade routes scattered and unprotected, eventually falling into disarray and piracy throughout much of the medieval era.
The Empire of Dociara (sometimes misspelled as Daciara by foreign sources or Athropolia by the local people) would be formed in 1069. At first, it begun as an isolationist empire, opening select cities to the outside world for trade and no other foreigner was ever allowed to set foot in the lands. The arrival of Europeans around the 1500s to the early 1600s threatened the empire's primacy, and so under then Athelaai Eleina Thermonis Iralethias, restrictions were loosened and the empire formally opened itself to trade (however still retaining their "only-ports" policy).
SSTN Era
The Empire of Dociara was one of the richest empires in the Western Isles at the time, with access to vast mines of gems, gold, marble, quality wood, productive agricultural lands of temperate fruits and wheat, and of artisan products. Literature, art, and the sciences were also one of the major exports of the Empire, and shared them whenever they could throughout the trade routes. The Daciarastai, who eventually will be known as the Roendavarians, were not too different from those in the modern day. They were highly excessive and rakish, and were highly fond of festivities and social events. However, centuries of distrust of the outside has rendered them with a hint of haughtiness, believing that people outside of the empire were lesser, albeit, it remained merely a thought and was never put into action. The Empire was highly progressive for the time. There were no hierarchical concepts amongst brethren, and so trading ships were often without clear captains and authority and were known for their libertarian attitudes. They were not shy from throwing parties at every port call and, with general acceptance of same-sex relations, they often had their fair share of debauchery. A common joke about Daciarastai traders for the time would be that only half of their cargo would actually be traded, and the other half was for the crew's personal enjoyment. This was not true, of course, but the Daciarastai traders were known for their excess and style.
However, the ideology that brought them into conflict the most with the outside world was their extreme disapproval of slavery, and the slave trade as a whole, as well as imperialism. Slavery was banned in the Empire ever since its formation, and never did the Daciarastai, before or even to the present day, would engage in the practice. According to the teachings of Protacism, freedom of will is absolute, and that all have liberty in mind and action. The very concept of slavery and the Slave trade threatened their precepts and, coupled with a very well-known outspoken and brash reputation, it was no surprise that fights often broke out between the Daciarastai and other slave trader cultures at the time, especially with Norland. The Empire was also wary of the Europeans who, as the years passed, grew bolder in their attempts to undermine the native cultures in the Western Isles or, at least, that's how the Daciarastai saw it. While they would remain open and cordial with the "outsiders", they would always bear a deep distrust against them and would constantly try to their undermine their creeping influence in the Southern Sea.
Another concern of the Empire would also be piracy. The International District, or the Ipachi District, was known for cutthroat pirates that infested its straits. While it used to be where trade between the lands of Athropolia to the Southern Sea once flowed through, it was now impossible. Throughout the early centuries of the SSTN, the Empire would be forced to bide its time and hold its tongue in order to access the Southern Sea through Norland, a well-known slave-trading people. However, in 1740, the Empire of Daciara would join the Coalition in destroying the pirates, and with a new route, they would now proclaim a hard stance against slavery and privateers paid by the Empire, known as the Malcharaeos, would constantly attack slave trade ships and take freed slaves wherever they can.
In fighting, the Daciarastai often employed mercenaries and expert sailors to do their defense, as the long period of isolation rendered their sailing skills needing a bit more of polishing. Trade expeditions by the Daciarastai would always be comprised of multiple ships, some of them purely for protection and defense. Although, the Daciarastai abhorred confrontation and fighting overall, and would generally stay away from fights unless it was purely self-defense (or maybe in a drunken stupor).
Daciarastai merchants were known for their outrageous garb and fashion. Merchant stalls or stores set up by Daciarastai merchants can often be seen from afar, from their heavy use of colors, design, music, and greenery. They were generally honest, and wouldn't result to underhanded means, but they had a tendency to leverage whatever they can to get the most out of a trade, bargain, or contract. This includes utilizing charisma, outright flattery or flirtation, or friendliness, but never do they use blackmail or threaten those they do business with. Daciarastai merchants are very insistent on contracts, especially written, which they called
menthilasin, and would often refuse to change terms already agreed upon, even if it were to be beneficial to both sides. This has to do with their religious and cultural beliefs, with heavy emphasis on loyalty and honesty. All Daciarastai merchants keep multiple meticulous records and copies of all contracts, and most, if not all, are carefully recorded and copied back to the Empire. If they found out that they were wronged, especially those that would break
menthilasin, their demeanor changes and they are known to go after those with extreme cruelty and punishment. Daciarastai merchants have connections with the vast organization of the Agents of the Rose, and would often hire them to pursue justice through whatever means, even if it means murder, arson, or, in some cases, complete destruction of all property and death, even of their extended relations, of those who wronged them.
Foreign traders would only be allowed to trade in the cities of Constantiara, Larasthrai, and Lantaroci. Outsiders who wish to step foot outside the city walls would need to be issued permits, and they cannot do business outside of the cities. Those who wish to take their goods directly to the Crown Lands and do business in the Eternal City of Dociara would need personal approval from the Athelaai of Dociara, the God-Emperor. The Athelaai of Dociara were well-known for their compassion and benevolence, as well as their tendency for debauchery like their people. While wary of outsiders as well, they often went on trade expeditions and diplomatic missions and leave the empire in long absences without a ruling monarch, which really was no problem for the democratic and independent peoples of the Roendavarian lands. As like their people, they were excessive and decadent, and often brought with them massive entourages, planned shows and parties, and often brought extravagant gifts to those they see as friends (or beneficial to their cause).
By the late-1700s, the cities of Eire and Silcea would be opened as well.
POST-1794 AND CULTURAL RAMIFICATIONS
The Southern Sea has always been important for the Roendavarian lands, ever since the time of Corinthus up to the present-day. It brought the nation wealth and prestige that eventually bettered the lives and conditions of those living within its borders. The lands of Roendavar have always been prosperous, but money is useless without it being spent, and the sheer cultural and economic magnitude of the Southern Sea Trade and the Roendavarian lands would dictate sociopolitical and economic norms that would still exist to this day. The SSTN eventually softened the people's wariness of the outside world and the port-cities would become melting pots of races and cultures throughout the Western Isles.
In 1796, the Empire of Daciara would fall and a number of independent polities would succeed it. This would mark the end of the country's isolationist policies, and would finally open the elusive Roendavarian lands to the outside world. Some say that the Southern Sea Trade Network was partly responsible for its collapse, as the sheer wealth accumulated by the empire was distributed so equally and efficiently, that the Daciarastai wanted to forge their own paths in the world. Foreign influence brought about by the SSTN wasn't to be ignored as well, as foreign powers competed for a stake at the wealthy empire, essentially digging themselves into the land of the Gods and tearing it apart in the end. Despite this tragic end to one of the greatest and wealthiest empires of the Western Isles at the time, its legacy would remain in the spirit of Roendavar to this day.
SUMMARY OF EXPORTS AND IMPORTSExports: Gold, marble, silver, other metals, other precious gems, silk, lace, timber, paper, wool, fur, leather, wheat, barley, grapes, berries, olives, other temperate fruits, books, mechanical contraptions, clothes, shoes, artisan works (sculptures, paintings, art, etc.), ships, etc.
Imports: Spices, tropical fruits, rice, carpets and rugs, pottery, ivory, other Southern Sea stuff that I don't know we would have bought them anyway (except slaves)