Song of Steam Redux (Back By Popular Demand, Open, OOC)

[The Ik Ka Ek Akai]

And here are a few pictures of the sometimes overgrown or ruined Mesoamerican road network.

You can google "Sacbe" to see more.

[Togeria]

That's actually impressive all things considered.

[The Ik Ka Ek Akai]

That's actually impressive all things considered.

Cobble, earth, and stucco.

[Reatra]

That's actually impressive all things considered.

Then you've never seen Inka roads.

[The Ik Ka Ek Akai]

That's actually impressive all things considered.

Then you've never seen Inka roads.

Can't really argue.

[Reatra]

Then you've never seen Inka roads.

Can't really argue.

<3

Now imagine that, but made with steam power and probably paved with something other than gravel, like stones.

[Conchabira]

Can't really argue.

<3

Now imagine that, but made with steam power and probably paved with something other than gravel, like stones.

I've probably argued about this with you a hundred times and I probably will again but how does a civilization that doesn't even have the wheel now have steam powered machines less then 175 after initial contact. The Aztecs are directly bordered by two European powers yet have none of this stuff. It's probably in your history but a little explanation would still be nice. Also I'm currently working on my IC post. It'll be up tomorrow as I am currently out of town.
@Berberistan: Be forwarded that not only do I plan on warring you( something that I've started the process of already in my IC post) but I too have a system of forts in the desert described in my app which was posted in the last RP. I'm not saying that your forts are not a deterrent but I just want you to know that I too have a similar line of forts.

[Reatra]

<3

Now imagine that, but made with steam power and probably paved with something other than gravel, like stones.

I've probably argued about this with you a hundred times and I probably will again but how does a civilization that doesn't even have the wheel now have steam powered machines less then 175 after initial contact. The Aztecs are directly bordered by two European powers yet have none of this stuff. It's probably in your history but a little explanation would still be nice. Also I'm currently working on my IC post. It'll be up tomorrow as I am currently out of town.
@Berberistan: Be forwarded that not only do I plan on warring you( something that I've started the process of already in my IC post) but I too have a system of forts in the desert described in my app which was posted in the last RP. I'm not saying that your forts are not a deterrent but I just want you to know that I too have a similar line of forts.

I don't think you fully understand the extent to which the administration of Tawantinsuyu adopted technology.

They conquered the Chimu around the 1450s, the Chimu were the best craftsmen on the continent. They made incredible weapons like bronze maces, tools like hammers and foot plows, and decorative items. When the Chimu were conquered Pachakutiq ordered that half of the Chimu craftsmen be resettled to the heart of the empire where they would teach their skills to hundreds of ethnically Runa Simi (the main culture of the empire) workers. Within the DECADE the new Runa Simi craftsmen had OUTCLASSED the Chimu craftsmen and were producing goods of far greater quality far faster. In fact, earlier that decade, the new Runa Simi craftsmen and Chimu craftsmen were forced to team together to completely renovate the city of Qosqo from a haphazard village into a gold-paved metropolis.

Now, stories similar to this are recorded effectively every time the Inka came into contact/conquered with a new culture. They would examine that culture heavily, find the greatest technologies and attributes of that culture, and apply it empire-wide to their own nation.

It's the main reason they were able to create such a massive empire in such a short period of time with the utmost efficiency and without any stability problems except the regular minor ethnic revolt.


Now, 175 years is a VERY long time in terms of society. That story I told? Happened in a decade. The entirety of the history of Tawantinsuyu? ONE CENTURY. Yup, Pachakutiq started the conquests in the 1430s and his great-grandson saw its end in the 1530s. Now imagine almost three times that timespan to trade with Europeans, hire European retired generals and engineers and industrialists, and apply that technology empire-wide.



The Mexika, or Aztecs, were not as good at adopting technology, what they did was basically "Are they conquerable? Do they have potential sacrifices? Alright let's conquer them."

Also, I don't understand why people fetishize the Aztecs so much more than the Inka. The Aztecs took two centuries to conquer a tenth of what the Inka did in a century.



____


Also, you say that they didn't have the wheel, which is true, but what does that have to do with anything? The Maya invented the concept of "zero" centuries before even the Indians or the Muslims, yet the Maya didn't have the wheel. The Inka managed to have a bureaucracy whose efficiency wouldn't be matched in Europe until the 1800s, yet they didn't have the wheel.

Technology isn't a linear tree, we aren't playing Civilization or Europa Universalis.

[PLESSUR]

GENERAL
Formal Nation Name: Kingdom of England
Colloquial Nation Name: England
Territory(Map Preferred): Map (includes England, Wales, Ireland, Newfoundland & Labrador, Bengal, part of Java, the Gambia and part of Nigeria
Flag/Symbolism: Flag - Take a guess and a belt
Demonym: English
Capital: London

GOVERNMENTAL
Government Type: Absolute, quasi-parliamentary monarchy
Government Ideology: The monarchy is the most important institution in the country, and the government - both Houses of Parliament and the King's personal government - are committed to the security and power of this institution. The land owning nobility, the barons, are wary of the Industrial Revolution and laws governing enterprise and private economic activity have remained restrictive compared to the Mediterranean states. Nevertheless, smaller scale industrialisation in cities and urbanisation is encouraged by the monarchy and Commons, though less so by the barons and nobility. Colonialisation, too, is also seen as vital to revitalise the home economy and to remain a power relative to European powers, though it is still restrictive and run for the nobility. Many close ministers of the King are still trying to further centralise the state under his command, and centralisation is beginning to increase, looking like the monarchical party will win this 'battle'.
Brief Government Explanation: The King is recognized as the absolute ruler, with the Divine Right of Kings generally accepted. The Parliament, composed of the two Houses of Lords and Commons, still possess a lot of control. All bills can be proposed by members of either House (with, ironically, the King not being a member of either House), and they must be voted through both Houses to reach the King for either assent or a veto. Fiscally, the Parliament only controls what taxes are levied, but not the actual royal expenditure.
The House of Lords, consisting of the Barons and general nobility, is the more powerful of the two chambers, with the Lancastrian Kings more content to consult it on a regular basis regarding most issues. The House of Commons, consisting of knights and burgesses, is consulted less but has a growing importance, due to a growing urban population and to more proponents of further financial concessions to the growing middle class and urban proletariat. Constitutional crises between the monarchy and the Commons have been more frequent in recent years, especially following the Industrial Revolution in Europe.
Head of State: King John Edward II of Lancaster, King of England
Head of Government: N/A
Baron William Bennett, Duke of Somerset - Speaker of the House of Lords
Sir Richard Whittingdale - Speaker of the House of Commons
Foreign Policy: England remains relatively isolationist in regards to European matters. However, the rivalry with France continues, even without any formal claims to French territory. The Lancastrian monarchy regards France as an implacable foe, who's friendly approaches are to be regarded as either a ruse of an opportunity to capitalise on French weakness for English benefit. Policy towards France includes the preservation of Calais in English possession, friendship and alliances with states in the French borderlands, and undermining French colonial expansion through all means save warfare.
The reasons behind the policy towards France are much the same as the reasons behind the Scottish policy. Scotland, formally claimed by the Lancastrian Crown, is undermined internationally by the English in order to allow an eventual, real annexation under the Crown. Wars against Scotland are not favourable as they may often result in a two front war against both Scotland and France. Main policies therefore including preventing the growth of Scottish colonies, undermining international recognition of the Scottish monarchy and the informal harassment of Scottish shipping.
England is being forced to confront the other world powers in colonial affairs. The suppression of native uprisings requires cooperation with other nearby colonies, so England tries to cultivate good relationships with all fellow European powers. However, many fear that the burgeoning Italian and Mediterranean states will make things harder for England colonies, encroaching on their territory and not taking English interests into account. English policy right now is to avoid confrontation with other European powers, seek alliances to the detriment of France, and only involve herself in continental matters when they affect English interests.
Domestic Policy:
State Religion: Roman Catholicism

SOCIAL
Population: 5.3 million
Colonial Population: ~2 million
Ethnic Groups: English, Welsh, Irish, French and Flemings in Pale of Calais.
Primary Culture: English culture, composed of both Norman and Anglo-Saxon cultures
Other Cultures: Celtic culture in Wales, Gaelic culture in Ireland. Mixed French-Flemish-English culture in the Pale of Calais.

ECONOMIC
Economic Description: The economy, above all, remains agricultural, with the majority of the peasant working class farming the land. Though serfdom is a thing of the past, most of the lowest class peasants work on the land they were previously tied to in southern England, the Midlands and Wales. Second to the agricultural sector is the coal industries of northern England, which is growing at a fast rate in Northumberland particularly. Coal production in the whole Kingdom currently is one of the highest in Europe, and the highest as a proportion of the whole economy.

Other industries are growing at a good rate for the English economy. The textiles industry, the largest of these industries, is centred around Liverpool and Manchester, again dominating the North. Private owned factories are constantly being constructed in the North as historic economic restrictions are slowly lifted in London to make the Kingdom more competitive with the economic heartland of Italy and the Mediterranean, as well as England's own neighbour France. Historically, the English economy has been behind the Italian-European standard due to an anti-capitalist feeling in the government following the Industrial Revolution, as well as the safeguarding of traditional economic conditions. Nevertheless, while not innovative to the same extent as the main industrial centres of Europe, the English economy is catching up and developing at a rate that makes it an attractive place for investment and for establishing new markets.

Contrary to its political status, Ireland's economy remains distinct from English economy. There, agriculture dominates even more, with the peasant class forming an even greater proportion of the overall population. The rule of the English nobility and settlers stifles any significant Irish enterprise and agricultural production is lower than possible due to a quasi-serfdom still existing in many parts of Ireland. However, industry in Ulster and the Dublin area is beginning to take off, both English and Irish (though mostly English).

The colonial economy is young but promising. The most important colony is the Bengal, where lucrative trade has been established by upper class English companies with Indian tribes and states on the subcontinent. Of lesser importance are the Java, Nigeria, the Gambia, and Newfoundland colonies. Nevertheless, colonisation has not led to the development of a prosperous middle class as it has in other European states, rather colonial companies and shipping are dominated by upper class nobility and families close to the monarchy, allowing the nobility a further degree of independence from the monarchy and Parliament (predominantly the Commons, dominated by middle class interests). However, things are slowly changing, and colonisation in the Gambia as seen a growing middle class presence in trade.

Industrialization Level: 7.5 / 10
Economic Ideology: The various parts of government have different visions for the English economy. The King and his closest ministers wish to expand economic rights and thus encourage the expansion of enterprise, but not to the extent which allows the fast growth of a powerful middle class that could challenge the political establish - in short, economic reform but not political. To this extent, many of the general upper class and nobility have been key in England's main industrial and colonial enterprises, especially of the industries of the Midlands and the North West of England around Liverpool and Manchester.

Mostly against this effort, especially with regards to middle class involvement are the nobility and the upper class closest to the King, represented in the more powerful House of Lords. They are mildly in favour of general economic reform, so long as it continues to favour upper class enterprises and colonial activities. The House of Lords has played a key part in pushing for colonisation, but has also been responsible for the bulk of legislation that gives the King a lot of control in these affairs, allowing colonial monopolies to be established by the nobility. In general, the House of Lords is in favour of keeping economic restrictions on middle and lower class enterprises as they are, but further concessions that are in favour of upper class owned industries and colonial companies.

The third important branch is the growing middle class influence on English politics, represented by the burgesses of the House of Commons. While mostly unable to push through favourable legislation, it has been supportive of royal efforts towards economic emancipation and has blocked legislation from the House of Lords that has tried to stop them. The burgesses best represent urban middle class interests, with a growing urban proletariat across England. Those representative of primarily rural peasant areas have more limited economic interests, and push for protectionism regarding colonisation, due to cheap agricultural imports suppressing England's agricultural sector, and this is supported to an extent by the King, though not by the nobility.

Main Trading Partners: France, Venice and other Italian states, Mediterranean states, HRE, Novgorod, Scotland
Colonial Economic Policy(If Applicable): Mostly covered above. The nobility and upper class is in favour of extensive colonisation, though with legislation protecting royal and noble economic rights and preventing the development of a prosperous middle class for colonial enterprise. The Commons is pushing for further economic rights to middle class traders in legislation, and the better allocation of companies and trade areas to middle class enterprise. The monarchy is more neutral, but at the moment is in favour of supporting the nobility stance to prevent a large middle class coming into being that could question the political configuration of the Kingdom. However, middle class enterprise has been key in recent colonial efforts, especially in the recent acquired territory in the Gambia, so things may be changing.

MILITARY
Military Description(Tactics, training, etc.): The English Army as a proportion of the population is small compared to other European armies, but it has become increasingly able and effective. A special conscription franchise means it is mostly composed of peasantry, and the bulk of troops are more specialised than those of general conscription. Training lasts just under two years, and troops are assigned to their counties following four years service. Most troops are supplied with up to date loading rifles, though needle guns are starting to make a slow appearance. The Army command remains largely in the hands of nobility and aristocrats, so promotion is not possible from all ranks. Tactics remain primarily defensive, with tactically sound short skirmishes being perfected in recent years. The Army prefers to avoid pitched battle, where morale may be lower, and concentrates on raids, skirmishes and a sort of proto-guerrilla warfare style.

The English Navy remains on the small side but is highly modern, with the transition to steam coal-powered ships being highly successful. The naval fleets have perfected coordination, with the full defence of the English Channel and the main parts of the North Sea coast possible in the event of war. However, numbers still remain small, but ever since Queen Margaret II the monarchy has been focusing on expanding English naval power, especially in the view of a potential conflict with their naval rival Spain.

Army(Include active duty, reserves, etc.): 40,000 active duty, 50,000 reserves
Navy(Include number of marines and ships, etc.): 50 warships, 100 smaller vessels, 12,000 marines
Elite Units: Special cavalry units being developed by the English Army with special arms, but nothing has come to fruit as of yet. Cavalry remains standard otherwise.

HISTORY
Brief History of Nation: The Lancastrian forces in the Battle of Tewkesbury, under the able command of Queen Margaret of Anjou, defeated the Yorkist army devastatingly, and the Yorkist succession idea was ended. A regency, under the de facto rule of Queen Margaret was established when King Edward IV, son of King Henry VI, succeeded to the throne following his father's death shortly after Tewkesbury.

King Edward IV was a relatively weak king, but managed to consolidate state centralisation with the support of a small group of Lancastrisan-loyal barons. It was under the 41 year long reign of his son, Stephen II, that political changed whirled into England. Inspired by the great revolutions of Venice and the Mediterranean, King Henry VII managed to centralise the kingdom under his rule and neutralise the control of the barons by playing nobles off against one another and by tactically using Parliament as a ruse to pass legislation that allowed the Crown to eclipse the nobility. Wales and Ireland were firmly rooted into the political structure of the Kingdom, and an equilibrium in foreign policy was reached. The final crown on the 'First Lancastrian Revolution' was the passing of legislation that would begin to end the feudal order and serfdom in England, though the last serfs would only be emancipated in 1548.

Following the Henry VII era, the power of the Crown regressed once again. The following four monarchs - Edward V, Henry VIII, John Edward I and Edward VI - mostly focused on consolidating their power, both with or without the support of the barons, within the new geopolitical setup of Europe and against the growing demands for economic and political reform. The last of these monarchs, King Edward VI, was killed in battle with the barons who opposed his efforts to centralise the state under the monarch's command.

It was in the reign of Edward VI's daughter, Queen Margaret II (not to be confused with Edward IV's mother, Margaret of Anjou), that industry began to really take off in England. In revenge for her father's murder, Margaret surprised everyone by neutralising the influence of the barons for over a decade and by enacting key economic reforms that led to England industrialising. Industries were set up, in upper class interests, in Liverpool, Manchester, the Midlands and London, and England went from backwater to a significant power in Europe. This 'Second Lancastrian Revolution' also led to the founding of England's first colony in the Bengal (through negotiation with Venice that also gave England a key ally in Italy), and then in Java, Nigeria, Newfoundland and the Gambia. Most important of all, Queen Margaret II built a fully-fledged bureaucracy to replace the household government of previous Lancastrian monarchs. No longer did the government work through nobles and friends of the monarchy, but through an established bureaucracy that dealt with affairs far more efficiently.

Despite all this, the nobility eventually managed to reassert itself in the government of the ageing Queen Margaret. Efforts were made to expand upper class rights in colonial affairs along with those of the monarch. A series of laws were passed under the reign of Margaret's successor, King Henry IX, in 1581, that restricted the movement of people across English territories and set up further requirements and regulation on colonial enterprise. The role of the middle class in Parliament was also marginalized severely. The result was the English Peasants War of 1593, which, though it ended in the favour of the monarchy, threw up lots of new political thought, including proto-Reformation and humanist ideas, among the English working class and peasantry. Following the end of the war, Parliament successfully deposed King Henry IX and installed the more widely-liked Henry X. Henry X's reign included pulling back on the harshest acts of Henry IX, but the attitude of the monarchy remained the same. Both King Henry X and his son King Edward VII expanded England's colonies, acquiring Newfoundland and the Gambia respectively, and Edward VII engaged in further building English control of Ireland.

The beginning of the reign of King John Edward II in 1664 signalled a new drive for political reform, though without any real change to the political structure of the Kingdom. John Edward II was responsible for relieving middle class traders of colonial restrictions in the Gambia and Newfoundland, both of whom were not formally included in the Colonial Bill of King Henry IX. In addition, industry in Northumberland in the north east has grown in his reign, thanks to further restrictions being lifted there. The new administration has made enemies in both the nobility and the agricultural peasantry, the latter due to the lack of agricultural reform and the refusal to clamp down on cheaper agricultural imports. Conciliation came quick in 1669, when England seemed on the brink of war with France over rights in Calais and Navarre; the nobility quickly came to realise that King John Edward II had managed to earn the respect of Europe and the peasantry in particular rallied behind their sovereign when war seemed imminent. What the new administration continues to do with this recent change of loyalties remains to be seen.

Date of Nation's PoD: 1471, Battle of Tewkesbury

666(DO NOT REMOVE)

App finished. Positive criticism will be welcomed; however, occupancy is currently full so accommodation is not possible.

Just kidding.

[Parous]

GENERAL
Formal Nation Name: Viceroyalty of Egypt // Vicereame del Egitto
Colloquial Nation Name: Egitto, Italo-Africa
Territory: All Venetian (Apennine) claims in mainland Africa
Flag/Symbolism:
Demonym: Egizian
Capital: Damietta

GOVERNMENTAL
Government Type: Absolute Monarchy (As enforced by another Absolute Monarchy)
Government Ideology: Conservatism, Imperialism, Expansionism
Brief Government Explanation: The Viceroy is chosen by the Apennine Emperor / Empress and serves until he resigns or is fired. The Viceroys picks regional governors, legislates laws and controls the colonial army and navy.
Head of State: Empress Maria De Rubeis, Empress of the Appenines and Queen of Venice
Head of Government: Viceroy Armando Santo D'Orsi
Foreign Policy: Most foreign policy is dealt through the Empress's government. Other then that, wars against bordering tribes, principalities and emirates as well as inland expansion.
Domestic Policy: Religious persecution on non-christians, ensuring military hold and managing trade flow between Asia and Venice.
State Religion: Roman Catholicism

SOCIAL
Population: ~19,800,000
Colonial Population: ^^
Ethnic Groups: Many, the largest are the egyptian ethnic groups
Primary Culture: Italian
Other Cultures: Egyptian, Tigrinyas, Somalis among many

ECONOMIC
Economic Description:
Industrialization Level: 4/10 (Some limited industry and modernized infrastructure and agriculture, otherwise all modern technology imported directly from Italy to the Viceroyalty's government and armed forces)
Economic Ideology: Protectionism to steer trade properly to Venice. Market is heavily regulated and taxed among minority populations.
Main Trading Partners: All Venice trades with (These are 'included' in this Protectionism-ish)
Colonial Economic Policy: Heh. As stated by Segmentia (Now stated reverse), A significant portion of the Egitto's income is collected by The Confederacy.

MILITARY
Military Description: While there is quite little industry to support a local army itself, Apennine makes sure that a large army and navy protects it's African colony. Equipment is modern and the army experienced fighting tribal enemies and technologically inferior armies. Non-italians are not allowed in the armed forces, which provides a large amount of italians in Egitto with work in the military. It is however quite dependent on it's motherland for advanced supplies and equipment.
Army: Active - 85,000 // Reserves - 640,000
Navy: Active - 40,000 // Reserves - 120,000
A total of 130 combat-efficient vessels can be deployed, including a few ironclads and armoured frigates. About 70 are Nile galleys. Apart from galleys, there are mostly steam ships.
Elite Units:
Ferronaves (Landships) - The armoured landcorps was sent to Egypt from Venice almost 15 years ago, and has proved being a dangerous weapon capable of making any tribe surrender. The 20 Landships have been polished and upgraded for desert usage and is one of the colonial administration's most elite and powerful forces.
Marina aerea (Airships) - A strikeforce able to travel great distances and attack enemies from the air, the 12 airships employed are indispensable. Among the vessels is The Caligula, a massive aerial ship and pride of the Apennine flying navy. 9 of the ships are quite small though, and employ very little weaponry. These are mostly used for transport for the higher bureaucracy.
Viceroyal guard - Elite infantry force and police of 3,000 men responsible for the security of the Viceroyalty and security within the government.
HISTORY
Brief History of Nation:
1590-1591 - The Apennine Confederacy declares war on the Ottoman Empire claiming rightful hegemony over Egypt. The Sicilian Count Davide Sesto assumes control over the United Confederate forces and wins several decisive battles in the war's earlier stages. Death rates are quite low in these battles, as the confederate forces win before significant casualties can be inflicted.
1591-6 - The majority of the war is fought through minor offensives from the Apennine side resulting in the slow occupation of Egypt and evential conquest of Sinai. The Ottoman navy stand no chance against the Apennine which results in several port assaults on major Ottoman cities. The relatively tiny amounts of Apennines who die during the war mostly die guarding civilian settlements and alike, as there are many riots against the occupation.
1597 - The two involved powers sign a peace treaty on Cyprus, resulting in the entirety of Egypt and Sinai falling in the hands of the Apennine Confederacy. A directoral council representing all Apennine states in Egypt is established.

1597-1618 - The directoral council and it's colonial armies takes control over Egypt, taking seat in Cairo and with it's power emenating from the Nile. While venetian leadership wanted a canal built to connect Italy and India as soon as possible, colonial administration deemed it unnecessary and expensive and something to build in a distant future. Militarily, the council did agree on expanding the colony southwards along the coast. Tribes and petty kingdoms were subjugated through brute force, while the larger Sultanates in Somaliland and southern Eritrea were incorporated through conventional wars or exploiting trade agreements and further influence. Christian missionaries are given many privileges in their spreading of the true faith, and italian immigrants are handed egyptian farmland along the Nile to own and work on. Even greeks and Croats from the Confederate possessions are given similar rights and are welcomed into the growing administration and bureaucracy.

1620 - The De Rubeis gains unchallenged control over the Confederacy after years of scheming. The colonial administration in Egitto is considered inefficient and the directoral council is replaced by an autocratic official loyal to the crown. It is declared the Viceroyalty of Egitto shortly after Emperor Leonardo De Rubeis's coronation and the first to hold the position of Viceroy is Fidenziano Li Causi, skilled administrator and military commander.

1624 - Viceroy Fidenziano Li Causi enforces the enslavement of the Tigre people after a series of rebellions in Eritrea, and starts an extensive slave trade within the Viceroyalty.

1630 - Famed engineer and architect behind the Imperial Palace in Venice Aureliano Santo D'Orsi is employed by the Emperor to construct a canal between the Mediterranean and Red Sea to ultimately create a closer naval bridge between India and Italy. The viceroyalty provides thousands of slaves and the Apennine Imperial royal family extensive amounts of monetary resources.

1647-1672 - The canal is finally completed and Egitto establishes itself as a centre of trade and commercial bridge between nations and the Empire's territories. A new capital bordering the Egitto canal is established in the old city of Damietta in 1654, becoming even more a commercial city and administrative seat. A modernizement of the military is done as the Confederate military develops, and a proper Nile navy is constructed. The Viceroyalty even constructs an aerial navy and receives powerful landships. An industrial boom in important cities such as Damietta, Alexandria and Cairo occurs and infrastructure is improved significantly. The European population in Egitto can be calculated to almost 15%.

1672 - Newly crowned Empress and Queen Maria De Rubeis picks Armando Santo D'Orsi as Viceroy for Egitto. Armando Santo D'Orsi is son of the late Aureliano behind the Egitto canal and an experienced naval commander.

Date of Nation's PoD: Technically 1474 with all that Venice and Apennine Confederacy stuff, but with the real Egyptian POD; 1590

666(DO NOT REMOVE)

App completed; to be looked through and possibly accepted by Co-Op or OP and then confirmed by Segmentia.

[Sanabel]

GENERAL
Formal Nation Name: Kingdom of England
Colloquial Nation Name: England
Territory(Map Preferred): Map (includes England, Wales, Ireland, Newfoundland & Labrador, Bengal, part of Java, the Gambia and part of Nigeria
Flag/Symbolism: Flag - Take a guess and a belt
Demonym: English
Capital: London

GOVERNMENTAL
Government Type: Absolute, quasi-parliamentary monarchy
Government Ideology: The monarchy is the most important institution in the country, and the government - both Houses of Parliament and the King's personal government - are committed to the security and power of this institution. The land owning nobility, the barons, are wary of the Industrial Revolution and laws governing enterprise and private economic activity have remained restrictive compared to the Mediterranean states. Nevertheless, smaller scale industrialisation in cities and urbanisation is encouraged by the monarchy and Commons, though less so by the barons and nobility. Colonialisation, too, is also seen as vital to revitalise the home economy and to remain a power relative to European powers, though it is still restrictive and run for the nobility. Many close ministers of the King are still trying to further centralise the state under his command, and centralisation is beginning to increase, looking like the monarchical party will win this 'battle'.
Brief Government Explanation: The King is recognized as the absolute ruler, with the Divine Right of Kings generally accepted. The Parliament, composed of the two Houses of Lords and Commons, still possess a lot of control. All bills can be proposed by members of either House (with, ironically, the King not being a member of either House), and they must be voted through both Houses to reach the King for either assent or a veto. Fiscally, the Parliament only controls what taxes are levied, but not the actual royal expenditure.
The House of Lords, consisting of the Barons and general nobility, is the more powerful of the two chambers, with the Lancastrian Kings more content to consult it on a regular basis regarding most issues. The House of Commons, consisting of knights and burgesses, is consulted less but has a growing importance, due to a growing urban population and to more proponents of further financial concessions to the growing middle class and urban proletariat. Constitutional crises between the monarchy and the Commons have been more frequent in recent years, especially following the Industrial Revolution in Europe.
Head of State: King John Edward II of Lancaster, King of England
Head of Government: N/A
Baron William Bennett, Duke of Somerset - Speaker of the House of Lords
Sir Richard Whittingdale - Speaker of the House of Commons
Foreign Policy: England remains relatively isolationist in regards to European matters. However, the rivalry with France continues, even without any formal claims to French territory. The Lancastrian monarchy regards France as an implacable foe, who's friendly approaches are to be regarded as either a ruse of an opportunity to capitalise on French weakness for English benefit. Policy towards France includes the preservation of Calais in English possession, friendship and alliances with states in the French borderlands, and undermining French colonial expansion through all means save warfare.
The reasons behind the policy towards France are much the same as the reasons behind the Scottish policy. Scotland, formally claimed by the Lancastrian Crown, is undermined internationally by the English in order to allow an eventual, real annexation under the Crown. Wars against Scotland are not favourable as they may often result in a two front war against both Scotland and France. Main policies therefore including preventing the growth of Scottish colonies, undermining international recognition of the Scottish monarchy and the informal harassment of Scottish shipping.
England is being forced to confront the other world powers in colonial affairs. The suppression of native uprisings requires cooperation with other nearby colonies, so England tries to cultivate good relationships with all fellow European powers. However, many fear that the burgeoning Italian and Mediterranean states will make things harder for England colonies, encroaching on their territory and not taking English interests into account. English policy right now is to avoid confrontation with other European powers, seek alliances to the detriment of France, and only involve herself in continental matters when they affect English interests.
Domestic Policy:
State Religion: Roman Catholicism

SOCIAL
Population: 5.3 million
Colonial Population: ~2 million
Ethnic Groups: English, Welsh, Irish, French and Flemings in Pale of Calais.
Primary Culture: English culture, composed of both Norman and Anglo-Saxon cultures
Other Cultures: Celtic culture in Wales, Gaelic culture in Ireland. Mixed French-Flemish-English culture in the Pale of Calais.

ECONOMIC
Economic Description: The economy, above all, remains agricultural, with the majority of the peasant working class farming the land. Though serfdom is a thing of the past, most of the lowest class peasants work on the land they were previously tied to in southern England, the Midlands and Wales. Second to the agricultural sector is the coal industries of northern England, which is growing at a fast rate in Northumberland particularly. Coal production in the whole Kingdom currently is one of the highest in Europe, and the highest as a proportion of the whole economy.

Other industries are growing at a good rate for the English economy. The textiles industry, the largest of these industries, is centred around Liverpool and Manchester, again dominating the North. Private owned factories are constantly being constructed in the North as historic economic restrictions are slowly lifted in London to make the Kingdom more competitive with the economic heartland of Italy and the Mediterranean, as well as England's own neighbour France. Historically, the English economy has been behind the Italian-European standard due to an anti-capitalist feeling in the government following the Industrial Revolution, as well as the safeguarding of traditional economic conditions. Nevertheless, while not innovative to the same extent as the main industrial centres of Europe, the English economy is catching up and developing at a rate that makes it an attractive place for investment and for establishing new markets.

Contrary to its political status, Ireland's economy remains distinct from English economy. There, agriculture dominates even more, with the peasant class forming an even greater proportion of the overall population. The rule of the English nobility and settlers stifles any significant Irish enterprise and agricultural production is lower than possible due to a quasi-serfdom still existing in many parts of Ireland. However, industry in Ulster and the Dublin area is beginning to take off, both English and Irish (though mostly English).

The colonial economy is young but promising. The most important colony is the Bengal, where lucrative trade has been established by upper class English companies with Indian tribes and states on the subcontinent. Of lesser importance are the Java, Nigeria, the Gambia, and Newfoundland colonies. Nevertheless, colonisation has not led to the development of a prosperous middle class as it has in other European states, rather colonial companies and shipping are dominated by upper class nobility and families close to the monarchy, allowing the nobility a further degree of independence from the monarchy and Parliament (predominantly the Commons, dominated by middle class interests). However, things are slowly changing, and colonisation in the Gambia as seen a growing middle class presence in trade.

Industrialization Level: 7.5 / 10
Economic Ideology: The various parts of government have different visions for the English economy. The King and his closest ministers wish to expand economic rights and thus encourage the expansion of enterprise, but not to the extent which allows the fast growth of a powerful middle class that could challenge the political establish - in short, economic reform but not political. To this extent, many of the general upper class and nobility have been key in England's main industrial and colonial enterprises, especially of the industries of the Midlands and the North West of England around Liverpool and Manchester.

Mostly against this effort, especially with regards to middle class involvement are the nobility and the upper class closest to the King, represented in the more powerful House of Lords. They are mildly in favour of general economic reform, so long as it continues to favour upper class enterprises and colonial activities. The House of Lords has played a key part in pushing for colonisation, but has also been responsible for the bulk of legislation that gives the King a lot of control in these affairs, allowing colonial monopolies to be established by the nobility. In general, the House of Lords is in favour of keeping economic restrictions on middle and lower class enterprises as they are, but further concessions that are in favour of upper class owned industries and colonial companies.

The third important branch is the growing middle class influence on English politics, represented by the burgesses of the House of Commons. While mostly unable to push through favourable legislation, it has been supportive of royal efforts towards economic emancipation and has blocked legislation from the House of Lords that has tried to stop them. The burgesses best represent urban middle class interests, with a growing urban proletariat across England. Those representative of primarily rural peasant areas have more limited economic interests, and push for protectionism regarding colonisation, due to cheap agricultural imports suppressing England's agricultural sector, and this is supported to an extent by the King, though not by the nobility.

Main Trading Partners: France, Venice and other Italian states, Mediterranean states, HRE, Novgorod, Scotland
Colonial Economic Policy(If Applicable): Mostly covered above. The nobility and upper class is in favour of extensive colonisation, though with legislation protecting royal and noble economic rights and preventing the development of a prosperous middle class for colonial enterprise. The Commons is pushing for further economic rights to middle class traders in legislation, and the better allocation of companies and trade areas to middle class enterprise. The monarchy is more neutral, but at the moment is in favour of supporting the nobility stance to prevent a large middle class coming into being that could question the political configuration of the Kingdom. However, middle class enterprise has been key in recent colonial efforts, especially in the recent acquired territory in the Gambia, so things may be changing.

MILITARY
Military Description(Tactics, training, etc.): The English Army as a proportion of the population is small compared to other European armies, but it has become increasingly able and effective. A special conscription franchise means it is mostly composed of peasantry, and the bulk of troops are more specialised than those of general conscription. Training lasts just under two years, and troops are assigned to their counties following four years service. Most troops are supplied with up to date loading rifles, though needle guns are starting to make a slow appearance. The Army command remains largely in the hands of nobility and aristocrats, so promotion is not possible from all ranks. Tactics remain primarily defensive, with tactically sound short skirmishes being perfected in recent years. The Army prefers to avoid pitched battle, where morale may be lower, and concentrates on raids, skirmishes and a sort of proto-guerrilla warfare style.

The English Navy remains on the small side but is highly modern, with the transition to steam coal-powered ships being highly successful. The naval fleets have perfected coordination, with the full defence of the English Channel and the main parts of the North Sea coast possible in the event of war. However, numbers still remain small, but ever since Queen Margaret II the monarchy has been focusing on expanding English naval power, especially in the view of a potential conflict with their naval rival Spain.

Army(Include active duty, reserves, etc.): 40,000 active duty, 50,000 reserves
Navy(Include number of marines and ships, etc.): 50 warships, 100 smaller vessels, 12,000 marines
Elite Units: Special cavalry units being developed by the English Army with special arms, but nothing has come to fruit as of yet. Cavalry remains standard otherwise.

HISTORY
Brief History of Nation: The Lancastrian forces in the Battle of Tewkesbury, under the able command of Queen Margaret of Anjou, defeated the Yorkist army devastatingly, and the Yorkist succession idea was ended. A regency, under the de facto rule of Queen Margaret was established when King Edward IV, son of King Henry VI, succeeded to the throne following his father's death shortly after Tewkesbury.

King Edward IV was a relatively weak king, but managed to consolidate state centralisation with the support of a small group of Lancastrisan-loyal barons. It was under the 41 year long reign of his son, Stephen II, that political changed whirled into England. Inspired by the great revolutions of Venice and the Mediterranean, King Henry VII managed to centralise the kingdom under his rule and neutralise the control of the barons by playing nobles off against one another and by tactically using Parliament as a ruse to pass legislation that allowed the Crown to eclipse the nobility. Wales and Ireland were firmly rooted into the political structure of the Kingdom, and an equilibrium in foreign policy was reached. The final crown on the 'First Lancastrian Revolution' was the passing of legislation that would begin to end the feudal order and serfdom in England, though the last serfs would only be emancipated in 1548.

Following the Henry VII era, the power of the Crown regressed once again. The following four monarchs - Edward V, Henry VIII, John Edward I and Edward VI - mostly focused on consolidating their power, both with or without the support of the barons, within the new geopolitical setup of Europe and against the growing demands for economic and political reform. The last of these monarchs, King Edward VI, was killed in battle with the barons who opposed his efforts to centralise the state under the monarch's command.

It was in the reign of Edward VI's daughter, Queen Margaret II (not to be confused with Edward IV's mother, Margaret of Anjou), that industry began to really take off in England. In revenge for her father's murder, Margaret surprised everyone by neutralising the influence of the barons for over a decade and by enacting key economic reforms that led to England industrialising. Industries were set up, in upper class interests, in Liverpool, Manchester, the Midlands and London, and England went from backwater to a significant power in Europe. This 'Second Lancastrian Revolution' also led to the founding of England's first colony in the Bengal (through negotiation with Venice that also gave England a key ally in Italy), and then in Java, Nigeria, Newfoundland and the Gambia. Most important of all, Queen Margaret II built a fully-fledged bureaucracy to replace the household government of previous Lancastrian monarchs. No longer did the government work through nobles and friends of the monarchy, but through an established bureaucracy that dealt with affairs far more efficiently.

Despite all this, the nobility eventually managed to reassert itself in the government of the ageing Queen Margaret. Efforts were made to expand upper class rights in colonial affairs along with those of the monarch. A series of laws were passed under the reign of Margaret's successor, King Henry IX, in 1581, that restricted the movement of people across English territories and set up further requirements and regulation on colonial enterprise. The role of the middle class in Parliament was also marginalized severely. The result was the English Peasants War of 1593, which, though it ended in the favour of the monarchy, threw up lots of new political thought, including proto-Reformation and humanist ideas, among the English working class and peasantry. Following the end of the war, Parliament successfully deposed King Henry IX and installed the more widely-liked Henry X. Henry X's reign included pulling back on the harshest acts of Henry IX, but the attitude of the monarchy remained the same. Both King Henry X and his son King Edward VII expanded England's colonies, acquiring Newfoundland and the Gambia respectively, and Edward VII engaged in further building English control of Ireland.

The beginning of the reign of King John Edward II in 1664 signalled a new drive for political reform, though without any real change to the political structure of the Kingdom. John Edward II was responsible for relieving middle class traders of colonial restrictions in the Gambia and Newfoundland, both of whom were not formally included in the Colonial Bill of King Henry IX. In addition, industry in Northumberland in the north east has grown in his reign, thanks to further restrictions being lifted there. The new administration has made enemies in both the nobility and the agricultural peasantry, the latter due to the lack of agricultural reform and the refusal to clamp down on cheaper agricultural imports. Conciliation came quick in 1669, when England seemed on the brink of war with France over rights in Calais and Navarre; the nobility quickly came to realise that King John Edward II had managed to earn the respect of Europe and the peasantry in particular rallied behind their sovereign when war seemed imminent. What the new administration continues to do with this recent change of loyalties remains to be seen.

Date of Nation's PoD: 1471, Battle of Tewkesbury

666(DO NOT REMOVE)

App finished. Positive criticism will be welcomed; however, occupancy is currently full so accommodation is not possible.

Just kidding.

Accepted.

[Sanabel]

GENERAL
Formal Nation Name: Viceroyalty of Egypt // Vicereame del Egitto
Colloquial Nation Name: Egitto, Italo-Africa
Territory: All Venetian (Apennine) claims in mainland Africa
Flag/Symbolism:
Demonym: Egizian
Capital: Damietta

GOVERNMENTAL
Government Type: Absolute Monarchy (As enforced by another Absolute Monarchy)
Government Ideology: Conservatism, Imperialism, Expansionism
Brief Government Explanation: The Viceroy is chosen by the Apennine Emperor / Empress and serves until he resigns or is fired. The Viceroys picks regional governors, legislates laws and controls the colonial army and navy.
Head of State: Empress Maria De Rubeis, Empress of the Appenines and Queen of Venice
Head of Government: Viceroy Armando Santo D'Orsi
Foreign Policy: Most foreign policy is dealt through the Empress's government. Other then that, wars against bordering tribes, principalities and emirates as well as inland expansion.
Domestic Policy: Religious persecution on non-christians, ensuring military hold and managing trade flow between Asia and Venice.
State Religion: Roman Catholicism

SOCIAL
Population: ~19,800,000
Colonial Population: ^^
Ethnic Groups: Many, the largest are the egyptian ethnic groups
Primary Culture: Italian
Other Cultures: Egyptian, Tigrinyas, Somalis among many

ECONOMIC
Economic Description:
Industrialization Level: 4/10 (Some limited industry and modernized infrastructure and agriculture, otherwise all modern technology imported directly from Italy to the Viceroyalty's government and armed forces)
Economic Ideology: Protectionism to steer trade properly to Venice. Market is heavily regulated and taxed among minority populations.
Main Trading Partners: All Venice trades with (These are 'included' in this Protectionism-ish)
Colonial Economic Policy: Heh. As stated by Segmentia (Now stated reverse), A significant portion of the Egitto's income is collected by The Confederacy.

MILITARY
Military Description: While there is quite little industry to support a local army itself, Apennine makes sure that a large army and navy protects it's African colony. Equipment is modern and the army experienced fighting tribal enemies and technologically inferior armies. Non-italians are not allowed in the armed forces, which provides a large amount of italians in Egitto with work in the military. It is however quite dependent on it's motherland for advanced supplies and equipment.
Army: Active - 85,000 // Reserves - 640,000
Navy: Active - 40,000 // Reserves - 120,000
A total of 130 combat-efficient vessels can be deployed, including a few ironclads and armoured frigates. About 70 are Nile galleys. Apart from galleys, there are mostly steam ships.
Elite Units:
Ferronaves (Landships) - The armoured landcorps was sent to Egypt from Venice almost 15 years ago, and has proved being a dangerous weapon capable of making any tribe surrender. The 20 Landships have been polished and upgraded for desert usage and is one of the colonial administration's most elite and powerful forces.
Marina aerea (Airships) - A strikeforce able to travel great distances and attack enemies from the air, the 12 airships employed are indispensable. Among the vessels is The Caligula, a massive aerial ship and pride of the Apennine flying navy. 9 of the ships are quite small though, and employ very little weaponry. These are mostly used for transport for the higher bureaucracy.
Viceroyal guard - Elite infantry force and police of 3,000 men responsible for the security of the Viceroyalty and security within the government.
HISTORY
Brief History of Nation:
1590-1591 - The Apennine Confederacy declares war on the Ottoman Empire claiming rightful hegemony over Egypt. The Sicilian Count Davide Sesto assumes control over the United Confederate forces and wins several decisive battles in the war's earlier stages. Death rates are quite low in these battles, as the confederate forces win before significant casualties can be inflicted.
1591-6 - The majority of the war is fought through minor offensives from the Apennine side resulting in the slow occupation of Egypt and evential conquest of Sinai. The Ottoman navy stand no chance against the Apennine which results in several port assaults on major Ottoman cities. The relatively tiny amounts of Apennines who die during the war mostly die guarding civilian settlements and alike, as there are many riots against the occupation.
1597 - The two involved powers sign a peace treaty on Cyprus, resulting in the entirety of Egypt and Sinai falling in the hands of the Apennine Confederacy. A directoral council representing all Apennine states in Egypt is established.

1597-1618 - The directoral council and it's colonial armies takes control over Egypt, taking seat in Cairo and with it's power emenating from the Nile. While venetian leadership wanted a canal built to connect Italy and India as soon as possible, colonial administration deemed it unnecessary and expensive and something to build in a distant future. Militarily, the council did agree on expanding the colony southwards along the coast. Tribes and petty kingdoms were subjugated through brute force, while the larger Sultanates in Somaliland and southern Eritrea were incorporated through conventional wars or exploiting trade agreements and further influence. Christian missionaries are given many privileges in their spreading of the true faith, and italian immigrants are handed egyptian farmland along the Nile to own and work on. Even greeks and Croats from the Confederate possessions are given similar rights and are welcomed into the growing administration and bureaucracy.

1620 - The De Rubeis gains unchallenged control over the Confederacy after years of scheming. The colonial administration in Egitto is considered inefficient and the directoral council is replaced by an autocratic official loyal to the crown. It is declared the Viceroyalty of Egitto shortly after Emperor Leonardo De Rubeis's coronation and the first to hold the position of Viceroy is Fidenziano Li Causi, skilled administrator and military commander.

1624 - Viceroy Fidenziano Li Causi enforces the enslavement of the Tigre people after a series of rebellions in Eritrea, and starts an extensive slave trade within the Viceroyalty.

1630 - Famed engineer and architect behind the Imperial Palace in Venice Aureliano Santo D'Orsi is employed by the Emperor to construct a canal between the Mediterranean and Red Sea to ultimately create a closer naval bridge between India and Italy. The viceroyalty provides thousands of slaves and the Apennine Imperial royal family extensive amounts of monetary resources.

1647-1672 - The canal is finally completed and Egitto establishes itself as a centre of trade and commercial bridge between nations and the Empire's territories. A new capital bordering the Egitto canal is established in the old city of Damietta in 1654, becoming even more a commercial city and administrative seat. A modernizement of the military is done as the Confederate military develops, and a proper Nile navy is constructed. The Viceroyalty even constructs an aerial navy and receives powerful landships. An industrial boom in important cities such as Damietta, Alexandria and Cairo occurs and infrastructure is improved significantly. The European population in Egitto can be calculated to almost 15%.

1672 - Newly crowned Empress and Queen Maria De Rubeis picks Armando Santo D'Orsi as Viceroy for Egitto. Armando Santo D'Orsi is son of the late Aureliano behind the Egitto canal and an experienced naval commander.

Date of Nation's PoD: Technically 1474 with all that Venice and Apennine Confederacy stuff, but with the real Egyptian POD; 1590

666(DO NOT REMOVE)

App completed; to be looked through and possibly accepted by Co-Op or OP and then confirmed by Segmentia.

I'll let segmentia handle this one.

[Sanabel]

I hope Novgorod is ready for the steppe to run red with blood.

[Togeria]

I saw the Novogorodian's planning to commit mass rape and decided,"Maybe I shouldn't pursue an alliance."

[Sanabel]

I saw the Novogorodian's planning to commit mass rape and decided,"Maybe I shouldn't pursue an alliance."

This is going to be fucking brutal...

I just had steppe nomads loosely affiliated with my nation have their way with a few women...but those Novgorodians are being systematically barbaric already...

[Zelent]

So, what exactly does my advancement level include. I'm assuming 1 would be like stick and stones, 5 would be average maybe for a European country, I'm thinking 6-7 would mean a small aerial capacity, modernized steam engines and manufacturing processes, adequate small arms?

[Sanabel]

So, what exactly does my advancement level include. I'm assuming 1 would be like stick and stones, 5 would be average maybe for a European country, I'm thinking 6-7 would mean a small aerial capacity, modernized steam engines and manufacturing processes, adequate small arms?

Well no one has real aerial capacity yet.

But Brian came up with this whole scale, ill let him explain. Unless he's out farming in the potato patch with his leprechaun friends drinking guiness and is too busy to do so.

[The Peoples East Africa]

I saw the Novogorodian's planning to commit mass rape and decided,"Maybe I shouldn't pursue an alliance."

The prince is a just man, they raped us so we'll rape them.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

So, what exactly does my advancement level include. I'm assuming 1 would be like stick and stones, 5 would be average maybe for a European country, I'm thinking 6-7 would mean a small aerial capacity, modernized steam engines and manufacturing processes, adequate small arms?

1 means you have factories. Stick and stones is probably 0.

[Zelent]

So, what exactly does my advancement level include. I'm assuming 1 would be like stick and stones, 5 would be average maybe for a European country, I'm thinking 6-7 would mean a small aerial capacity, modernized steam engines and manufacturing processes, adequate small arms?

Well no one has real aerial capacity yet.

But Brian came up with this whole scale, ill let him explain. Unless he's out farming in the potato patch with his leprechaun friends drinking guiness and is too busy to do so.

LOL.

But not to whine, it seems like I'm being surrounded by people who want to mug me, and all of them have higher tech levels then I.

Would it not be fair, for a major global trading nation to have a bit higher then that, maybe a 7 or 7.5, but I understand that maybe Brian should be the one to judge this.

[Zelent]

So, what exactly does my advancement level include. I'm assuming 1 would be like stick and stones, 5 would be average maybe for a European country, I'm thinking 6-7 would mean a small aerial capacity, modernized steam engines and manufacturing processes, adequate small arms?

1 means you have factories. Stick and stones is probably 0.

Alright, so what would 6-7 imply?

[The Peoples East Africa]

So, what exactly does my advancement level include. I'm assuming 1 would be like stick and stones, 5 would be average maybe for a European country, I'm thinking 6-7 would mean a small aerial capacity, modernized steam engines and manufacturing processes, adequate small arms?

Well no one has real aerial capacity yet.

But Brian came up with this whole scale, ill let him explain. Unless he's out farming in the potato patch with his leprechaun friends drinking guiness and is too busy to do so.

Tis too sunny today to farm, it's like 15 degrees or something.

So the scale measures your tech and shit and level of industrial spread. If you're rubbing sticks and stones together to make fire then you're not even on the list. 1 would be like the beginnings, with a very basic steam engine, 2 is like basic factories, 3-4 is basic railways etc. 10 is uberleet and only Venice is that. 8 is a strong European/North African power. At 7 you can start researching the crazy tech such as airships. An average country that minds its own business might be around a 6-6.5.

[PLESSUR]

England is here now! Everyone seems to be talking about Eurasia and the Americas; anyone interested in Western Europe? England is gonna try to diddle a few more colonies in places, make dynastic claims in Europe, and become trade king of the Atlantic.

[The Peoples East Africa]

I hope Novgorod is ready for the steppe to run red with blood.

Run red with YOUR blood that is.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

Well no one has real aerial capacity yet.

But Brian came up with this whole scale, ill let him explain. Unless he's out farming in the potato patch with his leprechaun friends drinking guiness and is too busy to do so.

Tis too sunny today to farm, it's like 15 degrees or something.

So the scale measures your tech and shit and level of industrial spread. If you're rubbing sticks and stones together to make fire then you're not even on the list. 1 would be like the beginnings, with a very basic steam engine, 2 is like basic factories, 3-4 is basic railways etc. 10 is uberleet and only Venice is that. 8 is a strong European/North African power. At 7 you can start researching the crazy tech such as airships. An average country that minds its own business might be around a 6-6.5.

I can have railroads! Ohhh....that'll be a nice project to start.

Could Japan begin designing a blimp?