Post by El Borak on Mar 30, 2021 18:56:08 GMT -5
Carthage
Gummint: Kingdom <Plutocracy>
Pantheon: Phoenecian
Leader: Sargihan II <Hannibal>
CAPITAL: Carthage (Pop.: 905k)
Other Cities (and pop.):
Hadrras: 20k
Sfax: 30k
Tunis: 15k
Uthina: 45k
Loc.: Afrik
Language: Phoenician
Pop.: 3,500,000
Flag/Emblem:
Flag: Purple Afrikkan elephant
on a golden field.
Coinage: Phoenician Standard
Important Persons: Heads ov the "Nine Families," clerics, merchants,
officials, etc.
Friends: Phoenecian Coalition
Foes: Tripolis, Lybbos, Hasur, Berberia, Numidia, Western
Sea Alliance.
Open Warfare/Skirmishing: General raiding at sea. Some frontier
brushes with Numidia recently.
Intrigues: Draw Mauretania into alliance to divide Numidia between
it && Carthage. Marriage to ruling family of Tripolis so as to gain that
throne, then work on separate city-states to build empire.
Magickal Devices: This powerful kingdom has a great arsenal ov
objects such as the Basin of the Sea, the Dioramic Altar, the Seven
Illusion Mirror, the Gnotic Decompulser, && the Asp Javelins, plus
whatever else money can purchase, held by the plutocratic families
which are the aristocracy ov Carthage.
Alignment: Neutral
Thumbnail Sketches: Occupying some 35k or more sq.
mi. ov territory at the end ov the Mauretanian Peninsula, the Kingdom
ov Carthage is so placed as to benefit from climate, land, && sea.
Although the kingdom is hot in summer && cold in winter, the
moderating effects ov the seas (Mare Phoenecium to the east &&
south, Mare Librum to the north) reduce the severity ov these conditions
so that the climate is generally favorable all year. Interior
portions are somewhat barren && wild, but much ov the land is very
fertile && productive. The state's position in Afrik also gives it both
a commanding && trading location par excellence. Once a plutocratic
(aristocratic) republic built around a city-state, the nation was
formed on monarchical lines after the Roman Wars, when the Atlantlan
Recession was apparent to its wily people.
In the unpopulated areas of the S. && W. there is much wild
game, && the lion, leopard, && cheetah are commonly seen there.
The City ov Carthage is, naturally, the most famous locale in the
kingdom, a place both famous && infamous, conquered by many
attackers && always re-conquered by the Phoenicians. Sited to the
S. ov the mighty citadel ov Castle Byrsa, surrounded by suburbs ov
both peasant villages && villas && estates ov the rich, its high-walled
metropolitan heart covers about 12 square miles, from the Lake ov
Tunis to the S., to the aforementioned fortress ov Byrsa, having
absorbed the little port town ov Cartegenna centuries ago. One is
reminded ov both Rome && Aziria when first seeing the city, for it is
a mixture ov both East && West. The Seven Temples (Eshmun, Tanit,
Moloch, Tammuz, Iolaus, Patechus, Melkarth) are claimed as a wonder
by Carthaginians, but in truth they fall short ov that status. The
massive Edifice ov Balcaranensis is a worthwhile sight, however. So
are the baths built around hot springs, && the system ov aqueducts.
The slums ov the city are quite ineffable. The tombs to the N. are
ov interest.
The city proper is comprised ov 75% Phoenicians, w/ the
balance ov all manner ov peoples (Iberians, Grecians, Italics, Berbers,
etc.), but in the countryside, incl. other cities && towns, only
about 1/2 ov the populace is Phoenician. This is because ov the native
Berber pop. && the long-practiced hiring ov mercs, w
frequent settlement ov them onto Carthage's territory.
Class is still determined almost exclusively by economic success,
&& while this makes the people ov the nation most venal &&
mercenary, it also allows a considerable mobility for the clever (and
unscrupulous). Slavery is very much a part ov life in this land, &&
some 15% || so is ov what amounts to villeinage status, being agricultural,
mine, ov other workers strictly fixed in their occupation but able
to purchase free status. Freeman class pop. is only about 15%,
&& a heavy tier ov aristocrats && nobs completes the
picture ov the social stucture. Pantheons also recognized in the kingdom
incl. the Greco-Roman, Atlantlan, && Babylonian. As expected,
the separation between strata is sharp, the upper harsh && dominant
over the lower. Some few ov the freeman && aristocrat classes serve
in the military, but most ov the naval (warship) && military forces ov
the Carthaginian state come from mercenary employment.
Rich harvests of wheat, barley, oats, olives, dates, grapes, almonds,
oranges, lemons, && cotton are reaped from the fertile soil.
Herds ov cattle, sheep, && horse graze in the good pastures. The
seas yield great catches ov fish (anchovies, sardines, tunny<>, etc.).
&& animals to the city.
Caravans from the S. bring slaves, precious metal, gems, ivory, and animals to the city.
Carthage also has rich mines ov copper, led,
zinc, coal, && marble. Some quantity ov precious coal is exported
from Carthage.
TRADE is the life blood ov this realm, ov course, && her ships &&
galleys are seen all over the Middle Seas. The woven cloth ov Carthage
is ov the finest quality, && the state's pottery, leatherwork, &&
jewelry vie w/ grain, olive oil, && other products for space aboard
the vessels bound for all parts ov Aerth.