History of Zahava

=Zokhia Civilization (2700 - 1400 BCE)= For a period lasting from about 2700 BCE to 1400 BCE, a proto avalonian civilization, the Zokhia inhabited the isles of Cretacia, Deimos and Idumea along with several other smaller islands in a small archipelago off the coast of eastern Avalonia. The Zokhian peoples were largely fisherman, and traders exchanging goods with a number of early Avalonian coastal civilizations. These interactions allowed the integration of Zokhian culture to other civilizations and the establishment of small colonies, which were essentially trading posts on the Avalonian mainland. In particular some of the Zokhian gods and goddesses were adopted into other cultures, which some archaeologists argue were the proto-deities for Zahavan polytheism, as the likeness found on some Zokhian artifacts bear striking resemblances to several Zahavan deities.

In roughly 1400 BCE, the Zokhian civilization disappeared from archaeological records. Some have linked this to a volcanic explosion on Deimos, which destroyed the Zokhian capitol city. This same volcanic activity may have caused tidal waves in the nearby islands, these natural disasters coupled with invasions from the Iapetian peoples resulted in the end of the Zokhian civilization.

=Prykhia Civilization (2700-1600 BCE)=

The Prykhia is the name given by Zahavan historians to the earliest civilization of distinctly Zahavan character. Although they may have existed as contemporaries with the Zokhians, the Prykhians of Khamia rapidly superseded them in power and importance. The earliest known Zahavan scripts and language originated in Khamia, as well as the first distinctly Zahavan pantheon.

Numerous city-states spread across much of what is today called Zahava, ruled from huge, ornate palace complexes, often built on rocky outcroppings or on man made hills on the savannah plains. From this network of palace-centered states the Prykhians developed rigid hierarchical, political, social and economic systems. The Prykhians ranged from being naval traders and fisherman, to farmers, to hyper militaristic cultures and were often at odds with one another despite sharing a common language, and an early script which would serve as the framework for what would become the Zahavan language. Many of the interactions between the arriving Iapetian peoples and the Prykhians were documented after the fact, during the classical age. It is commonly accepted among Zahavan historians that many of the myths from this time allude to actual events, and the heroes and leaders from this period are regarded as having been real people.

The Prykhian peoples were able to achieve their level of success by being among the earliest peoples to begin cultivating the staple crops of maize, beans, squash, rice and chili peppers. The agrarian Prykhians would then trade these goods, largely with other Prykhian states for finished goods, as well as oils, perfume, wool and pottery. This stable food source and trade system allowed the Prykhian cities to grow rapidly, and for the more wealthy members of Prykhian society to focus on arts, it is during this time that some of the earliest pottery and fired clay figurines in Avalonia can be found. Many scholars speculate that the Prykhians, had they been a unified society instead of a collection of city-states engaged in a complex network of alliances and enmities with cities believed have had populations exceeding 120,000 could have defeated the Iapetians upon their arrival.

The arrival of the Iapetian peoples in 1400 began a long series of conquests, shifting alliances, plagues, and infighting among various Prykhian factions which resulted in the end of the Prykhian civilization in 1500 BCE.

=Iapetian Arrival (1400-700 BCE)= The arrival of the warlike and technologically advanced Iapetian peoples from western Kesh in 1400 led to the rapid decline of the Zokhian civilization, with the isles of Cretacia, and Deimos both being conquered within ten years of Iapetian arrival following successive waves of invasion. The Prykhian, being a warlike peoples themselves managed to fight the Iapetians to a standstill several times, but following decades of war, and a series of plagues brought by the Kesh outsiders to Avalonia would eventually tip the balance heavily in favor of the Iapetians who would complete their conquest of the Prykhians in 1600 BCE.

While the Iapetians killed or enslaved untold hundreds of thousands of both Zokhia and Prykhian peoples they also adopted many customs and aspects of both cultures. This includes the development of an early script, dubbed Aekhian by Zahavan historians, which would go on to be the basis for the modern Zahavan language. Additionally the Iapetians adopted and incorporated architecture, artwork, cuisine, and religious aspects of Zokhian and Prykhian cultures into their own.This process of assimilation led to the development of classical Zahavan culture.

In addition to the destruction wrought by the Iapetian peoples, they were also builders, to secure their holdings from inland tribes the Iapetians set about building a series of fortifications and palace complexes, believe to be imitations of the Zokhian palace cites up and down the Avalonian coast. Many of these fortifications and palace complexes would go on to become many of Zahava's most famous cities including the city Arcanium itself. Contemporary historians believe the Zokhian and Prykhian peoples are depicted in Zahavan mythology as the evil followers of the underworld, and that Zahavarius was actually an Iapetian king, whom established the city of Arcanium over the ruins of the ancient city of Khamia.

While the Iapetians did make some limited campaigns further inland, they were largely content to remain near the coast, and near their ships. It would be several generations before the peoples which would become known as Zahavans would make legitimate efforts to explore, conquer, and settle the Avalonian interior.

=Classical Age (700 - 279 BCE)= Even after the conquest of the Prykhians by the Iapetian sea peoples, Zahava would remain disunited for much of its history, mostly a battleground for competing city-states of which Arcanium was the foremost. The Zahavan Classical Age is marked by periods of unity and disunity, as city-states were conquered and then regained independence from short-lived rulers or fell under the rule of regional warlords who had once been officers in a conquering army and by internal strife boiling over as new social classes emerged. During this time the Zahavan world was centered largely along the Avalonian coast, and the former Zokhian islands.

This period would also see the beginnings of several key institutions of what would become Zahavan culture, particularly the development of the Pantheon. The first books of what would become the Epitoma Aiona or Book of the Heavens were written during this period in an early Zahavan script. The period would see a number of rulers, and other aristocratic or intellectuals attempting to reach the gods, with elaborate shrines, temples, built to honor them.

City States (700 - 409 BCE)
The first City State era saw the birth of several institutions which continue to this day. The first Agora was established in Tanith, while the first documented act of deification occurred in Moirae. In the city state of Kharmidea the first Kharmideian Games took place, where competitors from all over the Zahavan world would come to compete against one another in a series of athletic competitions. While there was some infighting during the first city state period, the majority of these independent kingdoms would enjoy relative peace and cooperation, with clashes occurring over trivial things such as a perceived slight or dishonor. These conflicts were typically short lived, and rarely resulted in territorial changes.

The relative peace, and frequent trading between city states saw the growth of a mercantile class among many of the city states, and the introduction of coinage would first be adopted in 690 BCE. The growth of this new social class led to tensions among the new, and wealthy merchants and the historical aristocratic dynasties, with the mercantile class seeking political power to match their wealth, this led to the Aristocratic class feeling threatened and led to a series of internal conflicts between traditional rulers and populist leaders, these again were typically short lived affairs that did not result in loss or gain of territory from one city state to another.

Each city state, while still Zahavan in culture overall each developed its own set of laws, moral and social norms, varying architecture and battle tactics.

The first city state period is regarded as largely peaceful by Zahavan standards and is considered to come to an end in 409 BCE with the rise of Verus Caspean and his wars of conquest.

Caspean Era (409 - 374 BCE)
Lack of land and growing populations would eventually lead to a series of campaigns by a number of Zahavan city states. The most successful, long lasting, and influential of which were those of the campaigns undertaken by Verus Caspean, a Cretacian king, who started a series of wars taking the thrones of both neighboring isles of Deimos and Idumea.

The dis-unified nature of the Zahavan city states allowed Caspean to conquer states individually, or coerce weaker states into submission by the mere threat of war. Within six years by 409 Verus had conquered almost all of the Zahavan world, and moved his capital from Cretacia to the city of Arcanium. This was the first time the Zahavan society had been united under a single ruler and, while slow to be adopted the idea of a single Zahavan state would begin to circulate among intellectual and political circles.

Verus would enact a series of reforms, largely economic in nature as many of the now conquered city states were transitioning from a subsistence rural economy, to support of a nascent commercial sector. Verus encouraged foreign tradesmen to settle within his kingdom, and if they brought their families with them they could be granted citizenship. He commissioned the construction of many naval vessels, not just warships but also large barges to carry goods both up and down the coast, and up and down the vast river network. Verus also standardized coinage across his realm and updated the weights and measures used on Zahavan goods to make them more competitive.

Verus also enacted social reforms, such as prohibition on a debtor's person being used as security for a loan, the abolition of extravagant dowries, the freeing and prohibition of any Zahavan citizen to be enslaved with the exception being those who were placed into bondage as punishment for a crime, and the disenfranchisement of any citizen who might refuse to take up arms in times of civil strife, and war, a measure that was intended to counteract dangerous levels of political apathy.

Verus also established, or rebuilt fortifications that had languished from the Iapetian Arrival to ensure permanent Zahavan settlement, as the threat of being pushed into the sea by interior kingdoms remained a real possibility at this time and was something many Zahavans feared. Verus had repeatedly used this fear to gain populist support to justify launching campaigns even when his ruling class counterparts did not wish to go to war.

Verus found the life of a ruler dull, and largely delegated his administrative responsibilities to his generals, and other court officials. Verus reformed his army and proceeded to continue his campaigns of conquest north, subduing a number of smaller coastal tribes and sacking their settlements. Verus' success would continue until he encountered the Matwau peoples, a rumored wealthy civilization that lived further inland than along the coast in a territory Verus dubbed Mesis, meaning land of bounty. Upon arriving at the Matwau city of Ciqala Verus demanded the Matwau peoples submission. Instead Verus' army was met with an with a large army of light infantry, javelin throwers and horse archer cavalry. Verus' force was annihilated at the battle of Ciqala in 374 BCE. This would mark the beginning of centuries long series of conflicts between Zahavans and the tribes inhabiting what would become known as the Mesis plains.

Tetrarch Era (374 - 290 BCE)
Following the defeat and death of Verus in 374 began the period which Zahavan historians refer to as the Tetrarch Era. The name comes from the fact that in the vacuum left by the death of Verus the various generals or Tetrarchs and other military officers whom he had placed in charge during his campaigns began to fight one another, each hoping to assert themselves as the next Verus and unify all the various city states under one ruler.

During this time several of the Zahavan city states would come to particular prominence chiefly Arcanium, Tanith, Moirae and Coriallum. Each of them had brought the surrounding rural areas and smaller towns under their control, Coriallum and Tanith had also become major maritime and mercantile powers while Arcanium had its strength in its professional army. Moirae was regarded as an intellectual and spiritual center with many elaborate libraries, debate halls, and extravagant shrines and temples.

A key figure during this time period was the the Tetrarch Astartus, who managed to maintain a sizeable territory governing from Arcanium until his death. Astartus is also credited with the establishment of the Invictarii, a smaller but elite professional military force tasked with enforcing the cult of Zahavarius, Astartus' patron deity. The Invictarii are believed to have been instrumental in the development of the imperial cult, and the cult structure of the Zahavan Pantheon. Astartus is also among the first persons to be declared Primogenitor, and declared that his ancestry made him a decedent of Zahavarius.

The Tetrarch era was marked by near constant warfare between Tetrarchs and city states themselves seeking to assert their own Sovereignty with the Kharmideian Games providing the only respite from the fighting. This period saw heavy use of the Phalanx battle formation, originally developed by Verus and along with the Invictarii the development of several semi professional armies particularly among the more wealthy and populous city states

Zimisces Era (290 - 279 BCE)


The Tetrarch Era ended in 290 BCE when king Photius Zimisces ascended in Tanith. Through a series of short campaigns and political alliances Zimisces was able to again bring the Zahavan city states together under one rule. Zimisces was an adept administrator but was not initally known for his skills as a military commander, in the years of near constant warfare that had began during the Caspean Era it was almost a requirement in Zahavan culture that leaders be adept both in administration of state affairs and competent in military matters. Archaeologists have discovered severe criticisms of Zimisces in several surviving scripts from the era suggesting that Zimisces faced considerable internal pressures and possible insurrection. It is these pressures which are believed to have pushed Zimisces to launch a series of large campaigns in 288 BCE.

Initially Zimisces was successful in his conquests, he managed to re-subjugate areas that had been free since the fall of Verus, and had greater success combating the interior tribes of native avalonians whom relied heavily on cavalry in comparison to the largely infantry heavy Zahavan armies. This was due largely to the fact that Zimisces abandoned the Phalanx formation in favor of a more flexible system called the Diothen army roughly translated meaning Command Army. The new formation of the army broke the phalanx into smaller formations and different troop types roughly divided on a soldiers social class. The Diothen army structure provided the first full time professional force in Zahavan culture expanding beyond smaller elite formations some city states had already fielded.

Zimisces also expanded Zahavan territory southwards, eventually crossing the ___ mountains and bringing the Zahavans into their first contact with the Koreyo civilization. Initially Zimisces was successful in a number of battles against the Koreyon forces, managing to sack several settlements before falling ill and suddenly dying in 279 BCE. Ultimately Zimisces southern expansion would prove disastrous for Zahavan civilization. Following the death of Zimisces the Zahavan city states again began to compete with one another and returned to a near constant state of infighting.

=Antiquity (279 BCE - 1026 CE)=

Second Tetrarch Era (279 BCE - 192 CE)
The start of Zahavan Antiquity is traditionally marked as beginning with the second Tetrarch era. This was the third, final, and longest of the ancient Zahavan interregnums. As in the two previous eras a state of disunity and factionalism set in across the Zahavan world. Once again the only lull in fighting would occur during what had become known as the "Kharmideian peace", for the annual games to take place.

Arcanium remained the most prominent state in Zahavan territory but it faced a series of wars against other states, predominately Tanith whose democratic government found itself at odds with the more authoritarian system Arcanium had adopted. After early Arcanic victories Tanith began to make military alliances with other city states, eventually forming the Iapetus Federation, in response Arcanium secured an alliance with its neighbors Nazrah and Maegra to form the Arcanic Leauge. The two alliances would fight in a series of conflicts known as the Iapetus Wars. The wars would end in roughly 56 BCE with the destruction of Tanith. The second Tetrarch era is often considered the richest source of ancient Zahavan knowledge, and most exemplary of classical Zahavan culture. During this period, up to the Koreyo Conquest the city-state system was at its peak. Cities were noted for their unique cultures and traditions and the regional patriotism they inspired in their citizens.

Octavius Valenti 50bc

Following the Koreyo conquests of Zahava, a more prominent national Zahavan identity would emerge although even today many citizens hold a special regional patriotism and pride.

Diomedes Unification (607 - 1026 CE)
=Primaris Imperialis(1026 - 1537 CE)= January 13 1027 Eteokles became Primogenitor, and began laying the ground work for what would become the first iteration of a truly unified Zahavan empire. His initial efforts would be continued by his son Reighden, whom would also lead the Imperium on several successful campaigns of conquest. Many refer to this period as the First Imperium, or Primaris Imperialis. The Primaris Imperialis would last over five hundred years up to the conglomerate invasions ending with the reformation in 1537. The period is marked by near constant warfare, with the key distinction between this period and previous periods is there was very little infighting among the Zahavan kingdoms, instead many of the conflicts of this time involved campaigns against neighboring tribes and civilizations. One of the most influential leaders of all Imperial history would live during this era, Reighden the Magnus who is regarded by many as the father of the modern Zahavan state.

Wars of Conquest (1026 - 1077 CE)
Diomedes died without a legitamte heir in early 1026, and the unified empire he had created threatened to slip back into the typical city state infighting until a Primarch named Eteokles rumored to be the bastard son of Diomedes was anointed Primogenitor in 1027. Eteokles was a fine administrator and shrewd politician but was not known for his military capabilities, nevertheless his political Acumen allowed him to subdue efforts to fracture the Empire. Eteokles reformed the currency, switching to the Drachma which was fifty four percent gold, and the economy greatly improved and a period of stability and prosperity followed into 1030. In 1033 the prosperous peace would be shattered as Khan Tekuder had established the Puhan Khanate by unifying the various tribes found on the Mesis plains, and now began launching attacks against the northern portions of the Imperium. The Puhans were able to capture swaths of territory and raid many settlements along the coast, even managing to sack Iconathos. The Puhans would go unchecked for the better part of four years, the Cyrene rain forest preventing them from marching southwards en masse while Eteokles took an approach of appeasement, spending great amounts in Tribute to keep the Puhans placated.

This arrangement lasted for several decades, however the tribute demands continued to rise until internal unrest among members of the aristocracy forced Eteokles to relinquish the throne or face a coup. In 1045 Eteokles stepped down, his son Alkimos Reighden was then appointed Primogenitor. Unlike his father Reighden was a renowned commander, and had a reputation as being just and fair to both the upper echelons of society and to the common man. Seeing what had happened to his father, Reighden quickly enacted many reforms within the Empire, greatly diminishing city state authority, he overhauled the military, bringing it back towards a more professional national force, he began the process of transforming the various kingdoms that made up the empire into imperial provinces, replacing the dynasties which had ruled them with appointed governors. Reighden also established Agora and Concilium in all territories of the Empire, giving citizens everywhere a voice in government, at least at a local level. This is regarded as the begging of the modern Zahavan state. In 1050, after the Puhans now under the Khan Mengu attacked Iconathos and sacked it for the third time Reighden sent an envoy announcing tribute payments would stop. Reighden committed to fighting a defensive war against the Puhans while his new professional army was training. In 1055 Reighden marched the imperial north west towards the Puhan capital of Shiban. The resulting battle Battle of Shiban saw Reighden achieve a total victory, Khan Mengu and three of his sons were captured, the city of Shiban was sacked and burned to the ground, and great numbers of the Puhanese were taken into slavery in addition to the great tracks of territory now under Imperial control. Upon his return to Arcanium a great triumph was held in Reighden's honor, and he was conferred the title of Magnus, and thus became Reighden the Magnus the name which he is known by today.

Interactions with Western Avalonia ( 1120 - 1511 CE)
Zahavan expeditions across the Ophelion mountains became increasingly more frequent starting in the 1300s. Expeditions first reached the Presarius valley in 1314 CE, where trade was established with the local Zapadi populations. Settlers and expeditionary forces became increasingly regular over the following century, especially after silver and gold were discovered in the hills and mountains flanking the Presarius valley. This influx of Zahavans to the area caused tensions with the Zapadi to rise after repeated attempts to strip mine mountains that were considered holy to the Zapadi people were met with fierce resistance and the murder of Zahavan settlers.

Imperial crackdowns would further promote resentment. Tensions would come to a head during what the Zapadi people now refer to as the great tragedy, where Imperial forces forcibly rounded up and enslaved, or outright murdered large numbers of the Zapadi people following the murder of Zahavan settlers and sacking of several Zahavan settlements. Even today, due to the areas remoteness it remains a hotbed of unrest

Reformation (1511-1537 CE)
=Imperialis Secundus (1537 CE - Present)=