Shenewa

Shenewa is a country in central Avalonia on the shores of the Ingonian Sea. It is bordered to its west by Tilenno and Arroyo-Abeille and New Valentina to its north.

History
Historical Periods until 1000 CE, overview

Early settlement & spread of agriculture (start date tbd until c. 1,500 BCE)
During this time, two distinct cultural groups appeared, the first concentrated in the lowlands near the coast and around the rivers feeding into the Ingonian sea. The other was concentrated in the highlands further inland, around the Kustera river and lake Tsohtooh.

First kingdoms appear in the lowlands
Steady consolidation of power around religious centres which served as early palaces/power centres.

The Anarchy
Old, religious centre based kingdoms are either shattered or enter into decline, vulnerable to river raids by Keumoine who begin to entrench themselves in cities along the banks of the river Lumis (until c. 100 BCE)

City States Period
The Keumoine settle into large city states on the coast and along the rivers Lumis and Qaypez  which become the dominant political units, exercising overlordship over the remaining, much reduced old religious centre based kingdoms. Over the coming decades/centuries the city states would grow wealthy from carrying Ingonian sea trade with Zahava up the rivers Lumis, Qaypez and Julianus further inland to the peoples of modern day New Valentina and Tilenno.

(Northern) resurgence
One of the old religious centre based kingdoms grows and through reforms to administration and changes in agriculture begins to eclipse the city states in power. Whilst the kingdom splinters within 2-3 generations, the system of government it brings about reverses the balance of power in the country's north, with the theocratic kingdoms becoming overlords of the city states. (c. 500 CE).

(Two realms era)
Following the northern resurgence, Shenewa is divided into two realms, culturally and religiously. The northern kingdoms, dominated by the ancient theocratic traditions of Shenewa's earliest civilisations whilst the southern part of the country remains dominated by city states ruled in accordance with the customs and practices of the Keumoine. During this period, a caste system begins to take root in the south, finding its basis in the initial divide between the Keumoine descended ruling and urban class and the (native) inhabitants of the countryside but gradually spreading to other areas.

The Tsohtooh Unification (c. 1100 CE)
(Some king or other). Following his reign, the kingdom of (?) exercised undisputed control over the area around Lake Tsohtooh and more importantly the lucrative trade routes that ran north through it. Over the following centuries, his dynasty would use this wealth to expand their kingdom. Ruling over the western shores of Lake Tsohtooh and parts of the Lumis Kustera rivers, this has sometimes been pointed to as the beginning of a Shenewan state. However, in reality, whilst the largest realm yet seen in Shenewa at the time, it did not rule over anything like the whole country. The coastal areas remained largely untouched by the Tsohtooh empire, as did much of the Lumis river basin and the southern highlands.

The arrival of West Artemians
When West Artemians discovered Shenewa, the first of its many cultures they encountered were the Keumoine dominated city states. As a consequence, they adopted the Keumoine name for it, Shenewa, meaning the "land of rivers".

Climate and seasons
Shenewa is a nation with a predominantly tropical savannah type climate characterised by wet and dry seasons of varying lengths. In the highlands, the wet season and dry season are similar lengths. Normally, the highland wet season will begin in May and end in September. In the lowlands, the wet season lasts substantially longer, beginning in late March or early April and extending until September. These seasons are caused by evaporation from the Ingonian sea. Gradually the rain drinks into the Lumis and Qaypez river basins and from there away into the Ingonian sea, which is at its highest level in early March. The difference between temperature in the wet and dry seasons is more pronounced in the highlands, whilst in the lowlands the temperate is relatively static year-round.

(Lumis) King Prawn
The (Lumis) river is home to what is commonly known as the (Lumis) King Prawn, a large species of freshwater shrimp whose natural habitat is in the Lumis river and Lake Tsohtooh. In addition to wild (Lumis) King Prawns, (Sigistopians) have been cultivating king prawns for food for many hundreds of years.

(Highland Deer)
The (Highland deer) is a small species of deer which lives in the highlands found in western Shenewa. Males of the species typically weight between 60 and 80kg whilst females normally weigh 40-60kg. Thought to be the distant cousins of the (lowlands deer), they have been present since prehistory in the area of modern Shenewa as attested by cave paintings.

(Lowland Deer)
The (Lowland deer) is a distant relative of the (Highland deer) adapted to live in the (Lumis) river basin. Due to the dense undergrowth of woodlands in the area, the lowland deer has evolved to be smaller than its relatives, with males tending to be between just 15-20kg.

Religions
Native religion Current status: tbd Nature: Polytheistic deities (father sun & mother moon as primary deities?)

Kaomoine religion Current status: tbd Nature: Semi-monotheistic (worship a single water/river deity with many natures (lifegiver in the form of the monsoon, lifetaker as storms etc.)).

Languages
Sound changes, Theykan-Keumoine

a-e

oa-oi

wh-sh

i-a

m-n

Potential names - Shenue (“land of rains”) - Shenewa (“land of rivers”) Common name in Keumoine given that they will be the first population that West Avalonian cultures come into contact with

Cuisine
A traditional dish across much of Shenewa is (King Prawn soup), a soup made with the (Lumis) King Prawn as a key flavour ingredient. In some coastal areas this is served in crab shells or, more commonly in modern times, a bowl shaped and decorated to resemble crab shell.