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 Aexian 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 Although they may have existed as contemporaries with the Zokhians, the Prykhians of Khamia rapidly superseded them in power and importance.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. 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 Aexian peoples and the Prykhians was 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 arrival of the Aexian peoples in 1400 began a long series of conquests, shifting alliances, plagues, and infighting amongst various Prykhian factions which resulted in the end of the Prykhian civilization in 1600 BCE.

=Aexian Arrival (1400-700 BCE)= The arrival of the warlike and technologically advanced Aexian 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 Aexian arrival following successive waves of invasion. The Prykhian, being a warlike peoples themselves managed to fight the Aexians 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 Aexians who would complete their conquest of the Prykhians in 1600 BCE.

While the Aexians 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 Aexians 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, and also saw the founding of many of Zahava's most famous cities including the city Zahava 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 Aexian king, whom established the city of Arcanium over the ruins of the ancient city of Khamia.

=Classical Age (700 - 279 BCE)= Zahava was disunited for much of its history, mostly a battleground for competing city-states of which Zahava 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. During this time the Zahavan world was centered largely along the Avalonian coast, and the former Zokhian islands.

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. The 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 - 394 BCE)
Verus Caspean, a Cretacian king started a series of wars after taking the thrones of both neighboring isles of Deimos and Idumea. The disunified 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 all of the Zahavan world, and moved his capital from Cretacia to the city of Arcanium. 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 Lepitis. 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 annhilated at the battle of Ciqala in 394 BCE. This would not be the first time a Zahavan army marched north to conquer the lands of Lepitis, nor would it be the last time the Zahavan force met with disaster in their attempts to do so.

Tetrarch Era (394 - 290 BCE)
Following the defeat and death of Verus in 394 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.

The majority of these states did not survive for long although, the Tetrarch Demoleon managed to maintain a sizeable territory governing from Arcanium until his death. Demoleon is also credited with the establishment of the Invictarii, a smaller but elite professional military force tasked with enforcing the cult of Zahavarius, Demoleon's 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.

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 Lapetus 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 Lapetus 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.

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)=

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