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 Although they may have existed as contemporaries with the Zokhians, the Prykhians of Khamia rapidly superseded them in power and importance.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 Zahava 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 Zahava 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

Second Imperial Era (290 - 279 BCE)
=Antiquity (279 BCE - 1026 CE)=

(607 - 1026 CE)
=Primaris Imperialis(1026 - 1537 CE)=

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