Pomara

Pomara, officially The People's Republic of Pomara, is a moderately sized country along the eastern coast of Avalonia. The majority of the population resides on or near the coast, while vast regions of the inland regions of the country are densely forested. The country is divided into 28 political districts, with the capital in Catamoto.

Pomara has a fairly monocultural society, with descendants of the Argrana y Griegro colonists comprising the majority of the countries demographic. Spanish is the only official language, although more than 11% of the country's population speaks various dialects of.

The lands that now comprise Pomara were once inhabited by many native peoples but mainly comprised of the Yucatecs. The majority of the native populations were forced to exile or died off when explorers from Agrana y Griegro arrived in **date needed**. The colony of Pomara was officially established as an organized territory in **date needed** and became a plentiful source of **goods needed** for Artemia. Independence was secured after a violent war in **dates needed** and the Pomarian People's State was established. With international backing, a military coup in 1849 established the current government under the Covenant of Governance. Since then, a stable but corrupt parliamentary system has been maintained, despite a constant communist guerilla threat from the backcountry.

Pomara is considered the Carita capital of Anterra. It is estimated that over 75% of the world's Carita is either produced or smuggled through the nation. The government has turned a blind eye to most smugglers, despite international pressure.


 * Insert information about international alliance stand-point once I decide where I'm going with that**

Ancient History
It is estimated that the first humans to populate the present-day lands of Pomara arrived around 5000 BCE Small, familial based tribes likely subsisted off the rainforests of the southern regions and the vast fishing resources of the Bay of Velcan. The earliest recorded history remains La Cueva Cadiz, a series of paintings and carvings in a cave series near the Pura River delta. Agriculture developed in the region later than most areas, due in fact to the rich natural resources. It wasn't until around 2000 BCE that the widespread cultivation of beans and squash helped spur population growth.

While written documentation from before the Mayan Empire is sparse, it is clear that sometime between 200 BCE and 500 CE, became the common language of the region north of the Pura river. This linguistic connection would help form the ties that would eventually spur the creation of the Mayan Empire.

The Mayan Empire (800 CE - 1500 CE)
The small tribes of the Yucatec people were based near the Cadiz Caves and rapidly grew in size during the 8th century. Historians contribute the rise to potential technological developments in the ability to control water flow from the delta, thus improving irrigation and field management. The ensuing population growth had two major impacts: a need for increased territory, and an increase in soldiers.

Emperor Yaputec (almost all Mayan Emperors would take up a new name that resided closely with Yucatec) began a vast campaign to unify tribes within the Pomara region. Many tribes stood ground and fought the campaigning army, but many laid down arms - becoming what would eventually be a vast network of tributaries. Tribes that fought back were almost always exterminated completely. Yaputec was quoted by assistants to have said, "Those who stand before us now will not lose that fear. Why should we risk our children with their subversive nature."

The empire spread from the Pura river in the south to the Lenienda Flats in the north. The network never traveled too far inland but remained tied closely to the coasts - the Mayans would not only develop a strong road network, but also a number of rudimentary ports along the Pomaran coastline. The original settlement along the Pura delta, where the city of Yucatec now sits, was the administrative capital of the empire. From there Yaputec and later emperors ruled with a gracious hand.

While the unification of the lands may have been harsh, the culture and laws of the land were the complete opposite. Family-based rituals promoted growth within communal ties, and the central Mayan emperor ensured that communities were taken care of when in need - a deep system of interdependence within previously isolated ties ensured a highly unified empire. While the Mayans never maintained a standing army, a system of military training ensured that in times of need, a large number of troops could be raised, dissuading uprisings and alleviating fears of invasion from other tribal empires. Those troops, however, could not have prepared enough for the arrival of the explorers.