Shenewa

Shenewa is a country in central Avalonia covering 571,062km2 on the shores of the Ingonian Sea. It is bordered to its west by Tilenno and Arroyo-Abeille and New Valentina to its north. Centred on the Lumis and Qaypez river basins and with its agriculture made plentiful by the seasonal rains off the Ingonian, the territory of Shenewa has always been a densely populated area. As of 2022, its population is estimated at 198,158,514. Its capital is located in the old imperial city of Nokor Vimean on the shores of Lake Tsohtooh. However, its largest city is the former city state of Taunge on the shores of the Ingonian.

The area of modern day Shenewa has been inhabited for many thousands of years. The first organised Shenewan kingdoms began to appear in the lowlands in the early first millennium BCE, formed around temples as their centres of power and administration. However, these early kingdoms were smashed apart by the arrival in Shenewa of the Keumoine, a Polynesian people thought to be distantly related to the inhabitants of modern day Theyka. What followed were the centuries known in Shenewan history as The Anarchy. During this time, the Keumoine raided up and down the Lumis and Qaypez rivers from strongholds established near the coast. However, gradually the Keumoine's presence in Shenewa changed from raiding parties to settlements, more interested in trade than loot. Their coastal strongholds gradually transformed from staging posts for raids to ports, bringing in goods from the Ingonian sea and transporting it upriver, across Northern Avalonia. From these coastal city states, the Keumoine struck out, establishing trading posts further upriver which would in turn become small cities in their own right. During this time, the Keumoine were the dominant power in Shenewa, ruling the remnants of the native kingdoms as overlords, growing wealthy on the river trade. This era was not to last. Eventually, rallying from the initial shock of the arrival of the Keumoine, the native kingdoms of northern Shenewa around Lake Tsohtooh and the uppermost reaches of the Lumis basin began to increase in power once more, slowly becoming powerful enough to become the overlords of the Keumoine cities which had once ruled them. It was one of these kingdoms which would form Shenewa's first empire, around Lake Tsohtooh. With its administration provided by the old native temples yet employing armies of Keumoine mercenaries, as had become common across Shenewa, this empire is sometimes called the first truly Shenewan realm. However, this appelation is not agreed upon by historians, with a majority believing it to have been little different to the Keumoine city states or previous native kingdoms in most respects. Like its predecessors, this empire would eventually collapse, splintering into numerous successor kingdoms.

Within a few decades of the collapse of this first empire, West Artemian explorers found their way to Avalonia. Whilst it would be a number of years before they made direct contact with the peoples of Shenewa, it is likely that the Shenewans were aware of these strangers from across the sea due to the Shenewan trading links across the Ingonian. When the West Artemians finally did find their way to Shenewa, they were seen not as foreigners to be cast out but as just another business opportunity by the cities of the coast. Whilst there had always been wars over trade along Shenewa's rivers, fuelled by West Artemian money and technology, these wars grew to a never-before-seen scale during the approximately 300 years of the so-called Colonial Period. West Artemian states would support their client Shenewan states against their neighbours, supplying them with the latest weapons, in exchange getting favourable trade concessions along the profitable Shenewan trade routes. In (one of the Shenewan languages), this time is known as the "age of red rivers", testament to the bloodshed that ensued from Shenewan kingdoms transforming their always large populations into enormous armies to wage wars on behalf of their West Artemian backers.

Gradually however, the West Artemian support for these wars slackened as their own colonies began to spread further and further inland across North and Central Avalonia and the profitability of Shenewa's river trade decreased. This did little to decrease the bloodshed as Shenewa's realms continued to fight over the trickle of money left from trade along the rivers. However, out of these wars emerged the first Shenewan Emperor, a warlord of the state of (?). He designated six trading ports on Shenewa's coast through which West Artemians would be allowed to trade, giving each to a different West Artemian power. However, this was to be the limit of West Artemian power in his Empire, determined as he was not to become just another vassal ruler. The first empire kept the peace for nearly 100 years, although future emperors gradually expanded the areas in which West Artemians could do business. However, eventually the first empire's system of government would break down, with individual warlords gradually assuming control of various areas of Shenewa. Whilst the emperors still sat in (capital), they had little power. All practical power rested with these warlords for almost 30 years, seeing them wage Shenewa's first industrial wars against each other. It wasn't until after the war of Imperial Restoration, in which the warlords were overthrown by a group of idealistic young army officers, that the Emperor was restored to his authority and Shenewa united again, beginning the Second Imperial Period, extending until the present day.

Shenewa is a developing economy with a nominal GDP per capita of $6,085.

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 across northern Avalonia.

(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".

1500-1800 CE
The early colonial period in Shenewa was characterised less by colonisation and more by the West Artemians involving themselves in the conflicts between Shenewan powers. Whereas in other areas, the primary interest of West Artemians was in establishing colonies, in Shenewa the prize was favourable trading rights on the rivers at the heart of the area. Shenewan states often offered West Artemians these in exchange for aid, whether it be material, military or both. Whilst wars had not been uncommon in the pre-colonial period, the extra resources poured into them by the West Artemian powers led to wars of a scale, intensity and frequency that had never been seen before in Shenewa.

Warlord states period (1908-1943)
Whilst the Emperor still nominally ruled over all of Shenewa, the real power and unit of government became various states within states ruled over by warlords.

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 drains 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.

Government
Executive power in Shenewa is split between the Emperor and his so called "Imperial Council" and the Prime Minister and his "People's Council". This arrangement came out of the Constitution Riots in 1967, prior to which all ministers were appointed by the Emperor, with elections being merely advisory. The Imperial Council consists of ministers appointed by the Emperor and is in control of defence, the gendarmerie, foreign policy and intelligence. The People's Council is headed by the elected Prime Minister, who also represents it on the Imperial Council. It is responsible for a variety of areas of government but most importantly it sets the budget.

Populations
Keumoine

Boenga, local culture from around lake Tsohtooh

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

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.

Economy
Shenewa is a developing, upper middle income market economy. However, it is still marked by high levels of income inequality across the country, with its highlands further inland typically being a great deal poorer than the coasts. As a developing economy, the Shenewan services sector is still a relatively small part of the economy, just 45%, whilst manufacturing and agriculture make up 41% and 14% respectively.

Agriculture
Agriculture is still a relatively large part of the Shenewan economy. Much of this value is derived from the large, industrial scale farms producing cash crops such as tobacco and sugarcane. However, there is still a large amount of production of foodstuffs such as rice both for domestic consumption and export. This production is less prone to domination by large farms and instead the production is largely by small land-owners. The government has attempted to counter the resulting inefficiency by establishing the (insert company name here). This is a state run and backed corporation which buys the agricultural produce of these small scale farmers and then sells them on at prices which mean it only breaks even rather than turning a profit. Whilst the idea behind this company was to mitigate some of the weaknesses in Shenewan agriculture caused by small farms and ensure small-scale farmers had enough money to expand and increase the sophistication of their farms, it is questionable if it has achieved this.

Shenewa also possesses a large fisheries industry, mainly farming fish and shrimp, with catching of wild fish having been in decline since the 90s. This decline is mostly explained by the depletion of stocks and increasing government legislation to safeguard endangered species.

Energy
Shenewa is an energy importer, possessing no domestic sources of coal, petroleum or gas. Whilst there have been attempts to draw more energy from sustainable, domestic sources such as hydropower and windfarms, these are still only sufficient for a small part of Shenewa's energy consumption (c. 14%).

Carrying trade
Whilst it no longer composes as large a part of the Shenewan economy as in times past, Shenewa is still a significant player in the shipping trade in and around the Ingonian. Unlike most surrounding nations, much of Shenewa's shipping fleet is composed of shallow-hulled freighters, better able to travel up the rivers of central Avalonia. Combined with its relatively loose laws around the sector, this has made Shenewa a major middle man for trade arriving on Avalonia's eastern coast to be transported to the rest of the continent.

Tourism
The area around Lake Tsohtooh has long been a popular destination for domestic tourism. There have been efforts recently to attract more international tourism to the area.