[center][b][u]NATION APPLICATION[/u][/b][/center]

[center][h3][u]Epria[/u][/h3][/center]

[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/3RGBJzC.png?1[/img][/center]

[hider][b]Denonym[/b]: Eprian

[b]Pre-colonial Description[/b]: 
Epria is an island country located on the eastern coast of Feresia, which is comprised of several hundred volcanically formed islands. The origins of the nation are ancient, with the first written mention of Epria being found within a Dubralese historical text dating back to the 1st century. Given the location of the archipelago that makes up Epria, the history of the nation is prominently a story of isolation, broken sporadically by several significant influences from other regions.

From roughly the 10th century, until its colonization by IMPERIAL NATION in 1786, Epria operated as a feudal monarchy, with ultimate power residing in the [i]Mikado[/i], or emperor. Prior to the 10th century, the peoples of Epria were a loosely organized group of familial clans that lacked centralized power. This changed rapidly with the introduction of Zocism through trading with Dubralese merchants and missionaries in the year 923. With the spread of Zocism came a period of advancement and homogenization, until the nation’s first mikado, Seno Tsuneo, claimed sole control over the clans in 931. 

For the next several hundred years following the formation of the [i]mikadoate[/i], Epria alternated between stages of peace and civil war. Through these power struggles, the Eprians developed a very distinct and rich martial culture, which bled heavily into everyday society. Soon, the feudal system that would come to dominate the bulk of Epria’s history evolved, and a ruling military class known as the [i]senshi[/i] were formed. This governmental structure was never interrupted until the IMPERIAL NATION forced the subjugation of the Mikado in the late 18th century.

Prior to (and even following, to some extent) its colonization, Epria subsisted autonomously with a mostly agrarian economic base. Rice, along with other ancient grains, and commercial fishing, were the staples of the economy, and daily life. Trade, especially beyond the immediate geographical neighbors of the nation, was not encouraged, and during some periods, even forbidden.  This isolationist policy led to a very slow rate of rate of modernization. Technology within the fields of agriculture, engineering, ship building, and the military, as well as other areas, was stagnate for much of the nation’s history leading up to the 18th century. 
 

[b]Current Description[/b]:
Currently, Epria operates with a high level of autonomy given its status as a colony to IMPERIAL NATION. However, this autonomy belies the still antiquated nature of Epria’s societal structure. Having transitioned from a country of isolation, directly to a colonial state, Epria had very little impetus to evolve and modernize.

While feudalism has been replaced with a constitutional republican system, power still rests with a very limited few. The [i]senshi[/i] class of old has transitioned easily under the umbrella of IMPERIAL NATION’s power, into a ruling class of wealthy plantation owners, industrialists, resource magnates, and military officers. With lucrative connections into the affluence and power of IMPERIAL NATION, Epria’s wealthy do little to change the nation’s status quo. 

Some limited progress has been achieved within the nation, however. This is mainly seen in the areas associated with the petroleum industry where, since the time of the Last War, Epria has been an important supplier of oil for IMPERIAL NATION’s war machine. While this minor trickle down of capital is almost wholly an unintended symptom of the ruling class utilizing privately owned oil companies to grow wealth, it exists nonetheless. 

Epria’s citizenry is mostly ambivalent to their status as a colony. Once again, as isolation has dominated the bulk of its history, the people know little else. Yet, the natural incursion of modern ideas and thinking brought about through growing interaction with the rest of the world, has led to a definitive shift in cultural identity within the nation. Though wholly in its infancy, the notion of Eprian sovereignty and independence is a burgeoning notion. This has mainly manifested itself in grass-roots efforts to improve worker compensation and benefits, especially within the agricultural sector.[/hider]