[center][h1]Ashkar Kingdom: Century of Prosperity[/h1] 385 – 484 E.C. (301 – 400 A.E.) [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c-hmFN610g]Ashkar Hymn to Eliyahu[/url][/center] [quote=Sumarael IV] Akaku is surely rolling his eyes at us. Not only has peace come, but it has in the aftermath of defeat, and we are better for it.[/quote] In 399 E.C. (315 A.E.) the Zaqiri sent a delegate who demanded that the Or’Rouzi isles be given to Zaqir or it would be taken by force. Ashkar staunchly refused. Zaqiri subsequently launched an invasion of the Or’Rouzi isles. Aware of the coming attack, Ashkar reinforced the garrison, which was simply made up of a militia, with an army of professional soldiers and sent a naval guard as well. Zaqir’s forces won a clear naval victory and then launched an assault on the isles. The Ashkarians won the initial battle, but the Zaqiri returned and won a decisive battle, winning control of the isle. King Samu-Sumu II reacted quickly, sending a second army and navy which he led personally in 400 E.C. (316 A.E.). Under his command the Ashkarians defeated the Zaqiri navy and won the first battle in their initial counter-invasion, but a second battle saw them decisively defeated. Samu-Sumu II managed to escape. While a second counterattack was being planned in 401 E.C. (317 A.E.), Zaqir opened up negotiations. The current Zaqiri Potentate was an Asqari, who are descendants of Ashkarians and humans, and Samu-Sumu II was generally sympathetic and responsive. Ashkar and Zaqir both agreed on how they would divide their claims and territory, as detailed below. Both sides agreed to complete cessation of raids, and Ashkar would officially hand over the Or’Rouzi Islands to Zaqir, but would keep that which was on the continent. [img]http://i.imgur.com/rq97n84.png[/img] [quote=Buhur the Philosopher]The half-breed says she can take yet more land, yet not a soul in Ashkar believes that is so.[/quote] Although Samu-Sumu II saw the negotiations as a success, they were extremely unpopular. Through Buhur the Philosopher, head of the Academy, who served as a diplomatic delegate to the negotiations, the proceedings became public knowledge. Whether they be nobility, teachers, or commoners, many people saw Samu-Sumu II as giving into defeatism, as Ashkar had never been conclusively bested before. The Ashkarians believed that through more fighting they could reverse their losses. Although no one dared to openly defy the King, it served to undermine the authority of the institution, its position as divine monarch already in question due to its inability to ever quell Zaqir. However, prosperity soon came to Ashkar. It was not solely due to end of the raids, although it did help. The widespread use of improvements in animal husbandry, unregulated population growth, and the application of mathematics to practical things were more important. Whatever the case, it led to the beginning of great prosperity within the Kingdom. Great Ziggurats were built, including the Great Ziggurat of Ashkar, made entirely of bronze and gold. In 407 E.C. (325 A.E.) Samu-Sumu II died. He was replaced by his son Sumarael IV. Sumarael IV himself was mostly unremarkable. The most important event was the strengthen of ties between the monarchy and religion, as he had himself made High Priest of Eliyahu and High Priest of Iyanna, effectively making him the head of the Ashkarian religion. Sumarael IV died in 420 E.C. (336 A.E.), and he was succeeded by his son Yamu, whose reign saw continued prosperity. In 445 E.C. (361 A.E.), Yamu died, and his son Anvor II ascended as King. However, his reign was extraordinary brief. He was suffering from a serious disease upon entering Kingship and died a mere two months into his reign. He was succeed by his son Itu. Although he was personally frail, he had a strong mind and was hence a strong ruler. Itu dealt with a great controversy near the end of the century. From 465 to 475 E.C. a great plague ravaged across Ashkar. Even many among the royal family there were heavy casualties. Itu lost his Queen Consort and his four eldest sons, making his heir apparent Abatu, the son of Itu’s favorite concubine and true love, Iamblichia, a Reguli. This lead to a large rebellion, known as the First Abatu Uprising, to remove the place of the “foreigner.” It began in 481 E.C (397 A.E.) and lasted until 485 E.C (400 A.E.) when it was decisively crushed. It was important because it was the first uprising against the King since the time of Gabala-du, and it brought destruction to many of the places in Ashkar, most of all the capital. List of Kings during this Century Samu-Sumu II 311 – 407 E.C. (227 – 325 A.E.) 334 – 407 E.C. (250 – 325 A.E.) Sumarael IV 332 – 420 E.C. (248 – 336 A.E.) 407 – 420 E.C. (325 – 336 A.E.) Yamu 350 – 445 E.C. (266 – 361 A.E.) 420 – 445 E.C. (336 – 361 A.E.) Anvor II 374 – 445 E.C. (290 - 361 A.E.) 445 E.C. (361 A.E.) Itu 401 – 489 E.C. (361 – 405 A.E.) 445 – 489 E.C. (361 – 405 A.E.) [hr] [h3]Culture[/h3] [u]Popular Society[/u] The Academy begins to make a dent on the influence of the teachers. Although not yet definitive, the Academy’s position begins the decline of the teachers. Unlike the teacher, the academicians have no love or need for public education. The end of the Zaqiri raids was contemporary and aided a burst in prosperity and expansion in Ashkarian society. Both villages and cities increased in size, with the splendor of the cities increasing significantly. The greatest of ziggurats were built during this era. The Great Ziggurat of Ashkar, made entirely of gold and bronze, was built during this century. Although the end of the raids did play a part in this, the results of long-term agricultural reforms and technological and intellectual progress played an even larger role. The other great cultural achievement was the Ring of Valor of Ashkar. Built from 409 to 426 E.C. (325 to 342 A.E.). Men, called gladiators, consisting of slaves, desperate veterans, and chosen men from the warrior class fought in the arena. The warriors made up a class of elite gladiators, who were more skilled and better treated than others. Men would fight each other, following the Zaqiri model, although fair fights were less frequent, with well-trained warriors sometimes fighting hapless slaves. That is not to say, however, that fair fights did not occur. Also of note is the fact that not only were people slain, but animals as well. Argilo, the second largest city, became the central hub of trading and mercantile. [u]Religion[/u] Iyanna’s position among the pantheon increased even further, so that she was the most worshipped goddess by the people, although Eliyahu remained head of the pantheon. The Great Ziggurat of Ashkar, finished 462 E.C. (378 A.E.), was a great monument to Ashkar’s traditional religion and gods. Its building was made in commemoration of the King being given the positions of High Priest of Eliyahu and Iyanna. It was commemorated to the whole pantheon and was forged entirely of gold and bronze. [u]Poetry[/u] Ekur (354 – 431 E.C., 270 – 347 A.E.) wrote the Epic of Urshum. Unlike the older Epic, this one deals with the legendary War of the Crowns, when the three sons of the first King of Ashkar fought for control of the crown. Under the influence of Ashkarian philosophy, all three sides are humanized, human emotion is explored, and the damage of war is shown. Perhaps the greatest poet of this century was Annaya (357 – 398 E.C, 273 – 314 A.E.). Originally a student of Ibrimmu, she soon struck out on her own. One striking theme is her focus on homosexual love, specifically in the lesbian love she commonly and seemingly exclusively engaged in. She wrote prominently but not only on that, and what gave her skill was above all her skill with poems made her equal or even surpass Zabaia. Her poetry is known for its sharp imagery and above all its lyricism. Parody was brought into poetry by Vanarshabilit (378 – 434 E.C.. 294 – 350 A.E.). Although still a lyric poet who indulged in elegant rhymes, his poems didn’t possess the serious tone of many of his predecessors. He parodied the style of Zabaia and Annaya, wrote humorous poems, satirized society, especially the bellicose attitude of the time, and also wrote drinking songs. Agrabu the Poet (422 – 513 E.C., 338 – 429 A.E.) was influenced by Vanarshabilit, although did not take up parody and satire. Instead, he merely had a humorous bent, writing drinking song and love songs, both bawdy and emotional ones. Gabala (369 – 474 E.C., 285 – 390 A.E.) was an exemplar of eastern tradition, but nonetheless became popular in Ashkar, where lyric poetry was dominant, and is considered one of the eastern tradition’s finest. Following eastern tradition, his poetry is recited, not sung. [u]Philosophy[/u] [b]Apiashalism[/b] The Academy flourished under the Academy, and their undercutting of popular education and the interests of the masses in favor of the powerful elite made them allies with the priesthood and nobility. Many nobles began to favor Apiashal in many ways, but the priesthood would never accept them, even if they allied with them. After Apiashal’s exile and desertion, Buhur the Philosopher (331 – 420 E.C., 247 – 336 A.E.) became head of the Academy and led it to prosperity, his main philosophical work being [i]Apology (403 E.C.), where he defends Apiashal’s views. [b]Tudiyanism[/b] Tudiyanism failed to maintain the dominance that they had achieved in the last two centuries, both failing to make itself properly distinct and as appealing from the new Apiashalist philosophy, and with the creation of the Academy they were less organized.. However, the Sophists continued to thrive as teachers. Bararu the Rhetorician (352 – 485 E.C, 268 – 348 A.E.) made sophism’s focus not on philosophical claims but on rhetoric and oration and its skills of eloquence and persuasion, and taught history as moral lessons, sometimes sanitizing it and doing away with accuracy. He was followed by Taru the Sophist (419 – 523 A.E., 335 – 439 A.E.), who wrote the first scrolls on law and jurisprudence. [b]Logic[/b] This was the most important century for Ashkarian logic for a very long time, the two most important ancient Ashkarian logicians emerging. Idu the Logician (350 – 436 E.C., 266 – 352 A.E.) created Term Logic and rejected dialectial reasoning, the prevailing logical thought. There are three basic parts of a statement in it, the term, the proposition, and the syllogism. The syllogism is used to create logical conclusion, the core example being A equals B, B equals C, therefore A equals C. Gamru the Logician (384 – 520 E.C., 300 – 391 A.E.) rebuked Term Logic in favor of prepositional Logic. Unlike Term Logic, prepositional logic dealt with seeing if prepositions were true, something which Term Logic was lacking in. A equals B, Idu said. However, there must be a way to prove this. If all gold mountains are mountains, all mountains are real, so all gold mountains must be real, but this is false. Once accurate claims have been made, then assertions can begin. [b]Scientific Crossover[/b] Adauya, perhaps more famous for his scientific works, gave a full view of time, requiring him to engage in philosophy. Times that have already happened are gone, and times that are in the future do not exist. Additionally, time is dependent on human perception and is eternal. [h3]Technology[/h3] [b]Practical Technology[/b] Ironworking, although basic knowledge of it had already been known for centuries, became dominant. This was discovered when smiths discovered a way to improve iron by combing it into carbon. It was no longer brittle, and was in fact even stronger than bronze. As a result, bronze was no longer forged for military uses, and was mostly used ceremoniously and in architecture. Even then, gold was preferred over bronze. [b]Mathematics[/b] Agrabu of Gabala-du (379 – 457 E.C., 295 – 373 A.E.), an arithmetic teacher, invented algebra as it is defined, and used it to solve equations and gained knowledge on quadratic and cubic equations and square roots. Dimtu the Jolly (398 – 494 E.C., 314 – 410 A.E.), an Apiashalist arithmetic teacher, expanded on Agrabu’s knowledge by creating a model for exponential growth. Lamtaku of Argilu (420 – 516 E.C.) continued the work in geometry, leading to the increasing sophistication of that branch of mathematics. He for, instance, worked in equations and developed the Pythagorean theorem and a proof for it. Adauya (400 – 500 E.C., 316 – 416 E.C.), as mentioned above, created a comprehensive view on time. Aside from making an accurate calendar, which replaced Apil-Seun’s older and less accurate model, he also characterized the lengths of years, months, weeks, days, minutes, and seconds. [h3]Military[/h3] Iron replaces bronze, and from now on Ashkar’s military will use weapons and armor of iron rather than bronze. [h3]Territorial Expansion[/h3] [img]http://i.imgur.com/TcBQNem.png[/img]