Thursday, March 18, 2010

Skudra


Skudra

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Ionia



Ionia

An area of greek settlement on the eastern Aegean touching the great Lydian city of Sardis. Ionia is well known for its strength commercially, and technical innovation. It is for no small reason that three of the wonders of the ancient world were located in the region.

In the south there is Rhodes on the island by the same name best known for its nautical skills being the home of some of the best ship builders and many competant sailors.
Further up the mainland coast there is Halicarnassus a centre of learning and one of the greater cities on the coast with its influence extending throughout the islands.
Heading further north along the coast is Miletus a centre for scientific learning and philosophy.
Further up the coast is Ephesus the home of the Temple of Artermis thought to be one of the most impressive buildings in the world.
The next city on the coast is Smyrna once a great city but after its defeat by the Lydian empire it has been reduced to a collection of villages overlooked by ancient ruins.
In the far northwest is the ruins of Troy, already history by this point.
On the Northern coast there is Cyzicus a minor city with two notable features it was once on an island in the Sea of Mamara but had been connected to the mainland artificially as well as its Gold Staters being a standard currency throughout the world.
Finally once you head inland you find Sardis a large city and a capital of the empire. Once the capital of the Lydian city it is now undergoing a change with Greek and Persian settlers filling the city.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Egypt

Egypt

An ancient land of contrasts, from the lush area surrounding the Nile after the flood to the scorching desert. The ancient pyramids stand testament to the power of its previous rulers.

In the far west there is Cyrene a former greek colony and leading city of the Pentapolis, five important settlements in the area.
In the Western Desert there is Siwa Oasis.
At the Nile Delta you will find various fishing villages and the important Greek colony of Naucratis and important city known as the city that wields power over ships.
Memphis is the capital of Egypt and one of the largest cities in the known world.
Further up the Nile you find Thebes a fomer capital of Egypt that trades further up the river for exotic goods.

Saka Across the Sea




The Saka Across the Sea

The Saka across the sea are the furthest extent of the empire towards the northwest and relatively unknown beyond the coast, the inhabitants of the region include the Saka, the Tauri and Greek settlers.

Places of note include:
Chersonesos a greek colony on Taurica (Crimea).
Olbia andBorysthenes on the Southern Bug River.
Gorgippia on the Taman Peninsula.
Halmyris a colony situated at the mouth of the Danube.
Histria an important trading post in the lower Danube Valley.

Maka


Maka

Maka is the southernmost satrapy of the Persian Empire, nothing of particular note not any great population centres. It is an old posession of the empire and included for tax purposes with the areas across the Persian Gulf.