1809(1056)-1840(1087) (Ætas ab Brian)
From Alternative History
History of Rome-After Ætas ab Brian
| !Past 1799(1046)-1809(1056) | History of Rome (Aeab): 1809(1056)-1840(1087) | The Sinican Collapse: 1840(1087)-1885(1132) |
In 1814(1061) Publius Sornatius Sotericus from the Scanata provinces improved Pustula’s percussion cap by encasing it in metal, making it even more water tight and simple to use.
In 1822(1070) The Pilium was made as the standard issue weapon for all Legionaries and Praetorians. This greatly increased the Praetorius Politicus’ ability to dissuade violent civilians and win in rebellions.
The Aduluibovis Sittius, a sea cow of the north Pacificus, becomes extinct from over-hunting.
In 1824(1072) the Senate addressed the dual pronounciation problem with the letter I. They made the J.
In 1827(1075) a Britannia Superior ADA developed Durnevarian Cement, it proved sturdier than the current cement and soon became the most commonly one used though its production made much more smoke and fumes. Also this year there are rising tensions within the Commonwealth of Terranova. The civil trouble is caused by the increasing Nihonian influence on their culture. Separatists in the south continually flare up and the nation’s poor economic position does not help.
In 1830(1078) armed with more advanced niter weapons than ever, a southern expansion campaign in Mauretania Caesariensis was attempted, but the native African Kingdoms, after living next to Rome so long had learned how to organize and conduct themselves. They were even able to purchase pilium in some cases from Roman merchants of questionable character. This along with the many diseases, the most deadly being Malusaria, made the expedition a total failure. It was speculated that the Malusaria may have been a mutation of the Miasmata. Eastern expansion in Gothia and Scandia went much better.
In 1832(1080) in Britannia a large and very pure deposit of a light, lead-like metal was discovered. An abundant solid accumulation, its shards could be easily sawn off. The local farmers used it to mark their sheep but soon the compound was found to be a good marker on paper. It would later be used by artists because of the easiness of shadow making in sketches. Even further down the line when a simple and cheap way of containing the substance in a holder was developed, it would come into world wide use by all for any number of writing uses. The substance was known not to be Lead since it was far too light and was tested to having been non-toxic though it is still called plumbago (lead ore).
The current Caesar is Calvus Demitrus, just appointed in 1833(1081) at 56 from Epirus. In South Terranova’s great jungle, explorers who had survived charting the long tropical River Amazonius returned with stories of a gold rich but under-developed civilization deep in the jungle. After some time, trade was opened up with this civilization calling itself the Inka. A tree based substance called tero was also discovered in South Terranova in 1835(1082), most notably in chunks it proved capable of rubbing out plumbago marks without damage to the paper. It would eventually be used in cart wheels to make them last longer and ride smoother. Tero tubing would also be a useful invention when it developed.
The bark of a locally growing Inka tree called Cinchona is found to have medicinal properties in combating Malusaria. Within a few years over a million Libra (lbs) are exported annually to deal with the rampant disease which made any exploration of Africa beyond Imperial boundaries suicidal by default.
Another discovery is the Inka crop called Malumauris Terranis or just Malumterra by laypersons. It is a starchy, nutritious, and can be grown in much colder climates than many other crops. They also require very little resources to produce. This crop makes its way to Rome and becomes added as a regular staple.
In 1836(1083) the Senate gave Germania Superior a Senatorial seat. In 1838(1085) the Senate was pressured by peaceful political activists to indulge in the idea of asking the public masses in Pannonia Superior if they would participate in a ‘referendum’ of joining the Senate. A democratic movement party had gathered up enough blackmail to ensure the Senate, if not outright allowing the province’s acceptance, at least allow the vote to take place. The Senate reluctantly agreed as long as these referendums were only granted to provinces which met senatorial requirements of stability. The vote was enormous and complex and took several months to organize, enact, and correctly count all citizen votes. In 1839(1086) Pannonia Superior joined the Senate.
The Adipata Pyga, a fat flightless bird living on islands to the east of Madagascar, becomes extinct through the environmental destruction of its food source and an increased number of natural predators. Nobody noticed.
In 1837(1085) Flavius Marcius Scribonianus and Tertius Vergilius Honoratus of a Gaul ADA had managed to extract alkaloid quinine from the bark of the Cinchona tree.
Also this year, the governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, Wumerilus Carius Nelius began a reformation of the province's Censor magistrates, greatly refining and advancing the department, making taxing much more efficient and accurate. This new exhaustive surveying technique soon spread throughout the empire as a fundamental procedure.
Over the next 50 years very little territorial expansion was granted by the Senate but for the invasion of Smaragdus Sicilia in 1840(1087). The empire’s stability had to be consolidated. Vaporeme development was greatly concentrated on to speed communication to India (the two seaway routes that were most used were through Syria and down the Euphrates to the Mare India or from the Red Sea to Felix Sinusus [the strait between Arabia and Africa], on to Mare India) as much as possible and to help oversea trade with the Tang.
| !Past 1799(1046)-1809(1056) | History of Rome (Aeab): 1809(1056)-1840(1087) | The Sinican Collapse: 1840(1087)-1885(1132) |
