1938(1185)-1986(1233) (Ætas ab Brian)
From Alternative History
History of Rome-After Ætas ab Brian
| !Past 1917(1164)-1938(1185) | The Menguren Wars: 1938(1185)-1986(1233) | The Menguren Fracture: 1986(1233)-2047(1294) |
1945-49(1192-96) In response to the Mexicae kingdom’s increasing beligerance (and Rome’s only suspect of Nihonian influence), Rome invades and conquers the nation. Once the new provinces were stabilised, trade from the Ulterior Australis colonies could then reach Roman territories to the east. Relations with the Maia Empire are stressful (They were a noteworthy native civilization for having independantly developed a comprehensive textual language, monumentally complex architecture for such a third world nation, and reasonably respectable mathematics).
1949(1196) The first undersea telelexy cables are tested, they do not last long since they are so thin and weak fishermen’s archors routinely dice them up real good.
1951(1198) With the first metal sheaved, pitch coated undersea telelexy cables devised, submarine communication cables had begun construction everywhere, initially concentrating in the Mare Imbrium. Private industry for the fabrication of these extensive cables was stimulated and the quickened communication through the Faustus code saved the Empire millions of Carici in disaster response, troop deployment (especially to counter African guerrillas), and diplomacy (Roman ambassadors and diplomats had dedicated machines). The Nanchao were given the technology at cheap, although they were slow to adapt the technology for their military operations. Pegu, Tibet, and Kashmir were falling to the Nanchao and Jurchen Sinica was not fairing well against the Nanchao.
1952(1199) A telelexy cable is set up from Byzantium to the Parthian provincial capital of Ctesiphon.
1953(1200) The Acclamitis, a harp manipulated by keys levered to soft hammers enclosed in a large case is independently invented by the musician Camillus Atilius Nectaridus of Italia. It had the widest tone range of any instrument and became the basic musical tool in all its applications.
Also this year, there were heavy storms in the low-lying regions of Germania Inf. nearly flooding the very agriculturally productive areas. The natural dykes protecting these regions were strengthened, allowing the inner lakes to be quickly drained through irrigation and making more room for more farming. The techniques learned from these dyke projects would better serve the survival of other areas below sea level in the distant future.
1954(1201) The seed drill is invented by Marcus Camelius Egnatius in a Britannian ADA. It allows all seeds planted to be given a guaranteed depth in the ground; probability of germination is exponentially increased. This helps greatly in the Imbrium regions where the climate seems to becoming increasingly dry.
Also this year, a massive earthquake in Aegyptus and the Syrian provinces killed an estimated 1.5 million people, the worst earthquake in recorded history. The telelexy communications that remained operational helped greatly in re-establishing order and contact but the damage had destroyed much of Egypt's crops. As most of the produce is distributed to other parts of the empire, food stores empire-wide were fast depleted. The farms in the Indus valley and northern Europe were encouraged to expand while elsewhere garrisons are increased and Praetorius Politicus were kept more busy than usual with removing rebel leaders. Rioting in Aegyptus is common.
1956(1203) A telelexy cable was crossed through Parthian gulf from Mazun and continued into Bactria.
To standardize and ensure total Empire encompassing telecommunications, the Senate decrees the formation of the Telelexy Societas Procurationis.
Also this year, Julius Picius Joutus of a Britannia Inf. ADA develops the Adigoablego. It is a unit for measuring force per pertica (about 305cm (10 feet))(~Joule).
1957-8(1204-5) A Telelexy cable was submerged to Terranova. It worked brilliantly until 1959 when it mysteriously cut out.
1959(1206) In a sudden surprising event, the nomadic tribes to Jurchen Sinica’s north suddenly invade as one united nation called the Menguren Empire. Within weeks they cut the Jurchen in half and decimate the invading Nanchao armies. The Nanchao eventually fended them off but with such great cost that the celebrations for the dark ages finally ending in Sinica were forgotten.
The Menguren simply turned west, creating an era of conquest for all of Asia. This meritocracy focused on horseback riders like the ancient Huns but were even more skilled and incredible though they still used bows and arrows, occationally canna. They especially aquired loyalty and subjugation through their utter annihilation of urban centres that refused unconditional surrender. Rome at first scoffed at their emissaries since Rome had only Nihonia to worry about in this day and age. The Menguren’s prevailing tactic was their total war in winters. They struck their enemies while they coward from the cold and spent all summer months feeding their horses and training for the next campaign. Their leader, called a Khan was the most disciplined and most expert of them all. His birth name of Temüjin became Genghis after his unition of the Menguren tribes. His empire swept up all opposing barbarian armies and badly damaged the civilized ones. Initially they fought as the African native had, but within a few months they begin to favour surprise night attacks and some pilium end up in their hands. Mechanator pilum become a standard attachment to Legions to make up for the Mengurens' numbers.
1963(1210)
1960(1207) Underwater telelexy cable technology is perfected in protecting the wires.
1964(1211) The tuning fork is invented.
1965(1212) At the current technological level, a non-priority call out from Rome was capable of reaching India within 3 days, other traffic permitting, at 10 Carici a message.
1966(1213) 2 more lines are built to India and continue into Nanchao. Another line was made to north Terranova.
1966-7(1213-4) An improved undersea telelexy cable is submerged to Terranova. This time it will last until the obseletion of the telelexy.
Also this year, telelexy begins entering the homes of the richer common people, allowing them to communitate with any telelexy station or any other person who owns one at home. Someday there will be few people without a telelexy device in their home.
1970(1217) With the enthusiasm Rome had with electricus communication, by now a call to India and back to the capital took about 5 hours with all the new lines put up.
Having destroyed the entiraty of Kara Khitai some time ago, and still being curbed with great difficulty by the Nanchao armies, the Menguren were at the borders of the Khwarezmid Empire, a nation made up of the decendants of the Moslem Caliphate who had preferred exile to re-Romanization. When Temüjin (now being called Ghengis) sent emissaries to negotiate surrender, or at least a protectorate status, the ‘wise’ leader Ala adin Tekish of the Khwarezmid immediately executed them. Now Parthia, Bactria, and even places as isolated as Nepal were soon to meet Menguren invasions. Central Asia was open to Genghis now. He sent over 200 000 men over in 1971(1218) and totally pØwn’d Tekish’s 200 000, Tekish fled to an island and died in exile, his Empire’s population was reduced by over 1 000 000.
1972(1219) Maecilius Taius Gavros of a Scanatan ADA developes the first duplex telelexy cables. Two way communication along a single wire halves the time for transmission. A communication from western Vendatia to the Nanchao capital (the long way as a Pacificus crossing cable had not yet been built) and back took only 40 minutes.
Also this year Syria Phonecia joins the Senate.
1973(1220) Genghis’ armies were having no trouble. This continued all the way to Mare Hyrcania where they met Roman resistance. This led to the most disturbing battles but the Mongols could not manage any decisive breakthroughs. Massive exterminations of the few captured Roman cities caused a great deal of fear but military resolve. These ferocious attacks consumed ample enough military and civil reconstruction funds that expansion abroad was officially halted and discouraged from independent expansionists. All this time the Menguren continued expanding east, attacking Nihonian forts in northern Irkuts. The Nihonians lost some territory and many soldiers, but were not thrown off the mainland. This detracted the Nihonians also from their overseas campaigns. If the Menguren were allowed to establish seaports on the Nihonian Sea, Honshu would be vulnerable to invasion.
1972-74(1219-1221) As Genghis’ multi pronged attacks on the Nanchao continued, his western generals gained decisive victories against the Eastern Islannic Slavic nation, the Kipchak Khanate.
1978(1225) the first far reaching truss-arch bridges are designed and built, modern material developments have allowed great expansion in their maximum span.
1980(1227) In a great sigh of relief by Rome, Nanchao and the subjugated nations, Genghis dies by infectious complications after a fall from his horse in battle against the Nanchao at the fortified city of Wu-wei. At his death his Empire stretched from the Yellow and Abashiri(Okhotsk) Seas to the Mare Hyrcania, an 'impressive' achievement. Genghis’ third son Odegai is the designated heir but it is only agreed upon after years of bringing in all the generals for them to make the decision. He was also not nearly as influential as his father was and instabilities began (especially with all the generals away for so long) although the empire continued to grow both in size and political power. Genghis' tomb's location was forever unknown as the grave diggers and their labour animals were killed by Genghis' last-will-and-testament-enforcing guards who then killed themselves. Their bodies were also never recovered.
1981(1228) Telelexy cables connect Sinica, the Khmer Empire, Srivijava, Simha Pura (the Byzantium of east Asia) all the way to the northern Ulterior Australis colonies. The native nations prosper greatly from Roman technology and ideas. Diplomatic relations are good although the Nanchao do not appreciate Roman-enforced non-aggression packs with the Indo-Sinica regions. This cable aids with the Roman invasion of the Ductum Albula islands to Ult. Australis’ east in 1983(1230)
1984(1231) The Sextan is invented by Vibius Tychus Sebastianus in a Saxonus ADA. By using the horizon itself rather than the orientation of the instrument, it makes navigation easier and more accurate than the old Alifsinta. Also this year, telelexy cables to South Terranova are submerged.
1985(1232) A telelexy cable is stretched from the Mexicae provinces to Ductum Albula, completing Rome’s encompassing voice of the planet. 'Sol ne Occasus ob Imperii et ecce Profundus!' An Empire without end/for which the sun does not set (or something like that). The only problem faced was the crossing of claimed water ways between Ult. Australis and Nihonia’s Inka territories. Several agreements assured the neutrality of the Pacificus.
Also this year, Mauretania Caesariensis joined the Senate being called just Mauretania.
An even more surprising event than that of the Menguren invasions, Orestilla Jin Clodia Mariana of Thracia at 43 was appointed Emproress by the Senate. Her ‘Jin’ praenomen was for her 10 years of diplomatic services in the Nachao Empire. Women had been gaining in equality for the last 1000 years but this totally baffled everyone but the Senate who though it was funny. Mariana’s term in office was only 6 years though, simply because it was incredible enough that she had the title at all. Her position greatly fuelled the female activist groups. Eventually the Senate allowed women all the rights of the non-citizen freemen of the olden days. This would eventually lead to the development of the career woman and single mother, although seen as very sociably appalling and rebellious to the community, they would really be an asset to the economy of the Empire. Marinana, although a hero to women, was a career woman, and she operated little different from other emperors, especially since the emperor was little more than a figurehead these days for the public, at times little more than a diplomat! The real place to make a difference would be a female in the senate, but fat chance!
Also, the kingdom of Xaptutania (New Caledonia) became a protectorate of Rome following the Nihonian conquests of Banua (Fiji) and Banuatsu (Vanuatu).
| !Past 1917(1164)-1938(1185) | The Menguren Wars: 1938(1185)-1986(1233) | The Menguren Fracture: 1986(1233)-2047(1294) |
