2047(1294)-2064(1311) (Ætas ab Brian)
From Alternative History
History of Rome-After Ætas ab Brian
| The Menguren Fracture: 1986(1233)-2047(1294) | Nihonian War: 2047(1294)-2064(1311) | Amplus Arma and the end of the Nihonian Empire: 2064(1311)-2076(1323) |
2049(1296) the petra oleum engines are a mainstream design for ships. Manufacturers of extrudotrusi (steam cars, remember?) see this as a way to make their vehicles much cheaper and soon replace the steam and coal engines with the petra oleum ones, though mostly extrudotrusi are a richman indulgence. The internal combusting petra oleum cart promotes easy civilian transportation though when city-operated ones are contructed.
Also this year, the first buildings with entirely metal super structures are built in Rome. They allow buildings as high as 10 levels to be constructed safely.
2051(1298) government vaccinations against deadly infectious diseases begin, although some citizens still not properly educated protest and state that their downsides are worse than their benefits. The program is very expensive but greatly reduces epidemics from rising out of squalid and uncivilized parts of cities or from isolated regions.
Also this year, chemicscribo devises are invented, they use chemicals to imprint an image on paper, making mass production of images simple for the weekly novargumenti (newspapers).
Again also this year, a paint company in India invented a pilium(general word for guns by then)-type device that shot capsules of paint with compressed gas (the specifics of using gas to both fire and reload the device was revolutionary and a well kept secret by the company, the ADAs of course could not be denied procuring this data in the near future). The gas container was pressurized by use of a hand pump.
The Murtus Rangalepa VII (actually the company's name, but without the #7) pilium was specially designed for the livestock company Gaya-Baya to mark their goats, buffalo, and whatnot at a distance as they grazed. The paint, being oil based, ensured that the marks would remain if it rained. The device's popularity allowed Murtus Rangalepa to expand to provide world-wide production for the MR VII and suceeding models.
2052(1299) Greatly helping in reducing crop production prices, automated, petra oleum powered seeding machines are put into production. They are greatly needed in Europa where farmers lose almost as many slaves as crops to occational heat waves. This unemploys many European slaves however and to avoid labour riots, the Senate make the slave status more systematic. All slaves are recorded in detail in books to keep track of their actions and status. When they are replaced with machinery, they are transported to peripheral provinces where the technology has yet to reach. This produces Diplomatis. They greatly reduce slave escapes and within a few decades they would become a requirement for all citizens too in order to travel to other nations. They help keep track of them both to keep citizens out of trouble and to help them if they were caught up in some political situation.
The basic modern transmuto (automobile transmissions) were realised by vehicle manufacture researchers in Mesopotamia. Because petra-oleum vehicle engine torques were generated in a narrower speed range than steam or electricus driven ones, gears were needed to effectively control speeds. With the transmuto, gears could now be shifted in the cab, instead of having to get out to switch drive belts over.
Also this year, the first petra oleum alesalitis are designed. It is observed in the oldest scrolls of the Venitia Bibliotheca that the described Carican alesalitis was possibly recommended to be powered by the same means. Crazy stuff! Alesalitis become ever more economical to travel and trade though most are still of wood and fabric construction.
2053(1300) Facinating ancient artefacts were found in Mespotamia. These objects consisted of a tubular layering of an iron rod under ashphalt under a copper roll, inside a terra cotta case. When filled with vinegar, lemon, or grape juice, these cells produce electricus shocks. The artefacts were heavily studied and would lead to the invention of Gryllaic cells. Gnaeus Aullandro Gryllus of an Italia ADA designs what he calls Sarcinae to store electricus energy. They prove very efficient although expensive and eventually wind up in everything from fountains to extrudotrusi. The original uses of the ancient Sarcinae are still only speculation.
Also this year, Machina Catapulta and Canna are mounted onto Vaposcurr cars. They provide faster mobile artillery.
Again also, the Senate passed laws granting citizens more power in their provincial politics.
Once again also, Jaqus Volumnon Metellus at 52 of a Belgica ADA discovers, scientifically, the basic properties of atoms; beleiving them to be divided into a positive core and a negatively charged shell.
2054(1301) As it turned out, Nihonia had been building up arms secretly in South Terranova, many factories in operation years before were in high production and Nihonian designed Tortuscurr and petra oleum powered bellalesalitis(with machina pilium)(fighter planes) and bombus alesalitis began surprise attacking Roma’s industrial complexes on the continent in earnest-the Roman airforce had always mostly relied on bomber aerocraft before. The nemesis of Rome’s near 100 years of isolationism had done well to keep the Praetorius Politicus unknowing. The battles developed into very bloody and publically unpopular messes, within a few weeks it was found the Nihonians had also developed wireless telelexy. Within a few more, the Legions began having them equipped-the shaky science of wireless copied directly from Nihonian designs. By mid year, the Commonwealth of Terranova sided with Nihonia and began large attacks beyond its eastern borders.
All this caught Rome somewhat off guard. The empire had not been in a multi scale, multinational conflict since with the Menguren over 20 years ago and Romans had started getting the idea that really the whole world wanted Roman governing even if it retained its independence on paper. The war between Rome and Nihonia was isolated to south terranova and against the CoT in the north. The Cuashium Confederation remained isolated and neutral. Veterans of the Menguren wars were transported to the front lines while the Senate temporarily refrained from starting blockades in Asia Australis in fear of escalating the war to a global scale. Rome held its ground in Terranova so far.
Also this year, with the increasing tension and discrepancy between the Muscovite and Novogrod nations’ rich and poor, along with the Medius Ordeum continuing its attacks for power, Andrus Alexandrovich III, a Muscovite prince, rallied support and a massive army with the promise of defeating the Menguren horde as a way to put poor people’s problems further back in their minds. Rome approves of his ideas until Roman ambassadors are thrown out or assassinated and Andrus Alexandrovich III promises that Rome’s influence will next fall-Rome has no time to mess with the Slavs right now. Allying with a likeminded Novogrod general, Alexandrovich began campaigns into the Menguren nation.
2055(1302) screw propellers were invented in an Aegyptus ADA, they are much more efficient than the curved blades currently used.
Rome began considering the possibility of requesting Nanchao support in the war but still refrained for fear of bringing in all of Nihonia’s and Sinica’s power and allies into a devastating mistake. It would turn out either decision would be the wrong one as the Dai Ön Yeke chose this time to start building up its meagre forces to invade Sinica in case Nanchao forces were ordered to leave the homeland to fight Nihonia.
Rome begins War Bonds to assist in financing the war.
Also this year, natural gas stoves become regular in citizen use.
Again also, the Muscovite and Novogrod armies, although totally defeating several armies of the Medius Ordeum, are decimated when the reach Saraj the capital (which had been moved to this new, better protected location just recently-the redirection of Andrus Alexandrovich’s army to the new capital took time, money and lives). Although the armies were defeated, the Menguren confidence in their control of the slavs was weakened greatly whilst the slavs met the armies’ defeats as martyrships, making Andrus Alexandrovich an eternal hero for the Muscovites.
A Miasmata epidemic struck in Tainocai province (North Terranova's tropical islands) despite government vaccinations (the full benefits of which had yet to be felt after only 4 years of practice). The islands were well quarantined. Monsoons also caused troubles in the Aztecae gulf. The region drains a lot of funds to recover.
With wireless telelexy in the Roman public’s hands, teleshows began broadcasting all over the Roman world, mostly about the status of the war with Nihonia.
Also this year, the first extrudotrusi capable of maintaining the record speed of 440 kilopes/hour(127.28km/h) was built by a former extrudotrusi engineer in Italy and wowed the spectators as it performed in a horse race at the circus of Bovillae. It was entertaining and did not crash but such speeds have been long restricted even on country roads so little practicality is forthcoming, eventually perhaps motorized racing would catch on.
2058(1305) Roman ports in eastern Asia Australis are mysteriously attacked in broad daylight. Underwater boats are suspected. They are seen only distorted under the waves and all escape but it is surmised they were Nihonian inventions. The damage was extensive to port facilities and docked ships both civilian and military and ADAs scramble to develop their own (Testudineus submarines had yet to be significantly improved), worrying that Rome may be losing its advanced technological superiority above the world. It is suspected that the Nihonian submersibles were only steam powered.
By now the war in Terranova is 4 years old. The Nihonians conviniced several native nations in the south to side with them, so far in the southern continent, there are estimated 2 million military and civilian casualties on the Roman side, just about all of the Menguren war veterans are dead by now and legions begin having to fall back or be surrounded and captured. Contemplating something the Senate had not had to worry about since the Carthage wars, they enact limited conscription, already most citizens do time in the military in order to pay for education or to support their families, but this conscription would call for 15% of the South Terranova provinces’ able bodied men to be drafted with 1% from other selected parts of the Empire. North Terranova got 9%. The forced draft is very unpopular even for the European provinces and especially in the African ones, more so that Terranova had to fend for itself it seemed than that Romans had to be conscripted and whisked away to another continent. To make the legions more efficient, they were effectively divided into soldier and engineer sections. This helped lower the requirements of legionary training while specializing the engineer corps.
Many rebel leaders in Africa take this opportunity to start guerrilla wars more seriously.
Britannia Inf. Joins the Senate
2059(1306) Rome could no longer stand the losses on Terranova. They began full blockades in Ulterior Australis against Nihonian ports, asking for limited aide from their allies in the region. The Nanchao were asked to assist but they regretfully refused with the Dai Ön Yeke armies now pressing their borders. The Senate increased conscription to 15% Empire wide and began making jobs relating to helping the war effort more appealing. This flooded the war continents with legionaries but still left arms and production factories clambering for workers. Career women gain a lot of respect, slaves obviously get some of the jobs too.
Bellalesalitis started becoming much more important in the Roman military, with Nihonian cepialesalitis (anti aircraft) downing so many and launching so many air attacks of their own. By now, all bombus/bella alesalitis were armoured and metal structured with stressed skin hulls(the metal has a percentage of Aluminium for the first time, still strong, but also lighter). It makes them more susceptible to skin peiceing and support failure but greatly reduces weight and cost. Roman alesalitis were still slower at turning and had less fuel capacity than the Nihonian ‘Bu aichu’(their most prominently used aircraft). To make up for these weaknesses, the bellalesalitis were equipped with machine pilium rounds twice the size of Nihonian ones and designed a fuel system to directly inject the engine, allowing for more extreme manoeuvres- the Nihonian craft were gravity fed and easily stalled if they climbed too steep. Alesalitis were usually held together now by screws, nuts and bolts rather than the old rivet fasteners and nails used on metal/wood craft before. The newer designs are more sturdy but still easily removed. Repairs are made easier by this.
Roman designed petra oleum powered mersabilis (submersible ships) began helping in the war of the Pacificus.
African rebellions became huge problems; parts of subtropical Africa were lost. Many Roman loyalists flooded south, putting a strain on Africa Australis and Simbabwe's infrastructure. The long peaceful Mali Empire used the stress of Rome's war to insinuate rebellions as well and formally supported the rebels against Roman domination.
Roman news stations use the wireless telelexy as effectively as they can to keep public moral about the war good. The military deveops ‘Abdo Abutor Electricus’ an improved, though simple secret telelexy code. Caesar Viator makes appearances on the battlefields to try keep legionary moral up as well.
Roman relations with the slavs are deteriorating due to Rome’s inaction in regards to Menguren oppression.
The Maia also joined with Nihonia and the Commonwealth of Terranova in their war with Rome, although with the country so poor it amounted to little.
2061(1308) The vittaserra (bandsaw) is invented in an Aquitania ADA. They are very usefull in machine shops.
The Khmer Empire joins in the war against Nihonia in an effort to reclaim the territory lost to Nihonia 130 years ago but its armies are un-advanced, at best using technology from just before the Menguren Wars. Nihonia's armies easily destroy their attacks and begin invading the rest of Khmer.
As the war continues, the Amazonayas jungle is quickly shrinking as bush fighting ensues and trees are bulldozed or burned. Much pollution to local water and towns makes difficulties for both sides and especially the native fighters who don’t have supplies on the scale of Nihonia and Rome.
As the Medius Ordeum’s hold on the Slavs continued to weaken, another influential and ambitious Muscovite prince, named Auly Danilvich came to power. After capturing an opposing Slavic faction fort, he revitalized and expanded Muscovy’s alliance with the Novogrod Feudal Republic. Given the title of Czar by the other lords, he formulated plans with Novogrod in fighting the Ordeum’s current Khan, Uzbeg. If all went well, some other crazy things were bound to happen
2062(1309) With battles deep in the Amazonayas being blind fights, both sides determine that the easiest way to win as being who could put the most bullets into the foliage the fastest. On the Roman side, the new, hand held and mobile machine pilium (being conceptualized since 2048): had the revolutionary designs of a hard case ammunition magazine (regular machine pilium had bullets attached in long belts) using the very gases expelled by the firing of the bullet to shoot the cartridge out and away for the next one; a rotating bolt that also used the expelled gasses of the previous bullit to pull up the next one; semi- and fully automatic settings, and, most interestingly, the main construction material is a petra oleum by-product called plasticus. The few-pieced composite makes the weapon super light, super sturdy, and super aimable, the legionaries have reactions between thinking it as a child’s toy or wowed by its space age material. They are also expensive as heck. Their formal name were ‘Legionarius Surus Machina Pilium forma XXXII’. The Surus is from Appius Lampronius Surus of an Italia ADA who masterminded the design, the 32 is the model number which all legionary issued rifa types follow in order of succession.
The Nihonian weapon developed was nowhere nearly so advanced and the Nihonians had no idea how advanced the Roman weapon was or else they would have put much more effort into it. The Nihonians’ pilium were constructed of wood and steel. It still had semi-/fully automatic and was fed and cleared by gas but was much heavier, had larger bullets, and vibrated a lot, as well as quickly and involuntarily firing upwards in fully automatic from the recoil.
Rome’s Surus pilium is considered better but some arms factories, still rushing about looking for more labour, now have to retool for mass production of the new weapon.
Roman attacks on Nihonia’s holdings on northeastern continental Asia Australis are not going well. If they could be pushed off the island continent, island hopping towards Nihhon could commence, but there are hundreds of naval and aero bases guarding any attacks through that way, as well, shipments of quinine kept being delayed or destroyed by Nihonian bombus alesalitis and war galleys. Without quinine, attacks into tropical Ulterior Australis would be as deadly as the early excursions into sub-Sahara Africa. The Dai Ön Yeke threaten to invade Sinica if the Nanchao allow Roman troops to pass through their country to reach Nihhon. Rome begins negotiations to have the Legions travel secretly, while more legions still are sent to help reinforce Sinica's northern border. The Nanchao consider it.
2063(1310) with the war already 9 years old more and more of the Roman way of life is consumed by it. Province-wide rationing, although light since all of the empire is participating, are continually increasing, things like alcohol, wheat, salt, petra oleum, and flour are needed for the military and much civilian factory production is being changed over to military production. Unrest is beginning to even out with patriotism and riots in the poorer provinces are common, more activities and handouts are added to the Capitoline Games. The African provinces of Namatania and Monomotopai were completely lost and eastern Nigeria’s border is receeding. Simbabwe, Lebantu, and Africanus Australis are still stable.
The first solid case, gas operated single handed pilium are made and issued to Legionary princeps (commanders and other officers)
Nanchao Sinica had 550 million people and the total world population was 1.65 billion. As well, if it wasn’t for the virtual freezing and inevitable depression of ‘for the civilian’ research, wireless telelexy caould have soon be linking everyday people across the world (with news other than war)-oh well.
Also this year, Drusus Sepurnicus Teslus, a Dalmatian native living in Scanata, who had been observing and experimenting independently with electricity, greatly expanded Roman knowledge of its uses and properties. His developments made it possible for wireless telelexy to be small enough to be held in one handed brick-sized units, he also disseminated the theory of the photon possibly being both a particle and a wave. He invented a number of electrical applications including the arc lamp-used for very very bright lights. He joined an ADA in 2066(1313)
Decius Herennius Hortensius at 36 is now Caesar. He was born in Venitia, Italia.
By now, the Khmer Empire is completly conquered by Nihonia.
| The Menguren Fracture: 1986(1233)-2047(1294) | Nihonian War: 2047(1294)-2064(1311) | Amplus Arma and the end of the Nihonian Empire: 2064(1311)-2076(1323) |
