Aryez

From Aryez

Revision as of 01:57, 3 March 2009

Aryez is a country, cultural entity, and geopolitical region in the world of Arel.

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-Black borders denote Aryez -Purple borders denote land that is not Aryez ^ shaped things are mountains -Blue lines in Aryez are rivers -Green denotes forests -Yellow denotes deserts -Light blue denotes lakes -There are two black dots on the large island. Those are the two largest cities of Aryez: Aryez (inland, capital) and Akhil���«c (costal).

Note Aryez is an archipelago dominated by one large island, Aryez, on which about 60% of the population dwells. 35% of the population dwells on the eight large islands surrounding Aryez. The other 5% dwells on the small islands. Everyone in Aryezi speaks the Aryezi language and follows the Arya religio-philosophical system. There are some natives (<1%) in the deserts and forests.

There is a large continent to the north and west of Aryez (parts shown on map, not all can be seen). There is a small continent south of Aryez (not shown on map). To the east of Aryez stretches a vast ocean.

Subdivisions

Aryez is divided into provinces, of which there are about twenty-five. The two largest cities form their own provinces. Aryezi provinces are further divided into districts. Large towns and cities form their own districts. Other districts are essentially rural. There are several hundred districts in Aryez.

Government

Aryezi government is complicated and is evolved through a long history filled with traditions.

Central Government

At the helm of government is the Emperor. The Emperor is the head of state and the commander of the armies of Aryez. The Emperor chooses his own successor. In the Aryezi tradition, the Emperor chooses his successor from among whom he judges most worthy in the realm, though the successor must be from the Imperial family. The Emperor chiefly executes the laws passed by the Senate but can also issue decrees which have the same effect as any law. Imperial decree can only be challenged by strong opposition from the Senate.

The Grand Senate or Senate is the chief legislative and judicial body of Aryez. It chiefly makes the laws of Aryez and judges all judicial, civil, criminal, personal, and religious cases. It appoints numerous Aryezi to high positions (usually with the consent and appointment of the Emperor) over such institutions as the treasury, army, high priest, and so on. It also appoints the governors to the various provinces. The Senate in theory has almost unlimited powers except those that concern the Emperor. However constraints from the Assembly and Emperor limit the Senate's powers in practice. Nonetheless, Senatorial powers are immense. The Senate also is in charge of the bureaucracy which is used for record-keeping and taxes. A law code is maintained by the record keepers. The Senate also sets up bodies to preserve and maintain the arts, sciences, languages, and religions of Aryez.

The Senate is made of several groups of people:

One-thirds: -High ranking soldiers in the Army. People move up in the army through internal mechanisms until they reach the highest ranks whereupon they are appointed by the Emperor or Senate to the highest ranks. -High ranking priests. Priests move up the same way as soldiers. -Notable people and leaders in the arts and sciences: so determined by the Emperor or Senate and therefore appointed. -The wealthy citizens of Aryez, who can gain appointment by the Senate or Emperor. -Commoners as designated by the Assembly.

One-thirds: -The nobility of Aryez. The nobility of Aryez are generally the biggest landowners and wealthiest people of Aryez and also have the best education, religious training, and martial training. Consequently they are among the best men in Aryez. Hundreds of noble families are represented in the Senate and it is up to them who serves them in the Senate. The land holdings of the nobility are each spread out over Aryez and are generally not completely concentrated geographically. This prevented the formation of feudalism in Aryez. Furthermore while nobles have estates and servants and the like, they do not have anyone who swears direct allegiance to them. All people in Aryez swear allegiance only to the Emperor. Nobility can be created or demoted for high crimes such as treason.

One-thirds: -The Meritocracy, a civil service of administrators based on merit. Lower-ranked meritocrats usually serve in the bureaucracy or as tribunals (see below in Local Government). Higher ranked ones serve in the Central Bureaucracy and in high posts throughout the Empire. Many of these highest ranked ones serve in the Senate. Position in the Aryezi civil service is based purely on merit as determined by observation by elders in the field and through excellence in a series of tests which cover various subjects in history, philosophy, the arts, and the sciences.

There is also an Assembly, which represents the people. The Assembly sends a number of people equal to the number of itself to represent the people in the Senate. The Assembly has some limited powers that deal with the people, their livelihood, taxation, and other domestic affairs. The members of the Assembly are elected by the local assemblies of the provinces.

Local Government

The governors of the provinces and the magistrates of the districts are appointed by the Senate. These persons play the role of the head of the province or district the same way the Emperor is the head of Aryez. All provinces have assemblies which are elected by the councils of the districts. In urban districts, which are towns and cities, the councils are half composed of the notables of that town or city and half of people elected by the populace. In rural districts, the councils are called panchayats (council of five) and are elected by the heads of the various villages that make up the district. Villages are governed by local traditions. The governor of each province appoints a tribunal (group of three) to each district. The tribunal enforces the laws of Aryez and judges cases, which can be appealed all the way up to the Senate.

History

[to be edited]

All dates will be given in the Aryezi Standard Chronology

• Note: The year "0" is commonly given by Aryezi historians as the beginning of the Aryezi migrations to Aryez. The date is not certain, but it stuck. Perhaps that date was adjusted in a way to make the reign of Akhilesh I start in 1000. The approximate level of 0 in this world is equivalent to that of Earth in 1500 BCE.

Aryezi History can be divided into roughly the following periods:

1. (0-300) Ancient Period: the migration of the Aryezi people to the Aryezi islands and their mixing with the native inhabitants, as well as their mixing with the Kareelian wave. During this time, several chiefdoms were established, settlements begun being built, agriculture came into being, and iron and bronze were used. Aryezi already had the inventions of the wheel and ships. All of Aryezi is essentially colonized during this period. The nature form of Aryeduxaha appears during this period.

2. (300-1000) Classical Period: The Imperial Pantheon of Aryeduxaha influenced by Arzdar religion appears during this period. Aryezi culture is heavily influenced by Arzdar and Arnor. It borrows writing, the horse, advanced culture, steel and gold working, ideas of government and civilization, advanced astronomical and scientific techniques from these civilizations. Aryez is split into a series of kingdoms during this time, which gradually consolidate land and become the five kingdoms during this time. Aryez develops the classic form of its language, which remained its main literary form for a thousand years. Aryez also establishes proto-bureaucracies, standing armies, and an efficient transportation system. The Aryezi philosophy of Ade is also developed during this especially innovative time.

3. (1000-1400): First Aryezi Empire- Aryezi is united by Akhilesh I, who becomes the first emperor of Aryez. He consolidates Aryezi land and expands to neighboring islands, including a colonization program. He also establishes the unity of Aryezi culture by establishing a common written form (the New Aryezi script came into being during this time), common philosophical-religious cults, and common weights, measures, and standards. He also maintained a standing army and established an efficient bureaucracy. His successors continued his effective policies, cementing the idea of Aryez and a distinct and sophisticated Aryezi civilization in the hearts of the Aryezi during this time. Aryezi truly become an empire during the reign of Akhilesh X, the Conqueror, who conquered Arzor, Arzdar, parts of Aryezizdar, Arnor and some parts of Hloninyazdar, Chu, and Kareela to build a huge empire. In his later years, he abdicated the throne and established the religion of Aralan (some say, based on a Hlonenyo cult he discovered during his conquests), which his successor made the state religion. The Aryezi Empire fell apart soon after his death due to horrible mismanagement and foreign aggression and revolts. Only Aryez proper remained part of the Empire, which was then considered by most to be a kingdom.

4. (1400-2100): Dark Ages. During this time, the religion of Aralan grew as people looked for solace in troubled times. The ethical code of Arha was also founded during this period and spread among the Aryezi as a way to guide themselves to personal honor. Aryez itself was divided into several feudal domains fighting for control, while the Emperor himself maintained nominal control. Throughout this period, several foreign nations conquered large parts of Aryez for a time. Nothing much of importance happened during this period, but it is a famous time in Aryezi literature because it is considered the height of Aryezi poetry and music. The middle stage of the Aryezi language was dominant during this time.

5. (2100-2300): Second Empire. Although brief, this time was very important. It was heralded by the start of a messianic cult, Shannarash, which became a large religion in its own right and challenged Aralan. This religious and feudal chaos so fragmented Aryez that a series of strong Emperors were able to reassert control. This time period lead to improved agriculture, technology, and the rise of scientific and commercial development as Aryez began the engage the rest of the world constructively. More importantly, the feudal lords were essentially destroyed as an independent power by the Emperors and cities and towns boomed. Aryezizdar was permanently brought into the fold of the Empire, resulting into the introduction of the Anrel religion into Aryez, a mystic religion. During this time, Aryez's tradition of religious mixing religions became established. Urban growth lead to a less conservative and more cosmopolitan atmosphere. Trade with other nations soon lead to competition as the Emperors tried to compete with other nations. In the process, they conquered bits and pieces of other territories (all lost after the collapse of the empire) and created a second Empire. They reestablished the bureaucracy and maintained a standing army.

6. (2300-2500): Civil War. During this time, the power of the Emperor declined, until he merely became a figurehead and the symbol of Aryez. This was because the destruction of the feudal warlords and the establishment of the bureaucracy made him essentially non essentially and furthermore created competing factions. While all of the reforms of the Second Empire remained intact, various factions maneuvered politically and sometimes physically for power; however, they did so without large scale destruction and the common lives of the people were unaffected while urbanization, literacy, science, and trade continued. Various factions including communists, republicans, religious fanatics, and so on. For times during this period, Aryez became tributary to Arzor or Kareela. Finally, the military, fed up with the constant factionalism and fighting brought the civil wars to a close and took power. They established a dictatorship with the figurehead Emperor as head of state while real power lay in the chief general who appointed his successor based on merit.

7: (2500-2800): Era of Peace under the military. Aryez continued to prosper, this time in complete peace. Isolationist tendencies kept Aryezi culture coherent and its people together in Aryeziness while strengthening Aryezi traditions. During this time, Aryez took upon a very firm law structure, while its people boasted high standards of living and complete literacy. All of its people were well off and there were no famines. People in cities began to have a lot of free time and invented new cultural and artistic activities. The rest of the world began advancing during this time period, and mindful of this, Aryez's rulers permitted some technological exchange.