On an alternate Earth, with more islands and a more
diverse Humanity, there is a nation older than recorded history., with its
founding lost in myths and legends, and a similarly ancient university within
that nation’s capital. There are Roman and Nordic influences that are still
obvious even in the present day.
Technology is more or less the same as present day, with
an internet and everything that goes with it, albeit with aesthetics that
reflect earlier eras. Two young women start at the ancient university and start
solving mysteries together. One is insomniac and dyslexic. The other is a
synesthete explosion of pink who has ADHD and suffers from sensory overload and
sometimes has her eyes closed to cope or to focus on her other senses.
Rough Timeline
Before 2000 BC
Indigenous tribes arrive and establish a settlement at
the centre of where the city will be millennia later. The nation grows from
there. A kingdom develops.
1500 BC
Earliest written records dated to this period.
1100 BC
The nation appears in Phoenician records.
500 BC
By this time the nation occupies its entire current
territory. Trade with Carthage is strong.
2nd Century BC
With the Punic Wars, trade shifts from Carthage to Rome.
53 – 52 BC
Julius Ceaser attempts conquest of the eastern reaches of
the nation. His attempt at conquest is much the same as with Britain, except
that Rome gains an outpost on the easternmost island.
AD 10
In the aftermath of the disaster of the Teutoburg Forest,
the nation tries to take back the outpost that was conquered 60 years earlier.
But to no avail.
Mid AD 40s
After the conquest of Britain, Claudius turns Rome’s
attention to the west, to the nation. The eastern islands are conquered, but
war would continue with Triremes and legions pressing westwards until a landing
is made on the Main Island in AD 47. The eastern peninsula is conquered but the
nation then holds the line. Rome calls the province Terra Aurora (Land of the
Dawn) owing to its antiquity.
AD 70s – AD 116
From Vespasian to Trajan, Rome presses westwards,
conquering more of the nation. The capital is placed under siege in AD 94. The
royal family and their advisors flee beforehand to a city on the western tip of
the Main island. The main city is captured in AD 95. Two thirds of the main
island are conquered by AD 116.
AD 117
After Hadrian becomes Emperor, he orders the legions to
stop advancing and for them to defend what has already been taken.
Late Second Century
Christianity arrives in Roman occupied Terra Aurora.
Second – Fourth Centuries
Vulgar Latin becomes the native language for most in the
Roman occupied regions.
285
Terra Aurora becomes part of the Western half of the
Empire under Diocletian’s reforms.
410
Legions withdraw from Terra Aurora as the Western Empire
continues to collapse.
422
The remnant of the ancient nation declares war against
the failing Roman Empire, breaking the peace treaty that Hadrian was
responsible for in his later years.
436
The ancient capital is recaptured by the remnant.
440
The ancient capital becomes the official capital again.
445
The rest of the main island, except the city that was
established by Caesar at the eastern tip, is reconquered by the resurgent
nation.
Late Fifth Century.
Eastern Roman Aurora allies with Constantinople as the
Western Empire falls.
Early Sixth Century
The dialect of Vulgar Latin that is on its way to
becoming Old Auroran and Christianity spread into Western Aurora and also
receive official status.
811
Viking raids begin along the northeastern Auroran coast.
812
The ancient capital, now called Urbs Aeterna, comes under
attack by Vikings for the first time.
856
Eastern Aurora falls to the Norse.
Late 9th Century
The northeastern coast of Aurora is occupied by Norse.
Early 10th Century
The northwestern coast of Aurora is occupied by Norse.
943
The Government abandons Urbs Aeterna a second time,
moving back to the Western Capital. The Norse capture the city later in the
year.
976
The northeastern two thirds of the main island of Aurora
is occupied by various Norse kingdoms, the largest of which is based in Urbs
Aeterna and claiming to be the true successor to the original and Roman
Auroras.
1022
The remnant of Aurora recaptures one of the western Norse
realms.
1050s
By this time, Norse Aurora had united into one Kingdom
based in Urbs Aeterna.
1085
Personal Union between the Remnant Aurora and the Norse
Aurora.
1123
The two Aurora’s unite. De jure, it is the ancient
remnant Aurora annexing the Norse Aurora. De facto, it is the ancient
remnant becoming a province with equal representation in the Althing in Urbs
Aeterna.
Late 12th Century
Auroran Norse becomes the most popular language in
northeast Aurora.
1224
The ancient academy in Urbs Aeterna changes its name to
Academia d’Aeterna Universitas d’Aurora (in Early Middle Auroran; Modern English
translation: Eternal University Academy of Aurora).
15th Century
A time of tension, as Nordic influences spread
south-westwards. Minor rebellions break out and are put down.
16th – 19th Centuries
Aurora participates in colonialism alongside other
European powers. This main occurs in the Americas, the southern Atlantic
archipelagos and in the Indian Ocean.
1750s – 1910s
Aurora participates in the Industrial Revolution. Urbs
Aeterna is one of the first cities to have an underground railway system. There
is a national railway network on the main island by 1870.
1914 – 1918
Aurora is in the Allies during World War One.
1939 – 1945
Aurora is in the Allies during World War Two. There are
Nazi air raids on the eastern islands, but the nation otherwise comes through
unscathed.
1956
Aurora joins NATO.
1960s
Auroran colonies become independent.
March 2020
Like everywhere, Aurora goes into lockdown due to COVID.
February 2023
Pandemic restrictions ended in Urbs Aeterna.
September 2024
Two unusual students start at Academia d’Aeterna
Universitas d’Aurora.
No comments:
Post a Comment