The Human Migration of Giess

[President Darcy of Anthel]

I was asked a question by Private Message -

Quote:Why would they need a backstory for how they got there? I mean, there were people living in Americas (both North and South) before the known world (Europe/Asia) went out there..

Similarly with Australiasia.. and the islands in oceania..

There is no short answer for that, so I am forced to post a long answer.



Human Migration on Earth



It has been well established by archaelogical and biological evidence that humans originated in the Rift Valley of Africa.  Anatomically-modern humans migrated out of that area, in slow stages over many generations sometimes forced by changes in climate.  Although Homo Erectus spread across Asia and Europe more than 1.5 million years ago, they were supplanted by Homo Sapiens rapidly when the latter emerged from Africa around 100000 years ago.



It is hard to imagine the span of tens of thousands of years, since recorded history extends only 3000 years or so and the oldest physical evidence of organised communal settlement (marking the transition from hunter-gathering to agriculture) dates to about 12500 years ago.  The full story of Homo Sapiens is ten times that long.



That humans were able to populate the Earth is due to the climate.  90-120 thousand years ago, the world was cooler and Africa was wetter.  The Sahara could be crossed.  When the ice age was at its peak, sea levels were lower and many modern islands were connected together.  When one looks down on the world from above the north pole, it is evident that nearly all of the inhabited lands of the world are connected or nearly connected.



For reference - the migration maps at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_migration



It needs no telling here that flourishing civilisations grew in many disparate locations on Earth - Japan, China, India, Central America - but the civilisations of the near East are of the most interest to us since our language, religion, culture and science are descended from those.  By 2000 years ago all of Europe, the middle East and northern Africa was under the rule of Rome; by 1400 years ago the Roman Empire was gone and the middle east was taken over by the Muslims - and don't imagine that is entirely a bad thing, for a great deal of classical philosophy and science was preserved by them whereas it had been lost and forgotten by western Europe which descended into the science-less Dark Ages.  It is also worth noting the contributions to science of the Chinese and Indians, for it was from these influences in the fullness of time that Europe was able to regain knowledge.  The legacy of the Roman Empire is what enabled Europeans and the civilisations of the Indus and Ganges to maintain a tenuous contact through the middle ages.



The last chapter of the story contains the most information - since it is all available from primary sources - but covers the shortest time.  Leaving aside the claims of Vikings, organised European exploration and exploitation of the world is less than 500 years old, and now the entire world is dominated by a European-sourced model of government and society - even where strong ethnic community ways still exist (particularly southern and eastern Asia), the European style has been adopted by the national governments and is imposed as far as practicable.



So, to conclude, the human settlement of the world follows three broadly similar themes, in which it can be seen that each succeeding wave has a single origin, not multiple sources of identical evolution.



1. Intelligent early humans, users of tools and fire, migrated out of Africa and across Asia and southern Europe from 1.8 million years ago.  This migration was limited to contiguous land - they did not travel by water.



2. Modern humans emerged from Africa from about 100000 years ago, supplanting the earlier populations and, through chance and better adaptive abilities, moved also into Oceania and the Americas (the latter as the retreat of glaciers opened the way).  Water travel was possible.



3. Modern ideas and societal ways emerged from Europe and, partly assisted by the use of force, spread across the world from about 500 years ago, supplanting local ethnic ideas and ways in a process which continues to this day.  Navigation was of primary importance for much of this process, but it is only in the last hundred years that advanced communications and transport have truly started homogenising the world.



Human Migration on Giess



The story is not yet fully known.  What is known is that humans came from the valley of the Great River in Grandica, with outward migration stimulated by need and directed by the terrain and environment.  The discovery of boats resulted in the Hurmu Gap being crossed, by successive groups across a long period of time, and as these groups established new populations in West Novgard they were able to spread further east and south.



The second major influence on migration of people and ideas on Giess comes from Stormark, which was the first nation to master navigation.  Accordingly, they sailed back to Grandica and beyond, carrying ideas, language and culture with them - these things were accepted in some places, but rejected in others (cf Babkhan cultural uniqueness).  The acquisition of navigation by Grandican cultures allowed colonisation of places like Cyberia and Novasolum.



As said, the story is not yet complete.  What is known is that Stormark planted colonies around the world, but did not emulate the Spanish, English and Dutch in subjugating and overruling local communities where they found them.  So this peaceful exchange of ideas had positive effects, leading to an emergence of nationalism in similar forms across the world; but in almost no place on Giess is an ethnic aboriginal population not the local power.



What is not known is the possibility of other centres of nationalism and culture existing in other remote areas.  Did people sail from West Novgard south to Iotnargard without maintaining contact?  Did land migration continue east of Woodstania without being rediscovered by the Stormark pioneers?

[extreme007]

so, are you suggesting that..



all the people are really Karnalians/from that region... over time, they developed different ideologies and thus, nationalism...



and basically that once Stomark was founded, that most of the other nations (which aren't local, but former colonies of Stomark) are basically Stomark and that their history is that they were born from Stomark?

Discover, Invent, Theories, Experiment,



Advance Science,

Advance Extremism,

(in Karnali, Republic of)

[President Darcy of Anthel]

No, you didn't read it very well.



The ancestral trail leads back to Attera, not Karnali.  As people moved into new areas, separation leads to tribalism and eventually nationalism.  Karnali is likely an end-branch, not a source of further migration, since the mountains present a considerable barrier and the coastal route is easier, forming the basis of further migration to the islands and then across to Hurmu.  Much smaller groups moving north and west from the great river valley would have been the ancestors of Landingberg-Norona, Nova England and Bohemia (that's three migratory branches).



Stormark spread the technique of navigation on the high seas, and established some colonies but the likes of Cyberia, Paulovia, Gotzborg and Anthelia are not ex-Stormark colonies - they represent establishments of human settlement that came after the advent of sailing.  Whether those people came from Alexandria, from northern Grandica, from Oscland or indeed from Stormark is not recorded here.

[extreme007]

but then are you suggesting that they were not locally found first?? ie.. that they did not migrate from anywhere but were there from the start!

Discover, Invent, Theories, Experiment,



Advance Science,

Advance Extremism,

(in Karnali, Republic of)

[President Darcy of Anthel]

Exactly where am I suggesting that?

 

Week 6:  My four Yahoo! Fantasy Football teams are a combined 12-12.  The last three weeks have not been pretty :(

[extreme007]

then what do you mean by people sailing down to say Babkha.. or Gotzborg... ?

Discover, Invent, Theories, Experiment,



Advance Science,

Advance Extremism,

(in Karnali, Republic of)

[President Darcy of Anthel]

Quote:The second major influence on migration of people and ideas on Giess comes from Stormark, which was the first nation to master navigation. Accordingly, they sailed back to Grandica and beyond

West Novgard was peopled by small-scale migration across the Hurmu gap.  Stormark was one of the tribal nationalities which emerged in West Novgard, albeit possibly the most diverse and enlightened such tribe because of the regular trickle of people coming from the west.  Stormark discovered navigation and sailed back to the west, taking the knowledge of navigation with them to the nation-tribes which they encountered down the east coast.  These Stormark pioneers also continued into other uninhabited parts of the world, but now they were followed by Alexandrians, Interlanders, and so on, some of whom became the founding fathers of the present-day nations of Novasolum.

 

Week 6:  My four Yahoo! Fantasy Football teams are a combined 12-12.  The last three weeks have not been pretty :(

[extreme007]

isn't that basically forcing the nations to set their history according to GSO rules?





I would appreaciate if GSO were not to force members to make their history according to how GSO wants it. Afterall, we want to separate ourselves from other mapping organizations that force their members to play everything by their rules. The only thing GSO askes its members to do is play with realistic rules. The ancient history of how people migrated and all, can be left untouched (as in no one can dictate how it went, cause everyone would want something and that would break the system). The rest of history (after all the human migration and stuff) is open for member nations to make their own.

This would allow nations like Shireroth, or the Mediteria/Tymaria (spl?) type nations to co-exist easily on our planet. This is considering they had an elfish population, or a non-human based population. What if I wanted my second nation (say, Klingon Empire) to make a claim on GSO. Are you going to force me to consider myself human? Or are you just not going to accept us cause we are not humans? If you are going to accept us, then how is this "human migration" theory going to fit in with the presence of Klingons? Or elves (from previous example).



If we were to simply ignore the 'human migration' aspect of micronationalism and not force it upon member nations, then we'd be much better off.





PS. I do want to know what you are going to do with regards to a micronation based on Klingon Empire that wants to be on Giess. So, let's hear it.

Discover, Invent, Theories, Experiment,



Advance Science,

Advance Extremism,

(in Karnali, Republic of)

[Lachlan of Aerlig]

Quote:This would allow nations like Shireroth, or the Mediteria/Tymaria (spl?) type nations to co-exist easily on our planet. This is considering they had an elfish population, or a non-human based population. What if I wanted my second nation (say, Klingon Empire) to make a claim on GSO. Are you going to force me to consider myself human? Or are you just not going to accept us cause we are not humans? If you are going to accept us, then how is this "human migration" theory going to fit in with the presence of Klingons? Or elves (from previous example).

Yes, we would reject the claim. That answers the question simply, there is no debate needed. The GSO is for serious nations, who match those nations already on the map. That was clear from the very formation of the map, and all the original signatories joined knowing that it would be the case. We wanted a realistic map that wasnt populated by elves and wizards, but had a realistic sense of history that wasnt subject to constantly changing land claims and ad-hoc placement. Which is why all the backstory exists... it explains why everyone is clumped together.



Also, nations arent limited in their history... this simply says how people arrived there. It doesnt say what happened after that. It can vary from the track a little, but the GSO is for serious nations, who would only create a history based on fact anyways... and would need this information in order to do so.

Lachlan Powers

Edited by: Lachlan of Aerlig at: 25/10/06 10:34

[President Darcy of Anthel]

From the Contract -

Quote:7. An organisation or group, but not an individual person, may obtain membership at the discretion of the Board if that organisation or group -



(i) is alike in character, purpose and practice to the other members of the Organisation;

(ii) is capable of participating in the same geophysical simulation as the other members of the Organisation;

(iii) is willing to abide by the Rules and Protocols of the Organisation; and

(iv) upon admission to membership, signs its agreement to this Contract.

and -

Quote:the duty to conduct its micronational affairs, in any fantasy or role-playing or simulationist context, in a manner consistent with the manner of all other members

We all signed off on that, and in case you don't appreciate the meaning, you can refer to Lachlan's post above.  A Klingon nation would not be alike in character, purpose or practice.  Giess has one sentient race.



What do we mean by "a manner consistent"?  Well, that can be inferred from other parts of the Contract, such as the membership qualifications "alike in character, purpose and practice" and "capable of participating in the same geophysical simulation".  Beyond the letter of the law, it is for the Board to determine in day-to-day management of the Organisation.

Quote:4. The Board of Directors is empowered to -



(i) manage the business and operations of the Organisation;

(ii) make Rules and Protocols related to the business and operations of the Organisation; and

(iii) appoint any person to any position defined by the Rules and Protocols.

Hence, the Board has issued a Rule concerning the way in which national territories will be allocated and subsequent claims handled.  What we have not yet done is publish the Rule - which we have flagged - concerning Legitimate Use of the Map, but rest assured it is not forgotten.



The Legitimate Use Rule will, in part, help to define "participating in the same geophysical simulation", but I can give you an idea right here and it answers the earlier challenge to the concept of an all-Giess ancient history backstory.  By placing your nation on Giess, you accept and conform to everything that is Giessan.  This is not limited to acceptance of the physical characteristics - a planet has history and what the planet is is necessarily a product of its history.  That includes the human history.  



We already have a rule that every human-built thing on the planet stays there even if the nation passes away, so why is it bad to project backwards from the present-day political and cultural situation to make a broad-scale story of the people on the planet?  You may note that I have made no pretensions to dictating the near and modern history of Giessan nations - the most recent event of the story posted above can be taken to have occurred, say, 400 or so years ago, and almost none of our member micronations have fictional histories which go back that far (perhaps Gotzborg).  So I do not see how hard it would be for member nations to adapt to this, and indeed it should prove to be a valuable resource for new nations which arise in the coming years, who may be grateful of being able to build themselves onto an established mythology.



Extreme, I would like you to do something for me.  I would like you to refrain from posting in this forum for 48 hours, and allow others to speak.  I would like to hear other opinions on the ancient history of the world which we have all elected to be a part of.

Week 6:  My four Yahoo! Fantasy Football teams are a combined 12-12.  The last three weeks have not been pretty :(

[President Darcy of Anthel]

Quote:The ancient history of how people migrated and all, can be left untouched (as in no one can dictate how it went, cause everyone would want something and that would break the system). The rest of history (after all the human migration and stuff) is open for member nations to make their own.

I should address the above directly.



No it is not acceptable for every nation to devise its own history without reference to a common baseline story and in isolation from other nations.  To leave the matter lassez-faire would be much the same as removing all traffic lights from the city of Calgary - many cars would safely negotiate intersections, but there would be crashes and plenty of them.



As stated in my previous reply, above, this ancient history backstory will not and should not be taken to constrain nations in the most recent 400 years of their history.



Be a bit more open to this, extreme.  After all, yours is only a small part of the world.

 

Week 7:  My four Yahoo! Fantasy Football teams are a combined 15-13.  Still well in contention in all four leagues.

[dr-spangle]

recent excavations have revealed human pbodies in asia older than any in africa.

i dare you.

[President Darcy of Anthel]

Peabody?



Seriously, though, I'll take note of that and wait for further developments, since the physical evidence for the single-origin-out-of-Africa theory is overwhelming.

 

Week 7:  My four Yahoo! Fantasy Football teams are a combined 15-13.  Still well in contention in all four leagues.

[Emir of Raspur]

Well this is certainly an interesting idea and certainly it would perhaps serve as a possible explanation/justification for a broad political model I was thinking of to explain the geo-political situation in Babkha's part of the world.

Eura: Land of the Three Abodes

Dar al-Shahanshahi, the Abode of the Shah or the Keshvar, the Babkhan homeland forged by a millenia of conquest by the Kapav and Osmanid dynasties. Defined as a struggle to bring petty principalities and nomad tribes into proper obedience of the Imperial Will and to thereby raise order out of chaos.



The culture is predominantly Persian by also with strong influences of Steppe, Turkic and Semitic culture. A multi-racial, multi-cultural empire, the burden of unifying which and defending against outside threats led to the concentration of political power in the hands of the Shah and his chosen satraps and the near complete errosion of civil liberties and the continuation of social practices that have passed out of usage in most other realms, such as slavery for instance.



The Dar al-Shahanshahi is defined in opposition to the Dar al-Vikinriyyah, the northern lands in former times dominated by the Viking Empire of Stormark against whom the Babkhans fought many bitter and futile wars until the foreign policy revolution of the current decade brought an end to the strife and introduced the era of alliances and diplomatic engagement. With the end of the great wars a number of new political entities with various degrees of independence have arisen including the nau inglisi (New Britannia), Oskazamin (Oscland), Elfinshi (Hurmu), al-Hatayyah (Hatay & Deryacezamin) and Woodstania. These states serve as buffers and while the Dar al-Shahanshahi and the Dar al-Vikinriyyah are at the moment in accord neither would like to see all of the intermediary states fall to the other.



The third great division is between the previous two and the Dar al-Harb, the abode of war, the lawless vacant lands that both the lords of the Dar al-Shahanshahi and the Dar al-Vikinriyyah consider to be theirs to bring under their authority and exploit in any way that they see fit. An example of the war against the Dar al-Harb can be found in the tragic history of Mondesia which found itself on the recieving end of repeated Babkhan aggressions and whose population is now chiefly noted as being the primary source of slave labour available to Woodstania and Babkha.







 

“Religion is what the common people see as true, the wise people see as false, and the rulers see as useful.”

-Seneca

[Mehmet12]

I thought Eura was the name of an MCS continent...