Nova Roma

Progress?

2006-09-23T16:20:00.000Z

Just curious if anyone has made any progress with this yet? I'm forumlating a plotline, but it's still in my head.

Character info

2006-04-02T14:38:00.000Z

Things as slowly going on, guys. I know I'm slow in updating this, but real life... yeah yeah, heard it all before. Anyways, we're still on. I have a couple of character info sets, and I'm going to wait until I have more before sharing them around. Once I have them all, I'll search for inconsistencies, and correspond individually to sort them out, then all character stuff will be sent to everyone.

As setting info comes out of the character sets, I'll be updating the basic. One thing is obvious, though... we're going to need a map, at least of the city. I'm drawing a rough plan, based on what I have already, and what I have in my head (that won't upset the work you're all doing) I'll have to see if I can get it on here. Anybody any good at drawing city plans?

Background

2006-03-19T15:05:00.000Z

As far as natives go, I would imagine something similar to our timeline, in which up to 90% of the native population has died from various plagues (smallpox, infuenza, etc.) Here is a nice map of the tribe locations at first contact. I would imagine something similar to our own timeline, just from the other coast. Tribes are pushed east from the immigation/conquest.

For the rest I am trying to imagine a world that had no renaissance, but didn't need one as there were no dark ages. In my mind, science and engineering would be farther along than in our TL. This one needs more discussion and research, I think.

Q&A - answers

2006-03-19T12:43:00.000Z

Yes, this is exactly what the blog is for... we can discuss the background, rules etc right here and once the anthology is complete, either re-do the blog for publishing it, or set up another site just to show the stories.

Anyway, on to your questions:

1. Tanks. I have a vague recollection of Leonardo designing wooden tanks that would be moved by the people contained within. Not by mechanical means, but simply being pushed. However, this is a different timeline, and perhaps mechanical means is possible, or maybe there is room for an ox or 2 inside to push the thing along. Mind you, I wouldn't want to stand behind them in an enclosed wooden box ;)

2. Obviously I hadn't thought this through enough. My thinking was that the asian migration across the Bering Straits happened in pre-history, and they sort of migrated East, but North of the Rockies. So the indigenous population is in the part of North America not yet explored by the Romans. But reading your question has pointed out this inconsistency. Let's discuss this: are there Natives in our area of North America? Have they been sunjugated already, or is there insurrection?

3. General is a... ahem... general rank;) Yes, there are various levels of General, just as there are different ranks below them. I found a great link detailing Roman rank structure ... http://www.unrv.com/military/legion.php Use these for consistency.

4. Yup... exactly right, although I hadn't detailed it as much as you. I say we use these as a rough guide.

In NR, then, how long it's been settled is say 50-100 years. Long enough to establish a permanent city, but not so large that it is difficult to describe, or map. It would therefore be pacified, so families etc, but perhaps still some sporadic fighting and resistance (dependant upon whether or not we decide there are some local peoples.

And yes... a "true" Roman would be kind of rare. Like in Gladiator, Russell Crowe is a high ranjing General, who is actually a Spaniard. The same is true in NR. My General will probably be European, but not necessarily actually from Rome or even Italy. Most of the Nova Roman population (the background minor characters who may be present purely as "extras" or perhaps have minor "speaking parts") could be from any part of the known world. Notably, the priesthood may have Indians, the army will almost certainly have Chinese gunpowder specialists. Traders and merchants could be from anywhere. Slaves will be from everywhere.

That's my thoughts on these. However, this is not a "my ball, my rules" situation... if any of you have other ideas, or wish to explore an area we haven't even got around to yet... this is the place for it. I foresee much dialogue on these matters as the stories develop. It is omportant that we all have sight of them, so that there are as few direct contradictions as possible in our interpretations.

Q&A

2006-03-18T15:52:00.000Z

I thought maybe you ought to have this type of thread (or several) so that the informational threads can stay "pure" with updated or appended information.

Or not. Change as you see fit...

So I'll ask some questions:

1. Tanks - does this imply steam engines or some other motive force?

2. No natives on the N.A. West Coast (so far). Just walking through the logic so I can organize my thoughts not nitpicking. In the Real World (RW), the west coast was relatively heavily populated, I believe. In Nova Roma World (NRW), what would account for the lack of natives? If it was relatively easy for the legions to cross the Strait, then surely Asian migration would have occured as well?

3. Centurions fill all the military ranks between soldier and General? And/or are there lesser and greater Generals. (General ->General of 3rd Army -> General of X Region - General of the Western Front)

4. With military expansion, I would guess that an area goes through several phases:
Active Warfare,
Conquered but Hotspot fighting,
Newly Pacified-Uneasy,
Pacified(Families, lots of commerce, locals being concscripted into the army) and
Longtime Pacified (lax security, soldiers are really just locals that have a job in the army).

So this leads up to questions about N.R., such as how long it's been there, how settled is it, why is it there? (no local commerce so is it just a military outpost as a staging point for further exploration?) Or have "locals" been imported from Asia as well (Roman Citizens emigrating to the new lands).

I guess I'm struggling with understanding what the local population is composed of (people-wise) cause, I'd imagine a "true" Roman would be kind of rare. Most would be Roman Citizens of conquered territories in Asia... or is that really a supposition based on my assumptions? For example, maybe there's a "law" that true Romans get the first pick of new lands so there actually is a large contingent of elite Romans that are out in the expanded Empire.

Geography, Politics and Civilization

2006-03-17T11:03:00.000Z

The geography of this world is, has been stated, identical to our own. However, the Romans' strict adherence to land exploration has resulted in Australia, New Zealand, Greenland, the Arctic and Antarctic being undiscovered. South America is known of, but unexplored and the extent is unknown.

Similarly, mountains in Asia have not been crossed, and nothing is known north of this range, although it is possible that the Roman legions in China have begun exploring westward on the northern side . In North America the Rockies have not been crossed, nor has the desert south of the Rockies. Nothing is known of America to the East of these, although it is suspected that there may be considerable land. No indigenous peoples have yet been encountered.

There has been no trouble in Europe and the Middle East for hundreds of years, and all indigenous people have been completely subsumed into the Empire. The same cannot be said of the Far East. Insurrections are still frequent in from India to China, although the rulers in India, Rajahs and Maharajahs, have been given Senate positions, and it is unlikely that India will stand long before the Empire.

As they did in our world, the Romans built roads where they went. There are paved roads all over the known world. Aqueducts and sewage systems have been built in cities, and in colder climates, hot water baths and heating systems. In agricultural areas, aqueducts and drainage has been installed.

Buildings are made in stone, quarried locally, and conform to classic Roman architecture. Nova Roma itself, while still relatively young, boasts a Senate house, a gladiatorial arena, a hippodrome for horse racing, and chariot races, several temples to the Gods and Godesses, a market, some very grand villas for the rich and powerful, and tenement style accommodation for the lower castes. Slum areas for the poor who are not actually enslaved are on the outside of the city walls and house mainly agricultural workers.

The Roman passion for excess continues, and it has been found that the region around Nova Roma is ideal for growing grapes. Wine is plentiful, as is brewed ales, yet for some reason distillation has not been invented and there are no strong spirits.

The military and the Senate police the area, and pass sentence on wrong doers. Wealthy merchants and politicians usually hire bodyguards, and all free citizens are armed with swords, knives and daggers. Crossbows and longbows are available, but are uncommon. Crime can only occur against a free citizen - slaves have no rights whatsoever. Murder of a slave, if discovered, is merely a theft of the slave's owner's property, and the culprit, if caught, will simply have to repay teh owner, or replace the slave.

Science and technology

2006-03-17T09:55:00.000Z

The Roman Empire has not just sat still through this expansion. Science has advanced roughly as it has in our timeline, in particular Leonardo da Vinci (who at this time is around 40 and at the height of his imaginings) is supported by the central government in Rome, and has been allowed to experiment as he wishes. Indeed, he receives much funding from the Senate, and many of his imaginings have become reality: submarines have been built and the Mediterranean and the Red Sea have been explored. Tanks have been built and aided the Roman troops.

Glass making (by alchemists) has reached the point where telescopes are commonplace on the battle field, and most generals will have a brass telescope in their possession. Larger telescopes allow alchemists to search the heavens, although their use by priests is more prevalent. Priests use these devices for astrology, rather than astronomy! However, they more frequently use Indian mystic methods of divination. Lower castes often cannot afford the sacrifices necessary to get the priests to foretell for them, and Tarot is common among merchants, traders and foot soldiers.

Transport is still limited to ships, and animal drawn carriages. Traders use large caravans of camels, horses, and ox-drawn carts. Military units use horses, and ox-drawn carts for supply. Consequently, communication is difficult across the Empire - it would take several years for a return trip to Rome, for example, and most large outposts in the Empire are largely autonomous. Nova Roma is ruled by its own Senate, and it rules the Empire throughout North America.

Setting

2006-03-17T08:56:00.000Z

Imagine (if you will) a world geographically identical to our own.

This is set roughly in our year 1500.

The difference between our history and that of this world is that the Roman Empire never waned and whether Christ was born or not, Christianity never gained sway in the Empire. Over the next 1500 years the conquest and exploration of the world continued, mainly by land - the Romans moved Eastwards after conquering the whole of Europe. They had ships, and the Mediterranean Sea was no obstacle, but the vast Atlantic was to them the end of the world in the Western Direction. They conquered all of Africa, the Middle East, on into India. The Himalayas were a barrier Northwards, so they continued into the Far East to the Malaysian Peninsula, Vietnam, Hong Kong China and Siberia. The Bering Straits froze sufficiently for them to cross into North America and Alaska, down the West Coast through Canada and the United States.

As they explored, they enslaved indigenous peoples, subsuming their knowledge, but bending it to their will and needs. The mystics of India fed their soothsayers, clerics and priests, who stopped using omens and entrails to foretell events. Instead they used Eastern tecniques of "spirit walking" and other out of body techniques. They continued to worship the same Gods, and sacrifices were still routine.

On the military front, the gunpowder of the Chinese made formidable weapons, and cannons were commonplace, although handheld weapons were not. Some experimentation had been done, but the metalwork was so expensive the normal foot soldiers were still armed with swords. There were a few handheld weapons available, but they were dangerous and as often as not injured their user as much as the target.

Very few subjects of the Empire were educated, and even fewer could read or write. Those who could were the priests, and some of the very senior military officers and politicians (most of whome were military generals in any case) and these were the uppermost class or caste.

There were four high castes: Politicians, Priests, Alchemists, Military Generals. There were also four low castes: Merchants (including shopkeepers, farmers, blacksmiths and caravan traders), Prostitutes, military footsoldiers up to Centurion, Builders. Anyone else was a slave. Promotion from a low caste to a higher caste was possible; for example a blacksmith through experimentation could become an Alchemist; a wealthy merchant could buy a senate position and become a Politician; a Centurion could be promoted to General; even Prositiutes could become wealthy and while not able to buy a senate position, have enough wealth to influence and effectively hold Politician status, or serve in the Priesthood, notably that of Venus, Godess of Love. The families of those in the various Castes also hold that status.

At the point in this history that we join this timeline, the diaspora has reached the south west corner of our USA, and has established that there is nothing East but giant impassable mountains (the Rockies) or desert (Nevada) and exploration south has been stalled by impassable jungle in South America. Thus a new city has been built at the far end of the Roman Empire - Nova Roma. It is roughly in the position occupied by our Los Angeles. In this city our stories are set.