Audonia

Audonia is a continent. It is known as the heartland of civilization. It is comprised of three major areas, sometimes referred to as subcontinents.

Audonia has a rich history dating back to some of the first agriultural civilizations in the world being established on the continent. From the beginning of the Neolithic Revolution until around the first milennia BC, Audonia was one of the most populous continents and was the richest. Although later eclipsed by the growth of the Occident in terms of power, Audonia remained an extremely wealthy region for centuries to come. The growth of the Occident had the effect of increasing Audonia's relative wealth, as it provided a conduit for valuable trade goods heading west from Alshar. Audonia in antiquity was a place of many different cultures, societies, and religions, and for a time was considered the "world's melting pot." Modern Audonia is considered to have begun with the rise of the Oduniyyad Caliphate and Islam in the 7th century, an event which would define modern Audonia and play a pivotal role in world history. The gradual collapse of the Caliphate beginning in the 11th century and complete by the 16th century briefly restored Audonia as a place of cultural interchange and wealth along with significant state competition and warfare. The arrival of Bergendii and other Occidental influences led to a general decline in Audonia as gradually diminished Audonia's economy and prestige. By the late 20th century, most of Audonia had reestablished a degree of independence from the Occident, but significant colonial holdings and influenced states remain. By this time, the continent had become home to many proxy wars related to the Occidental Cold War, and competing Occidental influences continue to play a major role in political divisions throughout the continent.

Eastern Audonia is culturally distinct from the predominantly Muslim west, and is divided into several sovereign states with the most notable being Daxia, Metzetta, and Huoxia. Two Levantine states are in possession of colonial holdings namely the Fiannrian territory of Soirwind and various islands owned by Burgundie in the continent's periphery. Central and south eastern Audonia are much more densely populated than the northern regions which are for the most part, endless grassland and steppes.

Name
Audonia takes its present name in most Occidental languages from the Oduniyyad Caliphate.

Middle seas region
The Middle seas region, also known as the Middle seas, or the Audonio-Alshari Intercontinental Cultural and Economic Interface Zone (AAICEIZ, pronounced eye-kayz), is the areas around the Aab-e-Farus. It is so named because of the two seas it contains surrounded by the continental landmass of Audonia.

Countries, dependencies, and other territories

 * Battganuur
 * Bulkh
 * Umardwal
 * Yanuban
 * United Audonian Emirates
 * Zaclaria
 * Antilles
 * Chaukhira
 * Alcairet
 * Salarive

History
Audonia established ties with the Occident in the earliest part of, as advanced Audonian sailmaking techniques allowed Audonians to sail west across the Sea of Istroya; the return trip was much more difficult due to prevailing winds and was only mastered later in Antiquity. Through its connections east with Alshar and west with the Ancient Istroyan civilization, Audonia became a wealthy trade hub which controlled the flow of both goods and knowledge between the far west and east. Audonia during antiquity became a place of relative diversity, and the lack of a single great empire in the continent during the period meant military, cultural, and economic competition between its many polities and city-states flourished.

The Oduniyyad Caliphate united most of the continent, excepting Siphost, by the end of the 7th century.

The Audonian Golden Age was an era of unprecedented cultural and scientific flourishing in Audonia.

Audonia spent much of the as the object of  competition between Burgundie and Kiravia, in which Burgundie ultimately prevailed.

Audonian Christianity

Religion
Audonia is home to a broad range of religious denominations. Islam was founded in Audonia and spread by the expanding Oduniyyad Caliphate in the 800's and today both Sunni, Shia Twelver and smaller schools have large number of adherents in various parts of the continent. In similar fashion Christianity arrived very early in Audonia. Christians are divided between ancient practitioners and those of Levantine descent who arrived in the age of colonialism or were converted by colonial-era missionaries. Forms of animism and ancestor worship are widespread. Daxia enforces an almost blanket ban on all religions thereby being one of the only nations to have state enforced atheism.