Ancient Istroyan civilization
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Ancient Istroya was a civilization primarily based in eastern Sarpedon and its islands, though colonies existed abroad such as in Nova Istroya in Levantia.
The civilization was initially comprised of a loose collection of culturally and linguistically related city-states and other territories, primarily originating on islands in the Sea of Istroya before spreading to Istroyan-speaking populations on the eastern portion of Sarpedon mainland. During the first millennia BC, Ancient Istroya was considered to be the richest civilization in the world and developed advanced cultural achievements in mathematics, philosophy, and the arts. Istroyans would colonize many areas overseas from their initial home islands, including the southeastern shores of Levantia where their presence would make a lasting cultural influence. Several efforts were made by Istroyan rulers to unite the entire Istroyan world, efforts which met only limited success and increased violence and infighting among Istroyan polities. The Istroyan Golden Age is considered to have come to an end around 150 BC as the primary Istroyan polities on mainland Sarpedon were conquered by Caphiria while insular Istroya suffered increasing isolation and economic decline likely brought on by climate change. Istroyan civilization continued to be fruitful and exist under Caphirian rule, contributing greatly to its cultural development. Most historians believe Ancient Istroya came to its formal end during the advance of the Oduniyyad Caliphate in the seventh century AD, which came to rule over nearly all of the former Istroyan lands.
Classical Istroyan culture had a powerful influence on the development of the Adonerii civilization and Occidental world and also served as a primary conduit for the transmission of civilizational developments of Audonia into the Occident. Today, much of its legacy is carried on and claimed by the modern Istroyan people.
Historiography
History
The shores of the basin of the Sea of Istroya, as its name implies, has, since time immemorial, been the home of the Istroyan peoples, their fiefdoms, city-states, trade empires, and nation-states.
Messisorian Kingdom
Tyranny of Phaxolos
134AD-285AD within the bounds of modern Burgundie, probably up north
Confederation of Medestophanese
285AD-598AD within the bounds of modern Burgundie, most of the major coastal cities fit into this framework
Levantine Warlords Period
502AD-680AD Fall of Great Levantia- establishment of the Principality of Hištanšahr Istroyan raiding in here a lot
Asterian League
Republic of Isulae Isti
645-763 Part of the Asterian League (DED page) (Asterian league-alike would be good lore to recreate, it was a massive proto-Hanseatic League all across the Sea of Istroya).
Something
Where the U.A.E. is now, had a greek city-state in it.
Alcairet
Burgundie's Alcairet was an Istroyan country-lette, then a Crusader Kingdom, then the Oduniyyad Caliphate, then a part of the Burgoignesc colonial empire.
Crusades
Geography
Politics and society
Trade
The main participants in Sea of Istroya commerce were the class of Ancient Istroyan traders known as emporoi (ἕμποροι). The Ancient Istroyan states collected a duty on their cargo, typically at 1% or higher. By the end of the 5th century, the tax had been raised to 33 talents in more high-use ports. The growth of trade in Ancient Istroya led to the development of financial techniques. Most merchants, lacking sufficient cash assets, resorted to borrowing to finance all or part of their expeditions. A typical loan for a large venture in 4th century BC, was generally a large sum of cash (usually less than 2,000 drachmas), lent for a short time (the length of the voyage, a matter of several weeks or months), at a high rate of interest (often 12% but reaching levels as high as 100%). The terms of the contract were always laid out in writing, differing from loans between friends (eranoi). The lender bore all the risks of the journey, in exchange for which the borrower committed his cargo and his entire fleet, which were precautionarily seized upon their arrival at the port the loan was offered. Trade in Ancient Istroya was typically free. One of the main drivers of trade in Ancient Greece was colonization in western Audonia, the Daria and Al'qarra regions in particular, and southeastern Levantia, in modern day Burgundie. As larger city states set up colonies, there would be trade between the founding city and its colony. Furthermore, differing climates between cities and their respective colonies created comparative advantages in goods. Larger city states often exported more value added goods, such as olive oil, back out to colonies. The number of shipwrecks found in the Sea of Istroya provides valuable evidence of the development of trade in the ancient world. Only two shipwrecks were found that dated from the 8th century BC. However, archaeologists have found forty-six shipwrecks dated from the 4th century BC, which would appear to indicate that there occurred a very large increase in the volume of trade between these centuries. Considering that the average ship tonnage also increased in the same period, the total volume of trade increased probably by a factor of 30.
Culture
Ancient Istroyan Games
Ancient Istroyans held a multi-sport competition between city-states every four years, inspiring the modern Istroyan Games. Events included various foot races, wrestling, boxing, long jump and discus-throwing. For most of its history all events were contested in the nude.
Literature
Main article: Ancient Istroyan literature
The ancient Istroyans left a large corpus of influential literature. Perhaps most famous among the great Istroyan authors was Atrius, whose epic poems are still studied regularly in schools across the globe today.
Legacy
Elements of the Istroyan culture still exist today. Their practice in the nation of Burgundie is what sets that country's culture apart from the rest of Dericania, and has strongly influenced its language. Of the Romance languages Burgoignesc is the most strongly influenced by the ancient Istroyan language.