Mediterranean Mercantile Cultures

[Birthright-L]

Hi, all.

I am looking for inspiration for a new Adurian culture that will be on
the northern shores of the continent, across the Great Southern Sea from
Khinasi. I am thinking it has been a seafaring and very militaristic
culture, based around heavily fortified cities. This foundation will be
from Mycanean culture. They never united into an empire or federation,
always being the brunt of other people`s conquests like the Azhuri and
Anuireans. But I am thinking they are now in the process of uniting
under a great mercantile order started 100 years ago, which recently is
in dire circumstances and runs the risk of falling apart after it`s
founder`s death.

I`m thinking this could be a very Mediterranean culture, like the
Minoans, Mycaneans, and southern Italians. But I want to make absolutely
sure it looks and feels distinct from Brechtur. Not just culture, that
is easy since Brechur is germanic and this will be Mediterranean, but
also in the goals and styles of play for the PCs and players. Are there
any cultures that I could draw upon? Any ideas of how to make sure the
goals of the setting would be very distinct from Brechtur?

Thanks.


--
/ Adam Theo, Age 22, Tallahassee FL USA
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[Peter Lubke]

On Fri, 2002-05-24 at 15:31, Adam Theo wrote:
> Hi, all.
>
> I am looking for inspiration for a new Adurian culture that will be on
> the northern shores of the continent, across the Great Southern Sea from
> Khinasi. I am thinking it has been a seafaring and very militaristic
> culture, based around heavily fortified cities. This foundation will be
> from Mycanean culture. They never united into an empire or federation,
> always being the brunt of other people`s conquests like the Azhuri and
> Anuireans. But I am thinking they are now in the process of uniting
> under a great mercantile order started 100 years ago, which recently is
> in dire circumstances and runs the risk of falling apart after it`s
> founder`s death.
>
> I`m thinking this could be a very Mediterranean culture, like the
> Minoans, Mycaneans, and southern Italians. But I want to make absolutely
> sure it looks and feels distinct from Brechtur. Not just culture, that
> is easy since Brechur is germanic and this will be Mediterranean, but
> also in the goals and styles of play for the PCs and players. Are there
> any cultures that I could draw upon? Any ideas of how to make sure the
> goals of the setting would be very distinct from Brechtur?

There seems some relationship between Minoan, Mycenaean, and Greek
cultures. Indeed Mycenae is Agamemnon`s city (of Iliad fame). But the
Greeks of Homer are less advanced culturally than the earlier Mycenaean
in some ways while ahead of them in others. The Greeks though are
fighting with iron weapons and armor, and have evolved beyond the purely
despotic kingdoms. Both these cultural features are more in line with
modern Cerilia. Trade really came on for the Greeks when they dropped
the more despotic forms of government. They were a completely island and
coastal culture however - and never left the Med (unlike the Phoenicians
who traveled to Britain and past the Cape of Good Hope). Their
settlements were limited to City States (say one coastal or island
province each - unless the home islands) and each was independent. Their
colonies were rarely politically dependent or beholden to their founding
city. Is that different enough for you ?

Kings (regents) were hereditary and of divine descent. They embodied the
duties of war leader, judge and priest. They were all priests - but not
the only priests of their realm. They were not despotic, and had to have
decisions approved by the council (chiefs/sub-kings) and the assembly
(general people). The priesthood is also the domain of hereditary and
powerful nobles. Typically, I`d split the law between the temple and
province holders.

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