Romania (Terra Cognita)

Romania is a unitary consulatorial constitutional republic and democracy. It is a founding member of the League of Peace, GOLA, and other international organizations. It is a highly developed country, with one of the world's largest economies. Romania is considered to be one of the world's most culturally and economically advanced countries with a very high life expectancy

Romania ranks very high in measures of socioeconomic performance, including average wage, median income, median wealth, human development, per capita GDP, and worker productivity. Romania is a member of the GGPC (Global Great Power Council), one of 23 nations considered a Great Power. Romania is one of 9 nations considered a World Power. It is one of the foremost military powers in the world, considered the strongest land-based military, and makes up a third of global military spending, and is a leading political, cultural, and scientific force internationally.

The country has greatly influenced and contributed to diverse fields, notably the arts, music, literature, philosophy, science and technology, fashion, cinema, cuisine, sports, as well as jurisprudence, banking and business. As a reflection of its cultural wealth, Romania is home to the world's largest number of World Heritage Sites and is the one of the most visited countries in the world.

Romania has historically been home to myriad peoples and cultures including the Italic peoples, Phoenicians and Carthaginians, Greeks, Etruscans, Celts, Vasconics, and Germanic peoples. An Italic tribe known as the Latins formed the Roman Kingdom which eventually became a republic with a government of the Senate and the People. The Roman Republic initially conquered and assimilated its neighbours on the Italian peninsula, eventually expanding and conquering parts of Europe, North Libia and Asia. The Roman Empire emerged as the dominant power in the Mediterranean Basin and became a leading cultural, political and religious centre, inaugurating the Pax Romana, a period of more than 200 years during which Romania's law, technology, economy, art, and literature developed.

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Etymology
Romania derives its name from the ancient city Rome. According to the founding myth of the city by the Ancient Romans themselves, the long-held tradition of the origin of the name Roma is believed to have come from the city's founder and first king, Romulus. However, it is a possibility that the name Romulus was actually derived from Rome itself. As early as the 11th century, there have been alternative theories proposed on the origin of the name Roma. Several hypotheses have been advanced focusing on its linguistic roots which, however, remain uncertain: from Rumon or Rumen, archaic name of the Tiber, which in turn has the same root as the Greek verb ῥέω (rhéō) and the Latin verb ruo, which both mean "flow"; from the Etruscan word 𐌓𐌖𐌌𐌀 (ruma), whose root is rum- "teat", with possible reference either to the totem wolf that adopted and suckled the cognately named twins Romulus and Remus, or to the shape of the Palatine and Aventine Hills; from the Greek word ῥώμη (rhṓmē), which means strength.

Romania in turn means “Land of the Romans” and evolved from early Romanian (Late Vulgar Latin) Romaniae.

Exonyms for Romania vary by language with some originating from the Roman self-designation:

Cambrian: Romania

Andalusian: Romania

Scandian, alternate: Romænien

Latin: Romaniae

Greek: Ῥωμανία (Romania)

Persian: Rumistan

Arabian: رُومَانِيَا‎ (Rūmāniyā)

Vasconian: Erromania

Sicilian: Romanìa

Tsalagian: ᎶᎹᏂᏯ (lomaniya)

Francian: Romenië

Frisian: Romeenje

Kurdish: Romanya

In some languages, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, the word for Romance peoples was borrowed from the Goths (walhs) into Proto-Venetic. From the Venetics the term passed to other peoples, such as the Hungarians and was used for all Latinic people of the Balkans. Exonyms based on Gothic ‘walhs’ include:

Gepidian: Ƕaland

Lombard: Wälschland

Scandian: Valland

Vinlandic: Valland

Meshican: Gale

Hellulandic: ᐆᐃᓪ (uuil)

Wendish: Włoska

Hungarian: Olaszország

The term Daqin (Chinese: 大秦; pinyin: Dà qín, Middle Chinese: /dɑiH d͡ziɪn/), meaning "Great Qin," is derived from the dynasty founded by Qin Shi Huang, ruler of the State of Qin and China's first emperor who unified China's Warring States by AUC 533. The prefix "da" (大) or "great" signified that the Roman Empire was on par with the might of the Qin Empire and was viewed as a utopian land located to the northwest of the Parthian (Persian) Empire. The title "Daqin" does not seem to have any phonetic derivation from Latin Roma or Greek Romaikē.

Sinaean: 大秦 (Dàqín)

Japanese: だいしん (Daishin)

Society
Romania is a modern, advanced society, shaped by a plurality of lifestyles and regional identities. Broad acceptance of diversity and religious plurality is the expected norm in Romania and the country is placed placed highly on tolerance rankings globally. Romania established one of the highest levels of gender equality globally, promotes disability rights, and is legally and socially tolerant toward homophiles.

Certain contemporary global issues, such as abortion and homophile rights, are non-issues within Romania on account of their historical culture acceptance. Broadly held and accepted same-sex and intersex rights permeate modern Romania and the nation is rated highly in these arenas. Abortion, a similar global issue, remains fully legal in Romania and has largely had little fluctuation throughout history, remaining an issue that does not arise among Romans.

Romans enjoy among the highest standards of living globally, surpassed only by Ganonsia and Bakitara by some estimates and comparable to Cambria and Sina.

The Roman state protects and supports the economic and social well-being of the citizens, based upon the principles of equal opportunity, equitable distribution of  the means of wealth via the distribution of the means of production to as many as possible. Romania has more small businesses and land owners than any other state as a result. The Guild System is highly entrenched in the country.

The guiding philosophies of the Roman state are Republicanism and Corporatist-Distributism.

Gender Equality
In the arena of gender equality Roman society began an early move, compared to most nations of the world (albeit miles behind Ganonsia or Bakitara, for example), toward giving women a voice in society. The move toward full equality in the modern era has its roots in AUC 2407 with the establishment of the Rhea Silvia Society by Màrias Guidu after her travels around Ganonsia and the inspiration she found. Though suffrage and the status of women have been enshrined for some time, there are many in society who argue that Romans have not gone far enough and indicate Ganonsia and Bakitara as prime examples of areas where Romania is lacking even still.

Women’s rights in Romania are considered broad and the country is often highly rated in this arena. In Romania there is broad acceptance of open public breastfeeding, regarded as a norm, and, as with men, certain areas (parks, beaches, etc) are free to toplessness for both men and women. The pay gap in Romania is considered largely non-existent and women are open to all occupations and have largely been integrated as such. Maternal care and maternal leave are among the highest in the world (45 weeks with no pay loss), violence against women is low and when it occurs is taken very seriously. Abortion rights are fully in place and divorce as well.

Nevertheless, Romania is regarded by some as suffering from Pedestal Sexism or Ambivalent Sexism. Cultural norms embedded from the past remain in play among Romans, with dyadic power reflecting the notion that men depend on women to fulfill certain goals, such as heterosexual intimacy and childbearing. Roman men's dependence on women is what fuels benevolently sexist attitudes, leading to idolization and the placing of women on a pedestal. In Romania paternalism reflects views of women as underdeveloped adults or care-taking mothers, providing justification for men to be authoritative and monitor, protect, and make decisions on women's behalf. Gender differentiation promotes the assumption that biological differences between males and females justify the strict adherence to socially prescribed gender roles and, even if officially beyond this, Roman culture has not quite let go of this notion. The long held views of women as sexual objects for men's pleasure and objects of perfection romanticizes women as having sexual purity and views romantic intimacy as necessary to complete a man. The continued obsession with beauty pageants, the fashion industry, the general objectification of women are each examples of this.

In the words of the prominent Roman feminist and mayor of Milan, Tiadora Floris, “Romania continues to suffer from what we call Pedestal Sexism. The embedded endearment to beauty pageants, fashion models, the lingering tunnel view of women as perfection in motherhood, the continued obsession with long standing ideas of physical perfection and beauty - all of this and more erodes Roman attempts at true gender equality. I can certainly pat my fellow Romans on the back for the leaps made toward equality over the decades, but if one is going to be honest then we have to say that Romania continues to fall short.”

Homophile Rights
Romans have historically regarded marriage as a male–female union for the purpose of producing children; Roman law throughout the Classical Era and Post-Classical Era did not recognize marriage between males. Sexual relations between same sex couples was, however, not forbidden. The conquest mentality and "cult of virility" shaped same-sex relations. Roman men were free to enjoy sex with other males without a perceived loss of masculinity or social status, if they took the dominant or penetrative role. Acceptable male partners were slaves and former slaves, prostitutes, and entertainers. The relationships of women are less well documented, though there is enough evidence to suggest a similar situation throughout the Classical and certainly the Post-Classical Era. In the late AUC 1200s the Greek Emperor Ioustinianós declared same-sex relations illegal in Greece and they ultimately became punishable by death. It may be trough this lens that we see the official legalization of same-sex relations in Romania via the Roman law enacted by Emperor Vitalius. We subsequently see no actual change in Romania – male prostitution remained legal as before and same-sex relations remained nonpunishable though they carried social stigma if a man took the ‘feminine’ position.

This status remained unchanged until AUC 2729 which witnessed the legalization of same-sex marriage in Romania. The legalization came upon the back of widespread global movements for inclusiveness of homophile members of society. In Romania this was reflected not only in the marriage law but in movements for an abandonment of cultural shaming of the ‘feminine’ position in a relationship. Romania was the third nation to legalize same-sex marriage.

Romania is largely regarded as very tolerant of same-sex couples and transgender citizens, witnessing very little discrimination according to self-reported statistics and watch-dog statistics. The largest homophile-pride parade takes place yearly in Milan.

Racism in Romania
Racism in Romania has gone through episodes of increase and decrease and is, according to experts, on an increase at present.

The peoples of Romania prided themselves on an absence of overt racial enmity and the country, in the broadest scope, is regarded as one of anti-racism, showing acceptance and diversity. Romania remains among the top globally for societal racial tolerance, though this position has taken numerous blows over history and presently and many have pointed out hypocrisies in such as claim. In 2764, a report by World Rights Watch pointed to growing indications of a rise in xenophobia within the Roman society and Bakitaran Foreign Minister Kahamba Kutesa has publicly expressed concern after the election of Aeliana Berninu as First Consul. In a desire to reduce global and racial antagonism, widespread student movements inside Romania have witnessed a grassroots movement to draw Romania closer to Persia, their historic rival, and have gone through great lengths to combat entrenched cultural racism within Romania.

Historic racism can be seen in the anti-Semitism rooted in the Classical Era. Relationships between the Jewish people and the Roman Empire were at times antagonistic and resulted in several rebellions. The emperor Tiberius expelled from Rome Jews who had gone to live there while the destruction of the Temple and sacking of Jerusalem was the culmination of this anti-jewish stance. Ultimately the Emperor Hadrian would change Judaea province's name to Syria Palaestina in an attempt to destroy this regions identity. The Post-Classical Era witnessed a rebirth in anti-semitism following the status of Judea as a chief Persian ally and 'all Jews' as under the Shah's protection. With the re-sparked rivalry between Romania and Persia came a rise in anti-semitism. The Jews of Romania began to be viewed suspiciously, as potential enemies from within. Flare ups of anti-semitic violence tended to follow the Roman-Persian wars throughout history henceforth. The Great World War witnessed the latest anti-semitic behaviour, with a number of Jewish Romans forced out of the country via violence. During the Great World War the destruction of the Third Temple and abuse of Jerusalemites was stopped only by the intervention of Roman General Bachis Sanna.

Historically held anti-Persian views have permeated Roman society since the Classical Era. Numerous anti-Persian stereotypes abound in Romania, popularized throughout the previous decades with a peak during the Great World War and the emergence of the Tepid War, just under a decade after the GWW's conclusion. Romanians tend to view Persian as their natural enemy and as their opposite. The Romanian film industry has been criticized for its excessive and continuous use of Persians as villains. Persia is stilled viewed broadly in Romania in a negative light, though there have been numerous attempts, particularly among student-movements, at bridging the gap between the two powers. The term fàcifócu (an ethnic slur targeting Persians that means fire-face) continues to show up during international sporting events, particularly football matches.

The Sinti have perhaps suffered the most from racial prejudice within Romania. The historical enslavement of the Sinti spurred a lasting handicap on the Sinti community that has lasted to the present day. In Post-Classical Romania slavery remained widespread and almost all slaves originated in eastern Europe, northern Libia, Hibernia, or western Asia before being completely supplanted by the mass enslavement of the Sinti, henceforth the exclusive source of chattel. AUC 2609 witnessed the full emancipation of the Sinti but the broad anti-Sinti sentiment never faded. Job and housing discrimination abounds and many Sinti faced violence during the chaos of the GWW. A report issued by the Society of Conscience in 2764 claims that "systematic discrimination is taking place against the Sinti in Romania. The organization has documented the failures of the government to live up to their obligations." Roman Professor Dionìsi Nigellu has written articles stating that Sinti are culturally inclined toward theft and use their minority status to 'blackmail' the majority. According to the latest Society of Conscience Survey, Sinti routinely suffer assaults in city streets and other public places as they travel to and from homes and markets as well as routine police abuse. Housing discrimination has led to a great number of Sinti living in unofficially Sinti exclusive housing communities, often left in a state or disrepair.

Historically Sub-Saharan Libians (particularly West Libians via the Asante markets) were broadly purchased as rowing slaves aboard Roman ships in the Post-Classical Era and the ethnic slur, remagena (a union of the word 'rematòre', rower, and the word 'melangena', eggplant), has lingered to the present day. A number of racist incidents have been noted during football and gymnastic sporting events, targeting both Persians and Sub-Saharan Libians. Libian migrant communities have noted discrimination against them in Romania, though the incidents are recorded less often than those toward Sinti. This is attributed to the lesser numbers by the Society of Conscience and they do note the increase in racial prejudice that is accompanying climate refugees from Libia.

The Persian author Afiveh Felfeli is quoted as saying, "The Romans hide from their own misdeeds by shielding themselves with the errors of others. They hold up the evil deeds of the Persians that we might not see the evil done by Romans to their fellow men. The self-righteousness that Romania declares for bringing to justice those responsible for the plight of the Armenians is belittled by the suffering of Sinti, Jew, Meshican, Antillian, Ethiopian, or Miamean at the hands of Romans.

National Image
The internal and external evaluation of Romania's national image is significantly and repeatedly highly ranked. Globally assessed, the country's reputation in terms of culture, politics, exports, its people and its attractiveness to tourists, immigrants and investments, has remained among the highest in the world. Romania has been named the world's third most valued nation among 50 countries in 2763, behind Cambria and Sina. With an expenditure of £70 billion on international travel in 2761, Romans spent more money on travel than any other country. Romania garners global popularity in sports, beauty pageants, cinema, science, and education – regarded as a leader in these categories as well as others.

The global status of Romania has fallen in recent years due to the ongoing wars in Ethiopia and Miame. Persia, among other nations, is of the opinion that Romania is a global autocrat, cultural imperialist and bully.

First Era - Early Civilization
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Second Era - Classical
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Third Era - Post-Classical
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Fourth Era - Early Modern
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Fifth Era - Modern
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Government of Romania
The Government of the Roman Republic was established in AUC 2569 after the deposition of the last Emperor.

The Roman government is divided in three– executive, legislative, and judicial. It is composed of five elements: Assembly, Tribunal, Senate, Council, and Consulate. The executive branch of government consists of the Consulate and the Council. The legislative branch of government consists of the Senate. The judicial branch consists of the Tribunal. Lastly is the population at large, with all legal citizens of the Roman Republic considered the Assembly.

The executive branch has a makeup as follows:

The Consulate consists of the Consuls, the two heads of state and government of the Roman Republic. One consul is elected via popular vote by what is termed the Assembly, constituting all eligible voters in Romania. The other consul is elected by the Senate from among their own members. Both consuls serve a three-year term. Both consuls are considered equal in power and a balance to one another. The Assembly-elected (popular vote) consul is the principal chief diplomat for the republic and in charge of foreign affairs, assigns ambassadors (they must be approved by the Council and co-consul), submits to the Senate the annual and pluriannual Budget Law, as well as the relevant financial statements of the State and of State Corporations, accompanied by the necessary reports (the Senate is required to approve). The Senate-elected consul appoints Tribunal members (though they must be approved by the Council and co-consul) and traditionally acts as the commander-in-chief of the Roman military – a role that is not constitutional only traditional. Each consul rotates as head of the Senate each month, residing over meetings and acting as the tie breaker in votes. Both consuls have full veto power over one another and the Council. The Consulate can order immediate execution, under its own responsibility, of urgent and unpostponable measures, which are subject to the preventive control in conformity with the provisions in force. The consuls can draft laws, though they must be passed by the Council, then the Senate, and are eligible for veto by the public via referendum. Consuls may be elected twice in their life but may not exceed two terms.

The Council by a variable number of members, generally around 10, it is appointed by the Grand and General Council among its own members, who are elected by the population. Generally it lasts five years as the Council, but it can be forced to resign by a parliamentary vote of no confidence.

The Council consists of nine members elected from the Senate by the Senate. They act as a secondary executive, only marginally less powerful than the Consulate. Generally the elected group lasts five years as the Council, but it can be forced to resign by a senatorial vote of no confidence. Each elected Councilor is chosen for a post:

Councilor of State for Internal Affairs and Civil Defense

Councilor of State for Finance, Budget and Programming

Councilor of State for Education, Culture, University and Justice

Councilor of State for Territory, Environment and Agriculture

Councilor of State for Health and Social Security

Councilor of State for Trade and Relations with the Town Council

Councilor of State for Communication, Transport, Tourism, and Sport

Councilor of State for Industry and Crafts

Councilor of State for Labour and Cooperation

Collectively the Consulate and the Council decide on international policies for Romania, as well as international treaties and agreements concerning general international policies and matters relevant for the State’s security. They determine the general administrative policies by defining the relevant objectives and general programmes and by issuing the necessary general directives of the Public Administration. Are entrusted with the legislative initiative by drafting the laws to be submitted to the Senate for their approval; Decide on any other matter concerning the implementation of the Government programme, unless otherwise provided for in law provisions. Adopt or veto delegated decrees voted on by the Assembly (referendum laws initiated by the population and voted for); In case of need and urgency, adopts decrees having force of law and subject to ratification by Senate within three months, under penalty of nullity; Controls expenditure plans, as well as the single interventions, with a view to verifying their compliance with the approved budget and with the directives issued; Proposes administrative provisions falling within the competence of the Senate; and Adopts regulations concerning the forms and implementation modalities of laws, as well as the organisation and functioning of public offices in conformity with law provisions.

The legislative branch:

The Senate is the legislative branch of the Roman government. Elected via popular vote every five years, there are 310 senators elected from Roman constituencies (via each province by proportional representation), 10 from Roman citizens living abroad, and a small number (currently 6) are senators for life (senatores ad vita, also known as Il Nòve, meaning The Nine). A majority of at least 40 seats are given to the winning coalition of parties which receives an absolute majority of votes. A 3.5% threshold exists, together with guarantees for female candidates. The Senate approves or vetoes a number of decisions by the executive branch, appoint the Advising Commissions, and the Government Unions. The Senate also has the power to ratify treaties with other countries, co-acting and being the final arbiter for the Assembly-elected consul. The Senate is divided into six different Advising Commissions consisting of senators who examine, propose, and discuss the implementation of new laws that are on their way to being presented on the floor of the Senate. Though the Consulate may draft laws, these must go through their co-consul, the Council, and the Senate. The Senate, on the other hand, is able to draft laws which only need approval from the Senate (any law from any source may additionally be vetoed by a popular vote via referendum).

Through referendums, citizens may challenge any law passed by senate or consulate and through initiatives, introduce amendments to the republic’s constitution, thus making Romania a direct democracy.

The judicial branch:

The Council of the Tribunal serves as the supreme court of the republic. The Senate-elected consul elects the Tribunal (with approval by the co-consul and the Council, with additional potential for Senatorial denial via vote), whose members remain in office until the age of 70 or via removal on the address of the Senate. The Tribunal consists of twelve members, one of which is the Supreme Tribune, the highest ranking and chief judge.

Current issues:

The principal contemporary issues facing Romania today are the global economic recession, the continued financial and life drain of the two wars, a wave of anti-Sinti rhetoric sparked by the New Latin League Party, anti-immigrant stances across the country in light of climate and war refugees from Hesperia and Libia, the continued desire for Romania to see Persian global power hemmed in, with concerns about Persian activity abroad, trade-agreements with Sina and the effect that Sinaean productivity has on domestic productivity,

March 2771 saw the inauguration of a new government under the popularly elected Aeliana Berninu and the senatorially elected Cassandra Bergamòne. At almost two years into their term the contemporary issues at hand include and administrative problems related to Romania's status as a close financial and trading partner within the European community. The other priority issue is to increase the transparency and efficiency of the Council. The long-standing push-and-pull between the Consulate and the Council remains a contentious issue. Consul Berninu has remained an antagonistic figure, riding into office on a wave of populism across Romania. The consul is seen by some as pushing the boundaries of the Consulship and using the office to broad excess of power. Issues which Consul Berninu road into office on include immigration issues, including a rising anti-migrant sentiment brought upon by climate and war refugees, principally from Libia and Hesperia. A wave of anti-Sinti sentiment has accompanied Berninu’s election as well, with a national conversation started by her political party, the New Latin League Party, suggesting moving the Sinti to India, a situation causing a diplomatic crisis with the Indian Republic. Claims of racism have since sparked from within the Senate and from leaders abroad, with witness to additional protest movements within Romania itself.

The Consulship has been largely cooperative, to the dismay of many in the Senate who had perhaps hoped a centre-right element in Consul Bergamòne would act as a moderating force to the further-right of Consul Berninu. At present the principal issue between the consuls is the war in Ethiopia and the war in Miame; Consul Berninu wishes to speed up the situation with swift and aggressive force and turn these two areas into reliant states on Romania that the refugee communities might be forcibly returned to. Consul Bergamòne wishes to continue the gradual course Romania has been on and aid these two states in stabilizing themselves and subsequently protect Romanian interests at large.