500-599 (Abrittus)

Rough sketch - additions and comments welcome!

Centennial developments and trends
Economy: Military: Philosophy / science: Religion: Nations of Europe: Nations of Africa:
 * Various research and development successes in the domain of chemistry, especially surrounding processes of destillation and treatment of crude oil, create a growing market of new commodities.
 * The increased importance of oil brings new wealth and conflicts to the region between Egypt and Persia. At first, the Romans tap mostly Egyptian oil, while the Sassanids have their own sources. But towards the end of the century, both empires (and further local players) seem to prepare for the scramble for further reserves across Arabia...
 * The development of credit systems has reached a critical point both in the Roman Empire (where public institutions like the academies, temples, infrastructural agencies or even the Cura Annonae are the main lenders) and in India and China (where Buddhist monasteries are the main lenders). Not only occassional debt crises create unrest, but also the enormous power of the lending institutions (crossing imperial borders etc.) harbors potential for conflicts.
 * During the periods when Rome`s ships are able to travel East, the first trade contacts with China are established.
 * Ostrogothic sea merchants replicate the succesful strategy, with which they had monopolised Black Sea trade in the 5th century, now in the distant Baltic Sea. Trade relations, coastal urbanisation and increasing living standards help calming the violent conflicts between the Venedi, the Saxons and the Swedes.
 * Rome`s seesaw policy is replaced with a return to open hostility towards the Sassanids. In this context, alliances (which are not entirely free from frictions, though) between Rome, Aksum and Saba and involving different Arab tribes persist throughout the century.
 * Romans and Sassanids both use lighter, portable flame-throwers in their frequent wars against each other.
 * Celtic philosophy spreads across the Roman Empire, not without conflict.
 * Where it has taken roots, empirical sciences start to blossom, especially chemistry. While Celtic universities focus on fundamental research, Roman academies focus on application.
 * While Christianity begins to weaken in the Roman West, it starts to heavily influence Saharan and Sub-Saharan Africa.
 * Under siege from all sides, the Sassanid empire takes on totalitarian traits at times, which includes attempts at imposing Zoroastrism upon all its citizens. The failure starts to become apparent towards the end of the century; resistance forms especially in Sassanid universities, which had been exactly blossomed under the tight control and have grown clandestine affiliations with "Celtic" philosophy and Buddhism.
 * The Empire of the Celts abolishes slavery in the 590s.
 * A balance of power establishes itself between Saxony, the Venedian Rus and Sweden, who all focus their external contacts on each other and the Baltic Sea.
 * Following trade contacts with Simonist Christian Garamants, Simonist thought and a revolutionary mood spread among the Hausa city states. United, Hausa and Garamants undermine internal support for the sacral monarchy in Kanem, then stage a revolution in their oppressive neighbour`s state. Kanem falls apart.

Salvador79 (talk) 15:05, March 6, 2014 (UTC)

Abrittus