Alternative History
Republica d'Occitània e Catalonha
República d'Occitània i Catalunya
Republic of Occitania and Catalonia
OccitaniaCataloniaFlag (VegWorld)
Location Map Catatania (VegWorld)
Official language Occitan, Catalan
Capital Montpelhièr
Largest City Barcelona
President Montse Rodriguez
Area 22,090 km²
Population 8,600,000
HDI 0.963
Sovereignty 1255 (recognized)
Currency Euro
Our Timeline Equivalent some of Occitania (France), all of Catalonia and Valencia (Spain)

Occitania and Catalonia (or more commonly Catatania), formally the Republic of Occitania and Catalonia is a democratic nation abutting southwest France, northwest Spain, Andorra, and western Euskadi. As one of the first continuous democratic nations in Europe and the world, it has always been a force for advancing democratic ideals across the world. It also has been at the forefront of advancing human and animal rights.

Name[]

Occitania and Catalonia has often been called "Catalonia" in English for short. (This parallels the use of "Holland" for "Netherland".) Even though it is officially incorrect, "Catalonia" is often used by Catalonians (meaning only those living in the regions of Catalonia and Valencia) and foreign people to denote the entire country, possibly because "Occitania and Catalonia" is more cumbersome. As the largest city of the country and a major world port, Barcelona was the most visited area by foreigners. Barcelonans would often call their country Catalonia. People from Occitania, however, are often offended when referred to as "Catalonians". A shorter and more precise term for the country is Catatania, an amalgam of Catalonia and Occitania. Since the two sub-states have a large degree of autonomy, it is fine to refer to Occitania and Catalonia by these names, if used to refer only to those individual sub-states. Valencia is a part of Catalonia, but extra respect will usually be paid to those who use the name Valencia to refer to the area.

Demographics[]

Ethnic Groups[]

Owing to its generally liberal attitudes throughout its existence, many persecuted ethnic, religious, and other minorities settled in Catatania in the Middle Ages and early Modern Era. However, many of the Pemhakamik nations later overtook it in terms of immigration. Catatanians' origins are as follows:

94% European
82% Native
45% Catalonian
28% Occitanian
09% Valencian
02% Spanish
03% French
07% other European
01.5% Greek
01.5% Roma
01% Byzantine
01% Dutch
06% non-European
02% Indian
01% Chinese
01% Pachan and Pemhakamik Aboriginal
00.5% Arabic
00.5% Sub-Saharan African

Religions[]

Catatania is the birthplace of Catharism. This religion has played a major role in the development of the culture of the country. Religious minorities (and non-religious people) from other regions have often migrated to Catatania while there were persecutions in their home countries. This is what Catatanians professed to be (as of 2006):

42% Nonreligious
21% atheist
21% agnostic
38% Cathar
09% Christian
05% Catholic
02% Quaker
01% Eastern Orthodox
01% other Christian
06% Jewish
01% Buddhist
01% Hindu
01% Jain
01% Muslim
01% other

Vegetarianism[]

89% of Catatanians are vegetarian (2006 estimate).

89% Vegetarian
51% Vegan Vegetarian
29% Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian
07% Lacto Vegetarian
02% Ovo Vegetarian
11% Non-Vegetarian

Languages[]

Catatania's official languages are Occitan and Catalan. However, French, Spanish, and English, are widely spoken as second languages, and all of the minority languages have a right to protection. Also, Catalan and Occitan speakers are exposed to each other through the media, and this creates a much greater degree of mutual intelligibility between the languages. As for the non-native languages, besides French and Spanish TV programs being widely viewed in their original languages (with Occitan and Catalan subtitles), there are TV channels in Hindi, Mandarin, and Greek, along with a channel dedicated to programs from around the world in their native tongues. All programs (even those mainly catering to minorities, but minus "live" shows) are by law subtitled in Occitan and Catalan. This is because the government feels that all people should be able to derive entertainment from any other culture. Languages are very much split down autonomous sub-state and ethnic lines. The following list shows the most-used languages at home (2006 estimate).

58% Catalan (including the Valencian dialect)
33% Occitan
02% French
02% Spanish
01% English
01% Greek
01% other European languages
02% non-European languages

Nearly 100% of Catatanians can at least understand both Catalan and Occitan. In the same way, many more people know how to speak the other languages on the list than is shown above, as this list only takes into account primary languages spoken at home and does not take into account multilingualism.