Give us a hand!

[gracul]

Hey!
Ever wanted to help in SS developement? Now you have a chance!
Over the past few years we struggled to make SS only better and better.
This time, we would like to ask the community to help us with a couple matters.


Regional Descriptions

We are currently seeking aid in the matter of "Regional Descriptions".
The idea isn't new and is quite neat. Anyone who played mods like TATW probably knows how they look like:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

If you think you can provide some nice regional descriptions, and you have the knowledge to do it - give it a try. Best regional descriptions will land in the next SS version.

To Specify Things:
Regional Description should have about 2-3 paragraphs. If we really lack historical data on a region, we can have even 2-4 sentences.
We are doing a per region description, sometimes it might be hard as for example in England one region encompasses a couple of historical regions, but due to gameplay balance and engine restrictions there can be only one. In such a case stick to the region of the settlement. Hopefully you'll spell check the descriptions - but we will do that also.

REGION DESCRIPTION LIST (199-39=160 left to go):

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Lyon

Situated in east-central France and bordered by the Alpine mountains, Lyon's geography is dominated
by the Rhone and Saone rivers that converge to the south. Lyon was founded originaly as a Roman colony
in 43 BC over an older Gaulish settlement called Lugdunum. It was also the birthplace of Roman Emperors
Claudius and Caracalla.
In the 5th century AD, Burgundian refugees driven by the Huns were re-settled in Lugdunum and it soon
became the capital of the Kingdom of Burgundy. Historicly, Lyon later came under French control under
King Phillip. Lyon has long been known as an important area for silk production and is an economic power
on the road between Paris and Marseille.

Alexandria

Founded by Alexander the Great, Alexandria was the capitol of Egypt for nearly 1,000 years. Ruled by a succession of dynasties and Empires and considered the second city of the Roman Empire after first Rome, then Constantinople. After the Islamic conquest in AD 641 Cairo came to overshadow Alexandria but they city retained its position as the 2nd largest city of Egypt and a major port. During the early medieval era Alexandria hosted thriving Coptic Christian, Greek Orthodox, and Jewish communities which the early Caliphs encouraged due to the aid given to Islamic warriors during the conquest of this part of Eastern Roman Empire.
Due to sea trade routes Alexandria's ties to Spain were strong and many prominent men of Spanish birth rose to renown as scholars and merchants. Alexandria was a center of Sunni influence under the Shia Fatimid dynasty but suffered during the ensuing years of civil war and efforts to repel the Christian Crusaders. Under Mameluk rule Alexandria regained some prominence but this period saw a consolidation of Islam as a consequence of the Crusades and Mongol onslaught where the large quarters for Christians and Jews declined from over 10,000 families to under 1,000.
After the Mongols expansion was halted by the Mameluks and trade resumed from the low of the plague years, Alexandria returned to prosperity as the main port of commerce for trade entering the Red Sea and traveling by caravan to the Nile thence to Alexandria and onwards to Europe and North Africa.

Cairo

Memphis is situated on land a few miles upstream of the Nile delta just south of Cairo and was the most important port of ancient Egypt until the rise of Alexandria. Memphis declined further under Roman rule and was quickly overshadowed by Fustat, the first capitol of Egypt under Islam. Fustat grew rapidly and become one of the largest cities in the world until AD 1168 when under threat of attack by Crusaders Fustat was ordered burned to deny the Crusaders access to its wealth. Cairo had been an outlaying suburb of Fustat and the least damaged part of the city as a result of the fire. Saladin gained power and based his capitol at Cairo which soon surpassed Fustat in size and wealth. Saladin ordered the construction of the Citadel of Cairo, a fortress which was the remain the seat of Egyptian governments until the 19th century.
The Mameluk conquest in AD 1250 saw Cairo become the largest city outside of China and the center of Mameluk power. As a waypoint of the Spice trade and the center of Mameluk power Cairo flourished until the first outbreak of plague in 1348. Egypt and particularly Cairo suffered from repeated outbreaks of plague over the ensuring century and Cairo declined from a high of over half a million inhabitants to under 150,000 by the time the Ottomans defeated the Mameluks in AD 1517.

Lund

Situated in a strategic advantageous position on the southwest end of the sloping hills of Romelaasen.It was founded around 990 AD, and granted market rights by King Canute the Great of Denmark.
The city became seat for the archbishop for Scandinavia in 1103, and cathedral of Lund was completed in the beginning of the 11.century.
The city had a short spell as the capital of Denmark in the period of 1134 to 1137.
In the beginning of the 13.century Lund lost influence to Malmoe, although it retained its position as churchly and cultural center. In 1425 to 1536 the academy in Lund acted as the first real university of Denmark. After the reformation in 1536 the influence of Lund diminished considerably, and from the year 1658 it became a part of Sweden.

Milan

Inhabited since ancient times by various civilizations, Milan was briefly capitol of the Western Roman Empire before the Lombards settled into the Po Valley giving the entire region their name- Lombardy. Absorbed into the Holy Roman Empire by Charlemagne who crowned himself King of the Lombards in AD 774 Milan gradually grew prosperous and like many Lombard cities grew restless under the rule of the Holy Roman Empire. Seeking greater rights, Milan actively displayed open discontent against the Holy Roman Emperor and the city was crushed, sacked, and burned by the Emperor Frederik I Barbarossa in AD 1162. Following this defeat Milan organized other northern Italian cities into the Lombard League and resumed opposition to Barbarossa. Finally gaining a favorable peace treaty in AD 1183, Milan was recognized as a Duchy and gained de facto independence of the Holy Roman Empire.
With the freedom from tariffs and other duties of the Holy Roman Empire, Milan's merchant guilds and armaments industry flourished. Rule of the city vacillated between the Guelphs and Ghibelline parties which represented the Pope and the Holy Roman Empire's interests respectively. The family Visconti finally gained the upper hand in 1395 representing the Ghibellines and trading on Visconti favor with the German Emperors, the Visconti maintained control of Milan until the demise of the Visconti line without male heir and the rise of the Condottieri, Francesco Sforza in AD 1450 whose rule brought Milan into the Renaissance and established it as the leading city of northern Italy until present times.

Rosklide

Roskilde is one of the oldest cities in Denmark situated at the southeast shore of Roskilde Fjord. According to an ancient chronicle the city is named after the mythical King Roar. In the year 1020 Roskilde became a bishopric, making it the church's most important town in Denmark. The city is also known for the Blood Feast of Roskilde in 1157, where three contenders to the throne met at a great banquet.
Roskilde grew in influence and it became the largest city on Zealand and seat of the Danish kings until 1443. The Cathedral of Roskilde was completed in 1275, and continued to be used as burial ground for the Danish royalty. The last remnants of greater importance disappeared after the reformation and the closure of the Catholic church in Denmark.

Kalmar

Kalmar is situated on the Baltic Coast of Smaland and is one the oldest cities in Sweden. The area has been inhabited since the Stone Age and the castle in Kalmar is from the 11th century. By the middle of the 12th century Kalmar was one the most important cities in Sweden and a blooming center for trade dominated by wealthy merchants of German origin. The city also had good connections to the Hanseatic League.
A very significant political events took place at Kalmar Castle in 1397. The Union of Kalmar was formed which united the kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden under the rule of Eric of Pomerania. It lasted until 1523 where Sweden left the Union. Kalmar Castle was laid under siege a total of 22 times, but where never taken by storm.

Bern

Switzerland, is known for being one economic and religious center of the celtic civilisation since iron age. The tribe of the Helvets are considered as ancestors of swiss people : they arrive in the region with other germanic tribes at the end of the second century BC.
In 401 AC, Roman legions leave the place under german tribes pressure. The Holy Germanic Empire takes over Switzerland in 1032 : the Gothard pass trough the Alps is a prosperous economic axe and a strategic road to send armies to north Italy.
In 1291, the Emperor Rodolphe I Von Habsbourg dies: this is the occasion for indigenous to try taking control of the pass and become independant. The same year, a defensive pact is scelled between first communities which will form the future Switzerland.
After being excommunicated, the Swiss revolt. The battle of Morgarten in which many emperor's heavy knights are slaughtered show the entire Europe the value of swiss halbarders and pikemen. They will become a worthy part of severals european armies.
In 1357, the city of Bern join the alliance and become it's stronger member.

Ajaccio

The Ajaccio area is occupied by humans since 7.000-6.000 bc. During the antiquity, the island is settled by Carthage, then Rome : the site is a wind protected gulf Romans used to build boats. After Rome collapses, the island is invaded by barbarian hords (Vandals, Ostrogoths then Lombards).
In 774, Charlemagne becomes king of Lombards and give the Island to the Holy Chair. Nevertheless, the Pope is unable to protect the island from Saracens.
During three centuries, the Corsica is almost cuted from Europe by many muslims raids. Ajaccio's area, which counts a castle and a cathedrale, loose a lot of inhabitants and decline progressively.
Mandated by the Pope during the XIIe century, the Genoeses securise the territory building castles. The city of Ajaccio is officially (re)funded by Genoa in 1492.

Aberdeen

Gaelic speakers were the original Scots and in AD 1100 Gaelic was the main language of the Highlands, Lowlands, and much of Ireland. Norse and English settlement had broadened the Gaelic tongue but most settlers had adopted Gaelic language and customs before AD 1100. Throughout the 1100's Norman and English lords were granted fiefs and burghs as the Scot Royal family attempted to expand beyond Cumbria and the Lowlands into Northumberland with alternating periods of friendship and hostility towards the Norman and Anglo-French Kings of England. The border between Scotland and England would not be settled for nearly 500 years after 1100 and led to many invasions in both directions while the English always had to consider Scotland before embarking on any expeditions into the continent.
(Aberdeen is not the greatest choice of regional capitol as it wasn't much of a city until 1200s. Perth, Roxburgh, Berwick, etc something else is better or just cut the region as it doesn't represent either the highlands or the lowlands).

Inverness

The largest settlement of the Highlands in the medieval era, Inverness conducted regular fairs which drew commerce from Norway and the eastern Baltic as well as England and France. The strategic location of Inverness and comparatively rich trade drew many Norse and other raiders leaving the town and castle to suffer repeated attacks until the 1400s. Many of the Highland Clans contested for control of Inverness and numerous battles were fought in the vicinity against fellow Scots, Norse raiders, and Norman expeditions.

Edinburgh

German Angles captured a settlement in the present location of Edinburgh from the Picts and the fusion of cultures and languages would create the Scots. Situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth with the river Leith flowing into the Forth, Edinburgh could control the Lowlands while remaining far enough removed from surprise English attack and conduct trade with the Highlands by land and France, the Low Countries, and Norway over water. Edinburgh eventually surpassed Perth, the traditional capitol of Scotland, as the richest town and seat of the Scottish Royals.

Acre

Acre was a small sleepy coastal city under the Eastern Roman Empire but conquest by the Islamic Caliphate led to a change in fortunes as Acre became the principal port of the south Levant under both the Arabs and the Crusaders. Under steady Crusader influence and investment Acre became the main port of the eastern Mediterranean and controlled a significant portion of eastern trade enriching the Kingdom of Jerusalem along with several Italian city states such as Genoa which retained exclusive trade contracts with the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The tolls on Acre's trade reportedly brought more revenue to the Kingdom of Jerusalem than the sum of all the revenue to the King of England by 1140. Lost to Saladin and then recaptured by Richard at the opening of the 3rd Crusade Acre was one of the last Crusader holds to fall in 1291 to the Mameluks.

Adana

Adana and Tarsus were important cities in antiquity waxing and waning as the course of the Sarus river changed. Under the Romans Tarsus was a metropolis but over the following centuries under the Eastern Roman Empire Adana received many new bridges, roads, irrigation, and government buildings surpassing Tarsus. Adana was captured by the Islamic Caliphate and continued as an important trade center and urban city until recaptured by the Eastern Roman Empire in 964.
After the Eastern Roman defeat at Manzikert in 1071 the Seljuk Turks captured many cities in Anatolia including Adana. The city was recaptured during the progress of the 1st Crusade and was one of the few regions returned to the Eastern Roman Empire by the Crusaders. Armenians of Cilicia attacking south from their capitol of Sis captured the city in 1132. The Eastern Roman Empire returned and held the city until 1170 when the Armenians again captured the city and it became one of the principal cities of the Kingdom of Cilicia. The Armenians held Adana until ceding it to the Mameluks for a peace treaty in 1359.

Adrianople

Hadrianopolis under the Romans, the city is ancient and the site of more than a dozen major battles as it stands on the crossroads of Europe and Anatolia. The Roman Emperor Valens was killed at Adrianople by invading Goths in AD 378. The city and most of ancient Thrace remained in Roman hands after the division of the Roman Empire into East and West but successive Bulgarian kingdoms managed to capture the region at various times but could never hold it. The city fell to Crusaders and remained part of the Latin Kingdoms until Constantinople was recaptured by a much diminished Eastern Roman Empire whose control was immediately challenged by the Ottomans who captured the region and made Adrianople their capitol of Edirne in 1365.

Ahvaz

Continuously occupied since ancient times due to its prime location on the Karun river, Ahvaz city had been partially wrecked during the Arab conquest but the surrounding regions were well cultivated and grew sugarcane and many other crops supplying a large population into the 1100s. Schools, hospitals, and and vast irrigation works were well established and recognized all over the Islamic world for their quality. The Mongol invasions proved devastating for Avhaz and within 50 years of the initial invasions Ahvaz had been reduced to a small village as the irrigation projects were not maintained and the Karun river silted up denying commerce by ship.

Al-Aqaba

Ayla is an ancient name for Aqaba and is mentioned in the Christian bible as a prosperous center of trade. Under the Romans it was the principal port on the Red Sea and hosted the 10th Legion. The area between the port on the coast and the interior is relatively barren and holds Berber tribes though a major military road ran through the region under the Romans, after the Islamic conquest the land routes remained very important to allow Muslims to make the Hajj to Mecca from all points north and east of the Arabian Peninsula. Control over the tolls along the route brought significant wealth and the Crusaders attempted to control the port but lost it to Saladin in 1187 never to regain it.

Al-Mahdiya

An important Phoenician port, after the Roman conquest the city lost some of its importance but remained a major anchorage for military fleets of all who ruled the region. The surprise attack by a combined Genoan and Pisan fleet in 1087 and destruction of most of the Fatimid fleet allowed the 1st Crusade to progress with control of sea routes and resupply assured for the Crusaders and made easier the control of vital trade routes for the Italian merchant cities in subsequent years. With the chaos caused by civil war in Egypt and the 1st Crusade a Berber dynasty gained control of the region though Mahdiya was sacked by the Sicilio-Normans in 1146 followed by a longer occupation begun in 1148 that lasted until 1160 when the Normans were forced to abandon their conquest due to fighting with the Eastern Romans and the Holy Roman Empire. The remaining Christian population which had cooperated with the conquering Normans were forced to flee the Almohad revival and many moved to Sicily or converted to Islam.
The Hafsids made the port a center of both legal commerce and pirate activity which drew many Muslims fleeing Spain to settle in the city. The refugees from Spain led a cultural golden age for a short time making Mahdiya a vibrant social center. French Crusaders and Knights of St John attempted to capture the port on several occasions to protect Christian shipping but were unsuccessful. Finally the continual increases in pirate activity led to few Christian states willing to trade with the Hafsids and the golden age ended though it wasn't until the 1500s and repeated Spanish attacks that brought an end to Mahdiya's importance as a major port.

Al-Mu'miniya

Centered around the most important series of oases in eastern Arabia, Mu'miniya was a major center of Shia culture until shortly before the rise of the Safavids. The urban area continued to grow as the Shia Farimids sponsored many construction projects and schools. After the fall of the Fatimids a revived Abbasid Caliphate attempted to assert control in the region but the Mongol invasion and fall of Baghdad led to a slow decline of Mu'miniya fortunes until by the 1521 when the Portuguese invaded the islands off the coast with only a handful of ships and men, Mu'miniya was unable to resist and the region came under control of the Ottomans.

Visby

Visby is the largest city on the island of Gotland in The Baltic sea and has been a centre of trade since around 900 AD. In the 12th century Visby was an important trade center for the Hanseatic League.
In the year 1361 the city was conquered by the Danish king Valdemar IV, but it remained part of the Hanseatic League until it was captured by the Teutonic Order in 1398.
From the year 1408 onwards Visby became part of The Union of Kalmar and later on a part of Denmark. In 1437 Eric of Pomerania settled in Visby and in the following 9 years the city became a pirates haven. The commerce halted and conflicts with the Hanseatic League lead to a slow demise of the city. In 1525 the city was set on fire by troops from the Hanseatic City of Lübeck. Visby became part of Sweden in 1645.

Almut

The origine of the Alamut fortress is traced back to the Daylamites, an arian people. In 860 AC it is extended and consolidated by the dynasty of Alids. At the beginning of the XIth century, castle is occupied by the Seldjukides.
The ismaelite sect of « ashashin » leaded by Hasan Sabbah can't bear anymore the suniite domination. In 1060 they take the place and initiate a religious and military doctrine to attack seldjukids interests by sabotages and murders. They don't hesitate to ally with crusaders if needed.
After Hasan's natural death in 1124, the sect declines. and is definitively anihilated with the mongol's surge in 1256 : Alamut is definitly rased.

Aleppo

Aleppo was a significant trade center prior to the Hittite Empire and later saw major Greek settlement while remaining prosperous under the Romans. By the medieval era Aleppo was the largest city in the Levant and rivaled Cordoba, Cairo and Baghdad for influence in the Islamic world. The Eastern Roman Empire managed to sack Aleppo in 962 and controlled the city until the Seljuk victory at Manzikert.
After the 1st Crusade Aleppo suffered terrible damage in an earthquake and soon found a new rival in Damascus which controlled great wealth gained by tolls on Hajj pilgrim routes and trade with the Crusader Kingdoms. The Crusaders attacked Aleppo twice, but failed to penetrate the outer walls let alone the strongly fortified Citadel of Aleppo- one of the largest castles in the world at that time.
The capture of Edessa by the Zengrids led to the 2nd Crusade which failure allowed Nur ad-Din to finally subdue Damascus in 1154 and the Zengrid dynasty become the strongest force opposing the Crusaders with Aleppo as the capitol. The rise of Saladin in 1174 led to the unification of Syria and Egypt and the loss of Jerusalem to this powerful enemy of the Crusaders and inspired the 3rd Crusade. Aleppo remained Saladin's most important city and only entered decline after repeated sacks by the Mongols starting in 1260. Finally under the Ottomans Aleppo regained prominence and was second only to Istanbul for many years.

Algiers

Founded as a major city on the site of an old Roman town in 944, Algiers remained an important town to the various dynasties which ruled it. The Sicilio-Normans briefly held the city until the Almohad revival. Algiers expanded tremendously and assumed significant importance as Muslims banished from Al-Andalus settled into the town. The region was prosperous acting as a middleman between Spain, France, and the rest of Muslim Africa until the arrival of corsairs sent by the Ottomans to contest Spanish influence. The corsairs successfully ejected all the Spanish garrisons and created a state based on piracy that resisted numerous invasions by Spain and France, surviving until the 1800s.

Ancona

Established as a Greek colony the city flourished under the Romans as their most important port on the Adriatic. Achieving independence from the succession of kingdoms that followed the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Ancona was a true Republic and major maritime power allied with Ragusa and the Eastern Roman Empire against Venice. Regular conflict with Venice led Ancona to side with the Pope in the troubles between the Holy Roman Emperors and the Popes. Never occupied directly by Venice nor any rival powers the city defeated numerous sieges and remained a Republic aside from a 35 year interruption by the Malatesta family. The city finally fell to a scheme of Pope Clement VII in 1532 and was absorbed into the Papal States.

Cordoba

Between 800-1200 AD, Codoba was probably one of the largest city in all of Europe, if not the entire world, it is located on the banks of Guadalquivir river with close mineral access to the nearby Sierra Morena, originally named by non other than Hamilcar Barca (father of one Hannibal Barca), it became the capital of the Islamic Spain (Andalusia) after the Islamic conquest in the 8th century AD, and eventually the seat of the Caliphate of Cordoba, while much of the rest of Europe was engulfed in the Dark Age, Andalusia saw a golden era and Cordoba became the most prominent city in all of Western Europe.
After the disentergration o the Caliphate, Cordoba gradually began to decline, the decline gained further momentum due to the Guadalquivir river becomming less navigable to larger vessels and later the Reconqusta . Today it is only a relatively small city within Spain, only a shade of it's former glory, however much of it's medieval buildings remains intact, including the Great Cathedral / Mosque of Cordoba.

Rome

Rome was obviously, the center of the Western world during the Roman Empire, and the seat of the Papacy, however in the middle ages it was a mere fraction of it's former glory, much of the Roman infrastructure had long fallen into disrepair, the continued struggle between the Pope with the HRE, the Byzantium, the Normans and other Italian nobles also made Rome the center of many conflicts during this period also fueled to further devastate the Roman Population, it is estimated that in the mid 14th century, the population of Rome was a mere 17,000 or so, making it more of a small town than a real city.
It took until the very tail end of the Medieval era for Rome to start regaining some of it's former glory and even then the process saw many ups and downs, it was only after the final unification of Italy that saw it return to the status as the Capital and largest city in Italy.

Seville

Seville is located on the lower end of the Guadalquivir River, although it's been inhabited more or less since early times, it started to become a prominent city only during the Islamic era of Andalusia.
As the Guadalquivir River gradually began to silt up during the 10th-12th century, Seville became the main ocean port for the entire region, including capital Cordoba. Population and power began to gradually shift towards the city, and the last unified Moorish dynasty, the Almohads, made it it's capital in Spain.
The city was retaken by the Castillians in 1248, but what marked as the end and decline of much of Andalusia was only the beginning of an even more glorious era for Seville. In 1492, immediately following the fall of the final Islamic stronghold of Granada, Christopher Columbus set out from Seville and discovered the West Indies. during the next 200 years Seville held the strongest monopoly of all cities in the world on the new world trade, and became as a result, the weathiest city on earth during this period. Though following the great plague of Seville and the end of it's monopoly, it began to decline and would only recover in modern times.

Yelabuga

Yelabuga was a frontier region castle for the Volga Bulgrain, an islamic emirate deep within the Russian steppes on the upper reaches of the Volga river, Yelabuga probably represented it's furthest frontier. after Vulga Bulgaria was destroyed by the Mongol invasion around 1236-1241, the castle fell into disuse and disappeare from written records, as the new Ulus of Jochi (Golden Horde) had no need of a castle in the middle of their vast empire.

Angers

Anger area is an handcraft center since Neolitic. Settled by gallic tribes it is submited by Julius Caesar. The gallo-roman community is quite prosperous until the barbarians migrations about 275 AD. Then, villagers have to withdraw on relief and trade declines. Taken by saxony pirates in 463, Angers is conquered by merovingian king Childeric 6 years later.
During the IXth century, the border province suffers from vickings and bretons attacks. Unable to protect the land, the carolingian nommed vicountes which will give born to the dynasty of Anjou counts.At the XIIth century, Henri II Plantagenet (1133-1189), reigns on what we call "the anjevin empire" : a group of states spreading from Scotland to Pyrenees and from Ireland to Limousin. Empire collapses when Kingdom of France takes hold of Anjou in 1205.
The region, situated between english possessions and their brittany ally, is so known for beiing « the key of the France » : Angers is fortified in 1228. During second half of the one hundred years war (1409-1480), the community is ruled by René of Anjou, a Jeanne Darc's fellow. It becomes an important religious and cultural center.

Ankara

Settled since the bronze age, the city is first mentioned as Ankuva under Hittite domination. Later ruled by Phrygians, Perses, Gallates it becomes roman in 189 BC. Nero makes it as region capital and build walls.
During the byzantin period, the place is quite prosperous until arab and sassanid invasions from the VIIe century. In the time of the crusades, the town, on the road to Jerusalem, will several times change of hand between Byzantins, crusaders and turkish tribes. Since 1354 it is administrated by Ottomans despite the timurid occupation (1402-1414).

Aarhus

Situated on the east coast of Jutland, Aarhus is one of the oldest cities in Denmark and settlements here can be traced back to the 8th century. Aarhus had good trade connections and by the 11th century it had become an important city in Denmark. The bishopric of Aarhus dates back to at least 951, and the construction of Aarhus Cathedral began around the year 1190.
Aarhus was granted market rights in 1441. That increased the city's growth which continued during the reformation. Despite suffering significantly during the wars in the 17th century, Aarhus continued to be important due to its favorable geographical position which was of significant importance for trading.

Kalmar

One of the older cties in Scandinavia, with traces of a human prescence in the surrounding area as far back as to the Stone Age. The earliest sources telling about a town by the name of Kamlar originate from the 11th century. During the greater part of 12th century, it was an key position in the power struggles between the houses that battled for supremacy in the region that was later going to be called Svitjod or Svea Rige, and later known as the Kingdom of Sweden.
It's position near the water offered great trading oppertunities between the swedes and the germanic and slavic peoples. A role that would later be dwarved by the growing city Visby on Gotland. It's position as the foremost southwestern larger town in the Kingdom of Sweden, had as a result that a castle was constructed in it's vicinty, to protect the growing kingdom from any invasion attempts from their more powerful neighbour Denmark. Rightly so, many battles and skirmishes were fought in it's surroundings all the way to the 17th century.
In between the period of 1397 to 1532 AD, it was also the principal seat of an union between the Kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, which got it's name from the very city. After the fall of the Kalmarunion and the growing importance of Visby, it quickly stagnated, and a new Kalmar was being built at Kvarnholmen in the 17th Century, this time centered around a large renaissance fortress, while the old city and castle quickly grew into a pitiful remnant of the once large city.

Skara

Skara is located in Vastergotland and is one of the oldest cities in Sweden. The position of Skara in the landscape at vital cross roads made it an important city in the region. The Cathedral of Skara dates back to the 11th century, and Skara became a bishopric and a religious centre for the ensuing centuries.
Several important meetings were held in Skara including the important Swedish chancellor meeting in 1326, and the meeting in 1458 between Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Skara was devastated by fire and plundering several times during the wars between Sweden and Denmark, including the burning of Skaraborg Castle by the Danes in 1612.

Athens

Athens is one of the oldest named cities in the world, having been continuously inhabited for at least 7000 years. Athens sits at the head of an open bay named Phaleron spreading inland across a fertile central plain set between 4 mountains called the Attica Basin. The natural harbor and fertile plains made Athens the leading city of Ancient Greece in the first millennium BCE. The name of Athens is derived from Athena, the patron goddess of the city.
By AD 529, Athens was under the rule of the Eastern Roman Empire and had been eclipsed in fame and fortune by many other Roman cities. Due to barbarian raids by Avars and Slavs after AD 600 the city shrank considerably. By the middle of the 9th century, Greece had returned to the firm control of the Eastern Roman Empire and Athens began to recover.
Athens expanded under the leadership of the three Komnenos emperors (Alexius John and Manuel) becoming an important center for the production of soaps and dyes. The 11th and 12th centuries were the Golden Age of Byzantine Art in Athens. Many Byzantine churches in and around Athens were built during these two centuries reflecting the growth of the town in general. Athens renewed fortunes attracted the Venetians and other merchants who frequented the ports of the Aegean further increasing the economic prosperity of the town for the next two centuries.
Following the 4th crusade in 1204 Athens was ruled by Crusaders who stayed after sacking Constantinople and wresting control of most of Greece from the Eastern Roman Empire. Various dynasties of so called Latins included; Burgudians (1204-1311), Catalans (1311-1388) and Florentines (1388-1458) while the much diminished Eastern Roman Empire made mostly unsuccessful attempts to regain control. The city was finally captured by the Ottoman Empire in 1458, 5 years after the fall of Constantinople making Athens the last Latin state in Greece to fall to the Ottomans under whose rule Greece would remain until AD 1821.

Thessalonica

Founded in 315 BC and named after the daughter of Phillip II, Thessalonike, Thessalonica evolved to become the most important city in Macedon. Under the Roman Republic, it grew into a center of commerce between Rome and Byzantium and linked the Balkans to the rest of Greece. Under the Roman Empire, it was the capitol of all the Greek provinces.
After the fall of Rome, Thessalonica was frequently captured by Avars, Slavs, and was briefly held by Arabs in the 10th century. However, since the beginnings of the Byzantine Empire, Thessalonica was considered the second city to Constantinople, both in terms of wealth and size. It was during the 12th century that the city experienced great economic expansion under the Komnenoi emperors as they expanded the empire to the north. In 1204, Thessalonica fell out of Byzantine hands as it was incorporated into a vassal of the Latin Empire, The Kingdom of Thessalonica. Being such a wealthy and powerful city, Thessalonica changed hands many times over the course of the next century, but it always remained a center of Greco-Macedonian culture and influence.

Antwerp

The story of the founding of the settlement that became Antwerp is lost to antiquity but the current name of Antwerp was recorded soon after Franks settled in the vicinity in the 4th century. The river Scheldt on which Antwerp is located became the border of the Holy Roman Empire in the 10th century and gained in prominence over time. Godfrey of Bouillon was the marquis of Antwerp before his adventures on the 1st Crusade and Antwerp become a center of trade in the 14th century as the Zwin silted and Bruges lost its importance. By the 15th century Antwerp had gained not only the merchant houses of Bruges, but became the center of the sugar trade in northern Europe and established some of the earliest international banks with defined laws, charters, and corporate entities. Antwerp was the center of 40% of Europe's trade by the end of the 16th century but with the eruption of the Reformation and the enmity between the Habsburgs and the France, Antwerp entered a long decline until Napoleon set about to make Antwerp the finest harbor in Europe. Napoleon failed to realize his plan seeing defeat at Waterloo but Antwerp entered a 2nd Golden Age due to the massive investments into its harbor and shipping facilities.

Aarhus

The Jutland peninsula has been an important location for centuries due to its position near all the major sea routes of Northern Europe. One of the largest cities in Jutland during the medieval era, the city of Aarhus despite several invasions and attacks through the years always maintained its importance due its central location able to coordinate trade between Jutland, and the rest of Scandinavia. During most of the medieval era Jutland was under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark while the several cities of Jutland including Aarhus were steadily prosperous. The Bishopric of Aarhus is one of the oldest Christian Bishoprics in Scandinavia and was constructed near the end of the 12th century and remains one of the largest Cathedrals in Europe. The Aarhus Bishopric led the Reformation in Denmark converting the current churches to the Lutheran doctrine. Aarhus was captured several times by both Sweden and Germany during the 17th century but returned to prosperity quickly and remains one of the largest ports in Europe.

Baghdad

The Tigris and Euphrates have been rivers of civilization since the dawn of recorded history. The rich alluvial floodplains between the two rivers contained some of the most fertile lands in the world. Ancient Babylon stood only 80 kilometers south of a small settlement where in AD 762 the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mansur commissioned the construction of Baghdad. Mansur believed that Baghdad was in an ideal location to be the capital of the Islamic empire under the Abbasids. Mansur loved the site so much he is quoted saying, "This is indeed the city that I am to found, where I am to live, and where my descendants will reign afterward."
The city grew rapidly with control over strategic trading routes from Basra and Arabia north to Anatolia and west to the Levant. By the 10th century, the city's population is estimated around 500,000 and was a center of learning and culture for the entire Islamic world. The Abbasid Caliphate lost temporal power but retained vast spiritual power until a resurgence of military power after the Khwarezmian Empire fell in the initial stages of the Mongol invasion. The Abbasid Caliph refused to submit the spiritual authority of the Caliphate to the demands of the Mongol Khan and on February 10, 1258, Baghdad was sacked by the Mongols under Hulagu Khan. The Mongols not only destroyed large parts of Baghdad but ripped open dikes and flooded the city while ruining vast irrigation works that had taken centuries to build.
Baghdad made a small return to prosperity but in 1401 Baghdad sacked by Timur setting Baghdad on a path of decline that didn't end until it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1534.

Arta

The first settlement in the area of the modern city of Arta was established in the 9th century BC Ambracia was founded by the Corinthians in the 7th century BC.
Historically, Pyrrhuss of Epirus, king of the Molossians, transferred the capital of his kingdom to Ambracia in 295 BC, which he used as a base from which he attacked the Romans. Pyrrhus managed to achieve great but costly victories against the Romans and he became famous for the phrase "Pyrrhic Victory," which refers to an exchange at the Battle of Asculum.
In 1204, after the fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders, it became the capital of the Despotate of Epirus, which extended up to Dyrrachium and included all of northwestern Greece and regions of Thessaly and northwester Macedonia. The castle of Arta was built by Michael II Komnenos Doukas in the middle of 13th century and is an exceptional representation of Byzantine architecture. However, the city changed hands many times and was briefly part of the Italian dynasty of Orsini, The Serbian Empire, and various Albanian clans and Italian rulers until the Ottomans took it 1449.

Music

We are always willing to welcome nice early/medieval folk/medieval royalty free music to enhance the deep medieval feeling of SS.
Note: Jon Sayle's and Kevin MacLeod's music is already in.


Screenshots

As in the screenshot competition: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=519522, nice screenshots are warmly welcome.



Thanks!
"Let's put our fans strength to the test"

This thread is to remain unstickied

[DCG2U]

By regional description, do you mean like when was the city founded, by whom, date, etc..? If so, might give a try for a Romanian city. Btw, just want to know, when will the next version come out? Because most of the dowload links are dead (megaupload).

[TWWolfe]

I may do some research and give it a try, possibly for brittany.

[Germanicu5]

We're counting on SS and history fans and in return you can count on SS being improved all the time.

Regards

P.S. I think the best solution would be that everybody declares what they can kindly do and then we make a nice list in OP.

[gord96]

I would do some regional descriptions for sure. How will be break down the regions? By each settlement? Or by a larger area?

[Ravenant]

I can help for Spain (especially southern one) ... but someone should have to correct my english later (not a native speaker : P)

[Ichon]

You are keeping same map then I take it? Or is there hope for replacement map?

[Losthief]

Btw, just want to know, when will the next version come out? Because most of the dowload links are dead (megaupload).

i replaced those, theres working gamefront and rapidshare ones up there now. Along with the torrent by bane_tw, and the alternate gamefront/filefront parts. Let me know if you need help finding them.

6.3 (all parts including .exe) and 6.4 (the exe) have all been replaced in the 6.4 release thread (they should all be working as far as i know, but i'll double check again today later)

as for the regional descriptions, if you want

I can help for Spain (especially southern one) ... but someone should have to correct my english later (not a native speaker : P)

if you send me the descriptions in english how you write them i'll clean up the grammer/other stuff for you, i can read and write spanish fairly well and am a native english speaker. Just pop them over via pm and i'll send them back to you if you want.

----edit----
just checked, and the only bad link is the megaupload on for ss6.4.exe, which is obviously dead, and i'll get ishan to fix it, he just posted the rapidshare links (including the ss6.4.exe one) all together in the ss6.3 section. But the link is there. And the filefront/gamefront ones are all good.

[Duck of Death]

I could try to help with either the holy lands, France or the British isles.

Were you wanting like 2-3 paragraphs worth of desc like in the example above? Or a little shorter?

...Also, as mentioned above, you want desc for each settlment area?

[ksenagos]

I could help with most of Greece's regions.Where should we post our descriptions?

Also just a song that seems to fit in the medieval era http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cW82NEivjo

[♦Assiduus Victoria♦]

[gracul]

Thanks for the attention!

I've added some more details to the opening post.
Lists will be created once some evidence of work is shown, preferably here at the forum but im also open for PM's.

[Lifthrasir]

By "regions", you mean areas, right?
I've seen somewhere that Flanders will have more importance. I can help for that.

[Byg]

Thanks for the attention!

I've added some more details to the opening post.
Lists will be created once some evidence of work is shown, preferably here at the forum but im also open for PM's.

Hi, will you have different region descriptions for the two different eras, because their ownership may be different and so will their history.
I'm not sure at which point you will show the region descriptions, but if it is mid game then again the owner will be different. So if the descriptions dwell on ownership this could see odd.

If you look at the TATW example, the first line is wrong if the settlement is conquered.

[Caesar Clivus]

I can do the Russian regions (of course)

[Germanicu5]

Hi, will you have different region descriptions for the two different eras, because their ownership may be different and so will their history.
I'm not sure at which point you will show the region descriptions, but if it is mid game then again the owner will be different. So if the descriptions dwell on ownership this could see odd.

If you look at the TATW example, the first line is wrong if the settlement is conquered.

It's enough that a region is described as "historically owned by whoever", the descriptions can be made more or less universal. Adding "This region is a place where French and English interests clashed throughout the ages" would be sufficient to cover any changes.

Regards

[Duck of Death]

Here is one I made for Lyon, France (with banner Im not sure is 100% appropriate for the time period, but it looks nice



--- Situated in east-central France and bordered by the Alpine mountains, Lyon's geography is dominated
by the Rhone and Saone rivers that converge to the south. Lyon was founded originaly as a Roman colony
in 43 BC over an older Gaulish settlement called Lugdunum. It was also the birthplace of Roman Emperors
Claudius and Caracalla.

In the 5th century AD, Burgundian refugees driven by the Huns were re-settled in Lugdunum and it soon
became the capital of the Kingdom of Burgundy. Historicly, Lyon later came under French control under
King Phillip. Lyon has long been known as an important area for silk production and is an economic power
on the road between Paris and Marseille. ---


Is this about the length and level of detail you're looking for?

[Ichon]

I think the details on Lyon are pretty good though perhaps add something about the trade fairs though economic power sort of covers that it was more of a middleman than a power in its own right.

Alexandria

Founded by Alexander the Great, Alexandria was the capitol of Egypt for nearly 1,000 years. Ruled by a succession of dynasties and Empires and considered the second city of the Roman Empire after first Rome, then Constantinople. After the Islamic conquest in AD 641 Cairo came to overshadow Alexandria but they city retained its position as the 2nd largest city of Egypt and a major port. During the early medieval era Alexandria hosted thriving Coptic Christian, Greek Orthodox, and Jewish communities which the early Caliphs encouraged due to the aid given to Islamic warriors during the conquest of this part of Eastern Roman Empire.

Due to sea trade routes Alexandria's ties to Spain were strong and many prominent men of Spanish birth rose to renown as scholars and merchants. Alexandria was a center of Sunni influence under the Shia Fatimid dynasty but suffered during the ensuing years of civil war and efforts to repel the Christian Crusaders. Under Mameluk rule Alexandria regained some prominence but this period saw a consolidation of Islam as a consequence of the Crusades and Mongol onslaught where the large quarters for Christians and Jews declined from over 10,000 families to under 1,000.

After the Mongols expansion was halted by the Mameluks and trade resumed from the low of the plague years, Alexandria returned to prosperity as the main port of commerce for trade entering the Red Sea and traveling by caravan to the Nile thence to Alexandria and onwards to Europe and North Africa.



Cairo

Memphis is situated on land a few miles upstream of the Nile delta just south of Cairo and was the most important port of ancient Egypt until the rise of Alexandria. Memphis declined further under Roman rule and was quickly overshadowed by Fustat, the first capitol of Egypt under Islam. Fustat grew rapidly and become one of the largest cities in the world until AD 1168 when under threat of attack by Crusaders Fustat was ordered burned to deny the Crusaders access to its wealth. Cairo had been an outlaying suburb of Fustat and the least damaged part of the city as a result of the fire. Saladin gained power and based his capitol at Cairo which soon surpassed Fustat in size and wealth. Saladin ordered the construction of the Citadel of Cairo, a fortress which was the remain the seat of Egyptian governments until the 19th century.

The Mameluk conquest in AD 1250 saw Cairo become the largest city outside of China and the center of Mameluk power. As a waypoint of the Spice trade and the center of Mameluk power Cairo flourished until the first outbreak of plague in 1348. Egypt and particularly Cairo suffered from repeated outbreaks of plague over the ensuring century and Cairo declined from a high of over half a million inhabitants to under 150,000 by the time the Ottomans defeated the Mameluks in AD 1517.

[gracul]

Both of these are great, and thats what we are looking for

[yxele]

don´t know if you can use this but here is an attempt for the city of Lund in the province of skane.

Lund

Situated in a strategic advantageous position on the southwest end of the sloping hills of Romelaasen.It was founded around 990 AD, and granted market rights by King Canute the Great of Denmark.
The city became seat for the archbishop for Scandinavia in 1103, and cathedral of Lund was completed in the beginning of the 11.century.

The city had a short spell as the capital of Denmark in the period of 1134 to 1137.
In the beginning of the 13.century Lund lost influence to Malmoe, although it retained its position as churchly and cultural center. In 1425 to 1536 the academy in Lund acted as the first real university of Denmark. After the reformation in 1536 the influence of Lund diminished considerably, and from the year 1658 it became a part of Sweden.