Symphony Isles

The Symphony Isles, officially referred to as the Socialist Democratic Islands of Symphony is an island nation, made up of two islands off the coast of the Cordvernian continent in the Moniquen Sea. The two islands that make up the Symphony Isles are the Symph Island, the larger and eastern island; and the Ony Island, the smaller and western island. 
The Symphony Isles are considered a very successful nation, and has become a leader of Internatia for democracy, human rights, and equal representative values. The population of the Symphony Isles is around 9.5 million, and with this relatively large population for two islands, the population density is relatively high. Almost 92% of the population live in urban areas. The capital city of the Symphony Isles is Violetta, the founding of which started the conquest of both of the islands, and started the rich Symphonic culture. For two centuries now, since their revolutionary civil war, the Symphony Isles have had peaceful times, engaging in war with no nations.
Today, the Symphony Isles are a representative democracy, with an extremely centralized and therefore socialist government, and a representative government, known as the Consul. The Symphony Isles are the beacon of representative governing and equality in Internatia. This interest in democracy helped develop a nation of very progressive and innovative thinkers and specialists, seen in the rapid growth of the economy over the past century, and the 2nd highest per capita income in all of Internatia. Being a socialist country, virtually everyone's income is the same, which is why the Symphony Isles rank is 1st on the Gini index. The Symphony Isles are known around Internatia for their developments in medicine, and being on the fast track to developing a cure for cancer. Scholars from all over Internatia flock to the Symphonic medical universities, which are known to be among the best medical schools. The Symphonic nation is also known for continuous large support for the military, especially the Symphonic Navy and Symphonian Air Force, being an island nation at a prime spot for potential invasion.
== History ==
The history of the Symphony Isles is a contested and bloody one. With uprisings, rebellions, massacres, and civil wars occurring throughout the known history of the island nation, the Symphony Isles in today's world are one of the most peaceful, and have a strong tradition of attempting to keep peace throughout the world nowadays.
===Settlement of the Isles===
The first known record of humans on the Symphony Isles has been recorded at about 8,000 years ago, which is much later than the rest of Internatia. This is most likely due to the natural isolation of the islands. The first settlers were of the sort called Vikings, who ravaged and pillaged the lands of the western part of Internatia. Eventually, as defense systems were strengthened on the mainland, these Vikings coming from a far off land needed to settle, or their survival would be impossible, and they settled on the Symphony Isles, setting up a society reminiscent of the Scandinavian cultures of the Old World. 
===The kingdom of Swedia===
This Viking settlement lasted for the next 4,000 years, where the savages settled down and adapted to the temperate winter and warm summer climate. The savages settled first in the area that is today known as Violetta, the capital city of the Symphony Isles. This settlement grew into a town, and then a city called Stalkhoem, which was at one point the most populous city during the prime power of Swedia. These settlers called themselves the Swedi, and the Isles at the time took their name from them, being called Swedia. They began to trade and expand their bronze age economy as well, as can be seen by the ancient Sunettian artifacts(pictured left) found in excavation sites around the Symphony Isles. This small nation developed successfully under the rule of the Swedi, and the current independent-minded spirit of Symphonians, and the current socialist democratic government, is highly influenced by the rule of the Swedi. The power of the Swedi rose 5,000 years ago but soon fell as an Ice Age hit all of Internatia, and weakened the Swedian economy. 
===Conquered by an Empire===
Eventually, a distant empire rose up, and conquered the Swedi, enslaving many of them, and using the luscious mountain sides of the islands to their advantage. With the conquering of the Swedi by this empire, new technologies and a whole new society was imported to the modern Symphony Isles. The Swedi eventually lost their Scandinavian tongue as their primary language, although the empire allowed it to be taught and kept in certain books. The primary language became Latin within a few hundred years under the rule of this empire. While under the rule of this empire, the colony which is now the Symphony Isles, became the biggest Internatian exporter of grape products, olive products, and spices. Being the western most land before the other continents, the colony also became a trading hot spot, which influenced the growth of the ports of Violetta and those of other cities on the islands as well. The love of the water and the dependence on the sea that arose with the colonization by the empire is still seen to this day in the people of the Symphony Isles.
===Rise of the Reagan dictatorship===
After 2,000 years of empire rule, the empire soon fell apart, and the isles soon found themselves in a situation where a power vacuum formed. With the empire's power having been extinguished, the various cities of the isles became city-states of sorts, and started warring amongst each other. Eventually, the biggest, Violetta, consolidated its power most quickly, and took control of both of the Islands after three centuries of bloody warfare. The division of the islands into these numerous city-states caused much division in the societies of these city-states, meaning that there were many different religious groups, and ethnic groups throughout the isles. When Violetta consolidated all of the city-states, the top general, Reagan Caesarius of the Violettian army led a coup against the royal family of Violetta, and the army gained control of the Symphony Isles. A dictatorship eventually ensued, with Caesarius taking complete control and becoming the dictator of the consolidated Isles, which he named Reaganopia. Reaganopia's people were subjected to horrible practices and a very strict military regime, but with time the dictatorship grew weaker and weaker, and gave more rights to people, but still not nearly all human rights necessary for a happy society. This dictatorship lasted through 27 leaders.
===Assassination and the Bloody Civil War===
The last leader of the Caesarius family line was assassinated in a parade in Violetta 256 years ago. When the last leader was deposed, the people of Regeanopia rioted throughout both islands, with many makeshift leaders rising up. Eventually, each ethnic group or religious group had their own leaders, and warring and massacres occurred throughout every city, between every group of people. This became known as the Bloody Civil War, which lasted 11 years. The ethnic cleansing, massacres, and sparring caused over 800,000 deaths and countless injuries.
===Constitution and the Modern Era===
In the end, all the groups' leaders were killed off, with the people growing tired of fighting and killing their own neighbors. A truce was drawn up between all the different groups, and a constitution as well. This constitution, written 257 years ago, became the constitution of the current Socialist Democratic Islands of Symphony, and the consolidation of all the groups and both the islands was the start of a new, more democratic era, and the start of the modern Symphony Isles. The Symphony Isles quickly became one of the most open and accepting societies, looking desperately to move on from the past tragedies of the civil war. Trade finally opened up again, and the rest of Internatia was gladly accepted into the Symphony Isles. The Common Language, or English, was accepted by the people, and was learned as a language secondary to Latin, so that the people could more easily communicate with the rest of Internatia. For the last 257 years, the Symphony Isles have enjoyed peace between all the people, and an equality for all people, no matter their backgrounds.
== The Symphony Isles in the Internatia Song Contest. ==
SRT is participating in the 2nd edition of the Internatia Song Contest. The songs are selected through internal selection by a jury comprised of musical experts.
Contest 	Artist 	Title 	Language	Place	Points
Internatia Song Contest 2	Marina & The Diamonds	"Radioactive" 	English 	05 	82
Internatia Song Contest 3	Ashanti 	"The Way That I Love You"	English 	10 	58
Internatia Song Contest 4	Carly Rae Jepsen 	"Hurt So Good" 	English 	11 	55
Internatia Song Contest 5	Maroon 5 	"Misery (Acoustic)" 	English 	13 	46
Internatia Song Contest 6	Magazin 	"Sijamski Blizanci" 	Croatian	01 	87
Internatia Song Contest 7	Jovana Nikolic 	"Moli Moli" 	Serbian 	12 	59
Internatia Song Contest 8	Mumford & Sons 	"Broken Crown" 	English 	TBD 	TBD
Internatia Song Contest 9	TBA 	TBA 	 	 	
Category:Country
Category:Symphony Isles