Zandovia

**Zandovia** (*Zandovian: Kàzandovia)*, officially known as the **Zandovian Empire** (*Zandovian: Pìzandovian Nuhm)*, is a nation in northern East Enadia. Zandovia has a population of 181,800,000, and a land area of 170,939 square kilometers (66,000 square miles). Zandovia borders Monia, Bouvillecoq, and Barandonia. Zandovia was previously known as (and colloquially still is referred to as) **Dortia** (*Zandovian: Kàdortia)*

Zandovia is known for its harsh, cold climate, expansive nature, and unique biodiversity. Zandovia is a prime exporter of copper, gold, silver, and other metals. Zandovia also significantly exports petroleum products, and is the world’s highest exporter of synthetic refined high-octane gasoline.

## Etymology

Zandovia comes from the ancient Dorcotian words ‘Zand’ and ‘Ovia,’ which, when placed together as ‘Zand Ovia,’ literally translates to ‘Cold State.’

Zandovia adopted it’s name in 1210, after the Winter War in which Dortian tribes defeated Beauxia, who at that time was plotting to take direct control Old Luari Pantheonic states in East Enadia to ‘expand the holy land.’

## History

#### Early history

Prior to the separation of Lauri Island and the mainland East Enadia, the Enadian Ice Age caused immense glacial activity in the lands that Zandovia lays upon, and the surrounding countries. This glacial activity stopped on the northern coasts of Zandovia, pushing sediments upwards, creating several thousand mountains throughout Zandovia. Glaciers pressed down on the land that used to exist above the modern day territories of Zandovia, and eventually, as East Enadia came out of the Enadian Ice Age, the glaciers melted, raising the sea levels and rendering much of the northern territories under water. Additionally, the melting glaciers created the Lauri Island, which lays west of Zandovia.

#### Early Enadian Settlers

Several hundred thousands of years after the Enadian Ice Age, Nadian tribes began migrating to the southern regions of Zandovia, mainly from Monia. The large mountains separating the north from south were considered impassable, and therefore, the territories north of the mountains were not settled for a long period of time.

Early Nadian settlers brought religion, culture, and other traditions to southern Zandovia, and this culture remains in some regions in the south.

Threphans began to emigrate into the region above the mountains several thousand years after the initial Nadian settlements from Bouvillecoq and Barandonia. As early Threphans were especially adapted to hunting, Threphans thrived in the harsh elements of Zandovia.

#### Enadian Bronze Age

During the Enadian Bronze Age, Zandovian settlers began developing better tools, fought localized conflicts, and developed into urban areas. Heading into 2000 BECE, Damuntere was established as a small fishing town. Nearly 500 years later, the down developed into a prominent city in the region, especially in Zandovia.

While in the Enadian Bronze age, Zandovians began to develop a written language, create literature, and expand it's culture through other means.

Upon exiting the Enadian Bronze Age, Zandovian settlers began to develop a tighter society, adopting traditions from outside, developed neighbors to create local counties. Over time, these counties consolidated and warred with each other. The largest extent of one of these counties, the Dortion people, expanded across all of Zandovia, and even into parts of present-day Moria and Bouvillecoq.

Under the Dortions, the Zandovian peoples developed into a then-modern society, adopting sea-ports, farming techniques, commerce, and even some early democratic roles in a regular Zandovian Enadian's life. For example, an individual could sit at a council of leaders in every city and town across the Dortion people's expanse, and were able to vote on the policies of each individual city. Coupled together with a limited contact from other civilizations due to the extreme cold, the Dortions remained in control over their territories for around 200 years, before entering the early stages of the iron age.

Exiting this period, a combination of a high standard of living and a plethora of natural resources, lead to the popularity of exporting in the region, a practice still unfamiliar with the rest of the world, at that period. The Dortions began trading with southern and eastern peoples, supplying these foreigners with metals, oils, and wood. In return, the Dortions received food, clothing, and animal skins. This trading increased relations between foreigners and Dortions, decreasing the total conflicts fought between outsiders and Dortions.

#### Iron Age

During the Enadian Iron Age, the Dortion people fragmented into several different localized counties, engulfing into several civil wars over the occupation of warmer areas. Despite these setbacks, Zandovian civilization continued to develop practically on par with the rest of the old world.

In the late 5th century BECE, the region was placed under control of the Barandonian Empire, which controlled all of modern day Zandovia and Barandonia.

Regional developments heading towards the 2nd century BECE saw the creation of an entirely new society within Zandovia. Written language began to modernize, monetary units began to emerge as opposed to bartering or trading, and agricultural and hunting techniques began to become extremely efficient.

#### Religion

In 1403 BECE, Old Luari Pantheon was introduced to Zandovian coastal cities from Beauxia, where it quickly swept over the region. Inspired by the words of the Luarian Holy Text, Dortions began to rise up against their Barandonian rulers, and established the Kingdom of Dortia in 1330 BECE.

The Beauxian Empire began actively seeking out East Enadian countries to carry out long, bloody crusades against the West Enadians, especialy against Old Tallian Spiritists, and in the East against the Portuzians. Dortions were heavily involved in this conflict, and are attributed with spreading Old Luari Pantheon to Barandonia and Dos, which originally were predominately Portuzian.

#### Zandovian Early Modern Era

The Zandovia Early Modern Era, or as taught in Zandovian schools as the 'ZEME', was a time before the Enadian Common Era, and after the final crusade against the Portuzians in Dos. This time was categorized as a time of great advancements in education, healthcare, and even private business. Cottage industry businesses began to develop in a relatively free market, as the Dorcotion rulers were mostly benevolent.

During the Zandovian Early Modern Era, Cloverfly began to rapidly popularize as the primary house of Zandovia.

#### 1st century

Heading into the Enadian Common Era, the Dortion Kingdom collapsed, and was conquered by the Monian Empire. During the period under Monian control, the modern day Zandovian lands were reorganized into the Dortion Province of Monia, with its capital at Pauvilles.

Throughout the occupation, Dortions began to actively revolt against the Monians, which they referred to as the 'Redshirts'. In the mountains, Zandovian rebels harassed Monian transports delivering troops into northern Zandovia. In response, the Monians began to send mountaineer legions up the mountains with the goal of wiping out the Dortion rebels.

Initially, the Monians acheived great victories in the mountains, but eventually were slowed during the winter months, when the mountains were covered with a thick snow. In blizzard like conditions, the Dortions threw the Monians off the mountain range three times, before finally being cornered and destroyed on Malumynumen Mountain. After these events, the Monians began exterminating Dortion citizens, until they were forced to cease their actions by the Old Luari Pantheonic Church in Beauxia.

In 128, the Monian Empire cut all trade with outsiders, hoping to starve their neighbors of iron and other metals necessary for the maintenance of an army, therefore making future Monian expansion easier. In response, a large coalition invaded and conquered all parts of the Monian Empire. Barandonian occupation of Dortia was thwarted in 130, and the Second Kingdom of Dortia was founded.

#### Second century

In 203, Dortia began to rapidly expand outwards, conquering the regions up to it's modern borders, and instituting a Dortian monarch over Monia, effectively rendering Monia as a Dortian puppet.

Over time, the Monians began to actively revolt against Dortion control, and by the third century, all ties with Dortia were severed and the last Dortian legion exited the area by 302.

#### Dark Ages

From the Third through Eighth century, Dortia entered the Dortion Dark Age, a time categorized by civil wars, political revolutions, famines, unusually harsh winters, disease, and foreign invasions.