Precursor Civilizations

The **Precursor Civilizations** were highly advanced civilizations that existed in [world name] prior to modern history and preceded the modern nations of the world. The field of study surrounding the Precursors is Precursology.

The Precursors were highly advanced civilizations that preceded the modern nations of the world. The Precursors left a significant cultural and linguistic impact in their territories, which spanned from the coasts of Elltalos to Aulmierre's vast interiors, and from the mountains and plains of Southern Fengelia and Kranowska to the deserts of Lyínthos and Raykoria. Some Precursor cities and names are still in use, but despite the Precursors' advanced technology, architecture, culture and philosophies, they seemingly vanished by the year 0. It is said that the modern calendar of [world name] begins with the fall of the Precursors, meaning that the Precursor Civilizations fell 1086 years ago.

## Notable Precursor Civilizations

### West

#### Shiun and Nur-Essa

Located in modern-day Raykorian and Baizhar lands, names such as "Johan", "Josef", "Joshua", "David" and "Abraham" are said to have originated from **Shiun** and **Nur-Essa**. These regions had numerous competing cultures, civilizations and empires, and some have theorized that the Chtillic Church may have originated from there, though such a claim is not accepted by the Church. The Himovs and Raqori are descended from them

#### Allanikas

A region of numerous thalassocratic city-states and philosophers, the **Allaniki** were united under a single leader, Makeidon the Great, who conquered his way to modern-day Lyínthos and Azgfaria, leaving behind a series of city-state colonies that still speak the Allaniki language to this day (albeit with some differences). Names such as "Georg", "Alexander" and "Helen" originated from the Allaniki.

#### Imperium Medimarium

Successor of the Allaniki, the **Imperials** dominated Medimare and were the most influential in terms of culture, language, and even political systems. The Fengelian word for Emperor, Aulmierrese and Elltalosi word for King, and Baizhari word for Emperor, among other things such as concepts of "Senate", "Republic" and "Empire", originated from the Imperials, who conquered Shiun, Nur-Essa, and Allanikas. Names such as "August", "Mark", "Julian" and "Anton" originated from the Imperials. Some also seek to restore the glory of the ancient Medimarine Imperium (see: Pan-Medimarism) or claim that their nations are the true successors (see: Jahremannism)

#### Liabron (unconfirmed or partially confirmed)

Holy land of the Lihamist faith, the exact location of Liabron is unclear. However, it's language, Liabronic, is still used as a priestly, scholarly language and *lingua franca* by Lihamist cultures

#### Sław and Thül (unconfirmed or partially confirmed)

Located in modern-day Kranowska and southern Fengelia, **Sław** and **Thül** are claimed as the ancestors of the Orels and Vengels respectively by some nationalists. However, the sites, artifacts and records of the Precursors designated as "Sław" and "Thül" by some Precursorists are not intact enough to paint a full story on whether or not there were highly advanced proto-Orelic and proto-Fengelic Precursors civilizations like those of Allanikas and Imperium. This has not stopped nationalists like Josua Kollmann, however. Believers of these theories also seek to "de-Chtillicize" and revive ancient pagan customs and faiths. (See: Fengelic and Orelic Neopaganism)

### East

#### Ancient Azgfaria

Home to the ethnic Hersians, who founded the first settled civilizations around Azfgaria, the Hersians would eventually establish an empire of their own - the Akhsanids, during the rule of Trebazan Akhsan I. The Akhsanids founded Azgfaria as a concept - which still exists today under the Satvanid Empire - and conquered Shiun and Nur-Essa, before being dealt a fatal blow by Makeidon's empire. It would rise again as the Akkanids to challenge the Imperials' rule in the east, but both fell in the Catastrophe of the Precursors. The Ancient Azgfars had unique political systems and faith - Voroastrianism - which has piqued the interest of modern Precursologists and Orientalists

#### Hua dynasty of Ceres

To the far east is another civilization, Ceres, inhabited by the Xia Cerese. Isolated on all sides by geographical boundaries, the Cerese developed unique political systems, philosophies, faiths and identities. It mastered the production of silk, and was thus named "*Seres*", meaning silk, by the Imperials

#### Türçen (unconfirmed or partially confirmed)

Despite being on the site of Nur-Essa, modern Baizhar and Raykivan nationalists and Torcenic revivalists preach of being descended from **Türçen**, or **Türen**, an alleged ancient precursor in the Irkha region and Kheran steppes. They therefore seek to "restore their roots" and "revive their ancient nomadic faiths", "de-Chtilllicize", "de-Lihamize" and "de-Azgfarize", as well as creating a pan-Türçenic identity and nation-state.