History of Lugida
The recorded history of Lugida dates back from around the 2nd millennium BCE, under the Hallyn dynasty, although historical records from the Tigrate dynasty are known to describe kingdoms as far as the Kylon, which dates back from around 2100 BCE. The historical records also mentioned Lugida as a part of Qonklaks' Khon dynasty on about 2500 BCE, which has a profound influence on the Lugid culture in general. Lugida's history has been shaped by the almost-constant contact with the neighboring dynasties, the flourishing agriculture, the rise of Avism, and the significance of Lugida as a historical thalassocracy.
Prehistory
Neolithic
Earliest known traces of anatomically modern humans in Lugida date back from as far as 35,000 BCE, originating from the first Soltennan migration that took place from 50,000 BCE. Ancient people in Lugida show genetic relations with early Qonklese, Xynder, and most notably Riyan peoples. Delian peoples dating back from 15,000 BCE form the earliest predecessors of modern Lugids, Riyans, and some Kads, later diverging into Ancient Riyans and Rietic people on around 10,000 BCE. The latter comprise the most and the earliest of indigenous Lugid peoples. Rietic people would slowly diverge in terms of culture and genetic makeup into two different ethnic groups, the Lenthirites and the Melunes, respectively covering the areas south and north of the Hetaf River. Both comprise the majority of the modern Lugid population at 75%.
Agriculture in Lugida dates back to around 6,000 BCE. It gave rise to the Gapi culture whose artifacts are concentrated in the Grithen site in Mairastra. Over the course of the Neolithic era, the basin became the center to ancient Lugid cultures. At roughly the same period is the arrival of Ancient Xynderian people in the southern coast of Lugida. They assimilated with the Lenthiri people to form the Kitrians. They encompass much of the southern coast of Lugida including parts of the Amiyant basin, bearing less genetic similarities to the other two ethnic groups and is still considered as a Rietic ethnic group.
Bronze Age
Scientific reports vary on the matter of Lugida's earliest permanently inhabited settlements. Dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE, the (something) site near Mairastra is cited the most as such, evidenced by its greater abundance of Bronze Age artifacts. Such artifacts are also found in slightly lower quantities near Mitrenir, Deshan, Nizen, and Sharum, originating from almost the same period. Sharum is theorized in one journal as the site of Lugida's earliest permanent settlement that was razed in the 7th century BCE. This theory is disputed primarily due to lack of evidence of razing.
Ngerupic people entered Lugida in the 2nd millennium BCE and assimilated with the Kitrians, introducing knowledge of more advanced fishing methods and longer-distance sailing to the region.
Ancient era
Meryth dynasty
Ancient era and the Bronze Age in Lugida began with the Meryth dynasty. It was attested in the ancient historical record titled Before Gamilami, dated from 331 CE, which describes the dynasty as a kingdom founded in the 19th century BCE by the legendary emperor Meryth—from which the dynasty was named—spanning the basins of the Hetaf and Lithe rivers. Three cities were named capital by the record: (city), (city 2), and most notably Raphei, all located near modern-day Mairastra. The record additionally described Meryth dynasty to be almost similar to that of Qonklaks' first dynasty, Hon; the monarchy follows the Meryth equivalent to the Mandate of Heaven, known as the Mandate of Gerge, where the emperor has the absolute power to rule as the Son of the sky god Gerge – from which the mandate is named. Overthrow of the ruler was interpreted as an indication given by Gerge that the ruler was unworthy and had lost the mandate; natural disasters such as flood and famine are often believed to be the signs of Gerge's disapproval to the ruler.
Due to the lack of archaeological evidence, academic circles deemed the dynasty as mythical until evidence was found in 2010 in the Kailife site near Mairastra. Artifacts found in the site include statues depicting Meryth dynasty emperors including the first emperor Meryth, bronze tools and weapons, and remaining traces of Meryth buildings. Radiocarbon dating traced these artifacts to around the time of the dynasty in 1500 BCE. The Kailife site is then believed to be the location of Meryth dynasty's capital city Raphei, additionally matching descriptions written in Before Gamilami.
The dynasty's populace is believed to be ethnically composed of mostly Melunes who speak a Rietic language, with sizable amounts of Nellic people – believed to be an ethnic subgroup of the Lenthirites. Cultures of both ethnic groups, along with those of minority groups present in the area, are less distinguishable from each other compared to today.
Favorable agricultural conditions of the Hetaf and Lithe river basins allowed the dynasty to flourish through agriculture, primarily planting and growing grains such as Qonklese rice among other plants. Seeing the large yields of agriculture in the dynasty, hunter-gatherers within its territory began to move towards agriculture, starting a wave of immigration. However, this also invites tribes to conquer the dynasty and its rich agricultural lands; the dynasty's early period saw many attempts by foreign tribes at Meryth invasion. Starting the chain of invasions is a group of Sefi people – a Lenthiri tribe – which invaded Meryth sometime in the 17th century BCE, consequently leading to the loss of one eighth of the dynasty's agricultural lands. This prompted the Meryth Emperor at the time (someone) to begin their military expansion in an effort claiming to secure the agricultural production from potential invaders. (someone) later used the military to expand Meryth territory along the river basins few years after their expansion of the military.
Meryth dynasty reached its peak under the rule of (someone 2) in the 15th century BCE. Under his rule, the capital is moved to Raphei (now Mairastra), where he led the construction of many infrastructural projects. Most notably among these projects is the Raphei irrigation canal system. It was constructed to accommodate more agricultural land for the growing Meryth populace, while also using these canals to store rainwater and safeguard the supply of water.
Severe floods of the Hetaf River in the 14th century BCE caused a famine, severing the dynasty's agricultural supplies which mostly relied on the river. Consequently, the dynasty lost one thirds of their territory, ultimately leading to the government's overthrow by Tirgo, who later declared the formation of the Tigrate dynasty with himself as the first Emperor. Some Meryth doctrines including the Mandate of Gerge were carried over to the new dynasty. Both the famine and the Meryth dynasty's collapse led its inhabitants to migrate out of the area. Areas such as modern-day Deshan and Melunebet were inhabited, starting a period of separate Lenthirite and Melune dynasties.
Tigrate dynasty
Nellia dynasty
Antiquity
Altha Dynasty
Letsatian period
Letsatian Empire began its expansion into Miraria in 25 CE, and contact with Altha Dynasty occurred on 64 CE. The Empire immediately declared war on Altha Dynasty as part of the Empire's expansion. Technologically superseded, Altha quickly surrendered its coastal area to Letsatia, thus setting foothold for the Empire to exercise influence in Lugida. Letsatia designated Kitlimis as one of their provincial capitals.
Qonklaks' Lou Dynasty sent an envoy in 84 CE to Altha Dynasty to discuss the matter of Letsatia, and informing that Lou is concerned about the empire superseding Lou's influence and power in southern Soltenna, the region influenced the most by Lou. Lou envoys discussing the same matter and concern were also sent to other Soltennan dynasties, ultimately leading the coalition of Soltennan dynasties including Altha to a joint war against the Letsatian Empire in 90 CE. The area near Kitlimis, Xynderland's islands, and the southern coast of modern-day Zaizung become the most intense battlefronts. Initial military progress goes in favor of the dynasties, later to stagnate throughout the war for both sides. The dynasties ultimately exhausted both their military resources and treasuries leading to internal conflicts across the dynasties that led to a victory for Letsatia. Altha Dynasty collapsed at this point, marking the end of Lugida's dynastic era.
This period saw greater advancements in technology, military, and economy of Lugida at the time, which are brought in from Letsatia. Ekuosian influence flourished and superseded Qonklese influence in Lugida for the extent of the Letsatian period. Iovism entered Lugida on around 130 CE, where it was met with severe resistance from most Lugid people. Its branch known as Avism is then founded, integrating elements from Lugid culture at the time to make it more accepted by Lugid people. Avism then spread across the Lugid portion of Letsatia and parts of the former Altha dynasty, propagating Ekuosian influence into inner areas of Lugida.
(someone) began to rose to power in 180 CE, proclaiming the Avite Empire in Kitlimis. Letsatia at the time was crippled by Peace of Galadrosia a year earlier, which sparked resistance against Letsatia across Soltenna and motivated (someone) to lead the Lugid resistance. Ultimately, Avite Empire took over much of the Lugid portion of Letsatia and also conquered inland, covering much of modern-day Lugida and ending Lugida's Letsatian period.