Araswa

The Free Nations of Araswa is a sovereign country of 102.03 million in eastern Miju, located on the Araswi Peninsula. It is home to over 80 different ethnic groups, the majority speaking a wide variety of local languages with Jeogmonese and Kinshūnese pidgins, as well as Kisaba being the most commonly accepted universal languages. Being equatorial, Araswa is a tropical country, The Mwambami Mountains run along the eastern coast of the country, the west is defined by hills and spotted jungles along large riverlands in the Amkaro Valley to the south, with large plateaus dominating the north. The far west contains ancient, arid highlands and is where the capital of Omjopa is located. The largest city is Kuuxanbaya with 1.2 million inhabitants, the second largest city is the capital itself, with 72 thousand residents.

The country was first inhabited by humans around 90,000 years ago and is theorized to have been a launching point for early cross-sea migrations out of Miju. The Amkaro were the first people to emerge in the historical record and founded several ancient civilizations after 800 BCE, specifically the Pwani Sri Empire, which spread Buddhism throughout much of the land. The Pwani Sri Empire left a fractured eastern Peninsula in its wake, while Abrahamic faiths started to gain popularity across Araswa. Islamic and Christian competition would lead to the First Kuvajadamo, a period of crusade and migration from the south to north.

Arising in the 1600s were many new very distinct states on Araswa, into the 18th century they’d continuously trade with Sinju and build-up their professional armies. In the mid-19th century, major war would break out on the Peninsula and 20 years later it would be left devastated and open to colonization. By 1901 the country of under full control of Kinshu, notably constantly rebellious. It gained partial independence before the Eulhae War through a transitional government. Following the Great Eulhae War, a Confucian order was established in Araswa in the form of a Republic, led by foreign-backed opposition, pro-Sinju parties. The country underwent extensive unrest then civil war in the 1950s, the first civil war ended undetermined through a ceasefire in 1968, re-igniting by 1982 through the emergence of Xeerist student movements.

In 1985 the Free Nations was formed out of the Republic.

Pre & Ancient History
The area was first inhabited by some of the earliest humans around 90,000 years ago, acting as a launching point for early cross-sea migrations and settlement. Agriculture and herding was adopted around 800 BCE, as pastoralists emerged in the Amkaro Valley. The Amkaro people were pushed onto the riverlands by Bantu migrations from the south and the expansion of Kushitic peoples in the Peninsula and Yoju. Several early empires rose to prominence around 400 BCE, centered in the Amkaro Valley, rich in gold and ivory, introducing Araswa as an early trade junction. Buddhism soon entered the land via trade with the Pwani Coast, giving rise to a series of city-states which adopted brahmic writing and other eastern philosophies. The eastern Bantu coast syncretized buddhist philosophy and traditional spiritualism, while the northern and southern semites held Abrahamic beliefs, most prominently Islam and Judaism. With Buddhism came trade and the growth of rich Kingdoms based in it. The Araswi peninsula soon became a confluence of trade and culture between southwest Yoju, southeast Yoju and eastern Miju. The Pwani Sri Empire is one of the most notable pre-middle ages states that at its height, conquered much of eastern Araswa, inserting buddhism further into the land through the heavy construction of temples and statues during this period.

Manadala Period
By the 11th century Mandala period, the empire had fractured and left competing city states emerging out of a dark age. Dominating the Peninsula were the Sultans centered on the northern coast, rich from trade with Yoju and western Miju. They were originally somali that arrived from the north, establishing coastal settlements in the 9th century which grew in the power vacuum Pwani Sri had left. Their cousins, the ethno-religious Ogadaa who joined them in settlement in Araswa, settled in the southwest, making it to the Gulf of Matumya. They had kept and spread their own religion, Waaqeffannaa, are theorized to have colonized Araswa to flee persecution in Yoju. With these groups and more, the Araswan Mandala period was one of intense competition and warfare, mainly clan and religion driven. The Araswi Sultanate eventually formed as a large, unified confederation with an elected Sultan, but quickly succumbed to infighting. Other Kushitic tribal confederations in the south also launched frequent raids against the Sultanate and its trade cities. Also, Christianized Bantu peoples in the south began migrating north around the 12th century, as drought intensified and famine beset many southern tribes within Araswa. This culminated in several religious wars known as the Kuvujadamo(the ‘Great Bleeding’), leading to a significant christian and jewish population settling on the riverlands, alongside the predominant animist-buddhist population. Despite the fall of the Sultanate in the early 15th century, the Mandala period in Araswa is known for the spread of the Abrahamic faiths, primarily in cities through trade. The end of the period is roughly marked by the steady adoption and widespread use of gunpowder, the centralization and formation of larger states and the revival of trade, mainly with newly arrived Sinju merchants that came with more advanced firearms.

Sri Renaissance and Great Araswi War
The 17th century was marked with the rise of dozens of central Araswan states, mainly Kingdoms and reformed Sultanates. The buddhist ‘Pwani Republic’ formed from a merchant aristocracy sinicized and propped up by Sinju-Yoju wealth. It became the most powerful state in Araswa and was favored by powers such as Jeongmi. Most of the 17th and 18th centuries were periods of peace and prosperity in revived trade, with a ‘Sri renaissance’ occurring throughout the land and trade relations with Sinju becoming embedded. By the early 19th century, Araswan states developed some of the most sophisticated militaries, this period of peace also one of build-up and ethnic tension. The Sinjuese backed their own players in the Peninsula, funding and arming them, as well as antagonizing the Araswans against eachother as proxies. The Great Araswi War, as its most commonly known, lasted 20 years from 1855 ending in 1877, and devastated the land. The long, bloody war effectively destroyed or weakened the Araswan states, leaving the victors a pyrrhic victory and war torn land. In addition, the Araswi were mainly in-debted to Jeongmi, Basenareri and Kinshu, which had funded the expensive ‘forever war’ in Araswa, slipping under their Dominion unable to pay them off. The subsequent ‘Colonial Wars’, in which Sinjuese fought eachother and Araswi, lasted in a period of 1880 to 1930, though by 1930 it was mostly small scale rebellion put down before the Great Eulhae War.

Colonization
The Colonial Wars of Araswa lead to Kinshu taking over the Peninsula by 1901, but maintaining very loose control as rebellion was constant. The period where Araswa was being contested and under colonial control is also known as the ‘Second Kuvujadamo’ due to its mass brutality and destruction. Jeongmi troops razed the ancient city of Axriti, burning most historical documents and buildings in 1882; stealing gold and other artifacts. Jeongmi also moved the most settlers in Araswa, allocating resources and land to them, leading to famine and poverty among the Araswi. Basenareri is noted for numerous genocides of local peoples in retaliation for rebellion, as they also flooded Araswa with settlers who enslaved the local populations. Rebellion ultimately led to Jeongmi and Basenerari ceding control of their colonies as they were too costly, but abandoning their large, entrenched settler populations.

Modern
Kinshu was sold most of Araswa by 1901, inheriting these Sinjuese diaspora that were also growing rebellious. The majority of late rebellions in 1915-1920 would be settler-led while indigenous workers unionized. 1920-1944 Is known as a period of general strike and resistance in Araswa, with the growth of underground libertarian and syndicalist organizations. At the start of the Great Eulhae War, membership in radical industrial unions was climbing, however more workers/settlers were imported from overseas and brutal colonial policing was implemented to quell protest. Conscription was later implemented, however Araswi troops sent to fight abroad were known for mutiny throughout the war and when returning home, formed a more organized militia. Most rebelled when they were not compensated for their service. Independence was guaranteed after the war and a Transitory Independent pro-East government was established. It actively aided the late war effort while going through a lengthy constitutional convention. After the war ended, the Republic of Araswa emerged with a Sinjuized central government. This active opposition government was established in concert with Sinju powers against indigenous libertarian efforts, igniting the Araswi Civil War in 1947. It lasted until 1968, ending in the deaths of 4 million mostly through massacres, famine and lengthy asymmetric warfare. Fighting would wind down to irregular low-level war throughout the 70s and 80s. A reprisal of intense fighting would occur in 1982 when general strikes and autonomous occupations became widespread, devolving into urban and rural insurgency.

The government remnants capitulated in 1985 during the signing of the Xeer Charter, marking the beginning of the confederal Free Nations.

Overview
Araswa is a decentralized interclan confederation, composed of a network of municipalities, usually organized through local participatory systems of  to govern various aspects of their villages, cities and neighborhoods, such as the economy and religion. They elect to the confederal, governing legislature, known as the Great Sycamore Congress.

The President is popularly elected but has no practical authority or power. The position is a symbolic pre-revolutionary relic, but is considered important as the face of the nation. President’s typically serve a single term of 2 years. In matters that require more sweeping delegation, a ‘Prime Delegate’ is elected by the Great Sycamore Congress. There may be multiple Prime Delegates for separate subjects. They usually form committees and assign Chairmen, often the committees choose Chairmen amongst themselves. The creation of many committees critics argue has led to the convoluted bureaucratization of the confederation. This has been apparent and the point of various thriving social movements.

The constitution which bounds the Free Nations is called the Xeer Charter - mostly defining how justice and law will be dealt between peoples, but also the division of land, property rights, mutual protection, mutual aid, religious freedom and the rights of individuals across the confederation.

Expanded from where it originated, the Xeer Charter was written with the leadership of the revolutionary Araswi intelligentsia, influenced by the classical works of and political  imported from Sinju, centered on understanding Wu-Wei as a rejection of central authority, wanting strong self-governance. These self-governing ethno-democracies can traditionally be patriarchal, ritual and theocratic, often perpetuating divisive tribalism and traditions which go against the Charter. This drives essential different interpretations of Xeer that divide the nation into two primary camps, Charterist and Traditional Oralist.

Many widespread social movements have achieved reform in some communities, promoting secularism, gender equality and marriage equality. Universal suffrage does not exist in most municipalities, as a result: militant mass movements have emerged because of this issue, with some female-dominated communes forming. In most communities, only adult men within the ritual democracy can participate regardless of class or status. The largest, most liberal Municipalities allow women to actively participate in democratic traditions. Gerontocracy is considered another large issue on a local level for many communities, with active social liberal movements looking to dismantle the authority of the elders and religious institutions.

There is no permanent central government, the latest Confucian government imposed from Sinju collapsed with the outbreak of civil war and never recovered its legitimacy. The Araswi Spring took place in 1982, launching what revolutionaries called nationwide ‘non-action’ - the stoppage of activity such as work and state service.

Non-action was coordinated by students who organized underground Labourer Syndicates and Farming Collectives, it lasted from 1982-1985, encompassing extensive rioting and eventually intense guerilla war in the countryside and cities. The Confucian government collapsed as popular support for the revolution grew, government forces were overwhelmed and remnants fled to exile in 1984 - while reactionary paramilitary groups fought for another year. The Xeer Charter was widely signed in 1985, ending the civil war.