Pre-Colonization History of Nova Žemja

Introduction
Nova Žemja, is a country founded after Korolian colonists arrived upon it's land from Rathnir. However, as everyone knows, history of it does not start there. This article is devoted to the history of Novozemjan land prior to colonists' arrival.

Prior to colonists' arrival, the lands of Nova Žemja were populated by native tribes, out of which Shaif and Draif rose to prominence.

Earliest Civilization
In the 10000-1000 BCA period, the land was dominated by city-states, such as: Lordship of Shaif (Tata), Ambatan Chiefdom, or Duchy of Bobela. Due to hot climate, the evolution of those city-states into larger entities took a long time.

The "Scramble for Leifmyrr"
Around a millenium prior to 1000 BCA, a tendency started, for those city states to merge and less often forcefully "eat" the weaker ones, forming the two countries that existed by 600 BCA, Kingdom of Shaif and Union of Draif.

2000 BCA - 1600 BCA
Out of around 13 city states that existed, the first to fall was the Duchy of Oleta, which was eaten by Shaif around 1950 BCA. Soon to follow was their neighbor Queendom of Nata.

In 1800s Bobela and Bebuku unified into Union of Draif, to counter the influence of at the time powerful Kashant, meanwhile Shaif peacefully integrated struggling Ola and Al'Kat.

In 1700s the short lived Libete Duchy was founded by Rivela, Ambata and Tareta, it did not survive long though, as in 1600s Kingdom of Kashant and Kingdom of Shaif split it up.

1600 BCA - 1300 BCA
By 1500s there were only three states left: Kingdom of Shaif, Kingdom of Kashant and Union of Draif. I think it's worth to point out that due to cultural proximity, all of the tribes assimilate fairly easily into the countries that they get absorbed into. After that for around 200 years situation stabilized again.

1200s and the Great Kashanti War
1200s faced likely the greatest war during pre-colonization era. Union of Draif and Kingdom of Shaif jointly invaded and divided Kashant in half.

Two Kingdoms Era
By 1000 BCA, Shaif, occupied roughly the territories of modern day Lipanovo Voivodeship, and Draif occupied most of the Primožan Voivodeship, save for the northern parts.Shaif were much stronger due to their location in the fertile savannah, while Draif lived in secluded settlements in the mesa.

Tata and Bobela - pearls of the era
Shaif's strongest known settlement was Tata, located roughly few miles south from modern day Lipanovo-Ostrokochod, found thanks to the basis of old Shaifan texts. The city was founded anywhere between 10000 BCA to 6000 BCA, and lost it's significance by 0s ACA. Meanwhile Draif's strongest settlement was just by Zlatoport's gates - Bobela was a fortified town with small bay, allowing them for naval trade. Rough estimates put Shaif's population in 1000's BCA at 70000, with around half of them living in Tata, and Draif's to just about 16000, with 3/4 of them living in Bobela, which, due to the city's architecture, makes Bobela one of the most densely populated urban settlements at the time.

Relations
Shaifan-Draifan relations shaped themselves mostly positively. Trade between the two was present, with Shaif acting as Draif's breadbasket, and Draif serving as Shaif's gateway to the seas.

Governments
Shaif governed itself in rather absolute manner, with the King having whole power, and his word being the law, although King's power could be limited by... former Kings' written wills, and thus over time, from collection of wills, some kind of codex has been formed, although it was rather a handbook for Kings how to rule, and what decrees to make, than direct law for commoners. Union of Draif allowed more people into the government, as it was governed by a council of tribal leaders.

Breakdown of the Union
Union of Draif's breakdown is estimated around 500 BCA, with the reasoning for it being: internal strife between the leaders, famine, and droughts. Union of Draif dissolved into a bunch of warring chiefdoms, lordships and such. The tribe from which Union derived it's name, Draif, occupied only Bobela, and what by modern standards could have been called suburbs of it - Tobonela.

During next 50 years, Shaif under the King Chukwetwe XI Conqueror slowly but surely forced former Draifan states into dependency or annexation.

Shaifan Era
After Chukwetwe XI Conqueror assured domination over Draif for Shaif, the era of largest prosperity for native civilization began. 400s marked the beginning of the "Shaifan Era" or "Pax Shaif", which was the last era of greatness, before the decline of whole native civilization. Shaif, under rule of Jerul IV made a leap in terms of life quality, when feudalism where peasants were essentially slaves of land owners was abolished. Kashant and Draif, which were Shaif's puppets soon followed. He also enacted other less important societal reforms.

The Revolt of Scythes
In 330s however, when King Istiorun III tried to revoke the rights given to peasants, a large scale peasant revolt occured, called "The Revolt of Scythes" as scythes (among other farming tools) were favorite weapons of peasants, who were mainly farmers. The two largest epicenters of revolts were Ola, and Tobonela, although bigger, or smaller signs of revolt were seen everywhere. Istiorun III initially wanted to use force to quiet them down, but ultimately, likely by his advisors suggestion decided to just resign from revoking the privileges.

III-II Centuries
III-II centuries BCA were the time of largest prosperity in Shaif. The population of the Kingdom reached 250 thousands, and Tata itself hosted around a quarter of it. That century is where majority of the recovered literature that is linked to native civilizations originates from.

Downfall
In 91 BCA the King Chukwetwe XIV, (later called the Lazy) was crowned as the King of Shaif. His first years on throne were marked by apathy in the government, and lack of any response to problems. Thus, in 78 BCA Draifan and Kashanti nobles saw an opportunity to break apart the Shaifan dominion over themselves - they contacted an undefined overseas power which they traded with for help. It is presumed it could be Sérotat Kingdom, as Serotat is at the time one of the most powerful states in the region.

Draifan Rebellion
By 77 BCA the Shaif was a husk of a state, due to mismanagements from both regional leaders and Chukwetwe XIV Lazy. That's when Draif and Kashant announced their unification into Union of  Nadif (Coastliners), and rose up against Shaif's hegemony. Once Shaif realized what was happening, they tried to push with their military into Nadif. The first major battle which is recorded by written records is battle of the Valeba. It's described as a swift victory of Nadif-Serotat coalition. Soon after there was battle of Tarela, as Nadif, built up by their swift victory at Valeba pushed further into Shaif. Although this time Shaif achieved a pyrrhic victory over Nadif. Soon after the battle of the river came, with the results described as disastrous for both sides. Shaifan fighters and commanders started to lose faith in the King and his aristocratic council, and declined to fight. Soon after in Tata there was a rebellion. Several commanders, decided to kick out King Chukwetwe XIV Lazy out of power. The city got divided with people fighting on two sides: anti-King and pro-King. The fight is said to last 2 days, set 3/4 city ablaze, and cause the death of 2/3 of the population. It ultimately ended with King Chukwetwe XIV out of the throne.

Post-Shaifan Era
After the Kingdom of Shaif fell, the region has fallen into relative anarchy, or "warlord era" as one could call it.

In 50s BCA a famine of unseen scale is said to strike into remnants of Shaif and Nadif, killing 1/3 of the remaining population, followed by a disease who decimated half of those who were left. Sérotat Kingdom also limited trade with them, in an attempt to not transfer the epidemic.

By 0 ACA, native population dwindled to only around 20000. While rump states of Shaif and Nadif still struggled to pick up from all the crises of the last century, a new foe has appeared, although due to relative lack of written sources from this era, it's a blind guess who that horde was. It's presumed that they rolled over remnants of the Shaif and Nadif, crushing any remaining functioning governments.

The Dispersal
The collapse of the both countries, and anarchy in the region made the remaining natives abandon the cities that were still standing and sending them into a dispersal in the region. In the dryer areas to the east many of them have turned into nomads, moving from place to place on the desert, while many of the people of savannah settled in a small villages, no bigger than 20 people one.

The Revival
By 300s ACA the population somewhat went back from the brink as the estimates place it around 60000, although the natives won't form a coherent state-entity ever again.

Nova Zemja
When Novozemjan settlers arrived, they were not especially hostile towards the natives, but due to the difference in life quality many natives immigrated into Novozemjan settlements, seeking a better life, thus the native population slowly incorporated itself into Novozemjan society.

In 1046 ACA, thanks to the Shaifan Identity Movement, a small autonomous state seeking to claim the native heritage has been founded - Shaifan Autonomous Republic.