Imperium

The Empire (Magonian: Imperium) is a sovereign transcontinental country located on the central part of Arhet. Most of its territory is located on the continent, at the south of the Icarian Sea, and it also has a large number of islands in Mare Mercatorium and the Gregorian archipelago in Icarian Sea. It limits to the north with Ligaj Libra Leschinogerade and to the west with Belleland. The empire has an area of around 11.3 million of square kilometers.

The country is a parliamentary monarchy under a regional autonomy system. There are 64 subdivisions in the Empire, these are commonly named provinces but contain different types of subdivisions: Republics, Kingdoms, Archipelagos and proper Provinces. The current emperor is Gregorius IX, whose historical title is emperor-elect, despite the fact that the election system changed in 1720.

The capital of the empire is Magium, a global city and financial center with a metropolitan population of 19.3 million. Other main cities are Sanctus Augustus, Balisipo, Milanum, Orei, Crusina, Olisipo and Burdigala.

Etymology and terminology
According to the early historian Fabius Musca, the inhabitants of the central imperial zone referred to the primitive empire as Imperium Aetherium, a term from the Proto-Magonian language, using the words imperium (empire) and aetherius, an adjective meaning ("ethereal, celestial, heavenly"). The current name gives reference to the first emperor, Magius, who descended from the heavens and therefore his direct descendants were considered "deities of the Ether".From the south often visitors came to the emperors to honor their alliance to the rulers of Magium after the end of Second Greco-Roman War. They often referred to the empire as the Imperios Magnos ("great empire" in Proto-Magonian), gradually this term came into usage in the 2nd century.

After the death of Levitatus II, his adoptive son Titanius II ascended the throne, becoming the first emperor who did not descend directly from Magius. The fact of not being a blood descendant of Magius made him considered "an terrestial diety", for this reason the priests considered it offensive towards the gods of the Ether to continue calling the empire as Imperium Aetherium. The decision was made to officially start using the name Imperium Magnum, a modern version of "Imperios Magnos", as originally used by visitors from the south. Some nearby civilizations called the region where Magium was founded Magonia, a word that literally means "land of Magius". This term is mostly used for the territory around and to the west of Magium these days and for the language that originally derives from this area and is currently spoken all over the Empire.

Prehistory and early history
 There are a large number of archaeological sites indicating signs of human settlement since the Stone Age. One of the oldest sites was found south of Colonia Arida, in the Caverna Consa, where a group of paleontologists discovered the skull of Homus Consus, a pre-hominid considered a predecessor of modern humans, confirming the existence of human beings in Imperium for more than 2.3 million years. According to archaeological studies by Antonius Scrofa in the beginning of the 20th century, modern humans lived in near Ialysus, in the republic of Phlegethon approximately 40.000 years ago. Some archaeological sites that evidence the presence of hominids in the Paleolithic-era are found throughout the empire, but the most important are near Aphrodisia in the Greek region. Imperium, due to the large size of its territory, is home to the first advanced civilizations in Arhet, begging with the Magnisianic civilization, the oldest on record, appeared on the Sporades around 3200 BC, the Skyran civilization in Phlegethon (2400 - 1200 BC), the Miletan civilization in Herakleia (2500 - 1700 BC) and then the Hespedian civilization in the mainland, at the west of Egeia (1800 - 1100 BC). These civilizations developed the first forms of Proto-Icarian writing, sculpture and painting, which were the basis for the language and culture of the Icarian civilization. The Hespedian gradually absorbed the Miletan, while the Skyran civilization continued to develop to the point of becoming a rival to the Hespedians, which slowly caused their demise near 1150 BC. However, while these civilizations declined in influence, the unexpected miscegenation between the two gave rise to the contemporary Icarian civilization, considered key in the development of the culture and history of Imperium.

In the western part, important civilizations developed that were the basis for the Phocaean culture, beggining with the Viridian civilization in Virides (2700 - 1500 BC), the Caerulean civilization in the northern part of Caerulea (2000 - 700 BC), the Isopan civilization, an important civilization that developed in the upper reaches of the Osis river, in Osis Superior (3100 - 600 BC) and the Calmean civilization in Phocaea (2500 - 1700 BC). The Caerulean gradually absorbed the Calmean and, after many years of constant conflicts, they finally conquered the Viridian territories. The Caerulean ruled a vast territory that, as the years passed, spread out and led to the rise of other important groups. The instability of the societies that were once part of the Caerulean territory and the little military preparation they had, allowed the rapid rise of the Phocaean civilization, which managed to lead a large territory under a republican system and enough military power to definitively defeat the Isopan in 600 BC, allowing them to obtain great resources offered by the Osis river. During the following years, the Icarian and Phocaean civilizations continued their expansion, conquering most of the coast of Mare Mercatorium.

Phocaeo-Icarian period
'' After its victory over the Isopans near 602 BC, the Phocaean began to conquer the territories that were once part of the Caerulean territories, in addition to more territories to the south that were practically depopulated.