zompist bboard

Well, my small hypothesis that probably isn't all that accurate is that there are a lot of players vying for power and that's exactly how I'm going to fragment my states.

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Now that makes a lot of sense. Different views and philosophies always make for a good fragmented map. As do geographical barriers.

Here's the map with what I believe to be proper placement of mountains: http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt23 ... ng-1-1.jpg (I found a way to do it online)

I think all of these historical examples and counterexamples point to the fact that there are gazillions of reasons why smaller states might or might not exist anywhere in a world.

As the examples with the Holy Roman Empire demonstrate, the exact definition of a state might be different depending on how your world works. Historically, states we would nowadays consider as "independent" were in fact vassals or under the domination of another, more powerful state. The vice versa also occured - little states that were de jure vassals or under the domination of a bigger state were, in fact, independent for the most part. The main issue especially the earlier you go, in my opinion, is because the definitions of what constitutes a nation, a state, or some kind of political entity, differs, it's harder to say exactly "so and so state existed here at this time" or "so and so state was actually province of so and so state".

Anyhow, I think there are a lot of good reasons why a small state might exist, and you just have to find ones that make sense in the context of your conworld.

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I have a blog, unfortunately: http://imperialsenate.wordpress.com/
I think I think, therefore I think I am.

Ocean currents direct climate. The Sahara was rain forest. Then the gulf stream shifted and caused a desert to form. But only the largest in the world.