You're huge. 
I'd like to second the calls for a peek at demographics if at all possible.
I'd like to second the calls for a peek at demographics if at all possible.
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Which has been displaced by a German/British/French presence ;_;Cinéad IV said:Zanzibar? It had a historical Perisan presence
I had designs on most of east africa, the other great powers had different ideas. Nothing to do now but take out my sorrow on those less fortunate than myself
And I'll slip in a demographic sidebar in my next entry. Which is good, since the last decade was somewhat slow.
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Chapter 7: The Uplift
Following their victory in the October 1889 election, the Socialists began the process of what would become Persia’s Great Leap Forward. Using every last drop of income, the government managed to retire the national debt within 2 years. At the same time, the Uplift program was enacted: a two-pronged effort to expand and modernize Persia’s manufacturing capabilities. By both building factories and providing government subsidies to hire and train workers to man them, the socialists more than quadrupled the Republic’s industrial capabilities within ten years while lifting hundreds of thousands out of poverty. Farmers and Laborers became Factory workers and Clerks. From West to East no part of the nation was allowed to remain still. Factories blossomed from Baghdad to Bukhara. With it’s military victories over it’s neighbors, and the ensuing glory gained from them, the final piece had now fallen into place. By May of 1898, academics, analysts , and global strategists all agreed: Persia’s status as a Great Power was now obvious.
However, by the end of the decade the social effects of the Uplift would begin to ripple. Those lucky enough to be able to gain jobs in the factories found themselves with a newfound excess of personal wealth, and in some cases a great excess. After achieving an increase in their standard of living, those with the means then sought other outlets for their wealth, but their desire for investment into the rapidly growing economy would be squelched by the same government that had created the possibility of that investment. And women who were once little more than chattels joined in the new upward mobility; the government could not afford to exclude workers it badly needed, no matter their tribe or gender. Having gained a measure of economic equality, it was only a matter of time before political and social equality were also sought. And so the 1890’s would see the birth of the Persian Women’s Sufferage Movement. Also, while the Socialists were effective in creating new jobs and allowing people to gain them, their efforts left little money left over for infrastructure improvements, and their dedication to peace went so far as to actually reduce the size of the nation’s reserves. Both were seen as significant drawbacks by the population. And so, after 4 decades of Conservative rule and 1 of Socialist, Persians, like the people of every other democracy, began to seek the mean. The desire for increased ability for economic investment and social equality would prove fertile ground for the Liberal Hezb-e Azadiye, the party that had taken power and founded the Republic in the final stage of the Revolution. 1900 opened to a Liberal victory in the 1900 elections, and with a pro-military party back in power and the Republic’s fortunes ever-rising, the Ottomans did shudder in fear of what would surely come…
Cultural Supplement: The Changed and Changing Face of Persia
Since the time of the conquests of Muhammad Shah to the modern era, Persia’s demographics have undergone an increasing shift. As the country grew, the dominance of the former Persian majority increasingly dwindled. In fact it has been posited that one of the factors which led to the revolution in the first place was the attempts by the shahs, despite their otherwise forward-thinking policies, to impose Persian rule on a country where they were no longer the majority. This became especially obvious following the annexation of Punjab, as even now Punjabis are a substantial majority of the population. As the figure below demonstrates, at the turn of the century almost 1 of every 3 Persian citizens was of Punjabi descent, and is the reason Persian culture came to incorporate such things as Curry and how the Sari slowly but surely displaced the Veil. Nonetheless the character of the nation would remain decidedly Muslim as Islam, mostly Sunni, remained the majority religion by a sizeable margin. Nonetheless, even now it is said that, as Afghanistan and Punjab were integrated into Persia, they conquered Persia back.
Political issues have been far more transitional over the course of the Republic’s history. Despite most of the population being Muslim, the Republic’s policy of religious tolerance, especially during the Socialist era, had the desired effect of largely secularizing the nation as people moved away from the orthodoxy that had characterized bygone eras. Even so, the turn of the century was still a time of great shift in Persian politics, as the desires for equality began to bloom. The old policies still had their supporters, largely in the more rural provinces, but the opinions of the people were a vast spectrum. This resulted in the parliament becoming a three-way dance between the three major parties: Conservative, Liberal, and Socialist. Where in other situations this would result in civil war, the Republican system had stabilized and the people understood democracy enough that it had the more favorable result of keeping the nation’s policies on a moderate path, a significant portion of the reason Persia experienced such a vast and rapid increase in power and prosperity in the decades following the Revolution.
A demographic snapshot of the Persian Republic at the dawn of the 20th Century
Following their victory in the October 1889 election, the Socialists began the process of what would become Persia’s Great Leap Forward. Using every last drop of income, the government managed to retire the national debt within 2 years. At the same time, the Uplift program was enacted: a two-pronged effort to expand and modernize Persia’s manufacturing capabilities. By both building factories and providing government subsidies to hire and train workers to man them, the socialists more than quadrupled the Republic’s industrial capabilities within ten years while lifting hundreds of thousands out of poverty. Farmers and Laborers became Factory workers and Clerks. From West to East no part of the nation was allowed to remain still. Factories blossomed from Baghdad to Bukhara. With it’s military victories over it’s neighbors, and the ensuing glory gained from them, the final piece had now fallen into place. By May of 1898, academics, analysts , and global strategists all agreed: Persia’s status as a Great Power was now obvious.
However, by the end of the decade the social effects of the Uplift would begin to ripple. Those lucky enough to be able to gain jobs in the factories found themselves with a newfound excess of personal wealth, and in some cases a great excess. After achieving an increase in their standard of living, those with the means then sought other outlets for their wealth, but their desire for investment into the rapidly growing economy would be squelched by the same government that had created the possibility of that investment. And women who were once little more than chattels joined in the new upward mobility; the government could not afford to exclude workers it badly needed, no matter their tribe or gender. Having gained a measure of economic equality, it was only a matter of time before political and social equality were also sought. And so the 1890’s would see the birth of the Persian Women’s Sufferage Movement. Also, while the Socialists were effective in creating new jobs and allowing people to gain them, their efforts left little money left over for infrastructure improvements, and their dedication to peace went so far as to actually reduce the size of the nation’s reserves. Both were seen as significant drawbacks by the population. And so, after 4 decades of Conservative rule and 1 of Socialist, Persians, like the people of every other democracy, began to seek the mean. The desire for increased ability for economic investment and social equality would prove fertile ground for the Liberal Hezb-e Azadiye, the party that had taken power and founded the Republic in the final stage of the Revolution. 1900 opened to a Liberal victory in the 1900 elections, and with a pro-military party back in power and the Republic’s fortunes ever-rising, the Ottomans did shudder in fear of what would surely come…
Cultural Supplement: The Changed and Changing Face of Persia
Since the time of the conquests of Muhammad Shah to the modern era, Persia’s demographics have undergone an increasing shift. As the country grew, the dominance of the former Persian majority increasingly dwindled. In fact it has been posited that one of the factors which led to the revolution in the first place was the attempts by the shahs, despite their otherwise forward-thinking policies, to impose Persian rule on a country where they were no longer the majority. This became especially obvious following the annexation of Punjab, as even now Punjabis are a substantial majority of the population. As the figure below demonstrates, at the turn of the century almost 1 of every 3 Persian citizens was of Punjabi descent, and is the reason Persian culture came to incorporate such things as Curry and how the Sari slowly but surely displaced the Veil. Nonetheless the character of the nation would remain decidedly Muslim as Islam, mostly Sunni, remained the majority religion by a sizeable margin. Nonetheless, even now it is said that, as Afghanistan and Punjab were integrated into Persia, they conquered Persia back.
Political issues have been far more transitional over the course of the Republic’s history. Despite most of the population being Muslim, the Republic’s policy of religious tolerance, especially during the Socialist era, had the desired effect of largely secularizing the nation as people moved away from the orthodoxy that had characterized bygone eras. Even so, the turn of the century was still a time of great shift in Persian politics, as the desires for equality began to bloom. The old policies still had their supporters, largely in the more rural provinces, but the opinions of the people were a vast spectrum. This resulted in the parliament becoming a three-way dance between the three major parties: Conservative, Liberal, and Socialist. Where in other situations this would result in civil war, the Republican system had stabilized and the people understood democracy enough that it had the more favorable result of keeping the nation’s policies on a moderate path, a significant portion of the reason Persia experienced such a vast and rapid increase in power and prosperity in the decades following the Revolution.
A demographic snapshot of the Persian Republic at the dawn of the 20th Century
Amazing your borders look really nice.
That brings me to a question, if WW1 comes knocking who are you going to join? Moste likely the entente but what would be your gain?
That brings me to a question, if WW1 comes knocking who are you going to join? Moste likely the entente but what would be your gain?
I say assimilate the Punjabis ! Long live the Persian Empire ! And the Shahanshah ! You have taken a path away from the Persian Royalist Road..
Long live the Persian Empire ! And the Shahanshah ! You have taken a path away from the Persian Royalist Road.. 
Wow, a bit too lot punjabis!
Less than 10 million persians!
Maybe you should start doing something with that punjabi problem!
Or just conquer more of india!
A very nice aar!
Maybe more lands from Caucasia to balance the populations against punjabis?
Less than 10 million persians!
Maybe you should start doing something with that punjabi problem!
Or just conquer more of india!
A very nice aar!
Maybe more lands from Caucasia to balance the populations against punjabis?
Bah, just like the bourgeoisie to betray the ones that give them prosperity the moment short-sighted greed takes over. Socialists led Persia to economic prosperity and cultural tolerance, and what do they say, they want the laissez-faire bunch in power! Hah, the people of Persia will regret this when the bubble bursts and the government needs to save their rich asses again!
Plus, the Punjabis didn't do anything wrong. They just happen to be the most populous state he conquered and thus they remains the most populous state he has. I'm thoroughly impressed with what he has done with Persia, not the least because that nation started with only a few million national pops and very few way to conquer more, and that it was a very long time before he could take advantage of the larger populations of neighboring states.
Problem? Nonsense! The Thousand Nations of the Republic of Persia welcomes all!Enewald said:Maybe you should start doing something with that punjabi problem!
Plus, the Punjabis didn't do anything wrong. They just happen to be the most populous state he conquered and thus they remains the most populous state he has. I'm thoroughly impressed with what he has done with Persia, not the least because that nation started with only a few million national pops and very few way to conquer more, and that it was a very long time before he could take advantage of the larger populations of neighboring states.
Cinéad IV said:Zanzibar? It had a historical Perisan presence
President Mercury of the Islamic Republic anyone?
Great AAR here, very swift, it will be interesting to watch Persia's growth into Africa and its role in the 20th century.
Wow, this is one of the best Vicky AARs i've seen i a while. Great stuff you've done here! You've illustrated the dynamics of democratic society beautifully here as well.
"with a pro-military party back in power and the Republic’s fortunes ever-rising, the Ottomans did shudder in fear of what would surely come…"
This left a shudder down my spine, great stuff!
"with a pro-military party back in power and the Republic’s fortunes ever-rising, the Ottomans did shudder in fear of what would surely come…"
This left a shudder down my spine, great stuff!
You like me! You really like me!
Seriously though, gratifying to know ppl are still interested in my little story. I let it go after trying to figure out an explicable way around certain wars being declared, but I promise you guys I'll crank out the next chapter once my job is done making me it's bitch for a few minutes -_-
Seriously though, gratifying to know ppl are still interested in my little story. I let it go after trying to figure out an explicable way around certain wars being declared, but I promise you guys I'll crank out the next chapter once my job is done making me it's bitch for a few minutes -_-
Chapter 8: The Gathering Storm
Persia, having clawed and scratched and fought its way out of obscurity and poverty over the course of the decades before and after the Revolution, was now regarded as a Great Power. But even as she completed her grand ascension, the world began to shift perilously around her. The European great powers became ever more competitive as their interests began to collide more and more. The race for Africa, the unifications of Germany and Italy, the cries of nationalism from the subjugated peoples of the Austrian and Ottoman Empires, and the open and backroom deals, treaties, and alliances all signaled that the balance of power in Europe was beginning to shift. The competing interests of old and new, freedom and autocracy, and long-simmering rivalries and resentments would eventually set Europe, and perhaps the world, ablaze. It was simply a matter of time. There were but three non-European great powers whose involvements remained unknown quantities: the United States, Japan… and Persia.
It was during this period that Persia’s position as a great strategic asset was becoming more and more obvious: Already Kokand and Turkmenistan were known to be oil rich, with pumping operations already active in Dubai and the potential for further expansion in the future, all the great powers were eager to take advantage of Persia’s increasing wealth of critical oil. Luckily Persia was no longer a weak state capable of being easily manipulated or defeated militarily. And with the lines being drawn in Europe no one nation was capable of organizing a coalition great enough to overwhelm the Republic without meeting serious opposition, both from Persia and other jealous powers. Thus once more Persia’s security was ensured by the balance of power, but though such a tenuous status had served the Empire, and subsequently the Republic, as it emerged from obscurity, it could not be maintained. A side would need to be chosen. The Persian government remained abreast of developments abroad, however its main long-term strategic goal remained steadfast: the destruction of the Ottoman Empire. It was through this lens that the Republic’s policies would be crafted, and the means by which she would endure what was to come would be decided. As the Ottomans were allied to Germany, this entailed courting their rivals, chiefly Britain and Russia. Though both were traditionally friendly with the Republic, tensions with the Company and the Border War had soured relations with both. Thus a charm offensive was initiated in order to secure a strategic relationship within what would become the entente while for the moment remaining outside of it.
Secondly, remembering their embarrassing inability to cross the Bosporous and deliver the fatal blow to the Ottomans by taking Istanbul, as well as the need to secure the incredibly strategic waterways they controlled, a program was undertaken to expand and modernize what was still a barely existent navy. Luckily this was where the Republic’s excellent relationship with the United States began to pay off. Though still pursuing a policy of strategic Splendid Isolation, the two nations were on good enough terms that the Americans were willing to sell naval technology to the Republic. This relationship would also prove greatly beneficial as Persia served as a diplomatic conduit between America and Britain, and was instrumental in the Great Rapprochement between the two, which would later prove to be critical in convincing politicians in Washington to come to the aid of a former enemy. Further military strengthening on land was also required to keep pace with the armed forces of the other great powers, and thus not only were reserves increased but the standing army grown with the formation of the Army of Iraq in mid 1903. By late 1906, enough material and technological know how had been assembled to begin construction on Persia’s first modern warships: 4 protected cruisers, set for completion in 1909. They wouldn’t come soon enough.
On April 26th, 1907, the Sultan’s brother Reshad Efendi was dispatched to Pristina to meet Austrian officials to discuss strategic matters relating to the new Central Alliance. Serbian terrorism had by this point become a serious problem for both nations, and plans were being made regarding what to do about the problematic little polity that lay between them. What happened is still somewhat unclear, but what we do know is that as they exited the Austrian consulate a Serb anarchist approached the pair and their bodyguards, attempting to kill the Austrian ambassador. 1 bomb and 3 shots later, the ambassador had escaped, but his Ottoman counterpart lay dead. Enraged at the death of his brother, Sultan Abdul Hamid II immediately ordered his forces mobilized, and on the 28th declared war on Serbia. Russia, having bound itself to defending the slavs of central Europe, declared war on the Ottomans, forcing the activation of the full alliance and bringing responses in-kind from both Austria and Germany, which of course brought France, Britain, and Italy into war. Unwilling to allow the other great powers to divide up the Ottoman Empire, Persia finalized its entrance into the Entente, with the following conditions: in exchange for full and exclusive access both to the Suez Canal and it’s oil resources, the Republic would be granted the British East India Company’s remaining enclave in Aden as well as the rights to all remaining non-European Ottoman territory. And so, on May 6th 1907, the Persian Republic declared war on the Ottoman Empire and entered the conflict we now know as World War I.
-------------
Had to manipulate the situation here a bit to mirror the leadup to the great war, which historically was pretty much inevitable in some form. Can persia triumph and secure its place in the sun? Stay tuned to find out
Persia, having clawed and scratched and fought its way out of obscurity and poverty over the course of the decades before and after the Revolution, was now regarded as a Great Power. But even as she completed her grand ascension, the world began to shift perilously around her. The European great powers became ever more competitive as their interests began to collide more and more. The race for Africa, the unifications of Germany and Italy, the cries of nationalism from the subjugated peoples of the Austrian and Ottoman Empires, and the open and backroom deals, treaties, and alliances all signaled that the balance of power in Europe was beginning to shift. The competing interests of old and new, freedom and autocracy, and long-simmering rivalries and resentments would eventually set Europe, and perhaps the world, ablaze. It was simply a matter of time. There were but three non-European great powers whose involvements remained unknown quantities: the United States, Japan… and Persia.
It was during this period that Persia’s position as a great strategic asset was becoming more and more obvious: Already Kokand and Turkmenistan were known to be oil rich, with pumping operations already active in Dubai and the potential for further expansion in the future, all the great powers were eager to take advantage of Persia’s increasing wealth of critical oil. Luckily Persia was no longer a weak state capable of being easily manipulated or defeated militarily. And with the lines being drawn in Europe no one nation was capable of organizing a coalition great enough to overwhelm the Republic without meeting serious opposition, both from Persia and other jealous powers. Thus once more Persia’s security was ensured by the balance of power, but though such a tenuous status had served the Empire, and subsequently the Republic, as it emerged from obscurity, it could not be maintained. A side would need to be chosen. The Persian government remained abreast of developments abroad, however its main long-term strategic goal remained steadfast: the destruction of the Ottoman Empire. It was through this lens that the Republic’s policies would be crafted, and the means by which she would endure what was to come would be decided. As the Ottomans were allied to Germany, this entailed courting their rivals, chiefly Britain and Russia. Though both were traditionally friendly with the Republic, tensions with the Company and the Border War had soured relations with both. Thus a charm offensive was initiated in order to secure a strategic relationship within what would become the entente while for the moment remaining outside of it.
Secondly, remembering their embarrassing inability to cross the Bosporous and deliver the fatal blow to the Ottomans by taking Istanbul, as well as the need to secure the incredibly strategic waterways they controlled, a program was undertaken to expand and modernize what was still a barely existent navy. Luckily this was where the Republic’s excellent relationship with the United States began to pay off. Though still pursuing a policy of strategic Splendid Isolation, the two nations were on good enough terms that the Americans were willing to sell naval technology to the Republic. This relationship would also prove greatly beneficial as Persia served as a diplomatic conduit between America and Britain, and was instrumental in the Great Rapprochement between the two, which would later prove to be critical in convincing politicians in Washington to come to the aid of a former enemy. Further military strengthening on land was also required to keep pace with the armed forces of the other great powers, and thus not only were reserves increased but the standing army grown with the formation of the Army of Iraq in mid 1903. By late 1906, enough material and technological know how had been assembled to begin construction on Persia’s first modern warships: 4 protected cruisers, set for completion in 1909. They wouldn’t come soon enough.
On April 26th, 1907, the Sultan’s brother Reshad Efendi was dispatched to Pristina to meet Austrian officials to discuss strategic matters relating to the new Central Alliance. Serbian terrorism had by this point become a serious problem for both nations, and plans were being made regarding what to do about the problematic little polity that lay between them. What happened is still somewhat unclear, but what we do know is that as they exited the Austrian consulate a Serb anarchist approached the pair and their bodyguards, attempting to kill the Austrian ambassador. 1 bomb and 3 shots later, the ambassador had escaped, but his Ottoman counterpart lay dead. Enraged at the death of his brother, Sultan Abdul Hamid II immediately ordered his forces mobilized, and on the 28th declared war on Serbia. Russia, having bound itself to defending the slavs of central Europe, declared war on the Ottomans, forcing the activation of the full alliance and bringing responses in-kind from both Austria and Germany, which of course brought France, Britain, and Italy into war. Unwilling to allow the other great powers to divide up the Ottoman Empire, Persia finalized its entrance into the Entente, with the following conditions: in exchange for full and exclusive access both to the Suez Canal and it’s oil resources, the Republic would be granted the British East India Company’s remaining enclave in Aden as well as the rights to all remaining non-European Ottoman territory. And so, on May 6th 1907, the Persian Republic declared war on the Ottoman Empire and entered the conflict we now know as World War I.
-------------
Had to manipulate the situation here a bit to mirror the leadup to the great war, which historically was pretty much inevitable in some form. Can persia triumph and secure its place in the sun? Stay tuned to find out
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I hope for nice tidy borders after this war, those deals with the UK sound like they're going to help a lot