The Ottoman Experience - a technical AAR

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Year 1530-1539 (Mutilation of Austria & an opening to the Persian Gulf)

Year 1530.
Reputation:Respectable; DS:+Innovativeness (=at midpoint now)
Income=$138/mth; Stabilty cost:$1295;
Army:23/37/5.9; Navy:90(total); ArmyLosses:215/157/0.9
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SITUATION:
Technology & Economy:
As observed even in the last decade, most European countries have Land Tech-10 or more. While matching that is vital, it should also be done without making a mess of the empire's long term economic strength.

Since not much income comes from Trade (still <$30/month), our long term success lie in the Infrastructure and tax. However, seeing those futuristic looking Austrians, Tuscanians, etc does not make the troops comfortable right now.

The Remaining Core Provinces:
Austria holds 5 of our core provinces and streaches like a fat worm from Tyrol to Translivania. To attack now is to face their level-12 armies. To attack later means to face the medium forts everywhere.
(One good thing, though. Lithuania, on whom a strong alliance was once based, had left and ironically joined the Teutonic Alliance, her ex-enemies. Poland is now the leader of an alliance of Poland, Austria, Prussia, Bohemia)


Then there is this Memeluks holding Egypt. Somehow, they own Basrah. The Persians are currently occupying Basrah in a war more than a decade long. Their WarExhaustion is still +2 and it is a stalemate.

Other core provinces are: Albania(Tuscany), Wallachia (independant), Dalmatia (England), Istria (Spain), Bosnia (annexed by Ragusa) and also Ragusa.

The Options:
1.Go for InfraTech-05 (and level 6 if possible)
2.Chief Judge everywhere, mayor in all profitable provinces.
3.Get the 5 core provinces from Austria.
4.Diplo-annex Mameluks.
5.Last but not the least, CONVERT, the orthodox especially.

Economy should be a priority but then ...
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Just as the decade began, the Austrians began upgrading the Minimal fort in Presburg. This doesn't look good; especially as they are not at war with anyone right now. While the men are afraid of the stalhelms worn by the Austrians, they also fear the prospect of assaulting a 15k fortress in ALL her provinces.

Other than their 5 native (Tyrol,Salzburk,Steirmark,Austria, OstMarch) and 5 Hungarian provinces, they also have possession of 3 more un-connected provinces (Kustrin, Magdeburg, Meklemburg). I am sure that CoT is the reason for their Level-12 Tech.

Well, no harm massing some troops on the border!

1531:
Europe is very quiet now, with only 1 war. I guess everyone is busy making fancy helmets.
Austria has 26k top-quality troops in Transylvania, 8k in Steiremark, 1k in Magyar and 2k in Banat. We also could observe some 20k polish troops in nearby provinces and 10k helmeted Bohemians. Facing them from our side are 80k, while another 15k is in Anatolia to cover any un-expected riots.

Europe is still quite and we are not sure of what to do next, having recruited 100k, our support limit. Oh, The Austrians have nationalism in Maros and Transylvania. Maybe that is why they have a big troop deployment there.

Then, on March, the Mameluks conclude their decade-long war with Persia by giving some money. It was followed by the annexation of the Kaliphate (Iraq) by the Mughals. The Mughals doesn't have a land border with Iraq, which has nationalism against the Mughals. Wonder what would happen.

The Annexation of Egypt & Basrah
Starting on March 1531, a string of steps were taken to annex the Mameluks.
1.Left the alliance with Nubia
2.Sent 3 State gifts to the Mameluks
3.Joined their alliance with Fez.
4.Mameluks diplo-annexed on June.

On July, just as we were wondering how to pay for the 25k extra troops that came with the annexation, the *Mameluk Uprising* event began - where the governor of Cairo tries to reestablish the Mameluks.
The extra troops came useful to put down the revolts in 4 provinces there.

The revolts were only put down by July 1532. In the meantime Basrah had also revolted due to our Shia religious intolerance and Nationalism. We decided to send the 8k that was left in Cairo there by ship.

By the time the troops reached Basrah, the rebels won the siege, and moved into ... well, undefended Iraq, which was just recently annexed by the Mughals.

I don't recall when Basrah was re-taken from the rebels though, since we were fighting a war in Europe by then.
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By the time the palace turned to the affairs of Europe, a nice war was started between the Friesland Alliance and the Polish alliance (Saxony,Friesland, Gelre, Baden vs. Bohemia, Poland, Austria, Prussia). We were not sure who started that war but hurriely sent our own DoW to Wien once we made sure there are no Austrian/Bohemian forces in sight.


The War Against Austria, 1533-1537
March 1533: we covered most provinces of Austria-Hungary while properly sieging 5 of them.

It was a time to experience the difference between the Tech levels. The forts had artillery and they were more devastating, as Gazi Husrev found out after a failed assault of the Maros fort. Our 20k siege army in Austria lost to a 6k Austrian relief unit. (However, we won a battle in Magyar. We did outnumber them 2-1 but it is still a victory.)


June: For some reasons, Bohemia and Prussia offered a White Peace.
On July, Banat fell to Suleyman (and his artillery). We took the initiative of giving Poland $75 for peace. No use taking risks in this war. By year end, Magyar and Presburg fell, freeing more men to concentrate on other provinces, especially those 15k monster forts.

The Austrians, for their part, brought back a 40k army and dropped it in Presburg. While a formidable power in itself, that is all the Austrians could field for some time, since their 2 norther provinces (Magdeburg, Meklemburg) were in rebel hands.

1534: Austrians finally re-took Presburg, marched into Austria (the Province) and defeated the siege army there. Fortunately, Steiremark fell to Suleyman before the Austrians reached it. The Austrians went to siege Odenburg. They didn't assault it, maybe because it didn't have a breach.

1535:The war was slow, with a lot of hide-and-seek tactics, but the Austrians were attritioned to 26k. The year also saw the fall of Ostermach and Presburg while a 6k recruit was destroyed while coming out of Vienna (Austria).

By now, the ottoman commanders have realised something about the tech difference:
1. The morale difference is big, especially in forts supported by artillery, that it is impossible to successfully assault any fort.
2. We lost most battles through morale loss, while the number of combat death was not that great.
3. Most casualties were due to attrition in enemy provinces as our defeated armies retreated.

With these lessons learnt, when Bali saw the 20k Austrians moving through pest, he moved in with his cavalry.
... So did Gazi Husrev and Suleyman with whatever they had.
On March 1535, the 20k Austrian army was destroyed in Pest! Another 3k was soon destroyed in Magyar.

1536:The Austrians still kept sending troops from Kustrin but they were no match for Bali's 25k Cavalry, which always engaged them in the Presburg or Magyar plains. Vienna fell on June and Suleyman took his artillerymen to Tyrol, which was vigilantly covered by a 4k detachment all these years.

Tyrol fell on November. By now, Meklemburg had seceded, leaving Austria with a bleak outlook.

1537: The negotiations, as expected, were lengthy. First they offered too little and then too much (non-core provinces). A final peace treaty was signed on Nov, a year after the fall of Tyrol.
Austria is to give up - Steiremark, Magyar, Maros, Transylvania, Banat.
It was a pity to see what is left of Austria but empires cannot be build on pity, as the Austrians themselves would agree.

(We lost >75k men, also the first time we lost more men than the enemy)
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Iraq joins our realm:
As was said earlier, the rebels from Basrah moved into Iraq, which was separated from the rest of the parent empire. In any case it also had nationalism to create its own rebels. Whatever it is, by 1534 it was in rebel hands. In Oct 1537, the province defected to the Ottoman Empire, giving us an important land link to Basrah and the Persian Gulf.
(otherwise, it is very hard to get Iraq as Kaliphate was a strong vassal of the Mughals.)

In 1538, received 1 explorer and 1 conquistador. Not sure what to do with them. Sacking Vienna had given us some maps leading to Newfoundland but Africa is still dark to us. So, while not really eager, I made both go to Orania (Algiers) until I decide what to do with them in the next decade.

On 1539, Fez was diplo-Vassalised. Since Fez owns Tripoli now, annexing it and Algiers will give us an unbroken north-african belt.


OTHER EVENTS:
InfraTech-05 researched.
*Mimar Sinan's Great Constructions* event.
- chose 'Build great works'. For $1000, it gives: InfraTech$2000, Stab+2, Manufactury in capital, 50vp.
(wish it had given a manufactury in a random province since I already have one in Thrace.)

Anglia CoT comes into being (from an event, I think)
*Battle of Panipat* event. This was a event in India whereby the Timurids replaced the already existing Muslim Sultanate in Delhi by annexing them.
England took control of the church and became protestant.
England: *Welsh Act of Union*
Portugal instituited the *Holy Inquisation*

Missionaries: 7 were sent out this decade, suceeding in 4 (Carpathia, Croatia, Bujak and Basrah.)


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End Of Decade Notes:
This is the frst time I ventured this far in EU2, and the first time I fought a level-12 army with level 5. Now that I see it is not that hard, I intend to go straight for InfraTech06 instead of any Land Tech.
Some events, and the annexation of the Mameluks, has given us >100 ships by decade end.
Colonists per year is now 1.6, because Basrah is considered a frontier province and I also have a Shipyard. Colonising was not planned by me but I also don't want to waste the colonists. For now, there is quatara and Sinai to send them.

Also, while unintentional, this aspect of growing rebels in our province and sending them to Iraq was hilarious. In fact, when Astrakan multi-rebeled (with 14k rebels), rather than bringing men from far, and to lose them fighting rebels, I just wait for the rebels to go away to Volgorad after taking Astrakan.

 

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Another modification of event file.

Before starting the 1540-49 decade, out of curiosity, I wanted to know when Russia was supposed to be formed.

It seems the conditions are:
1.own certain provinces,
2. atwar=no
3.date=1520-1820, offset=30.

At this rate, Russia will never form because they are always at war. In fact, the save files tell the last peace was 30years ago!!

Irritated by this, I searched and replaced all the incidences of
atwar=no to #atwar=no.

I hope I didn't do any unintended damage.

 

[Storey]

Just caught up with your AAR kongu3. It's funny but I'm playing a game as the Ottomans where I don't care what my bad boy is and I'm not much further along that you when it come to the amount of territory I've conquered. Just curious on where your expanding next, East or West?

Joe

 

[Bismarck]

That is an empire to be proud of... good show Kongu3.... and I was wondering when we'd see a picture... it was well worth the wait...

M

 

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WHOA thats a big empire!

 

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Storey,

I don't care what my bad boy is and I'm not much further along that you when it come to the amount of territory

Funny you would say that because I too never went this far previously. Of course, I once diplo-annexed the Hordes that ther useless provinces looked real big. However, this is the first time I went to Steremark and Maros.

Of course, most are core provinces so far. The expansion may come to a halt as my other claims are held by England, Spain and Tuscany, who are in Alliance! I have a feeling it is more harder to take these 3 provinces than all the previous ones.

Also, considering the BB limit, the theoritical MAXIMUM number of province that can be gained in another 270 years is 45 (not counting colonies) A realistic figure woulld be 25-30 more. So, I am begining to form plans that don't require much expansion.

Anyway I guess the main thing is to play according to circumstances and see where it will turn up.

 

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Agreed, and be aware that you will be getting some brutally destabilizing events in the near future, so you may need to be ready for one or more civil wars.

 

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Year 1540-1549 (Decade of Exploration)

Year 1540.
Reputation:Respectable; DS:+FreeTrade (for colonists)
Income=$173/mth; Stabilty cost:$1509;
Army:31/51/5.6; Navy:104(total); ArmyLosses:279/187/1.2
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SITUATION:
{After the costly victory against Austria, the Ottomans decide to upgrade their resources. While the militarists wanted an all-out effort to gain parity in Land Technology with the enemies of the empire, Suleyman I was of the opinion a strengthening of the economy comes first. Furthermore, the Admirals were arguing the important islands can only be defended with an adequate navy. Since the current economy cannot sustain expenditures on both Land and Naval technology, Suleyman's opinion gained strength.

With one experienced Explorer who is only too eager to sail and explore the oceans, and a conquistador eager to find new lands, it was decided to use their skills in the meantime. Of course, there were strong views that this rumours of Spain and Portugal having found riches in far-away lands is just absurd. On the other hand, the maps of some unknown lands discovered while occupying Vienna cannot be rejected totally either. For these reasons, and also to keep certain sections of the nobility satisfied, the king agrees to give 30 ships to Elko the explorer and a small army to Ozdamir, who is eager to travel and explore far-away lands.

Elko promised to circle Afrika, as the Portuguese were said to have done, visit the Holy Mekah and return to the king in a few years time.}


The Explorations of Elko
Since it is impossible to go around Afrika without resupplying, it was decided to ask Songhai, with whom we always had good relationship, for access to their ports.

Furthermore, an unit of cavalry was sent into Songhai to explore the lands. Since they were not lead by a conquistador, they were very slow and also would not explorer lands that are not populated by recognised nations. Still, it was worth a try, since Ozdamir cannot be everywhere at the same time.

Ozdamir, the conquistador, followed Elko with 5000 cavalry in another group of ships, to land and investigate lands along the coast. He was also important in setting up some colonies.

1542: Our first colony level 1 was establised in Louga, giving us a small port to resupply our ships. Furthermore, it has 5,000 natives who would join us once a city comes into being. The province product is ivory.

1543: a colony level 1 in Senegal, neighbouring Louga. It has no natives but the product is ivory.
The exploration of Songhai was also going good.

1546: Elko crossed Capte of Good Hope. The province, 'Table', was still un-occupied, although it must be one of the best choices for colonistion. (Indeed, almost a dozen provinces were empty.

1547: Finally put a level 1 colony in Table. Now Elko can resupply here.

1549: Colony level 1 in Ciskei.
On 28 September, Elko crossed the last unknown coast, the Coast Of Pepper, and set sails for our port in Nile!

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At home, the call to increase military research was getting louder, especially after our army was unable to put down ANY revolters on the first attempt. In one uprising in Basrah, the revolt could only be put down on the 3rd attempt, even though the rebels were outnumbered.

In the meantime, the palace was not slow to take note of the surge of the Persian power. The Persians had DoWed Baluchistan, then Qara Koyunlu, followed by the Uzbeks and finally again DoWed Qara Koyunlu. Furthermore, They seem to have done well in all their wars.

Infra Tech Level 6 was finally researched on 1548. However Suleyman shocked everyone by ordering an effort to increase Trade Tech instead of going for Land Technology. (Only 2 years needed to complete Level 5).

At the same time, mayors were promoted in all provinces with substantial tax base, while the other provinces were left out for 'inflation reduction' purposes.

On the diplomatic front, many State-Gifts were offered to the Crimeans, in the hope of inducing them to break vassal with Poland. It didn't work, though.

OTHER EVENTS:
Leaders: Bali and Gazi Husrev die.
*Great Legal Reforms*: Gives centralisation+1, stab+1, InfraTech $200.

Russia forms in 1540.
The Papal States and Portugal had events like *The Foundation of Societ as Jesu*.
Spain annexed the Maya.
Ganges defects to China!
A peace treaty with Portugal gives France 8 colonies. France is now the leading colonists in Afrika.
*Jean Calvin* event: Reformed religion enabled. (For Ottomans, they are considered Protestant)

As usual, many Missionaries were sent out. However, only 4 out of 11 attempts were to succeed. Still, this leaves only Transylvania and Maros defiant.

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End Of Decade Notes:
I thought of writing in a slightly different format because there is nothing much to put into writing regarding this decade.

I was hoping Venice would DoW Ragusa and I could join and get Bosnia. Or maybe Persia would annex Qara Koyunlu, since as a Shia nation and a vassal of mine, Qara Koyunlu is more trouble to deal with in the future.
Then, there is this excitement of putting in the colonists, and wondering if they will succeed. The decade itself was important but it is just that there is nothing much to write.

(BTW, 21 ships were lost as Elko rounded Afrika.)

 

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The plan as of 1550:

(Finally, some sort of a plan, though still hazy.)
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{
1550, the Palace, Istanbul.

As the king, his advisors and influential nobles went over the report, the future of the Ottoman empire was slowly laid out amid heated discussions and arguments.

To summarise, with the approval of Suleyman I, the following were to be the priority for the Ottoman Empire.

1. Getting back the national provinces.
Obviously there cannot be an arguement about this.

2. Unifying the Turks.
While the Empire had assimilated various races, it remains a fact that the Turks are the core of the empire. Turk nationalism is the ingredient of the empire and the nationalists will not stop until all the Turk regions are unified under our empire.

3. Annex North Africa.
Considering the preference of the Arabs to be under the protective umbrella of the empire, and the importance of denying the Iberians these lands, north africa, from Egypt to Tangiers, is to be assimilated in the empire.

4. Contain the Shiite menace.

5. Afrika (excl. north Africa)
There was much disagreement in this as the Turk nationalists were not interested in sending their people far away from the homelands. However, due to the need to stop the Catholics from monopolising the area, it was decided to:

- a. Colonise ivory provinces and Southern Africa.

- b. Help the other African nations to keep the Europeans away.

6. Use every oppurtunity to clip the powers of other European nations.

As expected, the last resolution was very general and there was no agreement as to how it should be done.


}

 

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Year 1550-1559 (Unexpected Gains)

Year 1550.
aristocracy = 8
centralization = 6
innovative = 4
mercantilism = 4
offensive = 10
land = 6
quality = 10
serfdom = 5
Reputation:Respectable(bb=2); DS:+Naval
Income=$189/mth; Stabilty cost:$1368;
Army:23/48/5.6; Navy:83; ArmyLosses:296/194/1.2
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SITUATION:
Russia and her ally, Georgia, are at war with the Hordes and Kazan, Poland, Austria and Bohemia.
Spain, Brittany and Tuscany are facing off Portugal and Denmark. It seems the English had left the Spanish Alliance. Good for us!

With the Technology lag, the Ottomans decide on spending this decade consolidating the gains in Afrika, explore Afrikan interiors and maybe annex North Afrika.
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1550:
Elko died on January 5, just a few days before his ship entered the Nile port. He was with us, as most explorers would, for 12 years.
Decided to gain military access from African countries, to facilitate exploration of the continent.

However, the year saw the Portuguese doing rather well in their war against the Spanish. It was concluded that the Spanish may not have enough men and material to throw at us. Thus, the Ottomans decided to join the Portuguese alliance against Spain and Tuscany, who cling to 2 provinces sacred to us (Istria, Albania).

The alliance was formalised on Feb 1551 and we found ourselves at war with Spain, Tuscany and Britanny. Naturally, we didn't expect any immediate help from Portugal or Denmark.


Ottomans vs. Spain, Tuscany & Ragusa, 1551-1554
The Tech difference was formidable, with Tuscany having LandTech-13 vs. our level 6. In the sea, our NavalTech-03 is a joke against their 10. However,
1. We have over 50 ships to deploy in a single formation.
2. Istria and Albania are lightly defended.
3. Marche, held by Tuscany, is 'plains', meaning our cavalry may stand a chance.

Yet, it was clear from the onset we cannot hope to capture many enemy cities. As such, it is vital to maintain a good score, by avoiding defeat and trying to catch small enemy units for a quick kill.

By May 1551, we were sieging Albania and Istria, waiting for a breach so we could assault.

Ragusa surprised us by sieging Kosovo on August. Apparently she had entered the war on the Spanish side. Wish she had sent a warning before coming in to siege our provinces! However, it is a good thing because even if we fail elsewhere, puny Ragusa will definitely have to part with Bosnia.

Bosnia, Albania and Istria fell by October but our navy lost against a 10-galley Spanish naval group.

On November, the Portuguese suddenly gave up and surrendered 9 colonies and Oporto (a core province) to the Spanish for separate peace. The Ottomans were taken by surprise but with the war still on, we decide to immediately occupy the new spanish trade Posts and colonies in Afrika with our units in southern Afrika.


A 15k army was defeated in Ragusa, with 8k loses each side. It doesn't matter since we have much more reserves while the Ragusans don't.

1552: We decide to threw all our troops in Europe, a total of 24k, into Ragusa. In the meantime, the defeated armada of us had managed to avoid more battles and carried Suleyman to the coast of Marche.

March saw battle in Ragusa, where we defeated the Ragusans. Their last unit was destroyed two months later.


Our navy destroyed a tiny navy of Tuscany trying to intercept our landing in Marche. However, Suleyman was defeated in Marche by an army sent from Tuscany and he retreated back to the ships. It is time for some patience on our part.

Just as we were thinking of trying for a separate peace with the Spanish, our navy destroyed a small Spanish group. It seems the Spanish don't have much ships in the area.

Ragusa was assaulted successfully on September, forcing them to part with Bosnia.

1553: The Spanish were (needlessly) avoiding our 50+ armada while blockading almost all our other ports. The single/double ships sent against us were easily defeated. However, it is obvious Marche must be taken if Tuscany is to be forced to agree to our terms, while it seems a stalemate with Spain.

On March, Land Tech-9 was researched, meaning our armies are in the same CRT as them. Now we wait no more.

On June, Suleyman landed on Marche again with every unit available in the area, totalling 30k men and 48 aritillery. A 7k Tuscany cavalry was destroyed, and we successfully assaulted the Marche fort before another interception could be sent from Tuscany. Suleyman decided to retreat before the 50k army from Tuscany decides to move on him. Nevertheless, the fall of Marche persuaded Tuscany to give away Albania for peace.

In the meantime, the Spanish sent units of various sizes to loot and siege our European provinces. It was obviously not going to work, as our technology is not that bad anymore. Nevertheless, the first Spanish casualties were not from our army but from the rebels who rose up against us in Banat! The Spanish did us a favour by defeating the rebels while losing 6k of their 14k army. THEN, they faced the Ottoman cavalry and were destroyed. Other Spanish units of 3k-5k size were also dealt with once our army returned from Marche.

Even then, a few more defeats at sea reminded us there is no way we can capture other Spanish provinces like Sicily or Malta. Only thing is, we were winning more battles than losing them, mainly by targeting weak units.

All of a sudden, in February 1554, Spain offered Istria for peace, even though we had only a 14% score (and Istria is 10%). We were only too eager to accept.

Thus ends the war, with 3 of our core provinces liberated (Istria, Albania, Bosnia).


The Rebellions of 1557-59
The Ottomans were to decide on the following matter:
*The Expansion of The Royal Bureaucracy* Event, giving three options:
1.Expand the Royal Bureaucracy: stab -2, RevoltRisk +6 for 24mth, Tax Base +2 in 4 prov, Centralisation +2, Aristocracy -1, Infra Tech +2000
2.Promote Limited Reforms: Stab -1, RevoltRisk +4 for 12mth, Tax Base +1 in 2 prov, Centralisation +1, Infra Tech 500
3.Reduce royal Bureaucracy. Stab+3, gain 20k infantry, Centralisation -2, Aristocracy -1

(1) was chosen for long term benefit.
This immediately brought stability to 0. We decided to go all the way, and decided to
i. Cancel the vassalisation of Papal States
ii. Cancel the vassalisation of Qara Koyunlu.
iii. Cancel our alliance with Portugal.

To make the story short, the 34th and last rebellion was put down on May 1559. Only two things made the casualties acceptable:
i. technological level
ii. Most of our forts were not upgraded, still at level 1 (Minimal), thus reducing the number of rebels created.


The Annexation of Fez, 1557
Algiers submitted to be our vassal in 1520s. However, Fez owns Tripolitania and without a land connection, Algeria cannot be annexed. As such, Fez was diplo-vassalised, also a long time ago. (The other independant country in North Africa is Morroco, which has cordial relations with us but not a vassal.)

On June 1557, Fez was annexed, to start the process of creating a North Afrikan land belt. (it also increased our stability from -3 to -2). Thus 3 more provinces, Tripolitania, Fez and Tangiers, are under our flag. The problem is to handle a 30year nationalism.


The Annexation of Georgia, 1559

While we were concentrating our resources against the Spanish, the French had grabbed the province of Sochi from Georgia, leaving it a single province, and thus a juicy target for us.

When a war began between Poland, Austria, Bohemia vs. Friesland, Georgia, Russia, it was too good a chance to miss. After the usual State Gifts, we allied the Poles on March and moved 15k of infantry into Georgia.

Georgia fell to our assault on April, and was immediately annexed. Thus we gained the 4th core province this decade.


Colonial Expansions
Our only major war was with the Spanish, who had no presense in Afrika, except the trade Posts they suddenly received from the Portuguse. As such, our colonisation efforts didn't face any aggressive challege. One Trade Post was burnt by the Spanish but that is about it.

By end of the decade we had
3 cities (Louga (5523), Table (1190), Muni (803)),
2 startup colonies (level 1-5)
2 trade posts.

We had also explored all the lands, from Morroco up to Zimbabwe.
(BTW, Annual colonists: 2.4 from shipyard-1, frontier prov-1 & Domestic Settings.)
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OTHER EVENTS:
TradeTech-05 researched. (1550)
LandTech-09 researched (1553);, Land Tech -11 (1558)

Natives in Louga rose against us in 1553. Having an army there, we could have killed them all but decided to retreat and let the colony be destroyed, since the 5000 natives could be a good addition to the city. (finally we did establish a city)

*Turko-Persian conflicts: Prince Bayezid flees to Persia* Event:
Chose to 'Pay the shah to have Bayezid Extradited' (and murdered): -$200, Stab+1, DIP+3 for 12 mth.


Russia: gained a province, leaving Kazan a single province ready for annexation.
However, he ends up paying $250 to Bohemia. At this rate, Russia is better off being a vassal of Sweden.

England too busy DoWing various tribes in North America.

Persia still going strong, having DoWed and annexed Baluchistan, and attacking the Uzbeks and Mughals.

The Mughals, on the other hand, were mostly losing provinces in peace deals, to Orissa, Gujarat, etc.

Missionaries: 6 were sent, with 2 success. Still, only 3 provinces left to convert.

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End Of Decade Notes:
A decade where I thought I will just annex Fez for BB points and just do nothing but plop down colonists and upgrade technology ended up VERY exciting and very lucky too, as now the core provinces still to be taken are just 3.

I am letting Royal Marriages expire because there may soon be a need to attack Sibir, Uzbek, Golden Horde (for Turkish provinces) or China, who is getting grabbing a lot of land in India (and also the 3rd in VP).

A total of 75k were killed this decade, most probably due to rebellions. Thanks to shawng1's warnings, I was somewhat prepared for some rebellions, though I don't think he meant this particular event. (Guess worse are to come)

 

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Year 1560-1569 (Dalmatia taken)

Year 1560.
Reputation:Respectable; DS:+Naval
Income=$211/mth; Stabilty cost:$1552;
Army:34/41/4.6; Navy:90; ArmyLosses:352/212/2.2 ShipsLost:43.
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SITUATION:
Afrika
Has been explored from Morocco to Zimbabwe.The other areas north until Ethiopia are yet to be explored.
Of Ivory provinces, we own 4, while England and France own 1 each.

Core Provinces
There cannot be a permanent alliance or even friends for us until we get our core provinces!!
Dalmatia (England), Ragusa, Wallachia.

Other Countries
Oman is silent and has no alllies or war either. Yet, it is Shia and is definitely a problem to solve.
OTOH, the Mughals are getting weaker. If the Uzbeks grab many provinces from the Mughals, then we may find it hard to annex the Uzbeks and their Turk provinces.
China and France are getting stronger.
England, Ragusa and Venice are all at war but not in an alignment advantageous to us right now.
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The decade started with the Ottomans technically still at war with the Russians. We waited for a year but the 'war' has not ended between Poland and Russia, who don't have common borders. Not wanting to sit and wait, we left the allilance on 1561, especially after we gain a leader, Sokullu Mehmed, with siege=1.

1561: Our lone conquistador, Ozdamir, dies. Still, he had already done a lot for the empire.
1562 Feb: An alliance with Helvetia (of all countries!!): Helvetia, Papal States, Bavaria & Ottomans vs. England, Eire, Genoa.


The War Against England (to get Dalmatia), 1562-1563
Technology (Land & Naval): OE L11 & N3. England L12 & N13. Thus we have superiority in Land war, since England owns Dalmatia and Naples, near to us. However, the sea may be dangerous, although we now have 3 naval leaders.

March saw a lost sea battle, although we tried to avoid any naval engagement. They defeated our warships in a matter of days.
In April, our first attack in Dalmatia failed but a massive second attack did the trick. The next month, Dalmatia, a minimal fort by now, fell to our assault.

On August, we burnt down their Trade Post in Karroo, which lies between our Ciskei and Table colonies. (In fact, most European possesions are still trade posts there.)

England decides to attack the North African province of Fez. A big mistake because we have a 20k cavalry-based army there to quell the nationalist revolts. Worst still for them, that army has a leader. In all, England lost 30k men and many battle scores trying to assault it a few times.

England took away its men from Napoli, maybe destined to Fez or Crete/Cyprus. This makes our chances much better, as the capture of Napoli is inevitable if the proud English were to be forced to give up.

Somehow evading the English navy, the landings took place in October. 24k men under Sokkullu (with artillery, of course) faced a 14k English infantry/artilery combine and destroyed them, for just 1k loss. (Ah.. the good days of Iskander Bey)

Two more disasters at Fez at the hands of Lala Mustafa still didn't dampen the English spirit, though. The English landed in Cyprus (14k) and Crete (11k) on December, flatly refusing our peace offer for Dalmatia.

1563:Irritated, Sokullu set sail for Create and went straight into port, defeating the invaders. (The enemy navy was at Cyprus and Aegaen at that time, as seen by the blockade sign).

On May, the enemy realised his follies and offered 7 unknown provinces, probably Trade posts somewhere in America.

A final peace was signed on June 1563, giving us Dalmatia and $200.
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1566: The Mughals seem to be facing a crisis, as another coaliation attacked them. Maybe we should help them while they are still alive (and also have a go at Sibir).
We allied with the Mughals on November but unfortunately couldn't help in any of their wars. (Since Mughals were not in an alliance, the OE, offering alliance to Mughals, is not required to join any existing wars of the Mughals)

1567: Poland Annexes Lithuania. We were thinking that, considering the size, Lithuania would one day annex Poland. In any case, their pathetic armies are not a threat to us and we don't have any claims over them.

The year also brought news of Portugal surrendering a colonial city (700pop) to Zimbabwe for peace!! Soon after that, the French DoW Zimbabwe. Hoping to use that as an excuse to burn some French TPs (Trade Posts) that should be ours, we offer alliance to Zimbabwe. They accept but once again, we couldn't join the war.


Colonial Expansions
By end of the decade we added
3 cities (Ciskei (1190), Karoo (1100), Senegal (797), bringing total African cities to 6

(It is not useful to count the few TPs since they can be destroyed by enemies wantonly.)
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OTHER EVENTS:

Our first and only Conquistador, Ozdemir, expires in 1561. He definitely had done a lot for the Empire.
1566: Suleyman I is no more with us and is replaced by Selim II. Will the empire ever see a person of Suleyman's abilities again?
*Foreign Trade Competiton* Event. Selected having Merchantalism -1, giving us 2.8 colonists annualy now.

*The Fate of the Teutonic Order* event.:'polish-swedish agreement', with Russia defying.
*Russian claims on the steppes* Event
Spain gives Venince Azores for peace!!
Papal States gives Apulia to Genoa, and is reduced to a 1-province state.
Spain:*The Purge of the Morisques* event: 'Force Them to Become Good Catholic Spaniards'
(Now, all of Iberia is Catholic)
Moroco: *Morisque Refugees from al-Andalus* Event.

Missionaries: 8 were sent, with just 1 success. Well, guess just bad luck.

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End Of Decade Notes:
Suleyman was very useful for the missioanary works. Not only was the chance to convert higher, the time period was 40-45 months, making it possible to send two missionaries to a province in one decade.

With this war with England, not only Dalmatia is gained but a contigous possesion of 7 provinces in southern Africa is a possiblity now.

 

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Year 1570-1579 (War with Persia)

Year 1570.
Reputation:Respectable; DS:+Naval
Income=$212/mth; Stabilty cost:$1623;
Army:30/49/9; Navy:91; ArmyLosses:370/220/2 ShipsLost:44.
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SITUATION:
Core Provinces
Only Wallachia and Ragusa are free. However, Wallachia had now allied with Russia, giving us a chance to grab it with just one BB point. As for Ragusa, it would be preferable if it is gobbled up be someone else, like its arch-enemy Venice. It may not be soon though, since Ragusa had allied herself with Spain and Tuscany.

Other Countries
China is taking more provinces in India, while establishing tradePosts in most of the available space there. VP-wise, it is No.3.

DP sliders
Going +Naval seem to be good now.
i. +0.40colonists, +2%TradeEfficiency.
ii. The morale influence seems much more important in sea battles, as ship destruction is not that common.
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Annexation of Algeria, 1570
The first decision of the decade is to annex Algeria, who had been our loyal and unquestioning vassal for a long time since 1520s.

These 6 provinces of Algeria gives the Ottomans a continous land along north Afrika, all the way to Tangiers. Only Morroco is now independant, and there is no intention of vassalising or annexing it at all.

In the meantime, Georgia and Dulkakir are released as vassals. Not only they temporarily reduce 2 BB points, but Georgia, which is Muslim now, still has cb shield on Sochi, currently owned by the French and it may be interesting to see what happens.
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The War Against Persia, 1578-79
1578 Oct: *Turko-Persian Conflicts: Murad III's Campaigns* Event, giving three choices.
1. Fan the Flames of War: triggers a similar event for Persia.
2. Status Quo: stab+1.
3. Seek Reconciliation: DIP+3, Relations improved.

Chose (1) since a war with Persia is inevitable and furthermore, Persia is busy in a war against the Uzbeks and Qara Koyunlu. The choice triggers an event whereby Persia declares war on us.
Technology comparision: Land/Naval: OE:11/11, Persia 6/2.

It took a few months to position our men, while in the meantime our ships were victorious many times in the Persian Gulf.

1579:
A seaborne landing found the Persians unprepared and it was a short war:
March: Kirkuk, Hamadan and Awhaz were captured after being assaulted. (Since Persia does not yet have Land 07, there were no artillery in the fort garrison).
April: Persia still had around 50k men but only now returning from their eastern front. It was too late as both Tabaristan and Isfahan fell to our assault.

After a few more sea battles and unsuccessful Persian attempts to retake Isfahan, peace was agreed on August:
Persia to change religion, and give $200 in compensation.
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Research and Development
Other than the above, the decade was spent in Research/Development and upgrading our African colonies, increasing the cities in Afrika by three.

Research was stopped at NavalTech 09 (CRT level) in 1571 and the slider was pulled for treasury. After 3 each of Fine Arts, Goods and Refineries were built, Naval research continuted, the target being Level 16, which will enable naval manufacturies.
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OTHER EVENTS:

1574: A new Monarch, Murad III. Worse than the last, especially in ADM (=6), where it counts the most (to send missionaries)

Council of Trent:* Enable Counter-reform Catholicism. no effect for our religious sliders (I think they are 'protestants' for us)
Russia:*The Sacking of Moscow* Event: 'Avenge the Horrible Insult'
Poland:
*Warzawa* Event: 'Lets move the Capital to Warzawa'.
:The Sejm Refuse to Allow the Mobilisation of More Toops Event: 'OK'
Portugal: King Sebastiao's Expediction Event: 'A crusade against the heretics in Afrika.'

Mughals:
Mughals:*Akbar's Reforms* Event: 'Implement The Reforms'
Mughals lost two wars and gave away 2 prov to Gujarat, 4 to Persia. At this rate, They will soon be wipted out, as they have less than 10 provinces left.

Spain Annexed Papal States!!

Netherelands was formed from Friesland, Holland and another province. A CoT opens in Holland.

Missionaries: 4 were sent, with 2 success.
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End Of Decade Notes:
The war with Persia was easier than it should have been. Most eastern countries seem to have a lot of manpower that heavy casualties are un-avoidable. Anyway not only Persia changed religion but also changed the religion of Qara Koyunlu back to Sunni after winning a war.
Only Oman is Shia now.

Four FineArts have been built!. I know it is not of much use but I just felt like building them in 2 of the CoTs and 2 gold provinces.

A note about Georgia and Sochi: - I have no real need of Sochi but having it means the Black Sea has only the Ottomans and Crimea. So, if Georgia is to annex Sochi in a war, and we diplo-annex Georgia, it will cost only one BB.

 

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FOUR Fine Arts Academies. Oh my goodness. Some vets around here would pummel you for that.

Actually Refineries would've worked well in your CoTs, and they provide extra support to both income and lower the revolt risk in the province they are located in.

 

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Year 1580-1589 (peaceful)

Year 1580.
Reputation:SlightlyTarnished(BB=5); DS:+Innov
Income=$246/mth; Stabilty cost:$1840;
Army:46/56/12; Navy:116; ArmyLosses:399/227/3 ShipsLost:45.
------------------------------

The Ottomans just concentrate on consolidating their North African provinces, researching Naval Technology and upgrading colonies this decade.

Meanwhile, Songhai, our neighbour to the south, seem to be doing well, taking another 3 provinces from Mali, leaving them just four. With Land Tech-9, they are not pushover for European powers either. We are genuinely happy for them and wonder if they could take over the Western part of Afrika, denying it to other European powers.

Malwa (India) DoW China, and burnt down their TPs in Bombay and Goa. Good in a sense but being a single province, we doubt if Malwa can get far.

Russia had *The Russian Orthodox Church Declared Independant of Constantinople* Event, choosing 'Let us lead the true faith from Moscow'.

On 1589, the Russians DoW Kazan/GH. However, Wallachia by then is a vassal of Russia but not an ally. Thus, there is no use joining the war, as our interests are best served by a reduction of the Golden Horde to a reasonable size so we could vassalise them.

Meanwhile, we sent a few State Gifts to Zimbabwe, to help in their war against France.
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Colonisation Efforts:
We received a conquistador in 1585 and used him to discover Zanj, a CoT of Oman. However, There cannot be much more use for him as the Turks are not very keen on systematic colonisation.
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OTHER EVENTS:
1582:Naval Tech-11 (Shipyards)

Spain Vassalised Portugal through an event, *The Portuguese Crown* in 1580.

Mughals: *Akhbar's Religious Tolerance* Event: 'Tolerate all beliefs'. This may be hopeful for them but then, they had already lost so many provinces.

Missionaries: 2 were sent, both failed.
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End Of Decade Notes:
I was definitely on the lookout for any chances but not much war happened in Europe, as Spain and England were DoWing the American natives.

Anyway the decade did run fast.

 

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shawng1,

FOUR Fine Arts Academies. Oh my goodness. Some vets around here would pummel you for that.

I know the Fine arts are less useful than other manufacturies, and also more expensive.

The reason is more complicatingly silly though . You see, when at Stab=2, I always find it hard to decide whether to go for increasing stab=3 so I could get 15% extra tax income, or let the minimum research for Stability (Monarch values, Fine Arst) keep flowing, since they are wasted when Stab=3. With 4 Fine arts, I won't get confused anymore.

I bet you would have never guessed of such silly reason!

 

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Year 1590-1599 (Wallachia annexed)

Year 1590.
Reputation:Respectable(BB=3); DS:+Aristocracy
Income=$257/mth; Stabilty cost:$1787;
Army:50/55/12; Navy:120; ArmyLosses:409/231/3 ShipsLost:45.
------------------------------

SITUATION:
China is still a major concern, as it is becoming a threat to the Mughals. Europe still seems mostly quiet.
Meantime, Naval Tech-16 is near at hand and this decade will hopefully see some naval manufacturies being built.
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The War Against Russia/Wallachia, 1590-93
Wallachia suddenly allied with Russia and joined the war against Kazan/GH. This was our chance, and we joined the war on the side of GH. Immediately, wallachia sent its 31k army to siege and assault Moldavia. Unfortunately for them, not only they failed in the assault, but were caught in the February snow.

In April, our own assault on Walalchia was a success, and Wallachia was annexed, along with their 20k infantry and 30 aritilery pieces in Moldavia.

In the same month, Russia annexed Kazan. However, it was expected and in fact quitely welcomed, as a stronger Russia was actually preferable and we don't have any designs on Russian lands.

Nothing much happened in the war, until the Russians sieged Crimea in 1592 with 30k. Attrition and a failed assault left the Russians with 18k, which was then destroyed by our huge force moving in from Kaffa.

After a few more skirmishes, the Russians offered $200 for peace in early 1593. We accepted, not knowing we happen to be the War Leader after Kazan was annexed by Russia. Thus, it was a total peace, with GH holding all her provinces.

In any case this leaves only Ragusa as a core province outside our realm.
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1590: Awdaghost, a province of Songhai, defected to us.
The reason is, Songhai took the province from Mali in war, but does not have access to it, meaning the inevitable nationalist rebels took over and kept the city for a long time. It would have been better if it didn't happen though, since we don't want any more colonies in Afrika. Oh well, at least it didn't cost us any BB points.

1591: Successful research of Naval Tech-16, enabling us to build naval manufacturies. However, instead of hoarding money to build a lot of them, it was decided to go for LandTech-18, which enables weapons manufactories.

1595: Another Monarch (ADM=2). Even worst than the one last time, who at least had ADM=6. (Instead of the 40 month under Suleyman I, now a missionary will take >120 months, and the success chance is very less too. Lucky all the major missionary works had been finished. )
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OTHER EVENTS:
A colony was begun in Bombay. Although we don't have any territorial ambitions in the sub-continent, such a step seems necessary to gain us a supply centre in a future war with the Chinese (who hold Indus!). We would have preferred Goa, as it still had its 6000 natives with low resistance, but the Chinese had again built up a Trade Post there. Goa would become our 2nd and last outpost in India once a war is won against the Chinese)

We received another Explorer (1593). Not really necessary now but then, he had to do something!! He explored the outer parts of the African coast, and went to explore some parts near newfoundland, of which we had a map from Austria.

*The Spahi Uprisings* Event: Bribed the rebel leaders for -$100, stab+1.


Songhai reduced Mali to a single province and vassalised it. We are happy for them and hope they will soon take over Benin.
Spain: After winning a war with Aztec, Spain suddenly overtook France in VP and is now No.2.
The eastern side: As if the Chinese hyper-expansion is not enough, Gujarat had taken Isfahan from Persia. Not sure if it can be retained by them, though.

Missionaries: 3 were sent, with 2 success. It is very lucky, with our less-than excellent monarch, especially as Wallachia was converted. Only Istria (Catholic) left in the whole empire. Since we don't have any more claims of Orthodox territory (except for Sochi, maybe), it frees up a slider.

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End Of Decade Notes:
With Wallachia annexed, it removes a big headache, since Ragusa is not that hard to grab. It would surely get involved in a war where we can annex it for 1 BB but I would prefer to let Venice take it over and then get it for 0 BB.

The Georgia-Mughal alliance, which I accidentally made to happen (By creating a OE,Georgia,Mughal alliance and leaving the alliance) has its own characteristics. The Good: if someone attacks the Mughals, then I can join that alliance to enter the war. The Bad: I can't bring Georgia into an alliance to fight France, when I am sure the Georgians would try to grab Sochi from France.

 

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Any chance of a screenie?

I love screenies.

 

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End of Century Analysis (1600)

End of Century Analysis (1600)
End of Century Analysis (1600):

VICTORY POINTS
3001 Ottomans
1555 Spain
1255 China
1244 France
1082 Portugal
0704 Sweden
0635 Russia
0486 England
0494 Austria

In 1500, the VP are:
1104 Ottomans 634 China 611 Portugal 523 France 436 Austria 270 Moscovy 250 Castile 205 England 259 Sweden


ECONOMY AND FINANCE:
Year. TaxBase Production Trade ~ ~ =NetIncome ~ StabCost
1500: $ 43 ~ ~$ 72(x27%) $ 21(x62%) =$ 85 ~ ~ ~ ~$ 624(7.3mth)
1600: $102 ~ ~$143(x55%) $ 47(x92%) =$265 ~ ~ ~ ~$1808(6.8mth)

Certainly there is room for improvement in Infrastructure.

Manufactories
0 Weapons
6 Naval
4 Fine Arts
12 Refineries
3 Goods

Technology Cost: 5.7x that of a single province latin country.

Trade:
1500: OE received 21X12=252 /4300 = 6.8% (or 1/14) of world Trade (using autosend of its merchants)
1600: OE received 47X12=564 /9600 = 5.8% (or 1/17)
It is getting worse. Still, I think it is acceptable. Only Spain and Portugal has more Trade income than the Ottomans.

RELIGION:
All are Sunni Muslim, except Istria and Ragusa (would soon be ours) which are Catholic. As our future advances would mostly be in Sunni and Catholic areas, only two sliders may be needed most of the time.


TERRITORIES:
We have taken all our core provinces except Ragusa
The annexation of North Afrika has been completed. In fact, the 30year period of nationalism has ended there.

In Europe, most countries are doing as expected, except Russia. Of course, Hungary is no more and Austria is crippled by the Ottomans.
Songhai is doing pretty well south of us while Zimbabwe is still holding out against the repeated DoWs by Portugal and France.
While Persians are okay, the Mughals are in deep trouble, with China gaining a strong foothold in India and South East Asia.


DP SETTINGS:
in 1500,
aristocracy = 8 centralization = 7 innovative = 3 mercantilism = 6 offensive = 10 land = 7 quality = 10 serfdom = 5

in 1600,
aristocracy = 8 centralization = 7 innovative = 5 mercantilism = 2 offensive = 10 land = 4 quality = 10 serfdom = 5

Only Mercantalism and Naval settings had really changed, mainly to get colonists.


Top Countries In Types of Income:

[b]Top in annual trade Income[/b]
782 Portugal    772 Spain    564 Ottomans    441 Genoa    432 Holland   
346 Melaka      327 Sweden   270 England     269 Venice   259 France
235 Japan       187 China    179 Oman   

[b]Taxation:[/b]
671 Turkey      434 China    268 France      201 Spain    187 England
158 Sweden      124 Nippon   111 Russia      102 Poland

[b]Production:[/b]
701 Turkey      284 Spain    260 France      189 England  156 China
107 Poland      106 Sweden   102 Portugal    050 Russia

[b]Tolls:[/b]
250 England     247 France   108 Holland     104 Portugal 059 Russia
328 Spain       113 Sweden   705 Turkey      105 Poland   286 China

[b]Gold:[/b]
264 Spain       155 Turkey   061 China

 

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A Graphical situation of 1600

THE WORLD, AS THE OTTOMANS SEE IT, 1600.

SOME PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

 

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Holy shit, Batman!

That is one hell of an empire!

Super, mate!