Ithrien
From GothaWiki
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| State Motto | Aroth Arofara Ina | ||||
| • Anglis | Aroth Raiseth Us | ||||
| State Anthem | Aroth Hua Almlad lna | ||||
| • Anglis | {{{nation_anthem_ingliz}}} | ||||
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| Official language | Standard Ithrieni | ||||
| Founding Date | circa 6211 | ||||
| Demonym | Ithrieni | ||||
| Government • Type • Audh |
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| Capital | Dahabia | ||||
| Administrative Divisions | -- provinces, -- dominions, -- colonies | ||||
| Largest City | Firdaus | ||||
| Area • Total • % water |
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| Population • Total • Growth Rate • Density |
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| GDP • Total • GDP/capita • Growth Rate |
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| Currency |
Legh (Ƚ) | ||||
| Time Zones | - (AMT -) | ||||
| Trigraph | {{{}}} | ||||
Ithrien (/iːθrɪɛn/ eeth-ree-un/ العقدية الإثنان / Al-Audhiyyah al-Ithrien) is a constitutional monarchy with a unicameral legislature located in western, equatorial Tharna. Ithrien also refers to the main island of the audhdom. The country is an Ithrieni nation state with Anur as its official religion. Ithrien was known as a spice island since ancient times, and it has been invaded repeatedly for this very reason. The constant threat of Tharnan mainland invasion has propelled her people in technological and defense innovation. The Ithrieni hunger for innovation and knowledge accelerated economic and social progress in leaps and bounds. After Ithrien experienced parallel Industrial Revolution along with Anarians in the early 7300s, the island kingdom rose to be a regional power and colonized a good part of the Phasian Ocean. The Ithrieni main focus in foreign relations and defense is to deny the Anarians access into their sphere of influence, resulting in strains in foreign relations.
- This article is about the Ithrieni nation state and home territories. For Ithrien's maritime empire, see Ithrieni Empire.
Contents |
Etymology
Ithrien is used as an exonym and endonym. The first recorded use of the word is in the Qitab, the sacred text of Anur, believed to be written in the early 2000's. The name was spread and recognized by inhabitants of other regions like Anaria and Davai with the help of the distribution of the scripture and word of mouth of traders. Ithrieni believed that the name was adopted for the island as the Qitab was written down. Religious scholars believed the name comes from the root words for the fragrant land that refers to the desirability of the island country. Linguists however believed the root word is derived from the Ithrieni civet itar with which foreign traders have associated the island strongly with its produce so much so that the mention of the itar fragrance becomes the name of the island, and the natives soon adopted the name as their own. The Ithrieni people strongly disputed this and advocates the religious definition.
Geography
- Main article: Geography of Ithrien
Ithrien proper is a subcontinental island located off the western coast of Tharna. The Phasian Ocean lies in the west of the island, while the Sea of Ithrien in the east. The climate is mainly tropical with a terrain covered with rainforest. The west of Ithrien is dominated by mountains while the east is a relative flatland. The Urraagiam Rainforest is Ithrien's biggest rainforest, boasting a rich ecosystem with species endemic only to that main island.
In the north, the kingdom governs the southern portion of the Vaianaresh Island. In the mid south, Ithrien rules the islands Harkesh. The southernmost home territories of Ithrien are the Nelinningnu island group. All these islands are covered with rainforest although the winter in Nelinningnu could be cold.
Climate
Ithrien is generally described as warm and humid all year round with little flux in seasonal temperatures common to the equatorial and tropical regions. The Tireal-Gotha Decadal Oscillation has little to no effect on mean temperature but the monsoons are more violent during the Tireal Maximum and the months before and after it. The oceanic currents of the Phasian Ocean and the gulf stream in the Sea of Ithrien carries dangerous amount of rainfall and high velocity winds that generate typhoons and hurricanes during the monsoon seasons, stranding airships and vessels.
Administrative divisions
Ithrien is divided into administrative units of provinces and crown dominions, followed by commanderies and then counties. The more important and larger metropolitan urban areas are governed by municipalities each headed by a city hall and a mayor. Overseas colonies are either governed by the navy's Viceregal Department, the Colonial Authority or the colonial offices of trading companies that hold their own territories.
Colonial territories
- coming soon
Politics
- Main article: Government of Ithrien, Politics of Ithrien
Ithrien is officially a constitutional monarchy with a unicameral legislature. The monarchy is headed by the audh, the presiding one being Audh al-Aziz. The Constitution of Ithrien is the supreme legislation of the country which guarantees the rights and liberty of Ithrieni citizens, the limitations of the monarchy, the rules of elections and fair trial. The laws of the land are created by a unicameral legislative body called the Majlis ad-Dawlat, sometimes called the National Assembly. The assembly is constituted of democratically elected representatives of the people from units of commanderies. Democracy in Ithrien takes the form of multi-party system. The Fire Temple Party is the ruling party since 7557 whose members are called Templars. The Templars are considered to be a religious rightist party. Leading the opposition is the King Fisher Party considered to be centre leftist which is popular with the workers and farmers.
National government
The audh, the Ithrieni monarch, is both the head of state and government. He is free to determine domestic and foreign policies assisted by a prime minister and a dashina zasta. The Prime Minister of Ithrien is elected by the members of the Majlis ad-Dawlat, who is almost, always the chair of the ruling party. Latifah Lajayn is the current prime minister since 7562. The Dashina Zasta, literally the right hand of the audh, is traditionally the deputy of the audh who has been historically the premier and assistant in religious affairs, the position of head of religion being synonymous with the audh. Today, the Dashina Zasta only assists in religious affairs and advises on social policies. Syiq Musa Mansur is the current Dashina Zasta since 7503. Executive responsibilities are further divided with a cabinet of ministers each in charge of social, economic, infrastructure and military policies and enforcement.
Local-level governments
Ithrien is divided into provinces, each headed by a chief minister and assisted by a local cabinet of ministers to manage provincial affairs. The ministers are made up of members of the party that won the provincial elections. Commanderies elect local representatives to seat on the provincial assemblies that decide on local legislation and policies. Provincial power is further devolved with the counties that manage local affairs through town halls and their councillors. Metropolitan municipalities are equivalent of commanderies though they are immediately managed by city halls and their members of chambers.
Legislature and elections
The Constitution of Ithrien is regarded as the supreme law of the country, and has its historical basis with the Code of al-Hakim written and proclaimed by the Audh Al-Hakim in 4213. It was created in 6239 when the Audh Al-Wahid proclaimed the Majlis al-Ayan, an assembly of nobles and priests, and finally took its current form in 7265 when the assembly of lords was abolished and replaced with the more democratic and populist national assembly called the Majlist ad-Dawlat. Ithrien has always maintained a unicameral legislative system and the supremacy of the national assembly over all state business. Constitutional amendment is only possible through an overwhelming majority vote of the Majlist ad-Dawlat of 5 to 1. The Constitution limits the powers of the monarchy and guarantees the rights and liberties of every Ithrieni citizen to decide the laws of the land and to run their lives as they please. This extends to the right of the Ithrieni citizens to hold elections and formulate law through representatives gathered in provincial and national assemblies. The Majlis ad-Dawlat may write, propose and debate pieces of new legislations called bills. After the members of the Majlis have decided with the content of the bill, it will be presented to the audh for advise and final decision, though the audh rarely denies approval. Once the audh has placed the seal of the crown on the bill, it will become effectively a constitutional statute called an act. Respective ministerial departments relevant to the new statute will see to the enforcement of the new law. The national assembly is also responsible for deliberating and approving the annual state and administrative budgets.
As provided by the Constitution, every Ithrieni citizen has the right to vote and stand for elections. Candidates may form political groups that share the same opinions about state policies called parties. Parties then may raise funds through lengthy campaigns and promises with commerce and worker groups. Every 4 years, provincial elections are held. County and municipal elections for the set up of town and city hall councillors are also held every 4 years though they are scheduled not to coincide with the general and provincial elections. General elections that decide on the set up of the members of the Majlis ad-Dawlat are held every 5 years. When the majority of the elected members of the Majlis ad-Dawlat belonged to the same party, the group is called the ruling party and may be more successful in establishing national and provincial policies and budgets in order to deliver their promises. The election process is oversaw by the Election Commission of Ithrien under the direct auspices of the audh. Shafi Nimr is the presiding Commissioner-General of the Election Commission since 7525.
Judiciary
The audh is the supreme mediator in Ithrien's court system. In Ithrien, case law is not recognized so that more power is centered on the national assembly. Ithrieni courts uses the inquisitorial or nonadversarial system wherein the courts take active investigation in every case and trial. This means every case and trial is a unique trial and depends solely on the aptitude of the judge of the time. When the judge feels that the law is not exhaustive, only then the trial will be brought to the assembly's judicial committees. When an Ithrieni defendant is not satisfied with the court's verdict, they can make appeals to the immediate higher courts until it arrives at the audh wherein the audh or his legal secretaries will hear the appeal and pass a final verdict. Final appeals are directed to the sovereign or at least his regiment of secretaries. Local level lawsuits and petty crimes are tried by county magistrates. Crimes are tried by commandery magistrates. High treason is tried by provincial magistrates. Blasphemy is tried by the audh himself or his justice secretaries. Jury is alien to Ithrien. The courts are not allowed to make law but only to interpret it and mete out sentences. The defendant are entitled to legal counsel though the courts do not provide and hire counsellors for them. Where the law is silent, the case and trial will be presented before the national assembly's investigative committees namely;
- the Constitutional Committee for accusations of constitutional breach and extraordinary situations;
- the Auditory Committee for accusations of breach of administrative and military duties, and;
- the Synod for accusations of religious wrongdoings.
All are comprised of legal secretaries, assemblymen and religious officials subject to the Majlis ad-Dawlat. The Audh may take part in the investigation or at least send a representative with equal powers and rights as the committee members. These national assembly's investigative committees are purely reporting bodies that produce the facts of the matter at hand and present them to the Majlis ad-Dawlat for the vote. When the majority of the assemblymen agree that the situation requires a new statute, a committee will be set up to draft the bill for further assembly deliberation and vote. A new statute from such procedures may be an ex post facto or retroactive law to render penalty or benefit only to the immediate offender or suppliant respectively in which case a grandfather clause is obviously included in it. However such procedures is extremely rare, as such the national assembly rely on the audh and his legal secretaries to mediate, interpret the law and pass verdicts, especially on provincial laws that contradict the Constitution, administrative errors and corruption. Magistrates are usually appointed by recommendation from provincial committees who select from a pool of former assemblymen, lawyers and legal bureaucrats. The audh approves the appointments and have a say on the choice of candidates.
Law and legal system
Ithrien's highest law is the Constitution of Ithrien of which basis is the Code of al-Hakim. Ithrieni legal system is strictly civil law in that all statutes are codified. Anuric law is an integral part of the Code of al-Hakim and the Ithrieni legal system, so that many social and contractual disputes of today are resolved through it. Under the jurisprudence of al-Hakim, all men from the audh to commoners are equal before the law, all suspects are innocent before proven guilty and the guilty shall be subjected to the mercy of the victim's family who are to be involved in the deliberation of sentencing and punishment where possible. Ithrieni law is divided into three components;
- State law pertains all matters about basic constitutional citizenship rights and liberties, the supremacy of the Majlis ad-Dawlat, the limitations of the sovereign and religion, sovereignty of territories, international treaty and regulations concerning executive duties and business. State law is codified in volumes of the Constitution of Ithrien and the Constitutional Supplementary.
- Anuric law is a set of religious, moral law based on the Qitab, the Anuric holy text of the Daenya of Ithrien's version. It covers religious dogma and doctrine, criminal justice, and familial and contractual dispute resolutions. Anuric law is ancient and is written in the form of the Qitab and Ithrieni Commentaries of the Qitab.
- Civic law covers mostly recent development in industrial, labor, domestic and international commerce, slave trade, intellectual propriety rights and tort law. Civic law is codified in the Civic Code of Ithrien.
Criminal or penal law is mostly covered by Anuric law but recent legal changes pursued by the Majlis ad-Dawlat has removed much of the provisions and procedures into the civic law. The law however provides for the court to add penalties accorded by Anuric law on top of the ones provided by the civic law for regular crimes like theft, fraud and vandalism. Penalties usually ranged from monetary fine, imprisonment to corporal punishment under both Anuric and civic laws. Capital crimes like murder, treason, abject blasphemy and gross acts of cruelty are meted with the capital punishment of drowning till death; an Anuric reference to save the soul of the criminal by returning the body of the criminal into the watery womb of Araidh Alu's redemption.
Foreign relations
- Main article: Foreign relations of Ithrien
Ithrien's foreign policy may shift with every general elections as new premiers representing the interests of their parties may come and go. The Audh, being in the permanent position of power, with some remaining executive rights as provided by the Constitution, may be insistent on foreign matters that he deemed right. Prime ministers rarely dispute the audh's powers on this. Presently, Ithrien's foreign policies with lesser nations are divide and conquer, while with the Anarian powers mutual defense with friendly ones is a priority. However, denying Anarian powers access into the Phasian Ocean is also high on the agenda. Ithrien maintains a truce with certain Anarian powers due to the territorial disputes of East Haniyyah at the Tharna-Tzeraka Isthmus. Ceasefire has been declared in the disputed territory. Negotiations are still ongoing, though the situation over East Haniyyah is best described as tense and volatile. The diplomat corps and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are headed by Sha Bilqis Batool.
Military
Ithrien has a total of 500,000 personnel in the Ithrieni armed forces. The armed forces is managed and organized by the Royal Command led by the Audh of Ithrien, who is the Commander-in-Chief, in conjunction with the Ministry of War. The presiding Minister of War is Sha Rushid Rubiya. The armed forces is organized into five components, namely the Audhal Navy, Audhal Army, Audhal Air Force, the Ithrieni Civil Guard and the Holy Minzarry of the Covenant of Aroth. While the former three component are self-explanatory, the Ithrieni Civil Guard is a standing army dispatched only for domestic emergencies and defense like civil unrest and disaster relief. The Holy Minzarry on the other hand is a Nurian military monastic order sworn to protect the Audh and royal properties. The Holy Minzarry is preceded by the Tavzarry which was one of the earliest, professional rifleman regiments in the world and was feared across the Phasian Ocean. The Tavzarry, founded in 7031, was corrupt and became the real power behind the audhal throne until it was destroyed in 7197 at the end of the Ithrieni Hegemony Era.
Economy
- Main article: Economy of Ithrien
Ithrien encourages free trade with the rest of the world since the election of Latifah Lajayn as the new premier of Ithrien. Ithrien used to maintain a mercantilist, protectionist approach to international trade while maintaining a free market system in domestic trade. The Bank of Ithrien is the mint of the audhdom and announces and enforces interest rates and financial regulations. Ithrien's economy is largely industrialized manufacturing with nearly half of the population employed in it, while the other half in mechanized agriculture and subsistence farming. Some of the major imports are coal and wood to fuel Ithrien's massive manufacturing industries. Ithrien also import large amount of iron, tin, bauxite, rubber, tea, raw silk and precious metals from their Raian and Tharnian colonies.
Ithrien's major exports are cotton and silk textiles, steel parts, canned fish, furniture, processed spices and itar fragrances. Ithrien's exports are mainly meant for their Raian colonies and nations adjacent to them. Having collected the raw materials and mineral ores from her colonies and preprocessed them, Ithrien would also export some of them to Anarian countries. Ithrien's spices and itar fragrances are also highly sought after in foreign markets since antiquity until today.
Ithrien's staple food are rice and its derivatives, fish and seafood and spice-derived condiments to flavor. Spice-derived condiments are usually pepper hot, and is highly featured in Ithrieni cuisine. Ithrien's agricultural industry is today highly mechanized and heavy on the use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides. Their main produce is paddy. Steamer fishing trawlers are harvesting more fish ever than before and could travel further and faster into the deep sea areas. Historically, before Ithrien was completely deforested to fuel the Industrial Revolution, Ithrieni enjoyed a more diverse diet of pork, beef and mutton rather than focus on seafood. Deforestation caused soil erosions, serious flooding and soil quality loss so much so that keeping livestock was not as profitable as before. Much of Ithrien's forests today are the result of replanting in the early 7500's.
Sha Saffiya Siddiqa is the current Governor of the Bank of Ithrien since 7515. Sha Imran Intizar is the presiding Minister of Finance, while Sha Ejaz Omar is the current Minister of Commerce.
Slave trade
Ithrien is a major slave trading nation in the Phasian Ocean. Ithrien's colonial economy requires massive number of slaves from Raia,, Kupeya and Tzeraka to operate rubber tree, tea and spice plantations and mining operations located outside the homeland territories. Ithrien's homeland territories on the other hand do not rely on slaves but on their large number of Ithrieni citizen workforce to man the factories. Ithrien exports human commodities to far-flung nations like Dhonowlgos and other Anarian countries which has demands for exotic entertainment. Ithrien exchanges glass items and precious metals with the Raian, Kupeyan and Tzerakan slave dealers for their commodities. The Ithrieni slave trade is oversaw by the Ministry of Commerce.
Science and technology
Historically, Ithrien was for a period of time far more advanced in terms of scientific knowledge and technology until a protracted period of internal unrest slowed down scientific and social progress drastically. Today, Ithrien is only slowly gaining up with Anarian countries which experienced much progress and economic productivity in the time Ithrien was in disarray. Ithrien possesses rails, power plants, steamers and automatic weapons, but motor cars with combustion engines and airships are not available to Ithrieni. Ithrieni medieval universities were both dedicated to physical and divine sciences and had been the center of knowledge and innovation in the Phasian region for centuries past. When royal and aristocratic patronage and fundings were distracted by the wars and feuds, the universities did not regain their vigor ever since. Today, the Audh is patron to the Ummu Alu of the Holies University, one of the most respectable and historic institutions in Ithrien, renown for their degree courses in law and architecture. The presiding Minister of the Sciences and Arts is Sha Dani Daud.
Transport
Motor cars with combustion engines are not introduced in Ithrien for the time being, though wealthy estates have Anarian models for their collections. Steamer carriages though are a favorite in some cities for leisure rides and as a public transportation. Train and railway are the preferred mode of transportation for passengers and freight between cities and provinces. Ithrieni railways in the homeland territories are partly privately and state-owned in the form of an organization called Ithrieni Railways oversaw the Ministry of Transportation. The presiding Minister of Transportation is Sha Mahdi Majd. Railways in overseas territories are owned and managed by their respective founding trade companies and colonial authorities. Roads in urban centers are covered with cobbled stones meant for livestock-drawn carriages and slave-carried litters. Some steamer carriages do ply the urban roads in some cities. Steamer ferries and vessels carry passengers and freight between the Ithrieni Islands and overseas territories and colonies.
Energy
Ithrieni power supply is partly privately and state-owned, managed by the organization called Ithrieni Electric oversaw by the Ministry of Electric Energy. The presiding Minister of Electric Energy is Faizah Fellah. Ithrieni Electric runs over 12 coal-burning power plants across the Ithrieni domain and funds coal mining and search expeditions as well.
Culture
- Main article: Culture of Ithrien, Religion of Ithrien, Sexuality of Ithrien
Ithrien is a religious society, and their religion being Anur, which demands prayers three times a day, strict observance of dietary laws (crustacean, reptilian and feline meat are banned), no physical interaction in public, cats are considered sacred beings, et cetera. The followers of Anur are called Nurmin (sing. Nuri or Nurian), while the houses of worship mabadh. Anur demands Nurmin to worship only Aroth who is often represented as a cat-headed man and whose likeness is displayed in every mabadh. Anur's holy scripture is called Qitab, in which are found the thousand strictures, observances and words of Aroth included with commentaries and poetry of his eminent prophets. Although monotheistic in practice, Anur requires Nurmin to respect the different deities as it was written all other gods are simply Aroth's different manifestations. Nurmin however are encouraged to spread the words of Anur as the book reveals that Aroth is God's true name and described within are His true nature and correct worship. This need to spread Anur partly motivated Ithrien's expansionist history.
A strange religious observance for the Nurmin would be the worship of the lightbulb. When the lightbulb was first introduced in Ithrien, a priest of Anur praised the lightbulb as Aroth's latest manifestation to ward off the darkness of the night, as Aroth is strongly associated with the sun and the myth of the sun god battling the demons of the Underworld during the night. This gave birth to highly decorated gas and electric ritual lamps placed before the idols of Aroth in mabadhs and household altars.
As much as Ithrien is taken by cats, Ithrieni culture revolves around the sea. Aroth is believed to have taken the sea or the sea araidh called Alu (the name of the sea west of the island of Ithrien) as consort, and gave birth to their audh. Alu then created the island of Ithrien and the Ithrieni people out of the mud in the sea, and Aroth gave life to both island and people. As the Ithrieni depended on the sea for their livelihood in ages past, their language and culture use the sea and marine life as euphemisms. For example, a naghnagh match is used to describe a couple believed to be a perfect and loyal match just like the naghnagh (a type of sea bird) which mate for life. While, Ithrieni cuisine are mostly cooked with their famous pepper hot fish sauce.
Women in Ithrien have equal opportunities with their men as much as they have the same rights and obligations to society and their audh. This is reflected in their daily attire which has little to no distinction between the sexes. Many of their audhs were women as well. As such, Ithrieni priests and monastics have as many woman members as there are man. In the rural areas, men and women go down to the paddy fields together while they leave their children with the village's nurse, who is sometimes also the medicineworker and shrine caretaker. In the cities, both men and women are also out to work in the factories and workshops. Their children are either left with their elders in their home villages or to board with the elementary schools, which is why the schools are usually built far from the urban population centers because the schools also serve as children's colonies. The children's colonies are taken care by their teachers and nurses who would instruct them in the imposed syllabus and also to work the fields in alternate groups as their classrooms and textbooks are usually fewer than the number of children and the colonies have to be self-sufficient due to limited govenrment funding.
History
- Main article: History of Ithrien
About 2 million years ago, homo ithrienus, a distant homonid cousin of homo sapiens sapiens, first arrived in Ithrien Island. Evidence of their arrival in the form of burial remains was first discovered 7509 by Dr. Sha Mahmud Abydeen in the Cave of Al-Hamid located in the Adiha Highlands. The modern man was thought to have arrived in Ithrien Island around 7000 BRH, and the Ithrieni aborigines are regarded as their descendants. By the early 7000's BRH, the modern man has driven the homo ithrienus to extinction as theorized by Dr. Sha Mahmud Abydeen. In the 1000s BRH, agriculture and animal husbandry were introduced in Ithrien Island. The Sekhet stone steles which were inscribed with pictograms, found near Dahabia, proved the existence of an early urban culture of the same name. In the 500's BRH, the Either people from Tharna invaded the island. The Either people introduced the writing system of abjads, paving the foundation for modern Ithrieni script, astrology, the calendar, new grains and pig rearing. 500 years later, the Sekhet-Either culture flourished and were divided in feuding coastal city-states.
In the 1800's RH, bronzework and metallurgy were introduced through trade with Tharna. In the 2000's, Proto-Ithrieni arrived in Ithrien Island en-masse to overwhelm and absorb the native Sekhet-Either culture. The Proto-Ithrieni brought with them the fundamental ideas of Ithrieni monotheism and the Ithrieni abjab as evidenced by the writing of the first books of the Qitab, chronicling the journey of the Proto-Ithrieni down the Great Baragaya River. The Proto-Ithrieni also introduced currency and the use of concrete. In the 3000's, the semi-historical Audh Al-Atar proclaimed himself as the son of Aroth and founded the First Audhdom with his discovery of iron and invention of iron tools and weaponry. Al-Atar's iron tools and weapons contributed to the surplus of food and the creation of the Ithrieni nation. In the 3500's RH, Audh Al-Faiz started the construction of the Mabadh Al-Faiz, an example of ancient Ithrieni architecture.
In circa 5022, Abu Hassan of the Pillars wrote Al-Umma, a treatise on the Ithrieni race, democracy and governance of Ithrien Island, which is to become the blueprint of governments of subsequent audhdoms. In 5208, Audh Al-Said signed the Charter of Benevolence under duress by the priests and landlords that became the prototype of the Ithrieni constitution. This historical moment was the consequence of a lengthy war between Al-Said and the Ithrieni landed class due to Al-Said's excessive taxation. The Majlis Al-Ayan, the assembly of lords, became more powerful than the monarchy with the Charter. In 5345, the first instance of the modern Ithrieni script was made. In 6207, Audh Al-Wahid declared the legislative supremacy of the Majlis Al-Ayan. In the 6300's, the Majlis Al-Ayan was granting charters to companies to raise funds, armies, run vessels and claim new territories overseas. In 6705, Al-Malik started the first printing press in Ithrien Island, a lucrative business that soon boomed almost overnight, heralding a new age of Ithrieni reason and progress.
In 7265, the Majlis ad-Dawlat, the national assembly, replaced the Majlis al-Ayan as the supreme lawmaking body of Ithrien Island. This was a direct result of the War of the Assemblies when the the assembly of the lords increased taxation and corvee despite the famine that was crippling the country. In 7317, the national assembly passed the Union Act which created the Audhdom of Ithrien as it is known today by integrating the governments of Nafurah Baragayah and the Hanniyah. In the 7300's, the country recovered from the War of Assemblies very quickly as the new government of the National Assembly instituted farming subsidies, free distribution of tools, fertilizers, seeds and books on agricultural methods. New roads in the island were built and trade with more countries were eased open to encourage the movement of foodstuff to avoid famine. This paved the foundation for the Ithrieni Industrial Revolution. In 7325, Abdul Malik of the Iron Horse used coke instead of charcoal to smelt iron, and started the Ithrieni Industrial Revolution in parallel with some countries in Anaria. In 7567, Audh Al-Aziz accessed the throne up to the present day.
Demographics
Ithrien's census efforts are maintained by provincial governments and collected by the central government in every decade. The 7552 National Census issued by the Ministry of Domestic Affairs reveals that Ithrien's total population amounts to 50 million in total with the birth rate of --, infant mortality rate of --, adult mortality rate of --, and unemployment rate of --. Children from infants to the age of 18 makes up -- of the population, productive adults are --, and the retired and infirm are --. Ithrien's ethnic make-up are 89.51% Ithrieni, growing at the rate of --, 6.1% ethnic Tharnans and the rest are of miscellaneous ethnicities. While, 82.3% of the total population confess to the Anuric religion, 4.9% to the Izhaic religions, and the rest are of miscellaneous faiths. About 50.2% of the population are living with less than Ƚ0.15 per day, 46.7% with Ƚ1 per day, 2.1% with Ƚ10 per day and 1% with Ƚ1000 per day. Census also reveals class mobility is increasing with more people joining the working class, and the workers joining the middle class. The number one killer in Ithrien is food and water poisoning, followed by factory accidents and then various diseases.
Urbanisation
The Industrial Revolution brought about rapid socioeconomic change to ithrien's landscape. Azraq is the first island in the kingdom to undergo industrialization where most of the factories and workshops take advantage of the existing high number of population which translated to cheap labor. The population explosion is in turn fueled by the Agricultural Revolution that had happened a few decades prior. Factories, assembly plants and dockyards lined the coasts and rivers near Firdaus, Azraq's provincial capital, to take advantage of the access to the sea. The wealth of Azraq attracted workers from the rest of kingdom to migrate to the island, contributing to the density and congestion of the old city centre of Firdaus. Slums and shantytowns grew at the fringes of the historic city without proper sanitation, clean water and proper fire safety measures. Only in recent years does the authorities began to formulate constructive policies to deal with the growing slum problem by building subsidized low cost housing with prefabricated materials in a systematic manner. Before the housing plans, the authorities performed futile measures like fining and destroying secret cables and pipes that steal electricity and water, which only agitated the population. As additional measure to the social maladies of rapid urbanization and industrialization, the central government has granted land and subsidies to manufacturers to relocate or set up additional operations near Dahabia instead to divert further concentration on Azraq. Prefabricated low-cost housing estates were also planned along side the future sites of industrial zones and a form of public transportation was even proposed. Whether these future plans are carried out successfully, it remains to be seen.
Industrialization also brought about a new middle class of commoners working as bankers, engineers, accountants, supervisors, grocers, printers, tailors, physicians, lawyers, etc. As the value of land and rent in Firdaus's city center increased due to high demand, the emerging middle class moved in and gentrified much of the once unclean and criminal precincts. Once cobbled stone roads used to only lead to the townhouses of the wealthy and the nobles, cobbled stones are laid on the roads of the middle class precincts who are able to afford hiring carriages and litters. Fine dining restaurants, clubhouses and teahouses grew to cater to the needs of the middle class looking for venues to perform etiquettes, discuss business and exchange news and gossip.
Ethnic groups
Ithrien is made up overwhelmingly with ethnic Ithrieni, about 90% of the total homeland population. Ithrien's social policy is that all Ithrieni born in Ithrien are naturally Ithrieni citizens and have complete rights and liberties as stipulated by the Constitution of Ithrien. Historically, almost every Ithrieni island has a native ethnic group, but nonetheless their ethnic origins could be traced back to one source. Through centuries of consistent social and education policies, the Ithrieni today are comfortable with the identity of a national ethnicity. Still, Ithrieni of the different islands have strong attachments to their regional culture and are more than proud to call their native islands their parent island. Non-Ithrieni ethnic groups who are born in Ithrien and her domains are considered Ithrieni subjects, protected by Ithrieni laws but have limited rights and liberties. Most non-Ithrieni in the homeland territories are made up of slaves from Tharna, Tzeraka, Raia and Kupeya, though Tharnan ethnic groups made up the largest number, followed up by the Raian ethnic groups.
Languages
The Ithrieni language is the national language of Ithrien as provided by the Constitution. The language enjoys special protection and status in Ithrieni domains and must be used in all state and royal functions and ceremonies in spoken and written form. Ithrieni is also called Standard Ithrieni as a language of international trade and diplomacy in the east of the Phasian Ocean. Standard Ithrieni is the form that is used in ceremonies and as the medium of education in Ithrieni schools and universities. The Ithrieni language exists in the Ithrieni Islands in diverse forms as sublanguages and regional dialects numbering to the thousands. Children caught using the native form in school compounds are severely punished with the rattan and public humiliation by means of wearing the red paint of Anuric mark of demerit on their foreheads. A small minority of Ithrieni in the southern islands spoke a form of Tzerakan language. Other minority language speakers found in Ithrien are some Tharnan, Raian and Tzerakan languages mostly brought by the slaves serving in the plantations and estates.
Religion
Anur or more specifically the Daenya of Ithrien is the national and official religion of the country as stipulated by the Constitution. All state and royal functions and ceremonies are performed in accordance to the Ithrieni creed. The law tolerates the practice of other daenyas and foreign religions altogether, but does not allow for outright blasphemy and desecration of the Anuric sacred grounds and objects. Those caught committing those crimes are sent to the mining penal colonies outside of Ithrien. The Constitution proclaimed the Audh of Ithrien as the official head of religion so that the audh have broad ranging powers over the country's religious affairs and direct governance of the houses of worship and Anuric institutions like priesthoods and monastic orders. The Dashina Zasta, the audh's deputy of religion, serves to check the audh's powers as the position is usually filled by one of the priests and monks elected amongst themselves. About 80% of the population in the homeland subscribes to the Daenya of Ithrien, while the largest minority subscribes to the miscellaneous daenyas and schools. Adherents of the Izhaic religions are also present in Ithrien. Most Nurmin practice some form of animism and folk religion especially with the rural population who relies on folk medicine in conjunction with the worship of the formal daenya.
Migration
Ithrien's migration policy is almost an open door one. The government has little regulation to the movement of Ithrieni citizens between the provinces and colonies. Though the central government is funding subsidies to citizens who applies for resettlement into one of the Ithrieni colonies. Depending on the status of the territories, should the citizen decided to move into a dependency, he would have to be content with the lack of legislative and electoral rights. Ithrieni citizens and subjects are required by law to carry identification and travel papers at all time. Transporting by way of rail and sea will incur toll and duty. An Ithrieni citizen who has moved out of the Ithrieni domains for more than 6 years is considered a naturalized foreign citizen. Should he maintain residence in Ithrien thereafter, he could only awarded the status of Ithrieni special subject, bare of legislative and electoral rights. He might even be subject to unscheduled rigorous questioning by agents from the Ministry of Domestic Affairs. All ethnic Ithrieni born in the Ithrieni domains are considered Ithrieni citizens and have full protection of the law and political rights. All non-ethnic Ithrieni born in Ithrieni domains are considered Ithrieni subjects should they choose to maintain residence.
Migration in Ithrien is dominated by two factors; work opportunities and slave trade. Ithrieni citizens are moving out of the rural areas to enter urban centers like Firdaus and Dahabia to find employment in the factories and dock yards. Mechanized farming has practically took away their traditional lifestyle and plunged many traditional farming families into debts as their produce cannot compete in price. This resulted in entire families moving into the urban centers to find employment to pay off debts. The rural areas are left with settlements of subsistence agriculture. Most slaves are brought in from Tharna, Raia and Tzeraka to work in the tea, poppy and rubber plantations and mining operations of the colonies. Very few slaves are brought into the homeland and most of them are employed in domestic chores of the manors and prostitution. Emigration rate is low as Ithrien is the wealthiest economy and a proud power in the Phasian region. Immigration is mainly dominated by the intake of slaves and exchange of diplomats.
Education
Ithrien's education policy allows for the establishment of public and private institutions. Elementary education is compulsory for all children from age 6 to 10 and conducted in public schools teaching language, arithmetic, religion and physical science. Further education is not provided by the government. Attempts to extend the education of children by the government were met with social unrest as employers, workers and farmers are disgruntled by their children's reduced working hours. Individuals who wish to pursue specialized professions in engineering, carpentry, electrical science, etc, must indenture their persons into guilds of their respective chosen professions and be trained, employed and compensated only with food, shelter and clothing. Every guild of different professions has a unique set of regulations and management style, so that standards are not easily perceivable even in guilds within the same field. Tertiary education in the form of universities and colleges are variously funded by the government and the private sponsors. Historically, universities are set up by Anuric monastic orders to train priests and monks in theology, scripture and rituals. Slowly, physical science, biology, philosophy, mathematics and languages were included in the universities, those fields being pioneered by their resident monks. These ancient universities have always open their doors to the public but mostly princes and nobility were interested in the physical and divine sciences. Ummu Alu of the Holies University near Dahabia is the longest standing and most respected institution of physical and divine sciences in Ithrien. The growing number of middle class in Ithrien are able to send their children to private schools and to provide further education beyond elementary education. Colleges like the Royal College of Medicine admits many children of the middle class whose parents are able to satisfy the stipulated amount of sponsorship. Guilds of merchants, artists and builders have also invested in the profit of educating the children of the middle class by setting up nonetheless reputable institutions like the colleges of Business and Accounting, Fine Art and Architecture.
Healthcare
Ithrien's healthcare policy allows for the establishment of government and private institutions to operate at the same time. The Ithrieni government operates two hospitals namely the Royal Hospital of Dahabia and the Royal Hospital of Firdaus. The royal hospital in Dahabia is adjacent with the Royal College of Medicine. The government also operates numerous dispensaries and clinics, dental and general practice. All government institutions charge only one Ithrieni legh for treatment and prescription. Government institutions are often understaffed and overwhelmed by the sheer number of the sick. No foreseen remedy to the present situations is expected. As a result, many members of the working class along with the rural population still subscribe to traditional and folk medicine and divine intervention. Various Anuric monastic orders also operate hospitals albeit less equipped and substandard compared to the government institutions. The exception however is the Araidh Umniyah's Hospital which is funded by the nobility and rich and admits only their patrons and their relatives there of. Drug dispensation and manufacturing are strictly supervised by the Ministry of Health, Hygiene and Sanitation. License to manufacture and trade in drugs are only given to candidates who passed the Ministry's pharmaceutical examinations and licensed premises are subject to unscheduled Ministry inspection tours.
