Zazamanc (zæzamaɴk)
Often called the crown jewel of Ktavama, the Empire of Zazamanc is one of, if not perhaps the leading superpowers in the western regions of the continent. This nation is ancient and immense, stretching from the northwest coast all the way down to the southern tips of the Nbundo River Basin. This is one of the few nations of the continent to interact with those of neighboring but distant Kadagard, and both sides of the trade route definitely want to know more about each other.
Demography and Population
The vast majority of the urban population is Cunga-Mali in heritage and identity. While there are other ethnicities and mixed individuals scattered about, especially in the more suburban communities, most city folk are Cunga-Mali and that number is only continuing to increase as the population continues to rise. The further outside of cities one travels, the lower percentage of Cunga-Mali is found and the higher percentage of other ethnicities there is. Most notable among them is the Vtumba, who are by a significant margin the second largest ethnic group in Zazamanc without contest. These people are mostly found in the more rural areas in the wilderness, as they are generally nomadic and move around to feed their herds with the changing of the seasons.
Territories
Zazamanc’s power is almost entirely dependent on their complete control the Nbundo River Basin. More specifically, it is dependent on control of the Ibada and Lingala rivers that mark the borders of the region and whose tributaries snake their way through the edges of the savanna. A major element of their control is their mastery over the rivers: by using the rivers as highways, the Zazamanci can move across the Nbundo with great and rapid speed, allowing anyone from soldiers to tax collectors to ministers.
Technological Level
A key component to Zazamanc's control over the region is their metalworking skill: metalworking is not foreign to the Nbundo-in fact, it is actually quite common-but where most of the peoples of the region create weapons out of iron, Zazamanc outfits their soldiers with weapons and armor composed of steel.
Religion
The most prevalent religion amongst the people of Zazamanc is Laduga, to the point where it is closely tied to the government of the empire. As such, the vast majority of the people are followers of Laduga and often are raised to follow its tenants from birth-not through any government enforcement per se, but the belief amongst the people themselves, though some tenants of Laduga are government enforced. Having said that, there are laws that make it more likely for those under the Zazamanci rule to be Ladugai: most significantly, while it is not illegal to practice a different faith, those who do must pay additional taxes compared to those who are Ladugai.
Laws
Religious Laws
While Laduga is not required by law among the populace, Zazamanc does enforce some of the religion's tenets as law of the land, most notably its sins. One of the greatest of crimes in that regard is grave robbery and desecration: Laduga places great emphasis on the treatment of the dead, even talking bad about the dead is a shameful act regardless of they were in life, and desecration of the grave or corpse is seen as a crime so heinous it stains the soul, and can infect the souls of those around them in their community. As such, graverobbers are handed over to the church after their trial and the priests give them a brand on their face so their crime is on display for all to see.Arguably the most important law pertaining to Laduga is the tax placed on all non-practitioners of Laduga. This tax is biannual and is generally only a concern for urban people and is only required for free, sane, adult individuals, so children, elders, the ill, the insane, hermits, slaves, and the wandering, nomadic hunter-gatherer/herding tribes of the inner savanna are generally exempt-for the latter most group, occasionally the leader of the tribe may be required to pay for the tax on behalf of their tribe if they are significant enough in size/influence.
Slavery
While a working class has been established for a long time, a good portion of manual labor, especially for nobility, is done on the backs of slaves, as with many empires before them. However, while slavery is a deeply integrated part of the work force of Zazamanc, it is actually heavily restricted as the founders, so the stories say, were a people accustomed to the brutalities of slavery. It would likely stand to reason then that such laws were enacted based on such history and as a result, slaves of Zazamanc are treated far beater than slaves just about anywhere else in the world.First and foremost among these laws is that abuse of slaves is a severe punishment: While slaves are not given the freedoms of the general populace, they are still treated under the law as citizens of the empire and as such are subject to the legal protections from abuse as a common laborer.
In spite of that, slavery is still very much a punishment. Slaves do not have the rights of freedom, cannot own property, and are completely subject to the state and those the state places them under. This is most evident in the most common origin of slaves in Zazamanc as slaves: for some crimes, such as murder, slavery may be presented to the accused as an alternative penalty to death.
Agriculture & Industry
Agriculture
The vast majority of horticulture and crop yield in Zazamanc is concentrated on the banks of the Lingala and Ibada rivers. This is due to the Nbundo Lae Line, which destroys water in the soil during the dry season and is strongest near the center regions away from the rivers. On the banks and in the regions close to the rivers however, the dry season is much more typical and the land even becomes lush beyond compare to the surrounding regions and thus it is perfect for farming plants of all varieties.By far the most important food crop in terms of shear productivity is papuga, or Zazamanci rice. This rice produces great numbers of plump grains that can be counted easily in the hundreds on healthy stalks.
The rivers are also a major resource for livestock production as well, providing food for tons upon tons of herd stock, game and poultry. By far the most common meat among Zazamanci culture is pork, with pigs being one of the few livestock raised solely for their meat. It is often said that the Cunga-Mali find pigs unclean, but this is really only true of high status individuals such as nobles and merchants. Tied with it is fish- harvested year round in abundance from the Lingala and Ibada -and poultry of both wild and domesticated fowl, who are raised both for meat and eggs which are often used in many dishes and cuisines. Tilapia, oscars, perch, and catfish are major aquatic foods for many Zazamanci citizens, as well as oceanic fish for those who live in cities or coastal communities. Many upper class/urban folks keep these fish in man-made ponds, especially in cities which often have damned off canals that feed these lakes. Following pigs, the most important livestock are sheep, goats, and cattle, all of which have applications other than meat. Beef is a common food for upper class people but both classes make use of dairy cattle for milk, an important staple of a wide variety of foods including cheese and butter.
Industry
Zazamanc sports a massive industry of jewelry crafters, specifically masters of platinum crafting.Trade & Transport
A good portion of Zazamanc's transport across the empire is based on the rivers.
Infrastructure
While not as reliant as crop farming, a good portion of the infrastructure is built along the rivers. A good amount of this infrastructure is not devoted not only to using the floodwaters to the best of their ability, but also to keep them from flooding the causing any damage. This is particularly important for cities, which often have intricately carved throughout to be used as highways between the major areas of the city.
Founding Date
67 O.P.
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Demonym
Zazamanci, Zazaman
Leader
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Gazetteer
The most key areas of control for Zazamanc are the Ibada and Lingala rivers, which in addition to being natural highways throughout the region also act as borders that define the boundaries of the Nbundo. The only land that isn't separated from the outer world by the rivers is the southern regions and even that land route is only seasonally available.
Currency
Zazaman coins are one of the most valuable currency on the continent (at least in the western regions). These oblong coins are composed of a lead base, covered in a different coating depending on its represented value: brass is the lowest value, followed by platinum, with gold being the highest value. Coins also vary in value depending on size, ranging between 17, 19, and 21 mm in diameter.
Zazaman coin values by size:
Zazaman coin values by size:
- Brass value: 1, 5, 10
- Platinum value: 20, 40, 60
- Gold value: 50, 100, 200
Major Exports
Zazzamanc's greatest resource is the rich platinum reserves found in the Nbundo River Basin. Platinum is far more common in the Nbundo than most anywhere else in the world and as such it is the nation's greatest export. Platinum jewelry, idols, and ornaments are traded far and wide, especially across the continent of Kadagard where the metal is rare. From there they are traded further to even more distant nations, where they fetch even higher prices.
Major Imports
While local mines do occasionally pluck nuggets of it out of the ground, gold is one of the most readily imported materials in Zazamanci trade. Nobility and religious figures coat themselves and their homes in golden adornments, with jewelry, furniture, silverware, and even altars among the luxurious uses for this precious metal.
Official State Religion
Location
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
Related Myths
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