In the 1800s, Britain grew more and more democratic even as its empire spread across the globe. I found it quite helpful. The Byzantine Empire* was largely theocratic, with the emperor deriving much of his power from being the head of the church, and it was a dynamic state that lasted for centuries. European countries had a long tradition of accepting rulers from different noble families, but that tradition did not extend to other lands. Whatever it is, decide why NOW is that time in your world's history that best serves your story. But do look to music, art, cities, and landscapes that interest you for inspiration. Sometimes a country will produce a lot of stuff but have no one who wants to buy it. A scattered empire is harder to maintain than a contiguous one, but it also allows for the conquest of choice territories. While they weren’t above a fight, the Habsburgs preferred to marry into the ruling lines of other countries. In a dictatorship, no state institution has the authority to regulate who becomes the next dictator. The local leader technically has the power but will do what the empire wants, either because it aligns with the leader’s interests or because they fear retribution. This is an excellent article, and good job on (mostly) avoiding the rabbit-holes of contemporary foreign policy. Nothing motivates folk to rebel like a shortage of bread. But if you're trying to write a book or a TV show or a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, you're probably going to want to share your fictional world with other people at some point. If an empire did somehow grant equal representation to its colonies without falling apart, it probably wouldn’t be an empire anymore, just a large union of states. First, what is an empire? But just as many empires, if not more, have been laid low by internal threats. Seems like a kind of elective monarchy (exactly what it says on the tin; where a king is elected to the position instead of born into it). Most empires will use a combination of options, depending on the situation. An empire’s favorite pastime is gobbling up its neighbors. Oligarchical empires often have difficulty adapting to new circumstances, because no oligarch is willing to accept a change that might diminish their influence. But no matter how hard a state tries to avoid confrontation, it’s only a matter of time before your empire comes knocking. Many early European empire buildings can be traced back to this motivation. Your forest may be haunted, but what shade of green are the leaves? Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. This is how your empire adds new territory to its ranks, enforces its will on foreign governments, and keeps rebellious provinces in line. The answer will determine a lot of the conflict in your setting and be extra important if your empire is the bad guy. The Achaemenid Persians were one empire to employ this method. More and more European ships sailed into Chinese harbors, and while an invasion of China was unlikely, those ships could cause catastrophic damage all on their own. Make lists of common names in your world. There could be time travel in this universe, but no way to actually change the future. 3. Professor of Political Theory in Star Trek. Though depending on the nature of these supernatural forces, the politics could shift to be a kind of revolving dictatorship. The downside was that these mercenaries had little loyalty to Rome and were happy to support rebellious generals as long as the gold was good. A dictatorship has several advantages for a budding empire. Raising soldiers from conquered territory takes pressure off the homeland, but it has serious disadvantages. This makes levies much more reliable in putting down rebellions, but stationing soldiers so far from home also has a negative effect on morale. In the 1600s and 1700s, Europe discovered that it had a thirst for goods from abroad and they produced little that anyone else wanted to trade for. Soldiers are garrisoned in every city, locals have few freedoms, and every aspect of life is controlled by imperial officials. 1. While this has never happened in real life, it is entirely possible that your fantasy empire might hold dominion over the entire world. Contrary to the nomenclature, an empire is not defined by having an emperor or empress. Why NOW? "And of course: do your research, talk to people, get sensitivity readers. Let’s go over a few of the more common options. But your characters probably don't. This process is what created the Austro-Hungarian Empire as powerful Hungarians demanded a share of control from their Austrian counterparts. You know all the secret nooks and crannies of this world. Oceans are famously good at separating people, but mountains and deserts can have the same effect. Oligarchs also tend to be really unpopular, because they are a faceless organization that can be easily blamed for any of the empire’s problems. It’s also the least morally aberrant option, which makes it a good candidate if your empire is meant to be sympathetic. While it may be easier to exploit second-class citizens in the short term, an empire built on them is living on borrowed time. Look to real world history if you feel stuck, and remember that the past is long and full of weird surprises. Emissaries of these far-off powers occupy an odd position. If your empire has no rivals equal to its power, there’s a good chance its borders are harassed by raiders. This is almost always facilitated by a powerful navy to transport goods and personnel from one enclave to another. It’s easy to think of theocracies as stagnant and inflexible because of religious dogma, but that’s often not the case. Maybe tensions have been rising on your continent for decades, or maybe a strange has turned everything upside-down in this small town. There might be another little-known system of government that fits better, but that’s what I can think of. An empire that spreads to increase its power will be truly formidable since gaining new territory does not tax its resources the way other types of expansion do. In this situation, the imperial authority is placed in the role of referee, trying to balance the needs and desires of the various groups within its territory. This is can be seen in nearly all military conquests, from the Crusades to World War II. Finally, an empire often poses the biggest threat to people who already live within its borders. Some empires use the most heavy-handed option available: controlling territory through total occupation. Wars require huge amounts of food, which is a problem if farms are already producing less than normal. But you still need some laws of reality, even if you made them up. Is there nightlife? This is never good news for the people being absorbed, which is why smaller states will try all kinds of tricks to stay independent. Our bills are paid by our wonderful patrons. That's not good writing. Joining a victorious conquest was the only hope many Romans had of ever owning their own land, and they didn’t much care where it came from. What are some common vocations? Sometimes this status is enforced by law; other times it’s merely a customary practice, but the results are the same. Empires are large almost by default, but their total size can differ greatly. Even a really severe resource shortage won’t destroy an empire, but it can force the empire to overextend. Religion and religious values often form the basis of law and governance. I have three tips for you. What are the dominant tastes in the local cuisine? Could you chip in? But a distant civilization might have entirely different ideas of property ownership and how wars are waged – to say nothing about social etiquette. When it works, this is a relatively cheap way to rule imperial territory. An empire with continental reach will have few enemies of equal strength. All Europe had were powerful guns and advanced ships. Usually, these people live beyond some natural obstacle that prevents easy cultural exchange. High Fantasy worlds like Middle-Earth or Westeros. These ships can sail or steam anywhere with a port and demand concessions with the threat of violence. There are, in short, a lot of different directions to go in if you want to build a fictional world of your own. They’re difficult to strike back at, either because their homes are in remote regions or they’re nomadic and move camp whenever legions approach. Complete subjugation is not only horrific for the subjugated but also it is expensive for the empire. While most empires are authoritarian with their territory, some allow for genuine local autonomy. In this scenario, your empire is actually the underdog, and must try to maneuver around a threat that possesses far superior weapons.
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