History of Ithrien

Amongst the myriad of civilizations in Gotha, Ithrien holds a special place for its enduring history, primarily chronicling the events connected to the Ithrieni people. Predominantly set in Ithrien Island and its nearby territories, our understanding of this history is enriched through archaeology, oral traditions, and written records. One particular work that stands out is "The History of the Ithrieni" by Sha Ahmed Wahid, written between 7212 U8E28093 – 7349, a paramount text in the Ithrieni historical landscape.

Prehistory

Homo Ithrienus' Arrival

Approximately 2 million years ago, a distant homonid cousin of Homo sapiens sapiens, called Homo Ithrienus, reached Ithrien Island. The evidence of this presence was manifested in the form of burial remains, including fossilized bones, stone tools, and traces of fire use. These relics were discovered in the Cave of Al-Hamid by Dr. Sha Mahmud Abydeen in 7509. Due to the cave's location, this extinct homonid is colloquially known as the Al-Hamid man. Physiological reconstructions from the bones illustrate that the Al-Hamid man, while shorter, was bulkier in comparison to modern humans. Distinct features included a broad brow ridge, flat nose, pronounced cheekbones, upper jaw, and notably larger canine teeth, indicating a carnivorous diet.

Arrival of Modern Man:

Circa 7000 BRH, modern humans made their entry into Ithrien Island, leading to the eventual extinction of Homo Ithrienus. Dr. Sha Mahmud Abydeen posits that factors such as changing climate, which restricted the Homo Ithrienus' habitat and prey, combined with the adaptability of Homo sapiens to new dietary and environmental changes, led to this eventuality. The last of Homo Ithrienus likely perished due to starvation or conflicts with the modern man.

Settlements & Evolution

The modern humans, post the Homo Ithrienus era, proliferated across the island. They left traces of their existence in the form of pottery shards, foundational remains of wooden houses, and burial sites. Some continued to be hunter-gatherers, establishing their presence in the highland forests, thereby evolving into the Ithrieni aborigines. In contrast, those who created settlements in lowlands and coastal regions likely became the foundational Sekhet culture.

Age of Jahiliyyah

Defining the Era

The Age of Jahiliyyah, also termed the Age of Ignorance, spans the mythical submersion of the holy city of Zohor until the emergence of the first Audhdom under Audh Al-Atar. This period signifies when knowledge and tenets of the Anuric Anur religion seemingly vanished.

Sekhet Culture

While termed an age of ignorance, archaeological findings continue to illuminate a flourishing civilization on Ithrien Island, named the Sekhet culture. This culture is identified by stone steles embellished with indecipherable pictograms, predominantly found along the coast of Sekhet near Dahabia. Around the 1000s BRH, there's evidence suggesting the introduction of agriculture and animal husbandry to the Sekhet people, either indigenously or through influence from Tharna.

Either Influence

By 500s BRH, the Either people made their presence felt in Ithrien. Distinguished by their unique pottery and tools, the Either also used bones and stones for divination. These artifacts, marked with stellar constellations, hint at their advanced knowledge of astrology and religious rites. Notably, their early abjad script is believed to be the precursor to the contemporary Ithrieni script. The Either also introduced various grains, fruits, vegetables, and pigs to Ithrien. The amalgamation of Sekhet and Either cultures fostered prosperous coastal city-states, often in trade competition and conflicts.

Height & Decline of Sekhet-Either Civilization

The pinnacle of the Sekhet-Either city-states was reached by the early 100s RH. Their legacy includes ritual mounds, foundational remains of walls and structures, clay tablets, and stone steles. It's postulated that around the 1800s, bronzework and metallurgy were brought to Ithrien via Tharna trade routes. By this time, the Sekhet-Either people viewed themselves as a unified entity, despite many of their city-states being deserted. Reasons for this decline range from famine and drought to disease introduction by the proto-Ithrieni.

Anur I Era

Founding of Anur

The epoch termed Anur I or the First Audhdom symbolizes the crystallization of the Ithrien populace under one umbrella. Spearheaded by the legendary Audh Al-Atar, this phase saw the solidification of the Anuric faith, a blend of religious, political, and military prowess. Al-Atar, viewed as a trailblazer, is believed to be a descendant of the venerated line of the Audhs of submerged Zohor. By his lineage, Al-Atar declared his divine governance and aimed to integrate all Ithrieni under one nation-state.

Technological & Cultural Prowess

Al-Atar's reign is attributed to several technological innovations, particularly the development of iron tools and weaponry. These advancements not only bolstered food production but also augmented the might of his military. This golden age of religious enlightenment spanned 300 years but waned by the 3200s, attributed to internal challenges like famine and external threats from Tharna.