Medio Sea
The Medio Sea (Anisoran: Il Medio Mare; Pastanan: Medium Mare; Axiomais: La Mer Médionee) is a collection of seas located in north-western Anaria. It is surrounded by the Median Region and is almost entirely enclosed by land, bordered to the north by Thultannia, to the southwest by Anaria Minor, and to the southeast by Anaria Major.
Etymology
The name "Medio" is derived from the Pastanan word medius, meaning "middle" or "in the middle."
Geography
The Medio Sea is divided into three main parts:
- East Medio Sea
- West Medio Sea
- South Medio Sea
The south and eastern parts are separated by the Cadrian Peninsula.
- Western Strait: This is a narrow strait connecting Anisora in Anaria Minor with south-western Thultannia at the far western entrance to the Medio Sea. It also connects to the Sinian Sea.
- Hattaro Straits: Located at the easternmost point of the Medio Sea, these straits connect the Auresian mainland on Anaria Major with Mystoke Prefecture on Thultannia, leading to the Soll and Aeylish Seas.
History
The Medio Sea has been an important route for merchants and travelers since ancient times, facilitating trade and cultural exchange between the emergent peoples of the region. It has historically been a centre of significant cultural and economic development, playing host to many civilisations that have contributed to shaping much of Anarian culture and Eastern identity. In particular, the Medio Sea served as the centre and major power base of the Dragar Monopoly between the 59th and 64th centuries, facilitating not only trade, but also colonisation and eventually the dominance of the Auresian Empire for much of the 7th millennium.
Over the following centuries, the Medio Sea remained an important centre for both commercial and economic cooperation, but also competition. Numerous major powers have fought for control over the vital waterways and resources at the periphery of the region, with the Hattaro Straits and the Western Straits in particular hotly contested regions that have triggered numerous conflicts. These include the War of the Becuvitatian Succession and the Auresio-Anisoran War, but it would be the Pan-Anarian War (7498-7552) that would bring the most turbulence and destruction to the region; the issue of free passage through the key Hattaro Straits was the final trigger point that plunged the continent into war. The Medio Sea also played an important role in the Straits Cartel of the 7570s, with the withdrawal of two Median powers (Anisora and Auresia) contributing to its collapse. Today, the Medio Sea continues to be a vital centre for economic and cultural trade.
Coastal countries
Countries with coastlines on the Medio Sea include: