Mante
03-03-2008, 18:28
I like factbooks, and I love writing. So I thought this would be a good thing to amuse myself with, and (hopefully) amuse someone else too. It's also a convenient place to stick any statistics or facts that I might later refer to.
To begin with, I will copy the style of the CIA world factbook - https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html - however, this might begin to sound more like a travel book.
Introduction
A glowing archipelago of over two hundred islands spread out across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Mante is a progressive nation with a rich history and a diverse culture. One of Asia’s Tiger Economies, it prides itself upon its traditional values but also upon its welcoming nature.
Mante incorporates cultures from all over South-East Asia, with strong Malay, Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Indian overtones. Over its turbulent and rich history, it has endured civil war, isolation and numerous empires. This makes for a strong people and a fascinating cultural heritage. From the capital of Shijeo-Kapukua with its glittering skyscrapers and historic temples, to the steaming jungles and isolated villages of Suhmetri (the nations largest national park) and even to the beautiful beaches and sun-soaked villas of the Chugao Riviera.
Mante; the world’s number one producer of saffron and cinnamon, leading the world in car and aircraft manufacture. This beautiful archipelago is steeped in history, and filled with beautiful rural villages and modern, yet diverse cities.
Mante is also a nation looking to the future, and has embraced all aspects of environmental awareness. Recycling is mandatory in all forty-three prefectures, and businesses all stick to strict emissions codes. Eco-tourism is also on the rise, and is a major earner in many of the smaller islands of the archipelago.
You can be sure that, no matter your interests, you can always find something to surprise and excite you in this beautiful, modern country.
Basic Statistics
Population: 239, 384, 500
Area: 889, 390 sq km
Literacy Rate: 97.6%
Life Expectancy (Mean): 82.5
Male Life Expectancy (Mean): 81.4
Female Life Expectancy (Mean): 83.6
HDI: 0.924
Median Age: 33.6 years
Religion (by percentage): Theravada Buddhism (42.3%), Sunni Islam (16.7%), Hinduism (12.8%) Catholicism (8.9%), Protestant Christianity (4.2%), Atheist/Non religious (9.6%), Other (5.5%).
Official Languages: Mantese, Chinese, Tamil, Malay, French - all official. Dutch, Japanese, Thai minorities. English used as everyday trading language and taught in most schools. Spoke by approximately 82% of the population.
Race make-up: Malay (48%), Thai (14%), Chinese (13%), Indian (8%), White European (6%), Japanese (5%), Mixed/Other (6%)
History/Background
The Mantean archipelago is a large group of islands situated in the Pacific ocean. It was colonised by Malaysian tribes in about the 700 BCE. The tribes built a patchwork of kingdoms and fiefs until they were unified under King Kawikan-Mau of the Bhuritan dynasty in 154 CE. The kingdom, although very much isolated from external influences, grew and prospered. Notable monuments from this period include the Buddhist monasteries of Banda and the forty-four foot Buddha at Gunyan Cove on Kisi-Ani.
The Bhuritan dynasty was replaced with the Wanakam dynasty, a high ranking family of senior retainers. They assumed power in 301 CE, and during this time the capital was established at Shijeo-Kapukua, where the first king of the dynasty, Nuangki, built the Pavilion of Wonders, the oldest wooden shrine that remains in the nation. The Wanakam dynasty lasted until 562 CE, when the kingdom split between two princes, who fought over the kingdom until the country returned to barbaric fiefs and princedoms.
In 1296, Islam arrived in Mante through Arab explorers. It received mixed popularity. In some islands it was immediately accepted and adopted as the major faith; in others it was criminalized. However, its followers soon contested Buddhism in numbers, and many mosques were built in coastal towns and mountainous villages.
By 1509, the Dutch invaded and annexed the country for the Dutch empire. The inhabitants of Mante were converted to Christianity, and the Dutch Mantean Trading Company was founded. It began trading coffee and spices through Rotterdam and Jakarta. However, the locals did not take kindly to foreign invasion and eventually ousted their conquerors under peasant leader Taiku Zho in 1538 and this marked the beginning of the Palerang dynasty. During this time the kingdom re-established its boundaries, re-aligned the major faith to Buddhism. The kingdom entered what academics have defined a Golden Age. Mante copied the Japanese method of isolationism, and traded only within their own borders. The Dutch and Portuguese were allowed small trading bases on some of the outlying islands, and many new monuments and temples were erected during this time.
The Palerang dynasty lasted until 1856, when the French swept in with the help of anti-monarchist rebels. The French left an indelible mark on the archipelago, and the countries third most spoken language is still French. Catholicism is still a prevalent religion in some enclaves of the country. The French conquest resulted in the appearance of French architecture and planning in most of the major cities.
Eventually, the French decided to hold a referendum upon independence, although most historians consider this a move towards losing an expensive colony after the Second World War, rather than a genuine concern for the spread of democracy. The referendum was answered with an overwhelming ninety-four percent in support of independence, and in 1949, Mante became fully independent of France. The monarchy was re-established, and the first Director of the Commonwealth (Hunc Takawa) first sat in parliament in February 1950.
Since then, Mante has come leaps and bounds. With the establishment of several major international airlines during the later part of the twentieth century, a growth in agriculture and the development of a major oil and gas industry, which is now being phased out by the government in favour of more environmentally friendly power sources.
Now, Mante is moving towards further developments for the twenty-first century. The economy is stronger than it ever has been, and the country’s first-class human rights record and equal rights for all is the envy of many other Asian nations.
To begin with, I will copy the style of the CIA world factbook - https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html - however, this might begin to sound more like a travel book.
Introduction
A glowing archipelago of over two hundred islands spread out across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Mante is a progressive nation with a rich history and a diverse culture. One of Asia’s Tiger Economies, it prides itself upon its traditional values but also upon its welcoming nature.
Mante incorporates cultures from all over South-East Asia, with strong Malay, Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Indian overtones. Over its turbulent and rich history, it has endured civil war, isolation and numerous empires. This makes for a strong people and a fascinating cultural heritage. From the capital of Shijeo-Kapukua with its glittering skyscrapers and historic temples, to the steaming jungles and isolated villages of Suhmetri (the nations largest national park) and even to the beautiful beaches and sun-soaked villas of the Chugao Riviera.
Mante; the world’s number one producer of saffron and cinnamon, leading the world in car and aircraft manufacture. This beautiful archipelago is steeped in history, and filled with beautiful rural villages and modern, yet diverse cities.
Mante is also a nation looking to the future, and has embraced all aspects of environmental awareness. Recycling is mandatory in all forty-three prefectures, and businesses all stick to strict emissions codes. Eco-tourism is also on the rise, and is a major earner in many of the smaller islands of the archipelago.
You can be sure that, no matter your interests, you can always find something to surprise and excite you in this beautiful, modern country.
Basic Statistics
Population: 239, 384, 500
Area: 889, 390 sq km
Literacy Rate: 97.6%
Life Expectancy (Mean): 82.5
Male Life Expectancy (Mean): 81.4
Female Life Expectancy (Mean): 83.6
HDI: 0.924
Median Age: 33.6 years
Religion (by percentage): Theravada Buddhism (42.3%), Sunni Islam (16.7%), Hinduism (12.8%) Catholicism (8.9%), Protestant Christianity (4.2%), Atheist/Non religious (9.6%), Other (5.5%).
Official Languages: Mantese, Chinese, Tamil, Malay, French - all official. Dutch, Japanese, Thai minorities. English used as everyday trading language and taught in most schools. Spoke by approximately 82% of the population.
Race make-up: Malay (48%), Thai (14%), Chinese (13%), Indian (8%), White European (6%), Japanese (5%), Mixed/Other (6%)
History/Background
The Mantean archipelago is a large group of islands situated in the Pacific ocean. It was colonised by Malaysian tribes in about the 700 BCE. The tribes built a patchwork of kingdoms and fiefs until they were unified under King Kawikan-Mau of the Bhuritan dynasty in 154 CE. The kingdom, although very much isolated from external influences, grew and prospered. Notable monuments from this period include the Buddhist monasteries of Banda and the forty-four foot Buddha at Gunyan Cove on Kisi-Ani.
The Bhuritan dynasty was replaced with the Wanakam dynasty, a high ranking family of senior retainers. They assumed power in 301 CE, and during this time the capital was established at Shijeo-Kapukua, where the first king of the dynasty, Nuangki, built the Pavilion of Wonders, the oldest wooden shrine that remains in the nation. The Wanakam dynasty lasted until 562 CE, when the kingdom split between two princes, who fought over the kingdom until the country returned to barbaric fiefs and princedoms.
In 1296, Islam arrived in Mante through Arab explorers. It received mixed popularity. In some islands it was immediately accepted and adopted as the major faith; in others it was criminalized. However, its followers soon contested Buddhism in numbers, and many mosques were built in coastal towns and mountainous villages.
By 1509, the Dutch invaded and annexed the country for the Dutch empire. The inhabitants of Mante were converted to Christianity, and the Dutch Mantean Trading Company was founded. It began trading coffee and spices through Rotterdam and Jakarta. However, the locals did not take kindly to foreign invasion and eventually ousted their conquerors under peasant leader Taiku Zho in 1538 and this marked the beginning of the Palerang dynasty. During this time the kingdom re-established its boundaries, re-aligned the major faith to Buddhism. The kingdom entered what academics have defined a Golden Age. Mante copied the Japanese method of isolationism, and traded only within their own borders. The Dutch and Portuguese were allowed small trading bases on some of the outlying islands, and many new monuments and temples were erected during this time.
The Palerang dynasty lasted until 1856, when the French swept in with the help of anti-monarchist rebels. The French left an indelible mark on the archipelago, and the countries third most spoken language is still French. Catholicism is still a prevalent religion in some enclaves of the country. The French conquest resulted in the appearance of French architecture and planning in most of the major cities.
Eventually, the French decided to hold a referendum upon independence, although most historians consider this a move towards losing an expensive colony after the Second World War, rather than a genuine concern for the spread of democracy. The referendum was answered with an overwhelming ninety-four percent in support of independence, and in 1949, Mante became fully independent of France. The monarchy was re-established, and the first Director of the Commonwealth (Hunc Takawa) first sat in parliament in February 1950.
Since then, Mante has come leaps and bounds. With the establishment of several major international airlines during the later part of the twentieth century, a growth in agriculture and the development of a major oil and gas industry, which is now being phased out by the government in favour of more environmentally friendly power sources.
Now, Mante is moving towards further developments for the twenty-first century. The economy is stronger than it ever has been, and the country’s first-class human rights record and equal rights for all is the envy of many other Asian nations.