"HESPERIA" Part one-Beginnings
In fall 50 B.C. a fleet of 25 ships sailed thru the Pillars of Hercules on a Trading mission to Cornwall {tin}. Unfortunally [for them] they ran into a hurricane that blew them far to the south. What great feats of seamanship allowed them to survive And stay together, are lost in the mists of history, but we know that 12 of the ships ended up wrecked on one of the Cape Verde Islands. They discovered the Island covered with tropical Fruits with a small native Population. Five of the other Ships ended up wrecked on the Canary Islands, where they were discovered a century later.
It took a over seven years, While they lived and Married with the locals. But, they managed to repair two of the ships for the return to Roman territory. Behind them they left a small Roman colony. With them they took a cargo [they were merchants after all] of wine made from the tropical fruit
[a big Hit when they got to Rome].
This led to a trade route where the Romans sailed down the coast, and turned west sailing out to the Remus Islands. Over the next century small Supply camps were established along the coast, Wherever water supplies were found. By 50 AD a string of Supply camps stretched from The Greater Pillars of Hercules, south to the New Tiber River {OTL Senegal}. Where the Merchants resupplied before heading for the Islands.
Along the Coast these Camps began to be visited by the Berber & Semitic Tribesmen in the north, and Malinke Tribesmen in the south, The camps Started trading with the locals, and Grew. Not all Visits were always Friendly, So soldiers joined the Camps. The Soldiers at the camps laid them out in the Army fashion, Streets, Roads & Walls were built. There also was a small number of farmers in with the settlers, so the camps became surrounded by Fields.
As most of the Settlers in these camps were male the trade involved more than just goods. This lead to the population of the camps and surrounding areas began to be a mixed Blood. By 200 -300 AD some of the camps had grown into small towns. Many of these raised their own local forces, modeled on the old Republic style, Citizen Legions. The difference being that at the heart of each local Legion was a small group of Professional Soldiers. Trained in the Imperial Legions back in Rome, and sent here to retire.
In the 300's Hesperia became officially Christian, along with the rest of the Empire. Of course due to the distance from the City of Rome, the Priests and officials sent were not the first tier, or even the, close second tier of talent. If You were being generous , You might, call them third tier. Also lots of Unusual Preachers and Missionaries, had come here when they were chased out , by more Orthodox believers. This Meant that while the Towns had a Official Orthodox veneer , in reality, all kinds of other religions from Zoamianism, to the old Roma-Greek, to Mithism, to Nestoian, Coptic & Native, flourished, just out of official sight.
In fall 50 B.C. a fleet of 25 ships sailed thru the Pillars of Hercules on a Trading mission to Cornwall {tin}. Unfortunally [for them] they ran into a hurricane that blew them far to the south. What great feats of seamanship allowed them to survive And stay together, are lost in the mists of history, but we know that 12 of the ships ended up wrecked on one of the Cape Verde Islands. They discovered the Island covered with tropical Fruits with a small native Population. Five of the other Ships ended up wrecked on the Canary Islands, where they were discovered a century later.
It took a over seven years, While they lived and Married with the locals. But, they managed to repair two of the ships for the return to Roman territory. Behind them they left a small Roman colony. With them they took a cargo [they were merchants after all] of wine made from the tropical fruit
[a big Hit when they got to Rome].
This led to a trade route where the Romans sailed down the coast, and turned west sailing out to the Remus Islands. Over the next century small Supply camps were established along the coast, Wherever water supplies were found. By 50 AD a string of Supply camps stretched from The Greater Pillars of Hercules, south to the New Tiber River {OTL Senegal}. Where the Merchants resupplied before heading for the Islands.
Along the Coast these Camps began to be visited by the Berber & Semitic Tribesmen in the north, and Malinke Tribesmen in the south, The camps Started trading with the locals, and Grew. Not all Visits were always Friendly, So soldiers joined the Camps. The Soldiers at the camps laid them out in the Army fashion, Streets, Roads & Walls were built. There also was a small number of farmers in with the settlers, so the camps became surrounded by Fields.
As most of the Settlers in these camps were male the trade involved more than just goods. This lead to the population of the camps and surrounding areas began to be a mixed Blood. By 200 -300 AD some of the camps had grown into small towns. Many of these raised their own local forces, modeled on the old Republic style, Citizen Legions. The difference being that at the heart of each local Legion was a small group of Professional Soldiers. Trained in the Imperial Legions back in Rome, and sent here to retire.
In the 300's Hesperia became officially Christian, along with the rest of the Empire. Of course due to the distance from the City of Rome, the Priests and officials sent were not the first tier, or even the, close second tier of talent. If You were being generous , You might, call them third tier. Also lots of Unusual Preachers and Missionaries, had come here when they were chased out , by more Orthodox believers. This Meant that while the Towns had a Official Orthodox veneer , in reality, all kinds of other religions from Zoamianism, to the old Roma-Greek, to Mithism, to Nestoian, Coptic & Native, flourished, just out of official sight.