Before Ifera (6000 BD-1 BD)
Early Settlements
The first settlements of Aradashe were along the southern Mehame coast and around Dujiko Bay before 6000 BD (Before Daimati). Most of the rest of Aradashe was lightly populated with nomadic hunter-gatherers. Apart from the Kuno region, Suhai was almost unpopulated.

In the 6000s and 5000s BD, The Tailu people settled along the Awasuru River in the Yetai region and built farming villages. The Tailu were originally a hill tribe that had migrated from the Achahane Mountains. About the same time, the Hoshuke were settling the area on the west bank of the Suyaga Sea and along the Zhide River. Both were planting domesticated cereals. The Tailu farmed rice, the Hoshuke chotsi.

By the 5000s BD, settlements spread into the Retomi region, especially along the Iraku River and the coast, and then all along the Mehame southern coast and into the Kuno region. The first northern settlements were in Salahi in the 4000s, then Daizhabi in the 3000s.

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In the 3000s, guanacos and cattle had been domesticated, and ceramic pottery was in use. The Ubane people of Retomi had begun smelting copper.

Then settlements really began to grow. By the 2000s BD, the Awares first landed on the far-east shores of Aradashe, and irrigation was being used in Retomi and the Awasuru plain. Populated grew and the first towns sprang up. Land was becoming more valuable than ever, and invasion and warfare increased.

Settlement Brings Technology and Warfare
The 1000s BD could be called the Time of Transportation. It was in this millenium that the first wheeled carts appeared and sails were used on boats, greatly increasing distant trade. The important communities were now on the trade routes. Jizhene hill tribes displace Tailu and Daigosi people of Yetai and Retomi. Tailu settled in Imatera and Chafa; the Daigosi disappeared from altogether from history. People continued to expand inot sparsely-settled areas.

Where the Zhide River flows into the Suyaga Sea, one of the most-important crossroads in Aradashe, the Chukali from up the Zhide River invaded the Hoshuke. The Chukali chief then unified the two peoples into a kingdom that encompased the Zhide River all the way from Lake Isheda to the Suyaga Sea. The Raikobe people were slowly making their way along the southern Suhai coast, until they came in contact with the Awares in Aninori.

By the 800s, In the west, Senago and Duchite were rich in agriculture. Through gile and strength the people there unified under the king of the Wahai tribes.

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The Watai and Chukali Expand
In the 600s, in the far-west, The Wahai then invaded Yetai and Imatera, defeating and absorbing the Jizhene tribes. In the following century, the Wahai acquired Chafa and began incursions into Retomi.

In the 500s BD, the Idenari were raising domesticated horses. By 300 DE, Zadanishas were using the horse for riding and the armies of Salahi were using them to pull chariots. Soon afterwards, cavalry appeared on the battlefield. Other Aradashean cultures were slow to pick up horsemanship, but used Zadanishas frequently as mercenaries over the next centuries.

In the 500s, the Chukali were attacked by the Uyano tribes from Salahi. The Uyuno were repulsed, but the Chukali were also weakened. Siezing the opportunity, the Asati chiefdom in Shirutori began a protracted war with Chukali. After 20 years of sporatic warfare, Chukali finally defeated the Asati in a series of encounters. Shirutori fell under Chukali control, along with Kafisi.

Up until 500 BD, Aradashe was mainly made up of chiefdoms, communities with a central leader who received tribute and held religious authority. In some cases, a ruler became powerful enough to exact tribute from a number of subservient chiefs. This was the development of kingdoms.

The first urbanization was in the centuries just before the Daimati Era, as cities grew across southern Mehame. The first city is considered to be Tulashe, on the rich plains of Senago along the Awasuru River, founded about 500 BD. This was followed by Tsikuyo (c. 270 BD), Aikinoro and Esashi (c. 200 BD), Uyamara (c. 180), Jahai (on the later site of Chude, c. 130 BD), and Majishi (c. 80 BD). At the time of the founding of Ifera, city-states were developing in southern Mehame and along the Zhide River.

In the 400s, the Wahai attempt to invade Adazhe, but were stopped by unified local tribes.

By the 300s, the Eshibara had fully utilized the rich hilly riverlands of Hahane. They began a slow push to the west into Useturu. The Usetu tribes were pushed into Kuno, where they settled peacefully among the Sekapi fishing settlements.

In 347 BD, the Chukali attempted to expand west. The Wahai met them at the Battle of the Distant Bird Call, near the Iraku River, the first major recorded battle in Aradashe. The Wahai won and held the Chukali advance.

In the 320s BD, the Eshibara invaded Kuno, and subjugated the Sekapi and Usetu.

Although hieroglyphic symbols had been used by Aradasheans since the 700s, it was mainly to label tombs, other stone markers, and artwork. It wasn't until the 200s BD that writing was used for business keeping. By the 100s BD, administration and laws were being codified with writing. This writing system became standardized and used until the Golden Age, when the later syllabic system was adopted.

Three Large Kingdoms Dominate the South
Empire-building was on the move again in the 200s BD. The Chukalis invaded Kuno in 248 BD, and defeated the Eshibara. The Eshibara king in Useturu launched a counterattack to regain Kuno, but his army was defeated. Taja barbarians from the Tarukaiva Plains invaded Hahane and Useturu later that year. The Eshibara were pushed into Batsuwe and Chadazhe, and the Taja ended up with control of all of Hahane and Useturu. The Chukali built a fortress on the future site of Ezhira.

By the 100s BD, there were three large kingdoms along southern Aradashe.

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The Wahai controlled the region between Adazhe and the Iraku River. Their capital was Uyamara. There were a number of important new cities within its borders, including Tsikuyo, Aikinoro, and Esashi.

The Chukali had possession of all the land from the Iraku River to eastern Kuno and north to the Suyaga Sea and Kepidai. They moved their center from a large settlement near the site of future Majishi to the new city of Jahai on the far west point of the Suyaga Sea.

The Taja had settled in Useturu and Hahane, and were turning to a sedentary agricultural life. For a while, their neighbors were mostly weak, so they had little pressure on their borders. Their only major potential threat was from Chukali.

For a while, these kingdoms remained stable. All three had rich farmlands, and concentrated on defending themselves from attacks from surrounding tribes, rather than expanding into each other's territory.

The Chukali kingdom was richest of all. Not only did they have the fruitful lands of Shirutori and Kuno, they also controlled many of the major trade routes in central Aradashe. This kingdom would eventually come to dominate Aradashean trade and technology in the next few centuries.

Growth in the North
In the north, there was much less unification and urbanization. The most-developed area in northern Mehame was Salahi, which had long-standing conflicts with the barbarian Zadanishas. In the 300s, the chiefdoms of this region came together to form a league. The league developed a trade system for mutual benefit, but also formed an alliance to fight the Zadanishas. Although there were difficulties initially, the league saw the benefits of its unity in the Battle of the Early Cold in 302 BD. The league won the battle, and were free from Zadanisha pressure for the next 200 years.

Eventually, the league became dominated by one clan, and the clan chief eventually became king of the large steppe valley of Kamaju. Despite the takeover, there was little internal dissent, so the kingdom remained strong.

Another community developed on the Kidasa Peninsula. These were tribes of Zadanishas who settled into a sendentary life of fishing, and later, farming. They carried on a comfortable relationship with some of the northern bands of Zadanishas. There was trade among them, and these Zadanishas helped them in defending the peninsula from raids by other Zadanisha bands.

The strongest cultural group in the Suyaga Sea area were the Medasi, along the eastern banks of the Suyaga Sea. Their economy consisted of fishing and trade with the Chukali, though they also grew maize (corn). In the 200s, they spread north and eastward into the region of Daizhabi and built a number of settlements along the north coast of Suhai. This area was populated by the Otathora people, whom the Medasi took under their rule.

In about 50 BD, the Medasi founded the city of Shekala on the east shore of the Suyaga Sea. This became the chief competitor of the Chukali city of Jahai in Suyaga-area sea trade, and one of the finest examples of architecture of the time. By the beginning of Daimati, Medasi had a trade network that extended from Kidasa and Daizhabi to Uyamara and the Taja, fleets of fishing and merchant vessels, a large irrigation system, and grew both maize and chotsi.

The Medasi built the wonderful city of Zhitora beginning in 378 DE on the seaside cliffs of Daizhabi. Like Shekala, the architecture was very elegant and impressive. The Medasi were building a kingdom that rivaled the Wahai, Chukali, and Taja.

Early Daimati (1 DE-302 DE)
The Founding of Ifera
A very prominent and charismatic shaman, named Gailu, traveled from a monastery in Retomi to a promontory that jutted out into Ifera Bay. He threw a begala fruit into the ground atop the promontory and a well opened in the rock. The new fissure was the Well of Creation. The was the beginning of Daimati, the "Age of the New Wind".

The Watai built a temple on the sacred spot beginning the next year. The was the first temple in Aradashe to have the triangular plan, according to Gailu's design. The temple was called Shagatase.

By the time of the new era, the most-advanced Aradashean societies had hieroglyphic and cuneiform writing, record keeping, and formal administrative organization. The cites of Uyamara, Tsikuyo, Aikinoro, Esashi, Majishi, Jahai, and Shekala were flourishing.
Military strength increased as treasuries grew. Armies grew larger, and the major cities all developed into powerful agricultural and urban units. They were becoming city-states.

Pressure Builds Between Watai and Chukali
The establishment of the temple of Shagase and subsequent surrounding urban area that would become Ifera reinforced the Watai, and planted envy among the Chukali.

The two kingdoms only bordered each other in one location, along the Iraku River. Both had built fortresses on the river, and reinforced crossing points. The ruler of Chukali, Neritu, decided to flank the Watai forces by marching an army of spearmen and axe men through a pass in the Akatsu Mountains. In the spring of 22 DE, the army emerged beyond Watai lines, and attacked the forces at the Iraku River from behind. The Watai were taken by surprise, and beaten easily. The next obstacle in Chukali's advance towards Ifera was the city of Tsikuyo.

Tsikuyo had a major army, and the Chukali were hesitant to attack. Also, the Taja were putting pressure on Kuno. The ruler decided to increase the size of Chukali's navy and attack the Chafa coast the following autumn.

After seven months, Neritu sent his navy with 400 marines. They landed on the Chafa shore and had no resistance. In each town they set up a small garrison. Soon, the Taiyu tribes of entire Chafa region were under Chukali control.

Neritu sent reinforcements by sea again, this time 800 soldiers. The Watai king, Echada, raised an army in Uyamara, and drew reinforcements from the Yetai and Imatera regions, but dared not pull any troops from Tsikuyo. One of his advisors, in fact, suggested that the force in Chafa must be a decoy, because they could not hope to hold territory so close to powerful Uyamara. Echada agreed, and secretly reinforced Tsikuyo. At the same time, he disguised 500 townspeople as warriors and sent them from Tsikuyo to Uyamara.

As Echada's advisor had predicted, the Chukali, led by Neritu himself, attacked Tsikuyo. Surprised by the resistance, the Chukali were forced to retreat. In anger, Neritu ordered Chafa plundered before withdrawing his troops there back to Retomi.

Echada continued to improve the Watai administration. The Watai coucil declared a new era, with a calendar that began on the founding of Ifera. They also formulated plans to unify the civilized lands of Aradashe, plans which initiated the recruitment and training of military forces in Ifera and Uyamara. The tribal chiefs of Yetai, Senago, Imatera, and eastern Retomi were made barons and given fiefs for their armed support. Talks bagan with Adazhe for an alliance.

The Chukali were also busy stengthening their kingdom. They formed an alliance with Medasi, and trade flowed freely between them. Neritu, like Echada, enfeoffed the chieftains of his kingdom. He also formed a relationship with the barbarians of Idenari for future mercenary employment. The Chukali reinforced their western borders while they prepared for battle in the east against the Taja.

The Taja, on the other hand, were much too busy with internal concerns to begin any campaigns to expand their borders, although they did make occasional raids into Chukali territory. Within the Taja realm, the various factions had little cohesion, and were becoming increasingly independent. The Eshibara in Batsuwe and Chadazhe, the Shume in Hahane and Chadazhe, the Hakifudu and Gicha in Hanane, and the Usetu and Sekapi in Useturu were all making the Taja king, Gukeve, nervous.

In the first year of Daimati, on the north slopes of the eastern Akatsu Mountains, the goddess Aichimi requested a monkey to plant a begala seed. In eight years, the tree that grew from the seed bore a single fruit. The Hatimaka was born inside the fruit. He emergesd as a tiny boy. He had some magical adventures (with symbolic morals), then was taken under the wing of the king of Chukali in 12 DE.

The First Major War
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Each of the two great Mehame kingdoms had a trump card. Watai had Ifera and Shagatase temple. Chukali had the Hatimaka. The two powers attempted to negotiate, but Chukali had too much to lose by making concessions to Watai.

While Watai finally made a mutual defense agreement with Adazhe, Chukali expanded into Idenari territory to acquire the entire western shores of the Suyaga Sea. Neritu also sent an envoy to Isenara to begin talks with Hokawe, the king of Salahil, promising riches for support.

Chukali and Watai then went to war in 14 DE, Chukali to get the capital, Watai to get the Hatimaka.

Hokawe, with support from Chukali troops marched south to attack Demibazhi and Senago, while Neritu marched his troops east through Retomi. Hokawe won the battle against the Senago host, but were set upon by Zadanisha barbarians who had followed the Salahi army south. Almost all of the Salahi and Chukali were killed, including Hokawe.

But the northern invasion was sufficient to aid Neritu. Once his army had subjugated Imatera and Chafa, they came to the gates of Uyamara and Ifera. Right then, internal problems broke out in the Chukali kingdom. In 20 DE, in Shirutori and Kuno, rebels attacked the garrisons and militias within a week of each other. Neritu, upon hearing of this, sent troops to quell the uprisings.

Siezing the opportunity, Watai, with Uyamara regulars and Adazhe mercenaries in support, pushed Chukali back. In 21 DE, the main Uyamara and Watai force destroyed the Chukali army in a decisive battle. Neritu escaped from the battle. Then, the victors marched on Jahai. The governor of Jahai surrendered the Hatimaka, rather than face invasion. Shirutori and Kuno both became independent. The Chukali region of control was reduced to Zhide and Kepidai. Watai gained all of Retomi in addition to its previous holdings.

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Neritu fled north with his followers into Idenari, attempting to reach Medasi. They were attacked by barbarians in a canyon. They survived this fight, but were surrounded and killed in a skirmish two weeks later at the mouth of the Suyaga Sea, just before crossing into Medasi lands by boat.

The war was a significant event in Aradashean history. Not only did it help decide the political future of the land, it was the first time the kingdoms had mobilized in such a profound way. It demonstarates how much Aradasheans had advanced in organization and the ability to raise the necessary resources for large-scale operations.

Following the war, Zadanishas invaded weakened Salahi and destroyed most of the League.

A Time of Peace and a Period of Growth
Things were relatively stable after the Zadanisha attacks in Salahi. Watai continued to strengthen there administration. They fed their economy with the new wealth of lands gained in Retomi. Senago, Imatera, and Chafa recovered from the war.

Chukali was much smaller in area than before the conflict, but still held the Zhide River and ports on the Suyaga Sea. They continued to trade with Medasi.

Taja struggled on with its internal conflicts; however, since the defeat of the Chukali, King Hyateyu could spend less time worrying about outside pressure. During the war years, they had lost control in their homeland of southern Tarukaiva.

Kuno was now independent and ruled by the chieftain of the Taibene people. They immediately set about building a new kingdom, laying the foundation for the city of Ezhira.

The Medasi were nearly untouched by the war and continued trading with their neighbors. They also had some contact with foreign merchants.

The Adazhe cities of Mishaja and Esashi had grown wealthy from the war, due to deals made with the Watai. Mishaja was becoming the Shekala of the west, with a beautiful temple complex and castle surrounded by rainforest.

The war had created in the minds of the landowners the need for stronger protective measures. New castles and cities were constructed with defense in mind, using hills, cliffs, and shorelines. In 206, Uyamara had a new stone wall in place. In the next 150 years, most of the large cities would be fortified.

Religious structure, most based on the triangular floorplan, sprang up all over Aradashe. The first standalone pyramid was built in Ifera in the late 200s.

About the same time, Ichido, one of the finest examples of a fortified city, was built on Lake Goratone. It became a major capital and trading hub of Shirutori. The walls would serve the city in good stead as it would become, through the years, one of the most-fought-over pieces of real estate in Aradashe.