Joy's story Part 3

·         These networks grew and thrived as the Amian Empire continued to flourish. Although

the trade network within Amia was continuing to grow, the Council soon recognized the need for

a more extensive trade network that encompassed other empires and continents. While Amia was

known for its blacksmith’s and their beautifully made swords as well as an abundance of natural

resources, the need for fine items such as silk, porcelain, and spices soon began to grow. As a

result, the Council sent 12 ambassadors, seven women and five men, to the neighboring and far-

reaching empires to develop trade agreements. Upon returning, not every ambassador was

successful, but they were able to secure trade agreements throughout much of Asia and parts of

Northern Africa. These trade routes soon became known as the Amian Trade Routes. They

included Europe as well as routes from China and India through the Middle East, Turkey, and

much of Northern Africa including Egypt. Each region played a part in the trade route. From

Amia came skillfully crafted swords and weapons. They also traded an abundance of seafood and

wood from their thick forests. From China came silk and porcelain, India supplied fine spices

and ivory, and Egypt supplied grain and textiles.

Shortly after the development of the Amian Trade Routes, the Amian government

underwent some major changes. Men began to play a more significant role in the government.

Amian ambassadors ran into problems while trying to secure trade agreements. In most of the

other areas of the world, women had little to no role in government. As a result, some rulers

refused to do business with the woman ambassadors sent from Amia. To combat this, Amia

began to have more men as ambassadors to the foreign countries. Men were also able to achieve

·         a higher status in government including a seat on the Council. The Council has nine members

and men were able to fill four of those seats. While woman still hold the majority in the Council,

men began to be seen as equal partners in government and political matters. The Council also

developed a more complicated and intricate government by delegation each member a region of

the Amian Empire to oversee. Eight of the nine members of the Council were delegated a region

of Amia. The Head of the Council oversaw all regions and “ruled” in the Amian capital of

Alessa. The eight Council members were responsible for all that happened in their region. They

oversaw the collection of taxes, the judicial system, and crop intake. They were responsible for

delegating and appointing new officials when needed. Each of the eight regions was in charge of

security for their portion of the trade route. They policed the roads, ports and posts that ran

through their region, keeping merchants and business owners safe.   

Due to the expansion of the trade networks, Amia’s population continued to increase.

Their cities grew larger and the government became more developed. The Amian people were

able to sell their livelihood along the trade routes and make a good living. People from all over

settled in Amia and the cultures and traditions soon began to merge. The Amian Empire became

a melting pot for hundreds of different peoples, cultures, and religions. People flocked to Amia

seeking a new place to live and missionaries came bringing new religions. While extremely

skeptical of the new religions at first, Amians slowly began to adopt these new practices. Islam

and Christianity were both introduced to Amia through the trade routes. Both religions were

similar to Amia’s religion in their worship of one god. While both religions were extremely

popular, the Council adopted Islam as their official religion. Some Amians still worshiped the

Guardian Spirit, but most were either Muslims or Christian. The Council did not seek to demand

their people to adopt one religion over the other. Amians were free to choose their religion and to

worship their chosen god in peace without fear of repercussion.

Life in Amia was great. They had come a long way from those fourteen people, escaping

slavery, fleeing for their lives and searching for a better one. Their tiny group of people had

developed into a global powerhouse. The Amian Empire continued to thrive and grow for several

more centuries. Many of their culture and traditions can been seen in the people groups of

modern day. Their ways will forever be entrenched in the culture of the continental Europe and

many of the surrounding lands. The original fourteen members could never have known the

impact their rebellion would cause and they have truly left their mark on the world forever.