[Old Kings Cast Long Shadows] Rough Timeline

An alternate history that diverged during the 7th century AD. Some major events;



The Umayyads successfully conquer southern France and much of the Italian peninsula.



The Franks convert, and Charlemagne's [equivalent's] conquests are directed much more easterly and some more northerly.



With a greater connection to the Islamic Golden Age (and to Slavs to sell to them), the Carolingian Renaissance blossoms into a stable long-term form.



The Mississippi culture engages in a greater cultural exchange with South America, alongside Maize, Tomato, & Tobacco, they also manage to cultivate some breeds of potato among their northern territories.



Through interactions with the Frankish Empire, some among the Viking become zealous converts and find some extra motivation in their colonisation efforts. The Franks also spread the Arab's smallpox throughout Europe.



Viking Colonisation efforts in North America are slightly more fruitful, not permanent settlement but cultural exchanges. The Norse get potatoes, the Natives get ponies and diseases that cut down their exploding population.



Thanks to the faster-growing population from calorie-dense potatoes, Norse Colonisation of the British Isles, & Swedish Colonisation of Eastern Europe are less integrative and more exploitative.



The Eastern Roman Empire peacefully converts now surrounded on all sides by non-Christians, the conversion is a turning point and heralds the beginning of their new rise. Most remaining Christians are Arianist.



The Vikings' growing population sees greater waves of migration further a field, with many taking a particular fancy to settling in the Republic of Venice. Playing a part in its expansion over much of the Italian peninsula and the Balkans.



With the larger population and trades volume from Europe (and no crusades), there is much more pressure to and profit in opening up the Silk Road, and trade with the Far East is much more active.



The trade through Red Sea is sufficient that even with the Arab stranglehold, the Kingdom of Axum sees a revitalisation after its decline, setting its sight on reclaiming its former glory. Though its conquests are largely limited to expansion into the African interior initially.



However, the trade and population movement is a recipe for an earlier black death. Luckily ease of its spread meant a less virulent strain struck Europe and only 25-50% of its population perished and over a longer timescale. The population recovering in a little over 100 years.



Axum came through the black death largely unscathed, came upon steelmaking techniques from up the White Nile, and coffee from the interior. From its strong position Axum invaded much of the Caliphate and lead to its demise.



The Norse see their centre of power shift to the Isles, and the Scottish take control of much of the ruling elite.



Looking to connect to the Silk Road by land a Northern Korean state carves much the same path as our Mongol empire, though without as much success failing to hold Persia, not reaching as far into Eastern Europe, and failing to invade Southern China by land.



By sea however, it found much more success than our Mongols. Taking the Japanese islands and Taiwan. As well integrating itself into South Chinese pirate port, and exploring south enough to discover Australia and New Zealand, even acquiring a breeding population of Moa.



Axum Empire covers the whole Arabian peninsula to its East, reaches up to the Caucus mountains in it North, and as far as the berbers in the West, its southwards efforts have made attempts to colonise Madagascar, even acquiring a breeding population of Elephant birds.



The Eastern Roman Empire slowly spreads its influence throughout the Mediterranean, eventually finding itself holding principalities in much of the former Western Roman Empire.



The printing press is funded and popularised by Mahoumeta Dritzehen, a seminal figure in the Reformation. Using his position to ensure his expanded compilation of Jewish, Christian, & Islamic holy texts was translated into various Germanic languages and spread far and wide.



Dritzehen's works inspire revolutions that result in the closest thing to democracy this history has, with a successful peasant revolt in Swedish Colonial Russia adopting his philosophy to fill the political void.



Roman explorers attempting to round the tip of Africa, turn their attentions westwards as Viking legend lends much more credence to the theory of a closer landmass across the Atlantic.



The Roman discovery and colonisation of the Americas, is blocked by the populous natives already experienced in old world diseases.



Roman Colonies are largely limited to the Caribbean and some coastal possessions, many of which come to be contested by Norse-Scotch, Swedish, Frankish, and eventually even Korean efforts.



The second attempt at Norse-Scotch colonisation in North-East America is more successful, but the strength of native Confederacies is enough to prevent substantial settlement further into the interior. The Swedes find a similar level of success on the opposite end of the Americas.



The Korean Empire becomes an early adopter of Dritzenism as its official religion. Noticing early European efforts it sets about its own colonisation efforts, focusing mostly on South-East Asia & Oceania. But eventually establish settlements in Alaska, California, and the land between and beyond.



Norse Elites flee to the colonies after a revolution overtakes the Isles, coming to form the DCi. Classically used as the start date for the Reform-era Rebellions, that sees the Reformation and democratic reform sweeps throughout Europe and many other parts of the world.



Norse people who settled in Axum empire, discover the secrets of steel and bring them to the Norse colonies. Combined with easily accessible local coal, the Norse colonies make great advances in industrial technology and unite to form the Empire of North America.



Most Norse colonies are loyal to the ENA, rather than the revolutionary government of DCi. Its expansionist effort are much more successful.



The Axum Empire has spread down the East coast of Africa and begin setting up colonies in Southern Africa. S. African coal spurs on Axum's Industrial revolution. Vaccination is discovered during a smallpox epidemic in Axum's S. African colonies.



The Korean Empire builds the first Steam Railways, and solidify their hold on Siberia & Central Asia to protect historical Korean migrants.



Swedish Colonies originally established little further north than Patagonia, expanded their territories up through the Chaco Plains, the Pampas, and to the Atacama desert on the west coast.



Large-scale slavery emerges in the various colonies of global Superpowers. The Native American population is sufficient to supply and no substantial trans-Atlantic slave trade occurs. Local sourcing mean slavery is some what less severe.