Genava55

The Seleucid Empire emerged as one of the largest successor states to Alexander the Great's conquests, playing a pivotal role in disseminating Hellenistic culture across the Near East and beyond. Founded in 312 BC by Seleucus I Nicator, it initially spanned from Thrace and Anatolia in the west to the Indus Valley in the east, though eastern territories were soon ceded to local powers like the Mauryan Empire. At its height under Antiochus III (r. 222–187 BC), it encompassed the eastern Mediterranean, Mesopotamia, and parts of Iran and Central Asia. The Seleucids governed a multicultural populace through a formidable military - featuring innovative units such as Indian war elephants for shock tactics and heavily armored cataphract cavalry - alongside claims of divine kingship and the establishment of Greek-influenced cities, such as Antioch-on-the-Orontes, which evolved into a vibrant cultural hub. However, the empire grappled with internal dynastic conflicts, protracted wars against the Ptolemaic Kingdom (the Syrian Wars), and challenges in administering remote provinces. By the mid-third century BC, regions like Bactria (c. 250 BC) and Parthia (c. 247 BC) seceded, initiating gradual fragmentation. A major setback came with defeat by Rome at the Battle of Magnesia in 190 BC, followed by the Treaty of Apamea (188 BC), which stripped away western Anatolian holdings and imposed heavy indemnities. Persistent civil strife, rebellions (including the Maccabean Revolt, 167–160 BC), and incursions from Parthia and Armenia further diminished its power, culminating in Roman annexation of the remaining Syrian core in 64 BC by Pompey. Despite its eventual collapse, the Seleucid Empire endured for nearly 250 years and left an enduring legacy by blending Greek and Near Eastern traditions, influencing art, governance, and trade routes that shaped the Hellenistic and subsequent eras.

If I can provide a longer summary, I would suggest this: Ancient Athens rose to imperial power in the mid-fifth century BC after the Persian Wars by transforming the Delian League into the Athenian empire. This empire, which dominated the Aegean through tribute and naval supremacy, collapsed in 404 BC at the end of the Peloponnesian War. Athens later regained some influence in the fourth century BC through the Second Athenian League (378–355 BC) and remained a leading city-state. However, it lost its political independence after the defeat at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC, when Philip II of Macedon imposed the League of Corinth upon Greece. Although Athens subsequently attempted to recover its autonomy -most notably during the Lamian War (323–322 BC), the Chremonidean War (267–261 BC), and its revolt in the First Mithridatic War (88–86 BC) - all efforts failed. The city never regained full sovereignty and eventually became a Roman protectorate.

Batilly-en-Gâtinais - Domaine aristocratique Gaulois du site des Pierrières en 3D.mp4 Reconstitution d’un ancien domaine aristocratique gaulois à Batilly-en-Gâtinais (Loiret), sur le site des Pierrières.

Not really, the dating of such structures is clearly falling in the Holocene. They are dating the underwater structures thanks to the dating of the environmental changes, notably a marine transgression in the case of Britanny. 1797401694_Fouquetetal_2025_IJNA.pdf It is not undermining the consideration we have for them. It is simply a description of their lifestyle. Using another label requires proving they are not hunter-gatherers.

I don't see why it should be unbelievable. It looks similar to the Blinkerwall structures in the Baltic Sea which was mostly used to trap animals. Also the idea that hunter-gatherers were unable to build massive structure should be revised. See the Carnac stones for example.

Map by Maptysk illustrating the various contributions from different material cultures to the formation of the Bastarnae (related to the Poienesti-Lucaseuca culture)

Excerpts from Gimbutas' book on the Balts:

Duileoga is working for a mod. Don't worry, there is little chance they would be integrated in the main game. The Chernoles culture disappeared a long time ago, around the 6th century BC. The Milograd culture existed in northern Ukraine and southern Belarus for several centuries. But it was replaced by the Zarubintsy culture, which represents a bit of a cultural break. There are elements of the Zarubintsy culture that originate from Germanic cultures. This culture of Zarubintsy appeared around 200 BC and existed up to the 1st century AD. After that, there is a transition period when the culture of Zarubintsy decays and a sharp reduction in the number of settlements. The Kiev culture is a reemergence of a Balto-Slavic culture which appeared around the 3rd century AD. The question of the Slavic origin is tied to how the Kiev culture appeared. If you want to portray the Venedi/Veneti, they are probably further in the North. Pliny and Ptolemy locate them near the Baltic sea region. So we can suppose the Venedi/Veneti were a confederation of different Balto-Slavic tribes. Generally, the Brushed Pottery culture, the Milograd culture and the Dnieper-Dvina culture are seen as a continuum of similar populations. So if you want to suppose the testimonies from Pliny, Tacitus and Ptolemy are also valid for a more ancient period, then you can suppose these cultures were related to the Venedi/Veneti. Like this you can use evidence from the Milograd culture, Dnieper-Dvina culture and Brushed pottery culture. And you can add Germanic mercenaries from the Przeworsk culture (Lugians) and from the Zarubintsy culture (probably the Scirii). You can also add Sarmatian and Scythian mercenaries.

https://archaeology.org/news/2025/12/12/new-thoughts-on-denmarks-ancient-hjortspring-boat/ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0336965

It is difficult to know when the Slavs separated from the Balts. The Kiev culture is the only one that can be definitively attributed to the Proto-Slavs. Regarding earlier cultures, there is no certainty. There are many contradictory and contested hypotheses. There is no consensus concerning their relationship with the Proto-Slavs. The cultures most frequently discussed are the Milograd culture, the Dnieper-Dvina culture, the Zarubintsy culture, and the Chernoles culture. In my opinion, the Kiev culture derives mostly from Dnieper-Dvina (Днепро-Двинская культура). Green = Dnieper-Dvina Orange = Brushed pottery culture Red = Pommeranian culture Blue = Milograd culture Hatched and dashed lines = Zarubintsy culture The earliest mentions of the Baltic Venedi are from Pliny the Elder and Tacitus, both writing in the 1st century AD. Too old for your mod?

@Stan` c'est possible d'intégrer la vidéo ?

Une très bonne conférence par Matthieu Poux qui présente les spécificités uniques aux Gallo-Romains et comment elles proviennent des anciennes traditions gauloises. Il y a tout une partie sur les sanctuaires et les temples, comparant les similitudes entre Gaulois et Gallo-Romains.

It's good to see that people are noticing. Changing the image that people have of the past is important.

Special abilities are indeed something lacking. Regardless of the direction the game takes in its design, having special abilities would be an asset in any case. And it's something that's realistic to implement.