[getalotofit]

Ive been having a hard time figuring out if its more like the middle east, australia, or africa? what do u guys think?

[Jusentantaka]

I always figured it was closest to the medieval middle east as far as the landscape, at least (including Egypt). Politically and socially and whatnot I'd consider it based on more of a mix of different regions and cultures though, rather than just drawn from one area in particular.

[getalotofit]

Jusentantaka, on 19 April 2010 - 07:32 PM, said:

I always figured it was closest to the medieval middle east as far as the landscape, at least (including Egypt). Politically and socially and whatnot I'd consider it based on more of a mix of different regions and cultures though, rather than just drawn from one area in particular.

ya geographically is what i was trying to ask my bad for not being specific. I feel like i got the culture down its jus the landscape that makes me switch back and forth.

[Silannah]

I always thought it was most like Africa (geographically and culturally). Africa has the varied terrain, occasional big cities, and one of the largest features that we see of Seven Cities, the deserts.
Plus, Seven Cities is a really big continent.

[masan's saddle]

I've always viewed SC as a cross between North Africa and the Middle East.

For a cinematic geographical reference think of a sort of cross between Kingdom of Heaven, Khartoum,Lawrence of Arabia and Mos Eisley.

This post has been edited by masan's saddle: 19 April 2010 - 08:53 PM

[Ulrik]

Its Middle East, pretty clearly, probably from Maghreb to Iran:)

[Macros]

I always put is as africa in my head, desert yes, but also for the tribal aspect. Mostly though it was how its viewed as the "bread basket" of the empire.

[Hyimi]

I always viewed Seven Cities as being more like India. A subcontinent that had its own unique history, never united until conquered by outside forces from overseas; the brutality of the 1850's mutiny (though honestly, not as bad as the rebellion in these books); the varied landscape and cultures. Until the British came, there were independent empires, tribal regions, a land steeped in ancient tradition and religions; the landscape is vast and varied, they have deserts like the Thar desert (over 200,000 square kilometers), highlands, the Great Indo-Gangetic Plains, etc. Also, I kind of see some parallels from the Mutiny in the rebellion, a conquered people violently rise up against their foreign masters; they massacred civilians, Indians thought to be working for the British, and it took a lot to put it down.

[Crow Clan Baby]

I definitely get a Middle East/Arabic vibe from it, with perhaps some Mongolian stirred in, but wouldn't be inclined to over-analyze in terms of "what real-world area is this an analog of?"

[hmqb]

Ya I guess SE was probally trying to make it a unique place, rather then Africa, or the Middle east or something. Its a quite large and changing continent though, with it looks like mostly desert but also giant forests, and other strange things

[Sowilo]

Oh ya like when the red blades ride into the city near the start i thought that scene with all the people running away from them through the markets and streets was very crusade era-esque.

[D'iversify]

7C is very Middle-Eastern in certain qualities, but most particularly because it is the originial heartland of human civilisation. Also, as with some areas of the Middle East and North Africa (particulasrly the latter, which was once Rome's breadbasket), much of the desertification isn't so much a consequence of climate as due to long-term human presence and exhaustion of the land's fertility.

[Studlock]

D, on 08 April 2011 - 08:17 AM, said:

7C is very Middle-Eastern in certain qualities, but most particularly because it is the originial heartland of human civilisation. Also, as with some areas of the Middle East and North Africa (particulasrly the latter, which was once Rome's breadbasket), much of the desertification isn't so much a consequence of climate as due to long-term human presence and exhaustion of the land's fertility.

I think it would be better said that it's very old place, because when you say orignal heartland of human civilization you could mean mulitply places. I think the reason we see it as a Middle Eastern area of Wu(really Arabic) mostly because of how desert people live, that type of climate doesnt really offer up varition on how one survives. Another thing would be the horses, and the remote nomadic tribes. But some differents are the pictograpical scripture we see in DH, opposed to an alphabit, religion seems very diverse(with different tribes and cities having gods). And while there is some degree of culture unity there isn't much political unity, unless of course under crisis. Overall I can see some similarties but they mostly have to do with how people live in desert climates rather than a direct cultural link. We would have to find out about the First Empire first to make any kind of judgement I think if it was indeed suppose to be analouge and more of Seven Cities as a whole for that matter, because I can't remember a time in history were all of state within the middle east came together to fight except under first large Calphites and that was more of empire building thing rather than a rebellion.

[Crow Clan Baby]

Still thinking Middle East. It has tels, it has potsherds, can only be the Middle East.

Studlock, on 08 April 2011 - 12:44 PM, said:

I can't remember a time in history were all of state within the middle east came together to fight except under first large Calphites

You gotta go back a LOT further for the influence. Assyria, for example.

[CircleBinder]

Much of Seven Cities (as well as SE's writing style) is pretty clearly influenced by the Dune novels. I've only just finished Book One of HoC, but here are some both obvious and subtle references to Dune that I've noticed so far:
- The name "Silgar" is a clear reference to Stilgar, the leader of the Fremen
- Leoman's eyes were noted several times as particularly blue, similar to those of the Fremen of Arakis
- Much of the desert culture throughout Seven Cities mirrors characteristics portrayed by the Fremen
- Also, the name "Caladan" Brood is a reference to the home planet of Paul Atreides

[Kanese S's]

True, those might be nods to Dune, but I think in a lot of ways Crow Clan Baby is pretty spot on as to cultural influence. I think of Seven Cities as being like Assyria and Persia.