[WIP] Unnamed

[davoush]

Hello all, and apologies for not having posted in a while. I took a little break from mapping after that burst of activity!

This update does not change much overall, but I have changed the shape of the Eastern continent somewhat. I think it is more aesthetically pleasing. The linework needs some more detail of course, but this is the general impression. I am going to let it sit for a while and probably tweak a few other landmasses. Then I will hopefully be able to update the climates. Luckily this does not change the tectonics much.

New Land.png

As the world was originally intended as a home for my conlangs, I have drawn a rough area of the boundaries of an empire (the boundaries of where the language is spoken). The red area represents the 'homeland'. I think the currents allow for the constant movement of people and communication between the two landmasses, but I'm not 100% sure (using Charerg's suggested currents).

Qutrussan Area.png

Currents Suggestion.png

I realise the equivalent of the doldrums lies between the two landmasses, so any ideas as to whether this would severely prevent communcation/trade/movement would be welcome!

Thank you all for your inspiring and encouraging comments and criticism you have given throughout!

[davoush]

Quick question about navigation:

As you can see, there is a series of equatorial islands. I was wondering how early people would navigate these islands. Although Charerg's suggested currents mark a counter-equatorial current only to the south of the islands, I imagine there would also be one to the north? If that's the case, does this mean going from the Eastern landmass across the isles to the Western landmass would be very difficult? I.e. essentially sailing against the current, in the doldrums? Or would there be a strong enough westward current on the north of the island chain to take people east>west? This is quite important, as humans originate in the East somewhere in this world.

Any thoughts/comments as to how East>West movement across the islands might happen in early times would be welcome.

Thanks!

[Charerg]

Quick question about navigation:

As you can see, there is a series of equatorial islands. I was wondering how early people would navigate these islands. Although Charerg's suggested currents mark a counter-equatorial current only to the south of the islands, I imagine there would also be one to the north? If that's the case, does this mean going from the Eastern landmass across the isles to the Western landmass would be very difficult? I.e. essentially sailing against the current, in the doldrums? Or would there be a strong enough westward current on the north of the island chain to take people east>west? This is quite important, as humans originate in the East somewhere in this world.

Any thoughts/comments as to how East>West movement across the islands might happen in early times would be welcome.

Thanks!

I think my suggestion is generally accurate, since those islands are north of the equator, and it's entirely possible for the counter-equatorial current to have a slight bias towards either hemisphere (see the Guinea Current in the Atlantic). In the very least, I would say that this interpretation is absolutely plausible from a scientific standpoint. Of course, you could decide that there is also a countercurrent north of the isles, if you prefer that interpretation. But I think both can be considered acceptable in this case.

[davoush]

I think my suggestion is generally accurate, since those islands are north of the equator, and it's entirely possible for the counter-equatorial current to have a slight bias towards either hemisphere (see the Guinea Current in the Atlantic). In the very least, I would say that this interpretation is absolutely plausible from a scientific standpoint. Of course, you could decide that there is also a countercurrent north of the isles, if you prefer that interpretation. But I think both can be considered acceptable in this case.

Thanks Charerg - very informative as always!

If as you say there is a west>east current to the north of the islands, and a east>west countercurrent to the south, then theoretically movement of people in both directions shouldn't be too difficult?

I don't suppose you know anything about navigating coastal waters on the equator? Although there is a the countercurrent to the south of the islands, would the doldrums still prevent easy movement across?

[Charerg]

Thanks Charerg - very informative as always!

If as you say there is a west>east current to the north of the islands, and a east>west countercurrent to the south, then theoretically movement of people in both directions shouldn't be too difficult?

I don't suppose you know anything about navigating coastal waters on the equator? Although there is a the countercurrent to the south of the islands, would the doldrums still prevent easy movement across?

Well, the doldrums effectively are synonymous with the ITCZ, and they change place seasonally. So, no they're definitely not an unsurmountable obstacle, as presumably the locals would be familiar with the yearly pattern of the winds, like the Polynesians (who managed to explore and expand to islands on both sides of the equator, like Hawaii and the Easter Island). There might be seasonal differences, which would make travel difficult for part of the year, but definitely not for the whole year.

However, the ease of movement mostly depends on the level of technology, I'd say. If they're sailing with Age-of-Sails-era tech, probably the movement between the continents would be relatively easy. Otherwise it might be more limited.

[Azélor]

That language boundary looks really big to me. Speading a language is not easy till modern times where it somehow became easier. For example, during the French revolution, half the population did not understood French at all. Regional languages and dialects were still dominant, yet has been there for a long time.

[davoush]

@Charerg: Thanks - am I correct in understanding then, that the prevailing winds probably have more of an influence on navigation than currents? Although the two are of course quite related. For the equatorial island chain, I was referring more to early human expansion, so one-way travel, with more contact between them arising in a (much) later period similar to early-modern. Also, for the Eastern landmass and the continent below it, that channel of sea is directly where the ITCZ is located in January, so I presume navigation in winter across this sea would be difficult/impossible?

@Azelor: I was thinking more along the lines of a prestige language such as how Arabic or Latin were understood by the elite (rather than the general population) over a fairly large area with lots of bi- or multilingualism to varying extents, not necessarily the native language of the area, although I do agree the initial area I selected is too large.

[davoush]

While the geological and climatic side of making a world map has been very interesting, I think I do still prefer the more 'human' elements of a map - i.e. cities, boundaries, roads, populations, etc.

I have tentatively placed some cities and roads, but using Google Maps overlay feature I have realised the coastal stretch of road is almost 4000 miles long... which would take almost 6 months to walk its length! The shaded areas are supposed to represent the various provinces of an 'empire', but I'm not sure how realistic it would be to maintain control over such a large area. Well, it is fantasy after all....

Some of the rivers look like they flow into nothingness...because they do! That area is desert, so the rivers start in the highland areas but dry out as the land gets flatter and hotter.

I am tempted to make a map of a city from this continent set in the far future, when transit systems are fully available to satisfy my urge to make a modern transit/city style map.

Also, the current on the East coast is flowing more or less south > north, so I imagine sailing from the south to the cities above it would be reasonable, but how about sailing in the opposite direction?

[Edited: Political map will be done at a later stage.]

[Charerg]

@Charerg: Thanks - am I correct in understanding then, that the prevailing winds probably have more of an influence on navigation than currents? Although the two are of course quite related. For the equatorial island chain, I was referring more to early human expansion, so one-way travel, with more contact between them arising in a (much) later period similar to early-modern. Also, for the Eastern landmass and the continent below it, that channel of sea is directly where the ITCZ is located in January, so I presume navigation in winter across this sea would be difficult/impossible?

I would say yes, the winds are more important (although since the currents are generally created by the winds, they tend to flow in the same direction). Tbh, I'm not 100% sure how much of an obstacle the doldrums would be. Certainly, it's absolutely possible to travel through them. With the help of an ocean current, it might even be done without too much trouble (like the Portuguese using the Brazil current).

[davoush]

Since having a lot less free time since summer I haven't been able to work on this map much. Here is an initial idea at where the main rivers will be. I hope to start creating a more 'artistic' style map which will also include political borders and main roads, etc. If anybody is interested in the main conlang for this world, please see my thread on the CBB called 'Introducing Qutrussan'. I still haven't decided on the Qutrussan homeland - I originally was thinking of having it in the desert somewhere, but I think the homeland might be better suited to a more temperate region.

Shaded Terrain Only3.png

(I think the inland sea in the Eastern Continent probably shouldn't be there - I don't plan on including it in further revisions.)