Asia lore

An ancient, deeply devout people of the Near East. Endured countless imperial conquests by keeping the fires of their profound cultural and spiritual identity burning bright.

An ancient civilization under the red banner. Known for Mount Ararat and scientific achievements.

A heavily contested, mountainous region in the South Caucasus. A land driven by profound faith and a fiercely resilient cultural identity nestled in high alpine peaks.

Founded by Saladin. United the Levant and Egypt to face the Crusaders with chivalry.

The Provisional Government of Free India. Allied with the Axis in an armed attempt to liberate India from British rule.

Caspian oil state balancing east and west

The Land of Fire. A crucial Soviet oil hub on the Caspian Sea.

The deeply spiritual Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon. A serene, mountainous realm bathed in the brilliant light of its Gross National Happiness philosophy and Buddhist tradition.

The jewel in the crown of the British Empire. A massive, complex subcontinent that provided millions of vital troops to the world wars.

A tiny, immensely wealthy Islamic sultanate on the northern coast of Borneo. Deeply devout and heavily reliant on the rich offshore energy reserves found in its waters.

A glorious Islamic thalassocracy that once commanded the entire coast of Borneo and beyond. A wealthy, deeply spiritual maritime sultanate.

A deeply historic Southeast Asian kingdom. Thrives on the life-giving waters of the Mekong River and the massive agricultural yields of its fertile plains.

The transitional government under U.S. sovereignty, caught directly in the crossfire of the Pacific War.

The first and most isolated of the Crusader states. A heavily fortified, metal-clad bastion that constantly battled to secure the volatile eastern frontier.

A vital, energetic hub of Islamic scholarship and trade. Repeatedly served as a brilliant cultural capital and a fierce stronghold against invaders.

A resilient medieval Ayyubid emirate in Syria. Famous for its massive ancient water wheels (norias) and caught in fierce, faith-driven Crusader conflicts.

A short-lived pro-Japanese puppet state created in the final months of WWII, marking the brief end of French Indochina.

The Jurchen-led Jin dynasty. A fierce, nature-bound northern powerhouse that conquered massive swathes of China before being eclipsed by the Mongols.

China's southernmost island province. A radiant tropical paradise famous for its abundant agriculture, free-trade ports, and sun-drenched beaches.

An ancient, dominant realm in southern Arabia. Grew immensely wealthy by controlling the lucrative frankincense and myrrh trade routes.

Asia’s world city! Neon skylines, dim sum dreams, and a buzzing finance engine.

The cradle of civilization nestled between the Tigris and Euphrates. A modern republic shaped by vast oil wealth and profound historical resilience.

The magnificent, fiery heart of the declining Ottoman Empire. A deeply faithful, culturally rich transcontinental metropolis guarding the vital straits.

Island of wind and stone! Tangerine fields, black lava cliffs, and deep island tradition.

Steppe giant of Central Asia! Nomad spirit, space launchpads, and endless horizons.

A fierce Himalayan kingdom guarded by towering peaks and the legendary bravery of its Gurkha soldiers. Never fully colonized.

A deeply rooted, uncolonized Southeast Asian powerhouse perfectly balancing its heavy agricultural yields with modern, metallic military reforms.

The "Switzerland of Central Asia" under a red banner, home to the Tian Shan peaks.

An unimaginably vast Siberian territory split by the mighty Yenisei River. A land of extreme wilderness, brilliant northern lights, and massive hydroelectric power.

Mountains are our only friends! A stateless nation with ancient roots and fierce identity.

Small but mighty. Known for its high currency value and dramatic soap operas.

A modest fiefdom that birthed a legendary dynasty. Masterful diplomats and fierce knights who balanced the stormy, cutthroat politics of the Holy Land.

Neon casinos and pastel lanes! East–West fusion of cuisine, culture, and chance.

A puppet state in Manchuria set up by the Empire of Japan, ruled nominally by the last Qing emperor.

A devastatingly powerful Indian empire. Swept across the subcontinent like a wildfire, utilizing fiercely fast, highly mobile cavalry to shatter the mighty Mughals.

The Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army. A fierce communist guerrilla force fighting deep in the Malayan jungles.

The last imperial dynasty of Vietnam. Famous for the Citadel in Hue and elegant clothing.

Unyielding resilience in the jungle. A symbol of revolutionary determination.

A formidable alliance of western Mongol tribes. Fierce nomadic warriors who dominated the steppes and eventually gave rise to the Zunghar Khanate.

A peaceful, historically rich sultanate on the Arabian Peninsula. Masterfully balances its modern oil wealth with a profound, ancient mastery of maritime trade waters.

A Catholic military order established at a leper hospital in Jerusalem. Its knights fought bravely on the front lines despite suffering from the affliction.

Historic land with deep roots and olive trees. Resilient and enduring.

A heavily contested, storm-swept archipelago in the South China Sea. Requires a delicate balance of intense geopolitical maneuvering to maintain control.

A Malay sultanate founded in 1771 where the Kapuas and Landak rivers meet in western Borneo. Legend says its founder drove the kuntilanak spirits away to build the city.

A prestigious and fiercely defended Crusader state. Famed for its legendary siege and its colossal, ancient walls that guarded the northern Levant.

A resilient medieval Armenian principality in the mountainous region of Artsakh. Fiercely defended its rich cultural and spiritual heritage against endless invasions.

A prosperous medieval Sunni dynasty of Yemen. Renowned for its stunning architectural legacy and commanding control over Red Sea maritime trade.

The administrative body of Japanese rule in Korea. A heavy-handed colonial authority over a resistant populace.

The largest subnational entity in the world. Famous for diamonds, mammoths, and extreme cold.

An unimaginably vast and freezing expanse dominating northern Asia. Renowned for its terrifyingly brutal winters, endless taiga forests, and staggering reserves of natural wealth.

A profoundly devout and powerful empire forged in the Punjab. Guarded the northern mountains with a terrifyingly modernized, well-drilled Khalsa military.

The Lion City! Known for efficiency, cleanliness, and economic success.

A highly energetic, dedicated citizen militia formed to defend the vital straits of Singapore. Brought intense civic energy to guarding crucial waterborne trade routes.

Anti-communist state caught in a widening war

The Pearl of the Indian Ocean. A beautiful, teardrop-shaped island nation surrounded by rich maritime waters, dynamic ports, and ancient coastal trade networks.

A fiercely independent maritime kingdom in Southeast Asia. Guarded by impenetrable jungles and the massive, shadowy stone walls of the Wolio fortress.

A rugged, fiercely independent Central Asian republic. Dominated by the towering, unforgiving peaks of the Pamir Mountains and immense, unyielding metal mineral wealth.

Enduring kingdom balancing tradition, coups, and tourism

Japan's sprawling capital, once a fishing village called Edo. Neon-lit streets, quiet shrines and one of the busiest crossings on Earth.

The northernmost region of Vietnam under French protectorate rule. A deeply restless land shrouded in political shadows and chaotic, simmering resistance.

A Central Asian republic dominated by the Karakum Desert. Famous for fine carpets and Akhal-Teke horses.

Gas-rich desert state sealed behind marble walls

The white gold of the desert. Central Asia's hub for cotton and ancient Silk Road cities.

The heart of the ancient Silk Road. Home to the legendary blue-tiled mosques of Samarkand and the historic celestial observatory of Ulugh Beg.

A bustling, incredibly vibrant coastal city in southern Vietnam. Masterfully blends deep, lush jungle nature with sweeping, energetic ocean beaches.

The coldest major city on Earth, built entirely on permafrost. Chillingly beautiful.