As I, President Goong Narn Shaarlsblat of Shaasania, look back on my
family's reign, lasting since the dawn of civilization, I realize that
my nation is approaching it's 6000th birthday. The empire had a
troubled history, including the reign of the expationist,
Goong Avt Shaarlsblat, followed by the perfectionist, Goong Serk
Shaarlsblat. Later came the Monarchy. This was a poor time. A annual
income of only $123, and a life expectancy of 43, a disease rate of
over 15%, and a literacy rate of only 12% crossed the land. However,
the people had a sense of security, and world peace present. I had 
allied with the Aztecs, on the island of Cag, and I was expanding
on the islands of Isl, Sor, and Tul. The island of Yen was already
over crowded. With industalization and a Democracy, expansion on the
island of Cag was made possible. However, I could only establish two
cities, Cag and Cag Mal, before I was driven out by the Chinese. By
1985, a tech advantage had allowed us to launch a spaceship,
scheduled for landing in 1991. My problems were far from over.
Although disease had dropped two 4% and literacy risen to 95%, a low
GNP and annual income was still plaguing the empire. Also, overcrowding
was causing pollution, and global warming. The growth of my nation, in
both population and the economy, had gone into reverse. Wars spread
across the world. I found myself at war with the Mongols, English,
Zulus, Germans, and Chinese. To make things worse, the widespread civil
disorder caused by the war caused the democracy to be overthrown by my
brother, Goong Sorm Shaarlsblat, and his fundamentalist regime. This
didn't last very long, but in 1990, one year before the landing on
Alpha Centauri, the English captured my capital, Yen. I regained power
to find my capital gone and my spaceship crashed. I regained control of
Yen, thanks to partisans :). I started building a new Palace, in the
inland city of Yen Sai. As I write this I am rebuilding my falling
nation, rebuilding my spaceship, and fighting back at the several civs
who are against me. Maybe my ancestors should have joined the two 
German crusadesagainst the English, or the English one against
the Mongols, or the Zulu one against the Chinese.

Goong Narn Shaarlsblat
robert@apexwood.com
Shaasania