konstantooc | TECHNOLOGY, SCIENCE, MAGIC (Reply)

TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE is probably the area I could most use help with, to be honest! So your thoughts are appreciated. My idea is that the Scientific Revolution is led by the Ottoman Empire rather than Europe (which would have plenty of historical precedent, really - see history of Islamic science). I also had the idea that the Industrial Revolution is started in Britain, as it was in our world (in broad terms - I know a lot of this is open to debate but let's not get sidetracked :D) but that the driving force behind it was imperial interests, particularly in getting naval advantages, which has led to the Age of Steam. This happens rather earlier than in our world - beginning from the late 1600s rather than from 1750ish onward, though the domination of the sea by steam-powered ships didn't happen until the first couple of decades of the 18th century. It's now 1850. The British are the most technologically advanced of the three empires (though the Byzantines and Ottomans tend to think of them as a rather young upstart power and are very scathing about British culture), but the Ottomans have the best medical science. I want to leave a lot of things open to discussion, but I'd say technology levels are similar to our own in the early twentieth century.

An interesting point of difference is the existence of MAGIC. This is a science called ALCHEMY or al-kimia (depending on where you are from) and it is as reputable as any other science - it's studied extensively at university and indeed is considered one of the most difficult disciplines to master, with many important subfields. Most practitioners are theoretical alchemists and do not claim to be able to perform magic per se, or work within the field of alchemy to advance understanding in fields of chemistry, medicine etc. But there are some who claim, through their engagement with the advanced spiritual beliefs of alchemy alongside rigorous academic study, to be able to perform magic. The clearest visible sign of these are the golem. They are extraordinarily difficult to make and their creation in Kostantiniyee is only allowed if one has a licence from the University. The advanced masters of alchemy are often elite men or eunuchs, because the mystical side of alchemy has often been the province of religious orders that founded universities, but there are female practitioners too.

All three powers are at best sceptical of and at worst hostile to anyone who claims magical ability outside of this elite. The selling of magical potions or magical services is forbidden and is punishable by heavy fine or a beating. This doesn't stop these services being offered, of course, but one normally goes outside the city walls to find them...