Q: In the whole of the world, there are four factions that can be compared to the UEF in prosperity, size or innovation. While nowhere near their technological prowess, these empires have performed admirably at restoring a modicum of ancient times.
1. China: The 3rd Han Dynasty of Guangdong has grown from a small ragtag group of survivors into a growing empire that is seemingly unshackled by its past. Instead of trying to restore the glory that was Old China, the new regime seeks to reignite even older memories, as seen in their taking of the Han name as well as old dynastic trappings. Of course, whereas previous dynasties could rely on the fact that China had a huge population, the new China instead relies on using automation and careful planning to get as much efficiency as they can with their population. While a Chinese expedition or colony might only be 500-2000 strong, each and every individual carries with them all kinds of tools and machinery that makes their job ever so much easier. In fact, this China is one of the first Eurasian factions to have successfully restored electricity. This said, a somewhat fluid caste-system has been implemented, with purer humans naturally on the top, although the Imperial Exams does allow some form of social mobility.
2. Confederation of Cascadia: The vast lands of Cascadia is a country dominated by the aristocratic landowners who own vast portions of the country. Like many other factions, Cascadia is a farcry from the UEF but this is not to say they are unaware of what technologies they could eventually possess. It is only the conservative outlook of the so-called 'Barons Wyoming' (Wyoming being the birthplace of what would become Cascadia) and the lesser lords that prevent Cascadia from developing its technological knowledge. After all, with their surrounding neighbours being of equal tech or even less, The lords are content with having numerical superiority and far greater morale for unlike their neighbours, Cascadia believes itself heir to the long-dead nations of the United States of America and Canada. Cascadia, despite being de facto atheist or agnostic, is suffering a spiritual awakening in the form of Neo-Miithraism, which has spread throughout many of the elites. Secondary cults, those devoted to 'saints' and relatives of Mithra are increasingly becoming popular amongst the lower classes. The Lords Wyoming for the most part, has opposed this spiritual awakening, attempting to curb it in favour of their own legalistic ideology.
3. The Brazillian Directorate: The Directorate owes its current power almost entirely to the huge hydroelectric dams and the electricity that powers much of the state. Indeed, the Directorate very rarely annexes its neighbours through force, instead offering them goods and services, which eventually results in the smaller faction becoming annexed into the Directorate. Despite its name, the Directorate is in fact a hereditary monarchy, with all six monarchs being descended from their founder, the man who fixed the first Great Dam. The current Director is a strong-headed youth who desires all of The Americas under her rule. If one were to walk into a Directorate city, one would be hard pressed to find it all that different from what would be expected in the Brazil of 200 years ago.
Smaller factions tend to be either isolationist (i.e Quebec), low-tech (i.e The Papal State), unorganised (i.e The Great Plains, uninhabited (New York) or too busy with other matters to become large and powerful (i.e. Egypt).
Q: Why is New York uninhabited?