Post by revanstar on Oct 9, 2017 7:51:29 GMT
Real world Cultural influences was something that came up in a discussion between Rival and I recently in the FF thread and knowing that there are many writers here who are eager to explore the lands and peoples of Essos, and the lands and people of Westeros before Aegon's Conquest. I felt like this was a topic that should be opened up to the whole House.
Its common knowledge that GRRM drew inspiration from both real world events and cultures. Even the landmass of Westeros is basically the UK with a upside down Ireland attached to the bottom. The Stark-Lannister conflict draws heavy inspiration from the York-Lancaster conflict of the Wars of Roses. Dany = Henry Tudor, even the Red Wedding has roots in our world.
Culturally, the Real World equivalent to the regions of Westeros and beyond are open to interpretation, more so since the verse is set in a fantasy medieval / middle-ages, which in our world spands centuries, and so there was a lot, a lot of cultural changes and development. So its very much open to interpretation since 15th century England wouldnt have been the same culturally as say 10th century England.
In general, its relatively accepted that
Beyond the Wall = Greenland
The North = Scoutland (Celts)
The Iron Islands = Norway (Vikings)
The Vale = Switzerland
The Riverlands = Germany
The Westernlands = England
The Crownlands = London
The Stormlands = Wales
The Reach = France
Dorne = Spain
Alternatively theres also
The North =
Russia and Slavic Easter Europe
The Iron Islands =
Scandinavia
The Vale = The Alps
The Riverlands =
Low land Countries and the Rhineland
The Westernlands =
British Isles
The Crownlands =
Germany
The Stormlands =
Italy
The Reach =
France
Dorne = Spain and Portugal
Across the Narrow Sea
Dothraki = Mongols and Huns
Valyria = Ancient Greece
Free Cities = Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Cities.
Salvers Bay = Slave Coast of Africa
Some of these are obvious, others are basically straight form the mouth of GRRM himself. These arent very specific, given that as I stated upon the middle-ages spans centuries, and cultures evolve and change. Life isnt stagnate after all.
While I've never really much considered the vast majority of real world cultural influences for other Westrosie regions or a great deal of Essos, I personally have equated the North with Scottish and/or Irish Celts. with the Old Gods = Pegans and New Gods = Roman Catholic Church/Christianity depending on what time period you're looking at. And obviously while I've accepted that Dothraki Mongols/Huns, I've added in inpsiration of Native American/First Nationers in general as well to help flesh them out a bit more.
What brought this topic to the forefront of course was as I previously stated a conversation between Rival and I where she equates Yi Ti = Imperial China. Which holy shit, it got me thinking. What about the rest of Essos?? Slavers Bay, the 9 radically different Free Cities, Assai? What about Valyria before the Doom? What about the rest of Westeros? What about the First men before the invasion of the Andals? Because Gods, old and new know that there are many here in the House who are want explore both Valyria and the First Men.
Which brought me to another question. What sort of real world cultral influences do the rest of the House use for various peoples in Westeros and Essos? And, would it be possible to come up with a acceptable "canon" for the House in regards to this?
So, My question for the House is this. What sort of cultural influences do you picture for the different Seven Kingdoms and different regions/cities of Essos and most importantly why?
Its common knowledge that GRRM drew inspiration from both real world events and cultures. Even the landmass of Westeros is basically the UK with a upside down Ireland attached to the bottom. The Stark-Lannister conflict draws heavy inspiration from the York-Lancaster conflict of the Wars of Roses. Dany = Henry Tudor, even the Red Wedding has roots in our world.
Culturally, the Real World equivalent to the regions of Westeros and beyond are open to interpretation, more so since the verse is set in a fantasy medieval / middle-ages, which in our world spands centuries, and so there was a lot, a lot of cultural changes and development. So its very much open to interpretation since 15th century England wouldnt have been the same culturally as say 10th century England.
In general, its relatively accepted that
Beyond the Wall = Greenland
The North = Scoutland (Celts)
The Iron Islands = Norway (Vikings)
The Vale = Switzerland
The Riverlands = Germany
The Westernlands = England
The Crownlands = London
The Stormlands = Wales
The Reach = France
Dorne = Spain
Alternatively theres also
The North =
Russia and Slavic Easter Europe
The Iron Islands =
Scandinavia
The Vale = The Alps
The Riverlands =
Low land Countries and the Rhineland
The Westernlands =
British Isles
The Crownlands =
Germany
The Stormlands =
Italy
The Reach =
France
Dorne = Spain and Portugal
Across the Narrow Sea
Dothraki = Mongols and Huns
Valyria = Ancient Greece
Free Cities = Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Cities.
Salvers Bay = Slave Coast of Africa
Some of these are obvious, others are basically straight form the mouth of GRRM himself. These arent very specific, given that as I stated upon the middle-ages spans centuries, and cultures evolve and change. Life isnt stagnate after all.
While I've never really much considered the vast majority of real world cultural influences for other Westrosie regions or a great deal of Essos, I personally have equated the North with Scottish and/or Irish Celts. with the Old Gods = Pegans and New Gods = Roman Catholic Church/Christianity depending on what time period you're looking at. And obviously while I've accepted that Dothraki Mongols/Huns, I've added in inpsiration of Native American/First Nationers in general as well to help flesh them out a bit more.
What brought this topic to the forefront of course was as I previously stated a conversation between Rival and I where she equates Yi Ti = Imperial China. Which holy shit, it got me thinking. What about the rest of Essos?? Slavers Bay, the 9 radically different Free Cities, Assai? What about Valyria before the Doom? What about the rest of Westeros? What about the First men before the invasion of the Andals? Because Gods, old and new know that there are many here in the House who are want explore both Valyria and the First Men.
Which brought me to another question. What sort of real world cultral influences do the rest of the House use for various peoples in Westeros and Essos? And, would it be possible to come up with a acceptable "canon" for the House in regards to this?
So, My question for the House is this. What sort of cultural influences do you picture for the different Seven Kingdoms and different regions/cities of Essos and most importantly why?
