After finishing a round with the mid 20th century, I have gone back to developing the early modern times. In the 17th century, probable the dominant nation in the world was the Ottoman Empire. It had far-reaching effects and relations with Germanic peoples, Balkan peoples, and Northeast European peoples, and throughout the Middle East, into Central Asia and South Asia, and I will be continuing to examine it future periods.

The last few days I have mostly been working through early modern history, including the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Although I have some interest in the colonial history of the United States, In world terms there were greater developments elsewhere. I need to look at Latin and particularly Hispanic peoples, and at Middle Eastern history, particularly in the Ottoman empire. This had important connections with Germanic, Russian, Persian, and Indian history. I have noticed that cities are severely underdeveloped, and that religion and government are also rather underdeveloped. I am inclined to take a peek back at antiquity and classical and medieval history, but not to get too involved. Rather, looking forward I need to look at 5-year periods starting in the mid 20th century.

My outlining has more countries in the early 20th century, early mid 20th century, and mid 20th century. I have major events in the United States, Spain, Germany, and Turkey to serve as landmarks for more detailed observations, with mentions of the World wars and the period between them. It will take another pass through these periods to get more details of them. In the meantime, more details of religion, government, and economics are starting to emerge.

My resolution to do a daily blog post went the way of many of my resolutions. I’m going to try to pick it back up again. I’ve been doing historical background in modern history, at the twenty year period level. Outlining of the background for my story has reached the level of particular nations in the late mid 19th century and late 19th century. The American Civil war and the closing of the western frontier are notable events, but I still have expansion to do. Today I am working on an improved summary of the 20th century, after which I will start digging into the particular periods.

I have made progress in my Knowledge base by connecting modern history, economics, and education, behavioral culture, and conceptual culture to periods of history at the century level. Family studies, particular groups, and material culture are well underway.

I’ve been contemplating a historical fantasy for some time now, and I’m almost to the level of detail to begin serious outlining. It appears that I’m going to have to work my way backward from the present after all.

Happy Independence Day (and Fourth of July, too).
In spite of riots, cancel culture, and Wuhan coronavirus, I believe in the United States of America.

“The Man must be bad indeed who can look upon the events of the American Revolution without feeling the warmest gratitude towards the great Author of the Universe whose divine interposition was so frequently manifested in our behalf.”

—George Washington: letter to Samuel Langdon, September 28, 1789

So I don’t just thank the signers of the Declaration of Independence, who were brave and honorable men in spite of their flaws and foibles, but the God who put a desire for freedom in their hearts and the idea that all men are created equal under Him in their minds.

“God has a special providence for fools, drunkards, and the United States of America.”

― Otto von Bismarck

Even still.