Creating historical past in your world can appear a frightening process, however it’s completely value it! Not solely will it offer you extra instruments to create plot hooks and expanded context to create a richer world, however your gamers or readers will even really feel extra immersed. So, to get began with this, I like to recommend constructing a civilization that was as soon as highly effective and influential however has since been misplaced. In our world, we have now Mesopotamia, the Maya civilization, and the Roman Empire, amongst others. What does your world have? Let’s take a look at 5 examples from fiction you’ll be able to draw inspiration from!

1. Númenor: deep historical past for a deeper tradition

You most likely find out about Númenor when you’re a fan of the Lord of the Rings books (or the Rings of Powers collection, which truly has Númenor as one among its places!). Númenor was created by the Valar (the “gods” of Middle Earth) as a present to the Edain, a gaggle of people who fought alongside elves. But Sauron, who you’ll know from the Lord of the Rings, corrupted their final king, who in flip determined to wage warfare in opposition to the Valar. As you’ll be able to think about, this didn’t go effectively for the Edain. Ilúvatar, the unique creator of the universe, intervened straight and punished the Númenoreans by sinking their island.

But Númenor continues to be influential! In Lord of the Rings, Aragorn is a Dúnadan, which implies that he’s a descendant of Númenor. And the White Tree of Gondor comes from the one which was once in Númenor! And if this isn’t influential sufficient for you, the autumn of Númenor is the rationale Middle Earth is spherical—it was once flat earlier than then!

So, what can we be taught from this? Well, it’s very simple to give attention to technological influences when constructing a civilization. But take into consideration how your misplaced civilization adjustments cultural and social features of the world too!

2. Atlantis: fantasy historical past in the actual world!

Speaking about Númenor… Atlantis was one among Tolkien’s inspirations for it! In the unique story (by Plato), Atlantis was a affluent civilization that went to warfare in opposition to Athens and misplaced. This made them lose the favor of the gods, and consequently, they sunk underneath the Atlantic ocean. Unlike the opposite examples on this record, Atlantis is a part of our tradition past the story it was initially created for. So it’s actually fascinating to see how we deal with it in our world! Many individuals used to imagine it existed, and there are tons of theories about its true nature. And you’ve most likely seen a number of interpretations of the story too.

Unlike Númenor, Atlantis is a delusion, and this adjustments completely all the pieces! It’s nonetheless influential in our tradition, however for various causes. Instead of fixing our governments or our traditions, it’s been an enormous affect on our popular culture. And that’s what is going to occur too in your world in case your previous civilization is shrouded in delusion and legend.

Underwater ruins are an effective way to not solely construct fantasy historical past but additionally introduce a really engaging plot hook!

3. Numenera: a post-apocalyptic world

Yes, that is from a role-playing recreation, however don’t skip it when you’re a author! Numenera is a setting the place eight technologically superior civilizations have risen and fallen, and now the ninth civilization is simply beginning out (that is why it’s also referred to as the Ninth World). The ninth civilization resides in a medieval-inspired society… with super-advanced futuristic know-how! Most of this know-how has decayed or works in surprising methods, however they nonetheless use it of their every day lives, with a catch: they see it as magic. As Arthur C. Clarke stated, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”!

This is in stark distinction to Númenor (though they’ve related names). Numenera’s previous civilizations primarily influenced over the know-how of the brand new world, as nobody actually remembers the civilizations that got here earlier than so there isn’t a lot cultural affect. But even so, this offers the world a sense of immense historic depth and gravity. So, relying on the temper and themes you wish to specific in your world, you’ll be able to have a equally in depth scale of occasions too! For instance, if you wish to present the resilience of humankind in a hopeful tone, displaying a ninth civilization after presumably eight apocalyptic situations is an effective way to do it!

4. Elder Things: constructing horror via historical past

Speaking about hope… yeah, that is the other. In Lovecraft’s works, the Elder Things are a species of aliens that lived on Earth many millennia in the past. They had wings that allow them fly via area (which is fairly cool, not gonna lie), tentacles, many eyes, and general regarded completely horrifying. They had been fairly superior technologically talking, however they ended up retreating to Antarctica due to a warfare, and most of them died there. Only a few of them managed to outlive in cities on the backside of the oceans.

Old civilizations (and previous issues) are an effective way so as to add thriller or straight-up horror to your world. An enormous motive the Elder Things are so horrifying is who they’re (or had been) as a species, however the historic scale additionally performs an essential function there. If highly effective beings like them ended up dying, this should imply that there are issues much more highly effective and horrible on the market, proper? And the reply, in Lovecraft’s mythos, is sure, after all.

5. First Ones: fantasy historical past within the current

Heavy spoilers for She-Ra and the Princesses of Power! Proceed with warning.

The First Ones are one other instance of a civilization that’s not utterly extinct. But it’s the one instance on this record the place the primary character of the story is a part of this misplaced civilization! They had been worn out after a warfare a very long time in the past, however a few of them survived and, for the reason that major character is one among them, the First Ones are essential to the plot. However, as a result of it’s been so lengthy since that warfare, the primary character doesn’t know something about them, so an enormous a part of the plot is discovering what their aim was.

As you’ll be able to see, this previous and misplaced civilization isn’t solely influential to the present world, however it’s additionally central to the plot! If you’re having hassle discovering the motivation to construct a civilization that was misplaced centuries in the past, make it straight related to the present conflicts in your world. You’ll be rather more engaged with it, as will your gamers and readers.

Building your fantasy historical past on World Anvil

The best solution to construct an previous civilization is by utilizing the Chronicles function on World Anvil! It’s a function that allows you to arrange an interactive map with pins and a timeline. Then, you’ll be able to hyperlink map pins with timeline occasions to obviously see the place and when all the pieces occurred! It helps you to hold observe of all the pieces that has occurred in your world in a visible and interactive means. Here’s an instance with the Roman Empire:

The Roman Empire was a really influential civilization in our personal world! And this Chronicle even exhibits the Greek states and the Kingdom of Macedon. Us it as inspiration in your personal fantasy historical past!

Check out the Chronicle stay! As you’ll be able to see, the map is crammed with pins which might be associated to the occasions displayed on the timeline under the map. Creating a Chronicle is as simple as importing your map, after which clicking on the map or on the timeline so as to add new pins and new markers! This will make your previous civilization really feel much more immersive, and whether or not you utilize it as a private reference or as a solution to present your lore to your gamers or readers, it’ll enhance your worldbuilding a lot! You can watch the information to Chronicles right here:

Ready to construct your personal misplaced civilization? We’re working a worldbuilding competitors about this, so create a World Anvil account to participate!

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