What do you guys think are the real world counterparts to the nations of Thedas? Here's my take:
Tevinter: Byzantine Empire
Orlais: France
Ferelden: Scotland
Antiva: Italy
Nevarra: England? Germany? Not sure.
Rivain: Spain
Free Marches: Swiss Cantons or German states?
Qunari: Vikings or Turks
Orlesian Chantry: Catholic Church
Tevinter Chantry: Eastern Orthodox
The Inquisition: Teutonic Knights
They are the equivalent of the religious military order that eventually became a kingdom with its own lands, army, castles, etc.
I dont' see what's specifically Scottish about Ferelden, I would rather say "Britain overall" Scottish accent is even only present in Starkhaven.
I have no idea what Swiss cantons are, but I imagined the Free Marches as being the German states, Kirkwall being Lübeck and Starkhaven being Frankfurt.
I don't think Nevarra is spain either, I think the Netherlands are a more fair comparison, they used to be under Burgundy, Austria and Spain just as Nevarra have been under Tevinter, Orlais and a Free Marches city of its own.
I think Rivain is spain ad Qunari is Ottomans, it fits a bit seeing as there are Qunari settlements in Rivain that could be compared to Grenada or orher Iberian islamic sultanates.
THen there's the Anderfels, I don't really have a feel for them yet. Teutonic order maybe?
Sorry I edited my post to include Rivain. I have no idea about Nevarra or the Anderfals. I think David Gaider or someone said that Ferelden is based off of Scotland and that Qunari are based off of Norse stereotypes. But I think they also resemble Turks as well. Swiss Cantons were independent city states essentially, like Zurich/Geneva.
Okay, well I don't really see what's viking about Qunari. They conquer stuff when they feel like bothering but they don't raid places like Vikings did. They live in tropical climate and have explosives, the Nordic countries were probably the last to make use of gunpowder in the western world.
Eh, whatever floats their boat. I always felt the Qunari fit as a "muslim" counterpart as the "strange new approaching" religion that appears here and there like Grenada and Bosnia (Rivain and Qundalon in Anderfels) plus they take land that was previously Tevinter/Byzantine (Seheron/Anatolia/Greece)
Not sure what's so scottish about Ferelden either that isn't just britain proper, Ferelden is not very rocky like the Scottish highlands and they are more brown than grey. No loch ness monsters either. Lol.
I'd have gone Tevinter = Roman, but I don't know much about the Byzantines.
Obviously Elves = Wales/Ireland (at least in accent lol)
I'd agree with Fereldan = Britain in general, too.
I agree Qunari seem more like the Turks. Although the fact that they have horns and that Bioware said they are based off of Norse stereotypes would indicate Vikings. Maybe a mixture of Vikings and Turks?
I think Bioware straightup said Ferelden was based off of medieval Scotland.
I think Bioware straightup said Ferelden was based off of medieval Scotland.
Not saying I don't beleive that, I just don't see how they specifically compare.
What do you guys think are the real world counterparts to the nations of Thedas? Here's my take:
Tevinter: Byzantine Empire
Orlais: France
Ferelden: Scotland
Antiva: Italy
Nevarra: England? Germany? Not sure.
Rivain: Spain
Free Marches: Swiss Cantons
Qunari: Vikings or Turks
Orlesian Chantry: Catholic Church
Tevinter Chantry: Eastern Orthodox
The Inquisition: Teutonic Knights
Yeah i'd agree with most of this, Qunari are much more Turkish than Vikings though, and Antiva has Spanish influence as well (but yeah mainly Italian)
Nevarra is a strange one and probably hardest to place, i'd say its Prussian and Egyptian.
Free Marches i'd say mainly greek city states and HRE
Guest_StreetMagic_*
Nevarra seems like a mix of Spain and ancient Egypt or something.
edit: Someone mentioned Prussian above.. I've considered that too. Or the old Austrian-Hungarian empire.
Not saying I don't beleive that, I just don't see how they specifically compare.
Okay so Ferelden's concept art looks like Scotland, lol.
Okay so Ferelden's concept art looks like Scotland, lol.
It takes inspiration from both Scotland and British Isles proper, but no one ever flat out said, Ferelden is Scotland. Certain areas, like Highever, certainly are more Scottish than most, even sans accent.
I think it's just because the weather is too good in-game. 
Antiva is more of a mash-up between medieval Venice and medieval Spain
Ferelden is a mash up of medieval England, Scotland, and Wales
Qunari are loosely based on the Seljuk or Ottoman Turks
Rivain is the most Spain though.
As for Orlais, it's more Holy Roman Empire than anything.
How so? It doesn't consist of many small states that entirely govern themselves and elect an emperor.
The council of Heralds resemble the Polish-Lithuanian Sejm more than the HRE electors.
Rivain is the most Spain though.
As for Orlais, it's more Holy Roman Empire than anything.
Here is my view.
Qunari don't act like vikings though. I get that they are big "men" with horns (vikings had horns in helmets) and when they sailed around they brang terror with them.. but Qunari are quite strict military force when vikings were more scattered bands of bandits who mostly robbed and killed villages of people cause they wanted their stuff and it was fun. They didn't seem to wide their territories nor convert other people to vikings. Or have I completely mistaken vikings?
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