SkunkyArt | kefkorr — Byzantine CYOH #15

Envoys from Yamato (Japan; then the endonym) were sent to Serica in the early 7th century, returning from the empire by introducing some faiths that were already present or were introduced to the country, like Buddhism alongside Confucian values into the country. In addition, the empire also gradually adopted the Chinese script for their written language as well. Alongside was to study the technology there.

Chess was mostly played in Persia and India by the start of the 7th century, making its way to Europe as well by that time.

A global population boom was beginning to emerge across the known world to the Romans in the early 7th century, largely thanks to technological boosts that transpired from the renewal of the Roman Empire while also many realms nearby were also adopting their ways or exchange their own to sustain large populations. As a result, cities have started to sprawl out further than before. If industrialisation, better access to medicine and ways to further maximise production of food says, perhaps there would be 500 to 600 million people by the end of the 5th century - just be aware of slums emerging as a result of that.

Greek fire was also introduced to the Roman military in the early 600s (decade). Specialisation may be needed for this, however.

Theudebald [II] (b. 596), the eldest son of the incumbent king, Childebert II was designated as heir as part of the current Francian succession law on 600, following a public announcement to commoners. However, he may have a few more sons that weren't mentioned.

With most of the provinces given civilian affairs after Diogenes separated the legal definition of a province from military and civilian (of which provinces were meant to handle civilian affairs), by 601, the Roman Empire also started allowing provinces to fly their own flag rather than in tandem with the Empire's national flag as well. This would solidify the separation of civil and military administration of a province by having some form of provincial identity made for them.

The Garden Courts of Paris were finally completed in the summer of 603 in Francia. It serves as an unofficial residence to the House of Meroving (the Merovingian dynasty), especially for the current king, Childebert II. As to adapt a few Roman ways and take newer ideas into consideration, gardens and archs were the norm in this building. Much better than Paris today, I guess, the Eiffel Tower wasn't that nice when it was introduced actually.

The Atlas of the Known World was published in 603 in the Roman Empire to chart known places at the time from their perspective.

Likewise, the University of Athena became the second major university to be opened in Rhomania in 14th March 604. It has been linked to the local STK branch, though unlike the Alexandrian University, it has no religious study area and was mostly secular: as it was named after the Greek goddess of wisdom and strategy. They got their wishes now.

Hormizd IV died on 30th July 604, marking an end to his long reign. His son, Khosrow II succeeded as king of Persia. Hormizd's legacy would be put down to history as the one who pivoted to play catch-up to the Romans and changed the military of the Persian empire for good through vigorous training, adapting new forms of weapons and aggressive diplomacy on the Romans to get what they want. Although in his last years, he was cruel and calculating to consolidate a legacy of further controlling land as with Armenia as an autonomous area, the new king was no exception; he wanted to clamp down on corruption and purge a few generals/governors here and there, while also becoming a paragon for Persian education, just like his father did by erecting the Hall of Philosophers in the Royal Academy of Gundeshapur on mid-608 that included all three alongside a few known thinkers of Persia throughout history and immediately made education compulsory for children (see later).

Following accusations of the Lakhmid king planning to betray the Persian government, the newly crowned Khosrow II also executed the king on September 604 and took all of his kingdom's land under direct control of the Empire. This flared up current tension between the Romans and Persians, who the latter were beginning to appear more cruel than they appeared to be in the late years of Khosrow I's reign. The Romans threw support to the Lakhmids as a result, now gaining further valid claims of liberating both eastern Armenia and the Lakhmids. Seems like diplomacy is starting to falter now. With Hormizd IV already moving the empire to war as the Treaty of Dara slowly starts to see itself elapsed, Persia and Rhomania will soon be fighting unlike anything before.

Compulsory education for children under the age of 12 was enforced by Khosrow II too under his reign as part of his first decrees sent throughout the realm in the spring of 604, which would become effective on March 605. This was a push to further boost literacy rates of the empire in a catchup, though by contrast, the Romans still have an edge for those able to speak in Latin or Greek; in fact, the Romans have started to reach a stage where bilingualism has started to take form throughout the Empire. Turns out the bilingual move did benefit both Romans and Greeks who make the majority of the empire, but it hasn't reached its final stage yet - there's only roughly 30 years to go before the rest are comfortable with it and that at least a minimum of 50% are able speak basic phrases of both languages, regardless of their origin, although it would be skewed to Romans and Greeks, with minorities speaking either instead depending on the location of the empire.