Description
Sorry for being busy and not having much time to make maps the past few months. However I wanted to make sure for that by the end of March I could put out a map so I finished up this futuristic map of Mars in 2331. I haven't thought up of much of a timeline nor story for this map, I will make sure to add more to the description this weekend.
Mars in the year 2331 was a planet on the brink of a new era, with the Treaty of Mt Olympus dividing up most of the planet's surface and bringing about the formal independence of the first two Martian countries, the Confederacy of Independent States (CIS) and Martian Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (MUSSR).
Most of the states of the CIS were former colonies of the European Union and most of the Martian SSRs were former colonies of Russia. Ever since terraforming began on Mars back in the early 22nd century the idea of an independent or multiple independent Martian states had come up but it wasn't until massive immigration in the late 23rd century caused by the appearance of land habitable to humans without a space suit that revolutionary sentiments became mainstream in any colony. While there would be sporadic revolts in the 2290s and 2300s it wasn't until the Martian Autonomous Union gained power in the parliament of the EU's Mariner colony and demanded full autonomy to control trade and resource extraction that full scale war would break out in 2315 CE.
This revolt was at first covertly supported by the Shanghai Pact and Russia in particular who wished to take advantage of the chaos to weaken the European Union. When the revolt spread to Russia's main Martian colony in 2317 however the Shanghai Pact stopped supplying the MAU, now styling themselves as the CIS. At this time the Group of 4 stepped in and began supporting the CIS while India began supporting the Martian Soviet rebels in Russia's Noachis colony. By the 2320s rebels were popping up all across the Mars, many of them supported by rival terrestrial powers as proxy wars against one another. And in the mid 2320s the CIS and MUSSR had seized control of multiple cities, and entered a tactical alliance against all terrestrial powers. However by the late 2320s the havoc caused by over a decade of war had put a halt to terraforming efforts and utterly decimated all of Mars' fledgling wild ecology.
With this habitability of the planet at stake the Conference of Mt Olympus was called for all the major terrestrial powers from China to the EU to gather together and write up a formal division of the planet. At first all the superpowers wanted for there to remain no independent Martian based colonies but eventually as the months wore on both the Shanghai Pact and Group of 4 were forced to concede to the CIS and MUSSR being allowed into the conference, given that each of them were ten times stronger than the next biggest Martian insurgency.
Finally in 2331 CE the Treaty of Mt Olympus was signed by not just the Shanghai Pact and Group of 4 but all countries with territories on Mars, bringing about an end to 16 years of war and the dawn of a new era of humanity with independent political entities beyond the Earth sphere.
Shanghai Pact
People's Republic of China 中华人民共和国 - The most populated country on Earth and also the solar system's greatest superpower they lead the Shanghai Pact and hold immense influence not just on Earth but on Mars too. Officially a socialist system "on the road" to full communism the Communist Party of China has said that the socialist stage of history will take a thousand years and that market socialism will stay in place until 3049 CE. The most impactful achievement of China in Martian space has been the capturing of near Mars asteroid 1508-Kemi to serve as a second skyhook in competition with the privatized skyhook operated by SpaceX. Through subsidies they have managed to making shipping through the Kemi skyhook cheaper than the Phobos skyhook though most US aligned countries and companies continue to use the SpaceX skyhook.
Russian Federation Российская Федерация - The largest country on Earth by land area they were historically the fourth strongest power on Mars until the revolt of the Martian Soviets. Having been the first nation to send satellites and people into space Russia continues to be known for their reliable spaceship technology. The rise of the MUSSR has lead to a surge in anti-communism among the ruling oligarchs of Russia, who are keen to ensure that the USSR never gets revived back on Earth.
Islamic Republic of Pakistan اِسلامی جمہوریہ پاكِستان - One of the last nations in the solar system to have a state religion they are the third and final member of the Shanghai Pact to have Martian colonies. Pakistan also has the largest mosque on all of Mars, with its highest minaret reaching up one kilometer, serving as the second greatest tourist attraction on all of Mars next to Mt Olympus.
China aligned
Federation of Maphilindo Federasi Mafilindo - A federation of Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines they are the regional powerhouse of Southeast Asia. By combining their strength together these three countries were able to resist Chinese domination of the South Seas and were able to sign a treaty that divided the Spratly Islands between them. Nevertheless the federation still is nowhere near the strength of China and due to economic integration is firmly located within the Chinese sphere.
United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata Provincias Unidas del Río de la Plata - An union of the Southern cone nations of Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay they are the second strongest power on the South American continent and a constant rival to Brazil. As a result, with Brazil being located in the American camp Rio de la Plata placed itself within the Chinese camp and serve as the largest outpost of Chinese influence in the Americas.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea 조선민주주의인민공화국 - Uniting the peninsula under the glorious ideology of Juche Korea has continued to be a great power in technology throughout the centuries.
Islamic Republic of Iran جمهوری اسلامی ایران - The other major nation to have an Islamic theocracy they are the leader of Shia Muslims across the solar system. While they occasionally have disagreements with Pakistan Iran remains a firm ally of China.
Alibaba Group 阿里巴巴集团 - A mega corporation that managed to negotiate private lands for itself on various extra terrestrial bodies they also have a large Martian holding near Mt Olympus. With its lunar and martian colonies serving as tax free havens for Chinese billionaires to escape CPC levies their existence is always an interesting legal gray area in the Chinese legal system. However with the CEO of Alibaba always being a member of the Communist Party of China the slight loss of revenue is ignored in return for their loyalty to the motherland.
East African Federation Shirikisho la Afrika Mashariki - The most populated country on the African continent with a population of over 700 million they are considered the second most powerful African nation next to Nigeria. With much its rise to power being due to Chinese investment they have always been a faithful follower of the Chinese camp.
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia የኢትዮጵያ ፌዴራላዊ ዴሞክራሲያዊ ሪፐብሊክ - One of the smaller and less significant nations to have a Martian colony, they managed to get their slice of the Martian cake by mere chance.
Group of Four
United States of America - The former hyperpower and now second rate superpower of the solar system the USA still manages to hold significant influence due to its early start in the second space race and the massive resources it gathered from asteroid mining. While still holding the pretense of democracy the only two major parties have remained the Democratic and Republican parties and it is an open secret that congressional seats are won merely by the highest bidder. It has retained leadership of the G4, once upon a time known as the G8, but now only having half its original members due to the expulsion of Russia, France, Germany, and Italy.
Japan 日本国 - The USA's worst enemy in the first half of the 20th century they are now one of America's best friends. While being a small island nation Japan is a great power in its own right due to its massive asteroid mining fleet.
Kingdom of England and Wales - Once known as the United Kingdom, it has lost much influence after leaving the European Union, the independence of Scotland, and the reunification of Ireland. However by remaining a loyal lackey of the Yanks England has managed to retain an disproportionate amount of influence around the solar system.
Canada - America's little brother on the North American continent the Canadian government has remained a firm support of the USA despite its status as the weakest power of the G4. As the weakest power it lacks any Martian colonies on the surface though it does have a station in orbit.
US Aligned
Federal Republic of Nigeria - The most powerful country on the African continent they have a significant Martian colony of the Hellas Sea. They also are a major ally of the USA and G4 more generally, being at the forefront of American influence in Africa.
Federative Republic of Brazil República Federativa do Brasil - The most powerful country on the South American continent they are constant rivals of Rio de la Plata to the South. The country also has been ruled by a military junta for several centuries that even Canada recognizes as having committed countless human rights atrocities but they still remain a valued partner in crime for the G4.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp - The first ones to land a human on the Martian surface, this mega corporation retains a massive amount of influence over the red planet to this day. Their colonization of Phobos and the construction the first skyhook ensured they dominated early Martian traffic. SpaceX still is one of only six powers to have a port station at Mars Lagrange point #1. While it infrequently has disagreements with the US government SpaceX for the most part is a loyal mega corp that supplies most of the G4 martian colonies in addition to its own private colonies.
United Mexican States Estados Unidos Mexicanos - A secondary power that has been a vassal state of the USA for centuries, they still remain firmly in the American sphere of influence in the 24th century.
State of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל - A secondary power in the Middle East, Israel managed to survive through the climate crisis and now has a variety of outposts throughout the solar system.
Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów - Formed by Poland and the Baltic states after they left the European Union it remains sandwiched between the European Union to its west and Russia to its east. While its space program was slow at first today the PLC is proud of going into space and establishing colonies on both the Moon and Mars.
EU Aligned
European Union Unionem Europaeam - The European Union, while smaller than it was in the early 21st century remains a formidable power on the solar scale. Despite being a second rate superpower they have managed to chart a path independent of both the USA and China and continue to have significant spheres of influence in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
West African Economic and Monetary Union Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine - An union of Francophone West African nations they may not have a space station in orbit around Mars but they do have a significant colony on the surface. While having a larger surface area on Earth than the European Union it has a significantly smaller population and economy and as such has remained in the shadow of the EU throughout its history.
United Arab Emirates الإمارات العربية المتحدة - One of the few Middle Eastern countries from the 21st century that survived as opposed to the long gone Saudi dynasty they are the smallest component of the EU sphere to have influence in Martian space. While the UAE does not have a colony on the Martian surface it does have a significant space station in orbit and participates in inter-planetary trades.
India Aligned
Socialist Republic of India भारतीय समाजवादी गणराज्य - Formed as a Socialist Republic after a civil war that tore the old Republic of India apart it is smaller than the old India it still has a terrestrial population of over a billion, not even counting its massive Martian colonies, which combined are the most second most populous next to China's colonies. Now the other socialist great power in the solar system, the Communist Party of India (United) claims the Communist Party of China to be fake communists even though they themselves do not follow Marxist orthodoxy either. In terms of actual economics India is not all that different from China, both having market socialist economies, though India has more smaller cooperatives and less mega corporations. India is also much more decentralized in general, having dozens of scheduled languages which still hold majorities in different states, while Mandarin has come to dominate all regions of China as minority languages fade in importance.
United Arab Republic الجمهورية العربية المتحدة - The regional power of the Middle East stretching from Libya to Iraq they preach Pan-Arabism and Arab socialism. A great rival of both the Islamic Iran and the monarchist UAE they also hold a significant colony on Mars that controls the strategic Uzboi-Landon-Morava river.
People's Republic of Bangladesh গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ - The smallest of the Indian sphere big three, it contains all the areas of the Indian subcontinent with ethnic Bengali majorities both Hindu and Muslim. While Bangladesh has the smallest Martian colony in terms of surface area it is also the most densely populated.
Neutral
Confederacy of Independent States - One of the two newly independent Martian countries, they are formed mainly from old European colonies. As such they have a largely technocratic government and are very decentralized with many different official languages seen in different states.
Maharashtra Empire महाराष्ट्र साम्राज्य - A Hindu fascist monarchy created in the state of Maharashtra after the collapse of India in the late 21st century they managed to resist the communists and keep their state independent. They now have a strategically important Martian colony in the Bay of Margaritifer with its capital being a floating city in the middle of Lake Aram.
Martian Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Марсианский Союз Советских Социалистических Республик - The other newly independent state founded on Mars they are formed mostly from former Russian colonies. They aim to bring back pure Marxism-Leninism and hope to one day make the entire red planet truly red.
Tibet བོད - A country which managed to gain its independence from China in the early 22nd century they first established unofficial colonies on Mars in the late 22nd century on top of Mt Olympus as remote monasteries. Now seen as a neutral power they were granted control over the coveted Mt Olympus and forced to allow open borders with all other countries throughout its Martian territory.
Aotearoa - The smallest country to have an independent foothold in Martian space, Aotearoa similar to the UAE and Canada lacks any surface colonies but has a space station in orbit, bringing Maori and Kiwi culture to Mars.
Credit for the basemaps go to Serafim and XO Maenadicus