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Welcome everyone, today I’ll talk about the Scandinavian region. Part of it was the first maps we drew for Project Caesar back in early spring of 2020. Today we will look at all parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula (including Denmark & the Kola Peninsula). Greenland & Iceland will be looked at in a separate map talk.
Countries
Scandinavia has only five location based countries at the start of the game. Denmark, who is in a bit of a crisis at the moment and their vassal Schleswig is in the south. On the peninsula proper, we have Sweden and Norway who are in a union at the moment as they share the same King. Scania was sold off to Sweden by the Danes five years before the start of the game.
There is no need to show off a Dynasty map, as Denmark does not exactly have a ruling King at the moment, and the rest is ruled by Magnus IV of the Bjälbo Dynasty.
Locations
While Scandinavia has a lot of locations, we have to remember that this is a huge area, and together with Kola & Karelia, it is the same size as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy & Benelux together.. The size of locations are smaller in the south, particularly where the population was and still is relatively bigger.
Provinces
We have tried to follow historical traditional province borders here, but some ended up too big like Småland, Lappland or Österbotten, which were cut into pieces, and some are just too tiny to matter.
Now I wish I had time to write up a history about each province here, but I’ll just add a few fun tidbits.
Satakunta, which is the Finnish name, is named in Finnish like the old regions of Svitjod, which were divided into “hundreds”. It was also refered to Björneborgs län, named after Björneborg (Pori in Finnish), a town founded by Johan III when Ulfsby was no longer accessible from the sea. The regiment from the area was the last Swedish Army Regiment that has ever won a battle inside Sweden, and their military march is a song I think every Finnish Citizen want to play repeatedly on TV during the Olympics..
Småland, which is divided into Tiohärad and Kalmar Län here, should really be referred to as Småländerna, as there were 12 small countries there.. Compared to the 3 other much larger countries of Svealand, Östra Götaland and Västra Götaland. And now why is Östra Götaland not containing Kinda?
Topograhy
It's mostly flatland.. I went by the rule that if the peaks are less than 500 meters it's flatland, and you need to have over 1,000 meters and rather uneven to be a mountain. Norway is interesting there.. We do have a lot of impassable areas in Norway, making this one of the most fun parts to play in.
Vegetation
There are some farmlands in Denmark, Scania and in Götaland, but the rest is basically a big forest.. And up north it's even worse.
Climate
Yeah, well. There is a reason I moved to Spain..
Cultures
Most of the north east is still Sami, and the Finnish tribes have not unified into the more modern Finnish culture. We decided to call the modern Meänkieli with their more ancient name of Kven. We still have Gutnish on Gotland, but the Norwegian, Danish and Swedish cultures have been becoming more monolithic already.
Religions
The Finnish are mostly Catholic, but the Sami, Tavastian, Savonia, Bjarmian and Karelians are mostly still following their old pagan beliefs. There are still some Norse people in the forests of Dalarna and Västmanland..
Raw Materials
It is mostly lumber, fish, wild game, fur and iron. We of course have the famous copper mountain as well.
Markets
Scandinavia is divided by the rich markets of Lübeck and Riga. A strong Scandinavian country will probably want to set up their own unified market.
Population
Not many people live up in the north..
I liked nice round numbers as estimates, but the team I hired for content design are mad men, and wanted the distribution to feel more organic.. For the far north of Scandinavia we know that people were semi nomadic, and that some people lived there.. But if it was 100 there, or 250 there or 20 there it's just guesswork..
And let's end with a quote from the Greatest of Poets..
Jag vill, jag skall bli frisk, det får ej prutas,
Jag måste upp, om jag i graven låg.
Lyss, hör, ni hör kanonerna vid Jutas;
Där avgörs finska härens återtåg.
Just to follow up On my comment above on North Norwegian climate in the game^
There is colder places in the world than Northern Norway that is given a non artic climate if looking at the map above.
Lets look at some climate data( yearly mean celsius):
Nordland Norway (given artic climate):
Brønnøysund south in Nordland: +6,6
Svolvær north in Nordland: +5,8
Bodø middle Nordland: +5,5
Now compare it to places given Oceanic or continental climate on the map:
Alaska North America:
Gustavus south in Alaska: +4,5
Anchorage middle Alaska: +3,1
Newfoundland Canada:
St Jhon south in newfoundland: +5,3
Finland:
Helsinki southern tip of Finland: +6,5
Åland island: +6,4
Sweden:
Sundsvall middle Sweden: +4,6
Uppsala close to Stockholm: +6,5
Norway:
Trondheim middle Norway: +6,1
Iceland:
Reykjavik southern Iceland: +5,1
Source: Gathered from searching climate data on these places.
Conclusion: Inhabited parts of Nordland has similar climate to the other listed. Actually beats them all if you look at Brønnøysund. Think it is fair to change the climate.
If to limit population growth is the goal then that should be done by mountains:
I think it is fair to change it from hills to mountains. You can imagine trying to move around an Army...
I was shocked to see my hometown of Alfta being the name of the Location here in Sweden - it is located in between Edsbyn and Bollnäs, which currently are more populated settlements, so I was not prepared to see that name represent the territory.
I'm happy to see it!
The location of Uddevalla does not cover the city of Uddevalla. I dont know if maybe Uddevalla is a word that refered to something else in the past but if it didnt then maybe it should be renamed or the location borders changed? Tack!!!
The location of Uddevalla does not cover the city of Uddevalla. I dont know if maybe Uddevalla is a word that refered to something else in the past but if it didnt then maybe it should be renamed or the location borders changed? Tack!!!
Would be great to see some Sami information - can you play as them, and if so, do they have some interesting Advances, Laws that allow their nomad lifestyle and free grazing?
They made wool from their reindeer until they transitioned to trading for it from traders, so it would be interesting if they had a building (or perhaps an Auxiliary unit to represent the nomadic reindeer herding?) that produced small amounts of Wool.
Using the locally sourced woad plant (isatis tinctoria) and urine, pigment could be made that ranged from "grey-blue, through intense midnight blue, to black" which fits with the colours the Sami have used since long ago. The vibrant blue we're used to today may have been a rarity, however, until a purer blue dye could be traded for. I don't know in what volumes EUV considers a raw good to be produced in RGO volumes, but I doubt this would ever qualify as a Dyes good.
I think the most interesting part of playing PDX games is to learn about cultures and history, and this is the first time Societies of Pops are playable, so I'm looking forward to a SoP-DLC or future patches that flesh them out!
From the latest Behind Europa Universalis video.
This REALLY doesn't look like Norway. These ridges make no sense and don't exist in Norway. Compared to any exaggerated relief map like below, the shapes are very different. Here you can clearly see the topography of the fjords:
View attachment 1309138
From the latest Behind Europa Universalis video.
This REALLY doesn't look like Norway. These ridges make no sense and don't exist in Norway. Compared to any exaggerated relief map like below, the shapes are very different. Here you can clearly see the topography of the fjords:
Hello, I hope any of this might be of some interest or help in regard to Denmark. It is not to the extent that I hoped it would be, as I sadly am limited on time during my exam period, and have had to do this sporadically, so I apologies if it seems incomplete or lackluster. This is about the shape of Locations, their raw materials, and vegetation in Denmark.
I might try to update it, if I get more time on my hands.
Location shape
First is the quick bit about their shape. It seems to some extent that the locations made, sometimes roughly follow either the shape of some Len, at some point, other times the later introduced, in 1662, Amter and others are probably made for gameplay purposes, and keep sizes in regard to the population of that area.
What I’d suggest, as in this time period, the administrative division of Denmark goes through the somewhat volatile Len, which changes their shape sometimes and the 1662 introduction of Amter, who’s shapes are reworked in 1793, but the one thing the are both shaped around is the multitude of Herreder underneath them, which is one of the oldest administrative divisions we know in Denmark. I would then suggest to not go specifically for Len or Amter, as their shape and size could vary wildly, but instead keep the current overall shape of the locations, but instead shape them after the underlying Herreds division.
I have created a mockup of this underneath here, to show how it would look. I have attempted to keep it so the locations are only touching the locations they would already have been touching, to not create gameplay changes - due note, that there are new locations here that are not in this dev diary, but the new locations can be spotted in other dev diaries, and in gameplay videos of more updated maps.
The current shapes, though outdated in terms the number of locations
My Herredbased suggestion, though its mostly just the concept for basing on herreder, rather than these specific ones.
Adminstrative divsion maps of Denmark including; Sysler (pre start date - refuses to keep the top as anything but a link to click), Len, and Amter (1662-1793) which all were made up of the underlying Herreder.
Development:
This is gonna be very short with just a small resource, and some maps, which I hope in other with the maps of farm density, and value of the land, can be helped to determine the development of some location in Denmark:
Pretty sure this link will download the pdf automatically, just to notify you about it, but it does contains tables with the tax numbers. https://tidsskrift.dk/historiejyskesamling/article/download/40197/45027/90423
Maps:
Map of population density in Denmark 1801, which is also considered as an extra aspect when it comes to farmland, as to the developmental nature with the timeframe of the game:
Map over the cities in Denmark with “købsrettigheder”, the circles indicate the size of the tax to the king in 1596 - from the linked source above
Vegetation in Denmark
The vegetation map like the location map is also outdated, so I use the map suggestion I made for locations as a basis, as it includes the updated amount of locations in Denmark
Currently Denmark is seen to have a large amount of Farmlands in Central Jutland, which I would say is not ideal. Even if it is to show the good use of the land in terms of cattle use. It is a place wherein throughout the whole period, was dominated more and more by the heath, which would continue to spread till the early 1700’s, one part due to the depopulation from the black death, and another part due to the deforestation, and from both of these the “sandflugt”. The central Jutish heath is not a place even today that is super populated compared to the rest of Denmark, and it would awkward for it to be made out to be a location ready to support a large number of population and cheap development, when in fact it was one of the harder places in Denmark to develop, and multiple attempts started to happen at the start of the 18th century, including with the “potato Germans”.
It is something that will be seen that I have tried to represent this by putting in Sparse, as type in 3 places, I have chosen not to do it to a greater extent, as the heath grew, and just started to shrink by the end of the game. So, it is to be kind of stagnant middle ground. Perhaps the livestock, could instead be represented by a modifier? As it was one that continued to be of importance throughout the period.
I would love to write more on each part, but I fear the whole post will be a text wall for each, and there is a lot more to get out - there will be more explanations for why I think as I do, with the map which I hope is acceptable.
Current (outdated map) and suggested map of vegetation.
I feel Roskilde could go both ways, and im kinda on the fence on it. Svendborg, is just if you want to keep it to only 2 provinces for Denmark then that is the one id remove. but 3 out 29 locations is about 10% of the locations in woods, which is think is an okay average from start to finish, but id understand if one wanted one less.
These are a lot of the sources I have with a few explanations to them, within the map spoilers, I hope that some of these alone could be of use to shape your own opinions about the layout of vegetation in Denmark. On top of those, some are also used as sources when it comes the later Raw materials, as in the production from the land, the size and spread of farms and types thereof, as well as the forestation in each location.
Overall, I have tried to draw a comparative between, the forest spread, and each regions use hereof, the population density numbers from the time towards the game’s end, the value produced by each location, for example, in Tønder hartkorn, per square kilometer, and the fertility of the ground, as well as the topographical nature of the area.
Perhaps some of these sources and/or maps could also be in some use to you in, when it comes to the development level of the Danish locations.
Forest spread in Denmark in the 1680's. It has pretty much been on decline since the Middle Ages and partly leading to the spread of the Jutish heath. Covering about 8-10% of Denmark at this point.
Made from Viidenskabernes kort, 1765 and 1805. Shows the decline of forest, since the 1680s, This was the lowest point for forest in Denmark covering only 2-4%
Having 2-3 regions out of 29, should probably fit Denmark, as those 3 are the most covered as seen on the map to be quite wooded, on the 1680 map, or where lumber was to a greater degree harvested from. And it should be an overall average to a fair percentage for the time. If it was only to be 2, I’d suggest Silkeborg and Helsingør.
But as extra here is two for Slesvig-Holsten by Walter Hase, who specialised within the history of forests, and Slesvig-Holsten. The first image is the forest as they were around 1650. While the second image is the state ofthe forest in 1858
Number of farms:
Maps:
Map of the types of farms, from Herregård/hovedgårde, to singular and double farms, to smaller and larger villages in terms of the number of farms.
Percentage of arable land in percentages in 1680's.
Tønder (barrels - measurement unit) of Hartkorn (crops, used to make bread, beer or fodder, barley, oats, rye, wheat) per square kilometer. - in the 1680's - also the old way to measure the value of lands and how much each part had to pay in "landsgilde" and taxes, this could be converted from crops, fish, eel, hay, and livestock. - here helping to estimate how much each location produced of said value, and help decide if it should be farmland, or grassland or sparse - note that this is at a point where the Jutish heath is almost at its maximum, it would have been a lot smaller in the High Middle Ages.
Farming system in the 1680's in the crop rotation system that had been used since the middle ages, and will be used till the 1800's in Denmark.
Brown=no fallow, red=two field system, blue=three field system, orange = 4-5 field system, only really used to its full extend in the very clay rich dirt of western Lolland in crop diversity, even though the ground is quite hard to plow. - a greater breakdown of what each of these types are can be found within the link of the highly recommended source, with explanation.
Græsmarksbrug, quite low arable land, where something is only planted every 4-8 years, where after it just lays fallow, with livestock being put there or nothing.
limfjordssystem is quite a bit special, but is also explained more in the link, and is not really included in this specific map.
Raw Materials in Denmark
Again, I hope it is acceptable I use my current locations map as a layout out for the materials, which are also outdated in this post, from what we have seen in other dev diaries, and videos, as well as the introduction of new materials, one of which is beeswax.
I will put in some sources below, In regard to the map, and why I think as it is, as most places are a good candidates for a multitude of resources, so one can pick and choose, even though I have some I think would be more fitting in certain locations.
Some of the sources here when it come to livestock, and/or grain as either wheat or Sturdy crops will be from the agricultural use of land and farm sources up above, to be considered on top of the more direct mentions for place. The first Raw resources map suggestion is already been limited to some extent, in what I think would be the most suitable, but still containing alternatives, and some of the sources will be linked with each, if one wants to read themselves. The suggestions and options or by no means exhaustive, and is just as said, options that I hope you can find some interest in, whether it be for a singular location or a larger area.
Wheat
Wheat is something that I see used kind handedly In Denmark currently, but is something that I would personally like to limit down to around 1-3 position (excluding slesvig-holsten). This is based on that for most of the games period, wheat barely made up 2-3% of grains produced here, it was tough to get to survive in the climate this far north, until later sorts (in the 1800’s were introduced. It mostly besides on abbey in Helsingør, to the south of Denmark, but bits were produced here and there, but there is sources talking about complaints from the wheat there sold were quite mixed with “lesser” grains.
Now I don’t know exactly what each are supposed to contain or what is to be considered with the ”wheat” raw material compared to the “sturdy grains” raw material, but here I have put it as mostly wheat within wheat, and therefore it is only represented in those places where I can find a direct mention of Wheat. It is still something I’d like to keep to 2-3 provinces as it was really not a huge production of it, but it ends up falling on a lot of farmland, so will probably end up producing a bit in game, but I hope that if you consider other grains within that it is could probably go, else it is just reducing the amount of locations that have wheat. Overall, I think that would create a more interesting layout to the resources in Denmark. https://orgprints.dk/id/eprint/22158/7/22158.pdf https://gyldendalogpolitikensdanmarkshistorie.lex.dk/Landbruget_-_Danmark_i_tal
Small one from the national museum https://natmus.dk/historisk-viden/temaer/historisk-mad/mad-i-middelalderen/
The only occurrence of iron in Denmark is in the shape Myremalm, which an iron rich sediment, it has been found all over Scandinavia, and is especially rich in it in Norway, and Western Sweden, like Halland or Värmland in the more loose shape, where in Denmark, it is the more hard clumps. It was in Denmark since the iron the basis for iron production here, and the places which were especially rich were the area on to where the last Iceage, the Weischel ice age main stop line reached to, as can be seen on the maps. With specific large concentrations around central jutland, and down in southern Slesvig. During the middle ages these clumps of iron ore imbedded in the dirt, were used as the basis in some contructions of churches, but also in the production iron for tools and work. This was most promiment around Silkeborg, in which a large amount structures and leftovers are find from melting, and refining this iron ore, with the nearby forest fueling this endeavor. The ore would is thought to be decent here and was most likely the iron that was delivered over to Copenhagen through to the renaissance, but most would still have probably in this time come from the Halland area. The Jutish iron production also did not continue, but was stopped during the reign of Christian 4. In favor of focusing on importing Norwegian iron.
There has still been found area in modern day that has high concentrations of this iron but it is not the best iron by any means. If Denmark was to have a singular iron province, one could like with the event shown for Sweden, that a point would come where the resources would change mid game, as the value of Jutish iron lost its importance, and slowly fizzled out, but that is only if iron were to be considered at all.
Churches wherein myremalm has been used in their construction.
Amber
Amber as a product from the Amber forest that is theorized to be somewhere in Scandinavia, some 35-55 million years ago, and through the Baltic sea or the rivers at that, it has been carried down to the countries along its coast. The way it made its way to Denmark is again through the glaciers both the ones that pushed beyond Denmark, as it is now, depositing the Amber in what would become the north sea, but also latest like Weichel, who’s draining water from melting carried the lighter stuff like amber out to the Westcoast, along with e.g. clay. Amber can be found a lot of places in Denmark, but especially the Westcoast of Jutland is the amplest place in Denmark, over here Fanø is mentioned a lot, but the area is good between Fanø, and Nissum in finding it. Fanø itself is one place that will come up quite a lot, but also In Ringkøbing fjord, there is a good amount of “amber hunting” taking place. If one is to believe Varde Municipality, then the very best area to attain Amber is south of Blåvandshuk, the most western point of Denmark, which incidentally is also where Fanø is. This can make sense as that area has seen quite a lot of changes all the way down to Holstein, in terms of the coast. From the erosion of the Len and actual land to what we know to today in 1650, but also that area south of Blåvandshuk has had its peninsular change multiple times, the latest being at the storm floods in 1634.
a guess to estimated area of the "amber-tree-forest"
The spread of Amber and where it can be found
Denmark's coast line as it was 8000-9000
The actual Raw Resource portion
Currently known (Outdated) resource map and my Raw resources map suggestion. This is by no means exhaustive.
Narrowed down version of a possible combination that personally like. The previous already have a bit to some extent, because I think it’s too good of an opportunity to miss, as putting forward a combination that I find interesting.
Tabel containing the resources for each. - QUITE BIG - It contains the each location and a quite short explanation to each area, and a very shortened version on the locations resources. It also contains some links
Location
Recommend Raw material
Alternative Raw materials
A very VERY short explanation or source(s)
Nørrejylland
Hjørring
Horses
Livestock
https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Hjørring_Kommune
Horses were noted in another source that I currently can’t find, but, it mention for example the horses in the south western part of the in-game location weren’t always as good as the others in the area.
But Horses and Livstock were the two largest exports of this area https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Jammerbugt_Kommune
this municipality is split between Thisted and Hjørring
Skagen
Salt
Fish
Livestock
Middelalderen i Aalborg Kommune – Trap Danmark | Lex
one of the few mentions of actually where one extracted salt, which was at Hou above the entrance to the Limfjord, and I think its one of the few ideal places for it, as there is also evidence of Salt market shops down in Mou, most like also selling this salt.
But this especially the northern part was not very rich in opportunity, and mostly relegated itself to fishing https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Frederikshavn_Kommune
And mentions how there was so little grains produced in the south even that even in 1700 the peasants still had to import it from the vest part of vendsyssel (Hjørring location)
Thisted
Fish
Sturdy grain
Sand
Medicament
https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Thisted_Kommune
Thisted was actually a quite fruitful area, it had a decent output from its ground, both from grains and especially the rich Limfjord in fish, more specifically, basically lots of Morsø and parts of the coast to the fjord paid their Landsgilde in eel alone. Otherwise there was also on Morsø a a production of Livestock and horses.
The exception to this fruitfulness would be the 5km in land stretch of sand, and the northern part of the location in game, covers an area that is hit by the traveling sand quite harshly swallowing up farms. Some which have been recovered nowadays as actually 12th and 15th century farms
https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Aalborg_Kommune
Aalborg i have picked fish, as it was quite rich in the herring fishing from the fjord, even though it also had a surrounding lands for grain and livestock, I think fishing is a nice representation, as I don’t know fishing efficiency is tied to having a harbor, with buildings being constructed for this, but else Nibe could also be decent place for fish.
Løgstør
Clay
Livestock
Fish
Clay was usually locally sourced close by when building, this is usually in line with the Till, from the last 2 iceages.
a couple bricksworks have been uncovered west of nibe, but it could be in a lot places in Denmark (reference the ground type map)
Another side argument for it, can be the lay “jydepotter” product which were made from the 1500’s and forward, though this made be seen more as product than the raw resoruce, but it ended up being produced a lot of places, all the locations around this area from the Till clay. Though the production was in the beginning more associated with Varde, but it does have some “smeltevands” clay out there from the run off water from glaciers . It has a bit, but not compared to a lot of other places both with clay from Smeltevand and the till clay. https://tidsskrift.dk/Hikuin/article/download/111311/160347/227735 https://tidsskrift.dk/Hikuin/article/download/111310/160346/227733
Otherwise Løgstør location also beniftted from the limfjord fishing and livestock. Though I don’t know if that would work as well, as I don’t know if having a harbour is needed to make specific buildings to boost the gathering of the Fish resource, and as far as I know, Limfjorden is not counted as part of the sea and can’t have a harbour.
Horses were the main export, though over time, one can say the ox trade took over, but the horse export continued to be an important export for Holsterbro. And to have two (ringkøbing and holsterbro) would do more than wel to show the Danish export of horses, also as the types of horses Denmark had increased, as the Kings the 1600, got involved. Even if they were made on other stutterier in Denmark. https://tidsskrift.dk/temp/article/view/142310/185963
But over 8000 horses crossed Ribe each year.
Ringkøbing
Horses
Amber
In between Ringkøbing, Lemvig, and Holstebro (the later also had more surrounding it) was Horses the main export, as Denmark had exported the Jutish horses for a long time already at game start, and I think it would do good to place this to help simulate the horses that Denmark did export. https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Lemvig_Kommune https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Ringkøbing-Skjern_Kommune
The horse export continued to rise in the 1500’s, even though overall in Denmark the ox export just blew everything out in terms of growth at that time.
Specifically about Holsterbro https://tidsskrift.dk/temp/article/view/142310/185963
it is also not a bad place for Amber, but I do believe this is the best place when it comes to representing historical Danish horses.
Aarhus
Fruit
Sturdy Grains
Livestock
https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Favrskov_Kommune
Aarhus in game has a significant coverage, and therefore contains a lot of area with varied production priorities, but here the one I found the most interesting in the north western part of the location, is the only mentioned - and I have tried to search for it - of a production of fruit and hops being made, which I think would be nice to represent the fruit on the map.
but else it can be a lot of different stuff, with good amounts of grain and livestock.
Silkeborg
Lumber
Livestock
Iron
Silkeborg is a production heavy area, when it comes to mentions, like Myremalm iron, being produced in larger quantities here, though the production only lasts to about the middle of the 1600s. But also, the forrest was a quite used area, both mentioned in the area, but also the western parts of the Aarhus location, and lastly there was also not an insignificant amount of glass and clay crafts production here.
https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Ringkøbing-Skjern_Kommune (ignoring the more horse focused north, as that is not part of the area in game)
Bølling specially with its poorer east lands were heavily focus on livestock in the form of oxen, but also a significant amount of sheep were kept, as well bordering up against the Westcoast and Ringkøbing fjord, it would have an ample opportunity to Amber
Varde
Amber
Livestock
Sturdy grain
Fish
Varde area had a pretty even spread among its resources, from fish, grain, livestock, but it is also dived into in the book Nordiske Profiler I senmiddelalderen og renæssancen, looking at the decrease in agricultural prosperity in western Jutland, but that the evidence a less clear for Varde, which may be less effected by the development that the areas north of it. Livestock is probably still the most prominent resource there. https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Varde_Kommune
Though the more interesting resource would probably be Amber, as mentioned previously, With Fanø also being within the location, and I think for Amber it is wit the other choices I have made the better spot to put it.
Sønderjylland
Ribe
Livestock
Sturdy grain
Beeswax
Horses
https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Tønder_Kommune
Ribe goes further south in game, into what is Tønder commune, so Tønder is also base of sources for its production. https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Esbjerg_Kommune
But Oxen, as well as side of beekeeping in the north. And some notable Horse keeping. The line of coast in the west had a line of rich soil for grains, but the furth east you went the more livestock and horses.
one can also make the argument for salt, with Saltgade, but that is more to do with Frisian salt being sold there.
The northwestern part is the more interesting in having a significant amount of Flax production and export, and with some wool and textiles as well. It’s the only mention of any larger flax production I have found.
The north east, also had a good amount of ox trade, and some sheep and horse keeping. Pretty much every farm had some sheep present.
The eastern parts would have a notable production of honey from beekping.
as well as holding oxen and Horses.
the better soil were for sturdy grains like barley.
https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Langeland_Kommune https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Ærø_Kommune https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Faaborg-Midtfyn_Kommune https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalder_i_Svendborg_Kommune
Svendborg, mainland produced a good amount of livestock, both ox, and pigs, who the later would graze in the woods (partly to blame for the reduction in forest in Denmark) as svendborg was comparatively wooded in its area but still with fertile ground for grain fields, the isles around it were though heavy in grain production, which we can also see on the number of farms and value produced on the isles even with just a 40% farming farming percentage. The northern parts, the parts mentioned just inside the Odense location on the border though, even though those areas a less wooded, did use the forest for quite a bit of lumber production.
Kolding and the northern part of Haderslev imported grain from the Isles south of fyn, as they did not produce enough themselves for their own use.
Lolland-Falster
Nakskov
Wheat
Legumes
https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Lolland_Kommune https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Guldborgsund_Kommune
Lolland, had probably the most fertile ground in its western part, though not bad by any means bad in the rest. The west is one of the few large scale areas with a 4-5 crop rotation system, and from there also a pretty heavy farmed area, with peas being specifically mentioned as a pretty good output, as well we are told of wheat around Gulborgsund, though specified on which side of the split between Falster.
The lower farming percentage that can to a degree be seen here is because the reach clay ground was a quite hard to work, but a fertile output.
Falster
Legumes
Wheat
https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Guldborgsund_Kommune
Though running the in east Denmark normal 3 crop rotation, they still had a good amount of pea crops, even if barley was the main crop, with again the addition of wheat around Gulborgsund. These areas, plus at Kalundborg’s northern area is the three main places we are told of peas being cultivated to any greater degree, and I think from there that it would make Falster and Kalundborg the two best places to represent Legumes in Denmark, With Lolland (Nakskov) and Sorø being the ones for wheat.
Sjælland
Sorø
Wheat
Fish
https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Sorø_Kommune https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Slagelse_Kommune
For the very deep inland parts the focus went more on sturdy grains like barley and rye with some livestock on top.
Though at the coast, out at Slagelse, and Korsør,
was grains dominating, supplemented with a tiny bit of livestock, as well as decent amount of fishing.
But with the grains, we are told in 1370, that every single baker in Slagelse, had to deliver bread every Saturday to the Bishop, and also from 1471, “duty delivery” of Wheat bread to the king was put in place.
https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Vordingborg_Kommune https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Næstved_Kommune
The southern part of Vordingborg’s location would have had a decent amount of smaller hills and bog areas. Though Barley was important, oats played the biggest role, as its hardiness gave a more fruitful outcome. There was additionally a good amount of husbandry with cattle nearer the coast, as well as fishing supplementing the economy.
Ringsted
Livestock
Fish
Stone?
Sturdy grains
https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalder_i_Stevns_Kommune https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Ringsted_Kommune https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Køge_Kommune
Ringsted, had varied landscape with some dense woods in some areas and open fields in others, and going between fertile and less fertile ground.
Though the raising of oxen from Hovedgårdene were no small part of the produce of the area for export.
The more fertile ground was used for grain, while the pigs were set in the more wooded areas and the oxen were set to graze in the open fields. To this Fishing in the area also played a large part sitting out the rich herring waters off the coast.
There was also Faxe Chalkstone quarry that had been used since the Chalkstone building time in the 1100s for building stone and mortar, though the Chalkstone building practive were replaced mostly during the high late Middle Ages with bricks, the quarry remained in use all the way up current day. I do not know if Chalstone would be counted as stone in terms of building material even though we did use it, especially for churches. If it is considered, id probably suggest Stone here, as the quarry has been used from before the start of the game to after its end. https://trap.lex.dk/Faxe_Kalkbrud https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Faxe_Kommune https://lex.dk/Faxe_Kalkbrud
For the land, it was diverse, mostly focused on grain, with cattle playing a part and fishing being important as always around the coast of the fjord
København
Fish
Copenhagen had some good fruitful ground as well, with some grass areas for livestock and husbandry as well, but I think the most obvious for Copenhagen is just the direct access it has and is mentioned to the herring fishing in Øresund.
Helsingør
Medicaments
Wheat
Lumber
I think the best representation of Medicaments in Denmark, would be here, there were quite a few monks, monasteries and specifically Æbelholt and Esrum is mentioned a lot, with digs having been done, and Æbelholt having a large
“Medicinal herbs garden” at the time, and though not in Roskilde which is the place of Henrik Harpestreng, who were at this time the Dane who had written multiple books on medicinal herbs. But else I think this is also a great place for medicaments in Denmark, it is a place where the actual medicinal herbs were. https://museumns.dk/wp-content/uploads/Klostermedicin-og-Æbelholt-Kloster-08-s097-108.pdf https://lex.dk/klostermedicin
Though we are also mentioned of wheat being produced around certain monasteries here https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Hillerød_Kommune https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Gribskov_Kommune https://trap.lex.dk/Middelalderen_i_Halsnæs_Kommune
Otherwise, there was a variety use of the landscape, there were also sturdy crops planted, some cattle and other husbandry, but also lumber for Esrum Kloster (which also became an incredibly rich monastery, to that the most influential Cistercians monastery in Scandinavia) Tile ovens, as well as the peasants producing charcoal which was an important side trade for the area. Though I don’t know if charcoal production is counted towards coal, I’d guess it’s more a building, rather than a natural resource. Fishing was also no small part of the resources gathered at the coast in the form of cod and herring. And in the Fjord, one also caught porpoise.
Æbelholt monastery (Augustinians) was a large landholder in the west. In the late Middle Ages this reached up to 250 farms, by the reformation. And it was on some of these possessions of the monastery that Wheat was cultivated as some of the first in the country.
Esrum monastery (Cistercians) also ended up with over 300 farms in their possession at the reformation.
also, some potteries have been found, with their materials found at the monasteries as well. These potteries were found around a village and is therefore speculated to have been a bigger part of the trade in the southwestern part of the location. Maybe this could be represented by a building of some sort.
I really think if Medicaments should be a thing I Denmark, this would be the best spot for it.
Again, this is not to the quality that I had hoped for, but if any resources can be used, or any point that might have been made in there is looked at as interesting, then I think that would be neat. I really hope the Scandinavia feedback update doesn’t come right after posting this.
I know @Bastiram is also working on a larger post with some very neat stuff. We do disagree to some extent on a few specifics, but it just stems mostly from the perspective we have on each thing, how much we value one aspect or source compared to another and how we weigh out the overall picture.
Found this animated 3D environment of medieval Copenhagen in the medieval period. Seems pretty accurate, could be used as a visual guide perhaps. In the end you can see the Hanseatic fleet arriving in 1368 (foreshadowing destruction, not shown):
Haha thanks, and you know Slesvig is an invaluable resource, especially seen with danish eyes
But really i saw it. I...was just so tired, out of time and i was okay with leaving that out instead of throwing some random resource in there. Husum was just salt because, its position was a nice spot when it comes to the "Frisian Salt" mentioned at that time, but i'm am by no means attached to that haha
Hopefully Norway will start off with having some flavor from the release of EU5, and one of the essential unique aspects of medieval Norway is Leidangen. Leidangen function as the main defence of Norway during the Middle Ages. It functioned as a sort of tax system for the coastal peasants where they were sorted into different "skipsreider". One "skipsreide" had to provide a ship with at least 20 rows of oars (tjuesesser), so 40 rowers, but in some "skipsreider" they provided 25 rows of oars (tjuefemsesser) which is 50 rowers. The "skipsreider" had to build, maintain, arm and man the ship when the "leidang" was called upon. If you look at the map I provided which is how "Leidangen" and "skipsreider" most likely looked in 1300's, the county which I am from "Hordafylke" had 32 "skipsreider" that had to provide 24 "tjuefemsesser".
"Leidangen" had it's peak during the latter parts of the 13th century and into the middle of the 14th century. About 1 in 7 men had to partake in the Leidang when it was called upon in this time. The Leidang system was how Norway raised it's levies and it should provide a unique modifier to Norway's levy system in game. As Norway has always been naval based and the Leidang system as well, it should give a modifier to Norway when it raises its levies. It should probably give Norway some temporary ships (as long as the levies are raised) that are not up to par with the fleet the player builds himself, and give more marines and less manpower for the standing army. This will make Norway's land based army weaker, but it will provide a unique and historically accurate more powerful navy.
The map I have provided over Leidangen shows how much each county and area provided. This is probably a pretty good indication of how the population was spread out, and I would highly recommend the devs to look into this map when trying to accurately spread out the population granularly. For example we see that "Raumsdølafylke" had 8 "skipsreider" while just south of it in "Sunnmørafylke" there was 16 "skipsreider". This tells us that the population of these two counties are probably not similar, and that "Sunnmørafylke" probably has around twice the population as "Raumsdølafylke".
The second image provided is from a Rune stick that was found under Bryggen in Bergen that is depicting the biggest Leidang fleet in Norway's history. When Haakon Haakonson gathered the Leidang to protect the Hebrides from Scotland in 1263. The rune stick is in Bymuseet in Bergen where I happen to work.
First I want to say euV looks like a great game and I really appreciate the openess you have for community feedback.
In that vein I'd like to come with some feedback regarding Norway, particularly concerning climate and population distribution. Another commenter already did a great comment on the distrbution of Norway as a whole here, therefore I will focus primarely on Eastern Norway.
Climate
Firstly regarding climate, considering how harsh the penalty for arctic climate is it should be quite consistent which locations are arctic and not.
Here is the climate average of three locations with continental climate currently in euV:
Reykjavik (yearly average 4,3C):
Anchorage (yearly average 2,1C):
Galtur, Austria (yearly average -1,3C):
And here are two Inland locations in Norway with arctic climate:
Hamar (yearly average 4,7C):
These numbers are one thing, but i believe the arctic climate is also supposed to represent areas not very fit for human habitation. Therefore it could be helpful to also use a map of population density of Norway, where you can clearly see which climate zones are fit for human habitation and not:
translation: inhabitants per square kilometre
note on this map: you can also here see how the lake of Mjøsa helps as a temperature regulator in Inland Norway, giving milder winters.
Based on this population density and actual temperature data I would suggest changing following locations to continental climate:
Kongsvinger, Hamar, Vestglomma (should be renamed Ringsaker), Lillehammer, Vardal, Ringerrike.
Population
Further I'd like to add some comments on population distribution of Eastern Norway, right now the population is too centralized around the Oslofjord, especially the location of Oslo which has a population 3x that of Oslo in real life in 1769. Unfortunately there is no good data for the medieval population of Norway, but there is the cencus of 1769. Which, I believe atleast can give some good pointers to the population of different areas of Norway in relation to eachother. The data from the census I got from the national archives. Using this data I calculated the percentage of some of the areas in eastern Norway in 1769 and compared them to the population percentage of the corresponding locations in euV in 1337, and finally gave a suggestion to what 1337-population these locations should have if they are to have the same pop percentage as in 1769.
Finally while I normally wouldn't link wikipedia as a source they have a sheet based on the data from the national archives which give a quite nice overview over the population of different districts in Norway in 1769. Link
Thank you for your attention, looking forwards to playing this game!
First I want to say euV looks like a great game and I really appreciate the openess you have for community feedback.
In that vein I'd like to come with some feedback regarding Norway, particularly concerning climate and population distribution. Another commenter already did a great comment on the distrbution of Norway as a whole here, therefore I will focus primarely on Eastern Norway.
Climate
Firstly regarding climate, considering how harsh the penalty for arctic climate is it should be quite consistent which locations are arctic and not.
Here is the climate average of three locations with continental climate currently in euV:
Reykjavik (yearly average 4,3C): View attachment 1314730
Anchorage (yearly average 2,1C): View attachment 1314729
Galtur, Austria (yearly average -1,3C): View attachment 1314727
And here are two Inland locations in Norway with arctic climate:
Hamar (yearly average 4,7C): View attachment 1314726
Hønefoss, Ringerrike (yearly average 4,6C): View attachment 1314731
These numbers are one thing, but i believe the arctic climate is also supposed to represent areas not very fit for human habitation. Therefore it could be helpful to also use a map of population density of Norway, where you can clearly see which climate zones are fit for human habitation and not:
View attachment 1314733
translation: inhabitants per square kilometre
note on this map: you can also here see how the lake of Mjøsa helps as a temperature regulator in Inland Norway, giving milder winters.
Based on this population density and actual temperature data I would suggest changing following locations to continental climate:
Kongsvinger, Hamar, Vestglomma (should be renamed Ringsaker), Lillehammer, Vardal, Ringerrike.
Population
Further I'd like to add some comments on population distribution of Eastern Norway, right now the population is too centralized around the Oslofjord, especially the location of Oslo which has a population 3x that of Oslo in real life in 1769. Unfortunately there is no good data for the medieval population of Norway, but there is the cencus of 1769. Which, I believe atleast can give some good pointers to the population of different areas of Norway in relation to eachother. The data from the census I got from the national archives. Using this data I calculated the percentage of some of the areas in eastern Norway in 1769 and compared them to the population percentage of the corresponding locations in euV in 1337, and finally gave a suggestion to what 1337-population these locations should have if they are to have the same pop percentage as in 1769.
View attachment 1314748
Finally while I normally wouldn't link wikipedia as a source they have a sheet based on the data from the national archives which give a quite nice overview over the population of different districts in Norway in 1769. Link
Thank you for your attention, looking forwards to playing this game!
