Niko from the early 20th century

Niko is a peace-loving person, he doesn't get into fights, or at least tries not to. Niko is a hard worker, and because he's so active, he really enjoys doing things, and sometimes he doesn't care so much what he can do. Naturally, he'll enjoy more varied activities. Niko is friendly. Niko loves his mother very much, he loves her more than anything in the world and is ready to do everything possible and work as much as it takes, just so that everything is well for her. Niko loves to read. This love is fueled by his very rich imagination, which can conjure up the most incredible pictures in his head. Niko is curious, he really wants to know the answer to the questions what, how and why. Niko loves to eat because eating is good, but eating well is even better. Niko's favorite food is his mother's freshly baked pancakes. He eats them with great pleasure, and he ate them regularly in the village, but since moving to the city, he hasn't had a single pancake because they couldn't afford all the necessary ingredients. This is perhaps the only thought that could upset him even slightly. Otherwise, he tries never to get upset under any circumstances.

By temperament, Niko is sanguine. He is always cheerful, energy gushes out of him, and the desire to do something does not disappear for a single minute. He is cheerful and very optimistic about the big world around him, regardless of possible threats or anger from this very world. Niko is imbued with a childlike faith in the best, in justice and in the victory of good over evil. He understands that the world is much more complicated, but he still wants to believe that the world is a little simple. Niko is brave, he is not afraid of difficulties and even easy dangers. He can climb onto the roof of the house if the need arises. But, of course, this does not mean at all that he will not run away if they suddenly try to rob him, because this wakes him up correctly. However, he will definitely not run away if he has someone to protect him from these robbers. Niko is honest. If he lies, then only for trifles and just a little. And he will never take someone else's, because he knows that no matter what, it is wrong. Nico, despite his activity and seemingly constant joy, is modest, well-mannered and very reserved in society. He will behave quietly, politely answer questions and certainly will not just shout or make trouble.

Nico looks young and he is not very tall. He has large yellow eyes with black cat pupils and clean, healthy white teeth, which should make all dentists jealous of their appearance. He has disheveled blue hair and matching blue cat ears, spread out in different directions from under the beige work cap on top of his head. His cap has definitely seen better days. It is quite shabby, it has a lot of patches, but it still performs its functions properly with all the dignity it has. Niko is dressed in a relatively new brown coat with the sleeves rolled up and a rich fabric that has not yet faded. There is not a single patch on the coat. Niko cherishes it very much and wants it to continue in the future. Under his coat, Niko has an old, but still intact shirt, once upon a time white. Now the shirt is closer to gray. Niko wears a bright red scarf around his neck. At least it had once been bright and red, but now, after many years of faithful service as an element of clothing, the scarf had faded to almost orange, but still red, shades, and was covered with many patches, lovingly sewn into Niko's fabric. A scarf, a cap, and a shirt are the only clothes Niko took from the village. Niko wears baggy beige pants with a belt on his feet, constantly stained with road dust and his unrestrained activity. He also has several patches on his pants. Nico also wears simple brown shoes. They are still intact, but such a joyful continuation of affairs is unlikely to last too long. Not all patches match the color of the garments to which they are sewn. Niko has a yellow cloth bag, which he carries over his shoulder. It has only one compartment, but it is quite roomy. There are many small things in the bag that he Inda collects. Some things are even useful. Niko is thrifty and very sensitive to all his belongings and clothes, because he doesn't have many clothes.

Niko is a handyman, he tried a lot of jobs, but almost never stayed at any of them for very long. Niko worked in two small factories, one producing hairpins for women's hair, and the other producing sewing needles. Niko also worked in a textile factory, but he accidentally sewed his scarf onto a garment and barely managed to tear it back off, which is why he was fired. Niko cleaned shoes, but they gave too little money for it. Niko worked part-time at the store. It wasn't very successful, and he was eventually fired. Niko works as a street vendor selling newspapers at some printing house, and so far this is the job he has held on to the longest.

Due to a bad harvest that devastated their village, Niko and his mother were forced to pack their few belongings and leave to try their luck in a big city—and not just any city, but Vienna, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. But they achieved little there. Niko's mother works as a dishwasher in a slum kitchen, and her boss is, by all indications, a rather unsavory character. Meanwhile, Niko is looking for extra work. They live on the outskirts of the city, practically in a slum. They have a one-room apartment with a combined kitchen and dining room, a small living room, and one bedroom, which they share with their mother. Because of this, Niko sleeps on the floor, but he doesn't despair. The main thing is that his mother has a place to sleep. They have enough money for food and they are not as poor as some people, so in a sense they are doing well.

Niko was born and raised in a village on the northeastern edge of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, where he spent most of his life. The village was surprisingly multinational, with Czechs, Slovaks, Romanians, Poles, Ukrainians, and even one Austrian. Thanks to these neighbors, the inquisitive Niko learned several additional languages ​​from an early age. Everyone in the village was very close-knit, eager to help each other in times of need, knowing they would be there for each other if something went wrong. This largely influenced Niko's optimistic outlook and his complete dislike of those who dislike someone simply because of their nationality. Niko doesn't know who his father is or where he is. His mother never talked about it. Unfortunately, Niko doesn't know his year of birth or his exact age, but that's a fairly common problem in these turbulent times. He's likely already an adult. Niko can read, write, and count; his mother taught him that, but he never went to school. There was no school in the village. Niko loved playing with the neighborhood kids, regardless of their cultural background. He always found it strange that some people disliked each other based on these characteristics. In the village, Niko ate very heartily and generously, personally devouring almost everything his mother cooked for him. Even eating meat for dinner in the village wasn't as unheard of as it was in the cities.

Niko's mother is a sweet, quiet, modest and very reserved woman, all her life she wanted only to raise her son as a worthy young man. She loves Niko more than anything in the world, she loves him. She is far from thinking about any great things or about any important world affairs, if none of this concerns her son. She is a very good cook, especially she cooks pancakes.

January 17 – The Hungarian government is formed, headed by Count Károly Kuen-Hedervári. January 28 – The work of the National Assembly of Hungary is suspended until March 24, passing a vote of no confidence in the government of Count Károly Kuen-Hederváry on this day February 15 – The Constitutional Party of Hungary, led by Gyula Andrássy, dissolves itself February 19 – István Tisza founded the National Labor Party in the Kingdom of HungaryMarch 6 – In Berlin, mounted police disperse a workers' demonstration demanding the introduction of universal suffrage in Prussia, March 8 is declared International Women's Day by the decision of the Socialist International (Copenhagen). March 8 – Élise de Laroche of France becomes the first female pilot to hold a license to fly an airplane. March 21 – The National Assembly of Hungary is dissolved, May 10 – New elections to the National Assembly of Hungary are announced May 27 – The Prussian Parliament rejects the possibility of introducing equal voting rights for women. June 1 – Two-day elections to the National Assembly of Hungary begin. The Party of Rational Labor of István Tisza received an absolute majority of seats on July 16 - Chilean President Pedro Montt handed over power to First Vice-President Elias Fernandez Albano and left for Germany for treatment of atherosclerosis August 16 - Chilean President Pedro Montt, who arrived in Germany for treatment on August 28, died suddenly in Bremen at night - Montenegro is proclaimed an independent kingdom led by monarch Nicholas I.

February 27 – The French government led by Aristide Briand resigned. March 2 – Vice President of the French Senate Ernest Monis became Prime Minister of France. April 29 – November 19 – International Art Exhibition (Rome) May 20 – The Chinese government signed an agreement with a consortium of British, French, German, and American banks, transferring all railway construction in China to foreign hands. A "railway protection" movement began in the country. May 31 – The British liner Titanic, the largest passenger ship in the world, was launched. On June 23, French Prime Minister Ernest Moniz resigned[3], and the Assembly of Albanian Representatives in Gerça adopted the "Red Book" – a program for Albanian autonomy. June 27 – A government headed by Joseph Caillaux is formed in France. On July 1, the German gunboat Panther entered the Moroccan port of Agadir in the morning (the so-called "Panther jump"). At midday, German Ambassador Schön announced to the French government that the Panther would guarantee German interests in Morocco until calm was restored. The Agadir Crisis begins. July 4 - Britain told Germany that it does not intend to recognize the new division of Morocco July 9 – French Ambassador to Berlin Jules Cambon proposed that Germany resolve the Agadir crisis by transferring part of the French Congo to Germany. There was no direct response. July 15 – State Secretary Alfred von Kiderlen-Wächter demanded that France hand over the entire French Congo to Germany (in exchange for recognition of the French protectorate over Morocco) July 21 – British Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George expressed support for France in the Agadir crisis. Following this, Germany renounced its territorial claims in Morocco and reduced the territorial compensation demanded from France for recognizing the French protectorate over it. July 31 – Rallies in support of Albanian autonomy began in Vlora and Berat August 18 - negotiations between Germany and France on the settlement of the Ag

March 26 – Serbia and Bulgaria signed a treaty of friendship and alliance March 30 – Sultan Abd al-Hafid of Morocco and a representative of France signed a convention in Fez recognizing the French protectorate over Morocco. April 15 – The British liner Titanic sank after colliding with an iceberg. 1,496 people died. April 17 – The Lena Massacre. During a strike at the gold mines on the Lena River, government troops opened fire on workers. May 1 – Italo-Turkish War: The Italian fleet bombarded the Dardanelles and attempted to enter the Strait. In response, Turkey closed the Dardanelles Strait to all foreign ships. Italy withdrew its fleet, and under pressure from the Great Powers, Turkey opened the Strait to merchant ships of neutral states on May 18. May 5—June 27 — 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm (Sweden). May 23 – A strike and demonstration by Hungarian workers in Budapest turned into a clash with troops, known as "Bloody Thursday" May 29 – Greece and Bulgaria signed a military alliance treaty directed against Turkey. June 6 – The Novarupta volcano in Alaska erupted, becoming the largest eruption of the 20th century. September 4 – Uprising on the Greek island of Samos against Turkish occupation. October 8 – Montenegro declared war on Turkey. The First Balkan War began. October 18 – Italo-Turkish War: A public treaty between Italy and the Ottoman Empire was signed in Lausanne, ending the Italo-Turkish War. Turkey granted autonomy to Cyrenaica and Tripolitania, effectively transferring them to Italian control. November 27 - France and Spain signed an agreement on the division of Morocco. Moroccan territory was divided into three zones, and Spain ceded many of the territories it had claimed. November 28 – Albania, which was part of the Ottoman Empire, declared its independence December 2 - The Reich Chancellor of the German Empire, Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg, spoke in the Reichstag and declared that Germany would enter the war on the side of Austria-Hungary if the latter attacked.

March 18 – King George I of Greece died in Thessaloniki[3]. The throne passed to his son Constantine. May 30 – The Treaty of London ended the First Balkan War June 29 - July 29 - The Second Balkan War for the division of Macedonia between Bulgaria, on one side, and Montenegro, Serbia and Greece, on the other, as well as Turkey and Romania, which joined the military actions against Bulgaria. July 10 – The highest temperature on Earth was recorded in Death Valley. (56.7 °C) On July 29, the Conference of Ambassadors of Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Russia and France confirmed the provisions of the London Peace Treaty of May 30 and recognized the independence of Albania. September 23 – Roland Garros made the first non-stop flight across the Mediterranean Sea. November 23 – The Chersonesus Bell was returned to Sevastopol from Paris.

January 22 – The first provisional government of independent Albania resigned. February 28 – proclamation of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus by ethnic Greeks. March 8 – Monarchists win elections to the Spanish Cortes March 14 – The Serbian-Turkish peace treaty was concluded, restoring diplomatic and consular relations between Serbia and Turkey, interrupted by the First Balkan War, and confirming the terms of the London Treaty of 1913 March 27 – Belgian surgeon Albert Hustin performs the first successful indirect blood transfusion using anticoagulants. June 15 – Nicholas II met with King Carol of Romania in Constanta June 28 – Sarajevo assassination: The assassination of Austrian heir Franz Ferdinand by Serbian terrorist Gavrilo Princip triggered the July Crisis. July 23 – Austria-Hungary issues an ultimatum to Serbia in connection with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand On July 25, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary Franz Joseph I issued a decree dissolving the Reichsrat, and Austria-Hungary broke off diplomatic relations with Serbia. July 28 – Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, beginning World War I

On the front page of newspapers, the most important news is written, depending on the date and important events that have taken place. Further, on other pages, there will be less important news such as prices, the economic situation in the country, advertising, weather, scientific articles, water diplomatic news, and the like.

The diplomatic situation in Europe is extremely bad. Everyone wants to destroy each other, they just want to destroy some more than others. The UK is eager to get rid of Germany, its new and extremely ambitious rival. Germany is contrary to Britain's trade and economic interests, a threat that could shake Britain's hegemony around the globe, and besides, it is a new economic system. At the same time, before the outbreak of an open war with Germany, England was playing the Great Game with Russia for influence in Central Asia. France wants to return Alsace-Lorraine from Germany and avenge its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. Italy wants to return Tyrol from Austria-Hungary, despite the fact that before the start of an open war, they will definitely be allies. Germany wants to conquer its colonies and its place in the sun by achieving its own hegemony over the world. Austria-Hungary wants to control the Balkans, while Russia wants to protect them. The tangle of contradictions and mutual enmity is so huge that it will not be possible to unravel it in half a century.

Being people differs from country to country only in details. Peasants traditionally live in villages, cut off from most of the benefits of civilization. They do not have many goods, but they do not have any great needs, especially for food, which they are provided with in abundance. Workers, the proletariat in the cities are forced to huddle in barracks, dormitories or small apartments, because they do not have enough money for more. The least fortunate of them are forced to rent a bed on a rope and live from hand to mouth. The lower strata of society illuminate houses with a couple of candles or a kerosene lamp. Middle-class people, the petty bourgeoisie, specialists and intellectuals, can afford full-fledged apartments and even furnish them with some furniture. The upper class, the remnants of the aristocracy and the big bourgeoisie can afford anything, palaces with mansions, any clothes and any exotic dishes.

Discontent and terrible living conditions in the lower strata of society, particularly among the proletariat and petty intelligentsia, lead to the growth of discontent and the organization of underground Marxist and socialist circles. Sometimes workers manage to organize a union in order to somehow defend their rights. Even rarely, the workers manage to organize enough to organize a strike or a demonstration against bestial working conditions and paltry wages, but the powers that be suppress all strikes, and the demonstrations are simply shot. Most people, one way or another, try to just live, not paying much attention to politics. Many even succeed. The big industrialists and the big bourgeoisie calmly and unhindered lobby their interests to the government at the expense of the means at their disposal. Conservative and liberal political circles and currents are waging a relentless struggle against each other, most often using completely legal methods.

The bourgeois revolution took place and reached its peak about a hundred years ago, replacing the old feudal system of society with the society of early capitalism. Peasants and peasant farms are gradually becoming a thing of the past, they are being replaced by more efficient farmers. Craftsmen perished, replaced by society by factory workers. The population is urbanizing, flowing from villages to cities in search of good opportunities and a better life. But the competition between workers is exorbitant, the working day is 14 hours, if it is standardized at all, and the wages of ordinary workers in factories, plants and other menial jobs are scanty. Poverty flourishes in the cities, in some places there is child homelessness and banditry, affecting only the lower strata of society, the proletariat. The rich are in abundance, enjoying the fruits of merciless, unrestricted exploitation. Labor legislation in countries is just emerging, so it is virtually non-existent.

European domination did not bypass Africa. The Cape colony of Great Britain in southern Africa, England's domination over all of East Africa with the consequent pumping out of all possible resources. French Senegal and Algeria, as well as French appetites over the still semi-independent Morocco, which Germany does not like at all. The German Niger Delta and the other small, small German colonies of a rising empire poised to win a place in the sun. Italian interests in the still Ottoman Libya. The Belgian Congo, notorious for its particularly brutal treatment of the indigenous population, even to the point of cutting off hands for poor work. Liberia, a de facto protectorate of the United States. The only independent country left is Ethiopia, located in the mountainous area of the Horn of Africa. All the resources seized in the colonies and taken to the European metropolis end up either in the hands of the states or in the pockets of the big magnates, businessmen and other representatives of the big bourgeoisie. The ordinary people of Europe get nothing from these riches, stolen from the indigenous peoples of Africa and Asia.

The power of the great European states over Asia is exorbitant, and has not reached only the Tibetan mountains isolated by nature. India, the second oldest civilization on earth, is now the jewel of the British crown from the Indian subcontinent in Asia. British India, the most valuable colony, supplying spices, spices, silks, cheap resources to the British metropolis and growing opium for subsequent sale to China. The Indian people, taxed exorbitantly on everything they can, vegetate into poverty, while the Indian rajahs and princes, those who hold power, the British monarchs under the protectorate and vassalage, continue to live in their accustomed luxury. India is not far from the feudal way of life, it is still very traditional and inexplicably still clings to a primitive caste system. Vietnam, a state no less ancient than India, is now also a European colony. It is part of French Indochina and also sends its resources to the metropolis in Paris. The Dutch East Indies, Indonesian Islands, were once the most expensive and profitable trading company in the entire world. Now it has somewhat lost its status, but this colony still regularly supplies sugar cane and other resources to the metropolis in the Netherlands.

The great European powers, from liberal democracies to absolute monarchies, dominate the entire globe without alternative, dictating their strict will to the colonies in Africa and Oceania, pumping out their resources to enrich themselves and satisfy their endlessly growing appetites. China, the oldest civilization on earth, which originated as early as 4 thousand years BC, is now in complete decline, desolation, degradation and endemic opium addiction. The ancient orders of Chinese society are no longer applicable to modern reality, their traditions, which the great empire followed for so long and proudly, have been broken by European cunning and technology. The great powers got China hooked on opium, took several port cities like Macau for Portugal, Hong Kong for Britain, and Qingdao for Germany, and forced it to sign many unprofitable and humiliating deals. The pride of the Celestial Empire has been trampled underfoot, while the empire itself is one step away from complete collapse, ready to break into many fragments, like a porcelain vessel that has fallen to the ground.

The world meets the beginning of the twentieth century, which has just crossed the threshold of time and replaced the 19th century. An era of great changes and upheavals is approaching, which will change the world forever and beyond recognition. Technical innovations, electricity, steam engines, the automotive industry that had just been born in the crucible of the industrial revolution, the peak of culture and fashion, incredible economic growth by the standards of bygone times. All this is associated with the diplomatic and political instability of European countries, the steady widening of the gap between rich and poor, bestial working conditions, leading to the popularization of Marxism and socialism. The invention of heavy machine guns and the modernization of the armament of European armies, in addition to everything else, only adds fuel to the fire of an already unstable situation. The world as it has been known for many years is in danger of burning up at any second.

The great European states were divided into two alliances, preparing for a war in which each intended to win as quickly as possible. The Entente: France, Russia and Great Britain. After the outbreak of the First World War, Italy would join them. The Central Powers are Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary. Italy will leave the Central Powers and go over to the side of the Entente, but Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire will take the side of the Central Powers in its place.

The Great Russian Revolution led to the transition of the country to a semi-constitutional monarchy, the creation of the State Duma and the introduction of the most humane labor legislation in all of Europe, which, however, does not mean an improvement in the living conditions of the workers. The revolution took place in connection with the tired people who wanted reforms, and the protracted Russo-Japanese War, which was subsequently lost by Russia. Because of this, Japan became the first Asian power to defeat a European country. Despite the changes in society, Russia is still close to absolutism.

The Russian Empire, a great state that embraced Eastern Europe and all of Siberia. It includes Finland, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, the Baltic States, the Caucasus, the steppes of Central Asia and boundless Russia itself. The Industrial Revolution happened in a large separation from Russia, so it is forced to catch up with the production of other European powers. Russia actively trades with Germany, buying machine-made products and selling agricultural products. However, the initial industrialization of Russia was carried out on French loans and British investments, which is why Russia will not be able to become an ally for Germany, despite the fact that these great countries have nothing to divide at all. Not so long ago, Russia abandoned the last feudal customs in the form of serfdom, so capitalism is only beginning to be built on its territory. There is still not enough land for peasants in Russia, and this is a problem, because the Russian Empire is still an agrarian country that has just embarked on industrial rails. The goal of the Russian Empire is to preserve itself and protect the Balkan Slavs. And there is no army in the world stronger than the Russian-Imperial Army. Russia is bordered by Germany to the west through Poland, Austria-Hungary and Romania to the southwest through Ukraine, Sweden and Norway to the north through Finland, the Ottoman Empire to the south through the Caucasus, and the Chinese Empire far away in Siberia. Will Russia be able to change or, on the contrary, will it find greatness in traditions? The capital is St. Petersburg.

The French Republic, the birthplace of the Great French Revolution of 1789-1799, which brought the very concept of democracy and the power of the common people to the still feudal world. But this does not mean that the proletarians in France are not oppressed in the same way as in any other country. It is also the birthplace of the metric system, which appeared along with the same revolution. A somewhat unstable liberal republic that lost the Franco-Prussian War and is waiting for revenge to take back Alsace-Lorraine from Germany. Once France and England were eternal rivals, sweeping enemies, but now, against the backdrop of the rise of the German Empire, which neither France nor England likes, they have become allies. France is located in Western Europe. France is bordered by Belgium and Luxembourg to the northeast, Germany to the east, and Spain and Italy to the south. Will France be able to regain the title of the second power in the world? The capital is Paris.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Habsburg Empire, which once held back the Ottoman onslaught on Europe. Austria has been bypassed by the industrial revolution, it does not have such production facilities as many others, it does not have an impressive number of factories, and those that are concentrated on the territory of Austria or the Czech Republic itself. And Austria-Hungary has no colonies at all on any of the other continents, be it Austria or the Czech Republic. Austria-Hungary is a dualist monarchy of Austria and Hungary. But these are only the largest peoples living in the Austrian and Hungarian territories, respectively. Austria-Hungary is inhabited by Czechs living in the Czech Republic, Serbs from the border with Serbia, Bosnians from Bosnia, Croats from Croatia, Romanians from Transylvania, Slovaks from Slovakia, Poles from Krakow and Ukrainians and Russians from Galicia. This is a very multinational empire, which is something like a patchwork quilt from different peoples. The goal of Austria-Hungary was domination in the Balkans. With German support, they are ready to do so. Austria-Hungary is ruled by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Habsburg, and the heir is the Austrian Archduke Frans Ferdinand, who wants to reform the empire into a full-fledged federation. Austria-Hungary is bordered by Germany to the north, Italy to the south, Switzerland to the southwest, Serbia to the southeast, and Russia to the east. Will Austria-Hungary be able to preserve the unity of such diverse peoples? The capital of Austria is Vienna. The capital of Hungary is Budapest.

Once upon a time, the lands of the German Empire were many independent principalities in the middle of central Europe. Everything was changed by Otto von Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor of Germany, who united it during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. However, Bismarck was removed from office by the current Kaiser of the German Empire, Wilhelm II of the Hohenzollern dynasty, who is a second cousin of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II. Germany is a very young and ambitious state. Germany did not have time for the redivision of the world between the European powers, it does not have as many colonies as others, it does not have such markets as others. Its industrial growth, despite its high and impressive speed, is limited by the shortage of cheap resources from the colonies. But Germany is ready to carve out its place in the sun when the moment comes. And there is no army in the world stronger and more disciplined than the German one. Germany is bordered by France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg to the west, Russia to the east, Denmark to the north, Austria-Hungary and Switzerland to the south. Will Germany be able to win its place in the sun? The capital is Berlin.

Great Britain, the Empire on which the sun never sets. Together with the colonies and dominions, Britain is territorially the largest state in the entire world. Cunning diplomacy and unprincipled situational and temporary alliances to weaken current adversaries have allowed them to achieve a dominant position around the globe. England is the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, where the factory mode of production was born and the first factories and plants appeared. England is the factory of the world, producing almost everything at the beginning of the twentieth century and industrially surpassing other European countries. However, at the time of 1910, it was recovering from the crisis of 1900-1903. The insular position allows them not to worry about possible threats, and the mighty royal navy only reinforces this calmness. Britain is ruled by King George V, Parliament and Prime Minister Herbert Asquith. Outwardly, the king is very similar to his cousin, the Russian Tsar Nicholas II.The British bourgeoisie and aristocracy are the most influential in the world, they have access to countless markets and are ready to do everything to maintain control over them and even expand their influence. Ireland really wants to secede from Britain, so this is the least stable region of the British Isles, and they openly hate the British. Scotland is also not so united about being part of the UK. Will Britain be able to hold on to the title of the Empire on which the sun never sets? The capital is London.

Portugal is a small and relatively backward country on the Iberian Peninsula, bordering only Spain. The country of discoverers who opened the New World to Europe in the face of America and sea routes to India. Italy is a large European state in the south of Europe, located on the Iberian Peninsula. It is relatively industrialized, but it is far from the leading powers. Italy borders France, Switzerland and Austria-Hungary and wants to take Tyrol from Austria-Hungary. Luxembourg is a small state sandwiched between Germany, France and Belgium. It has no access to the sea. Switzerland is an Alpine state in the heart of Europe, completely neutral, has a developed banking system, borders Italy, Austria-Hungary, France and Germany. It has no access to the sea. Serbia is a Balkan country, one part of which is occupied by the Ottoman Empire, and the other by Austria-Hungary. Serbia is determined to gain independence. Bulgaria and Greece are Balkan countries whose territories were seized by the Ottoman Empire. They are determined to regain their own and gain complete independence. Romania is a small agrarian country in eastern Europe.

The Ottoman Empire is once a great state, now the 'Sick Man of Europe'. It controls Egypt, the Middle East and is holding on to the Balkans with great difficulty, so that they want to throw off the yoke of its domination. Sweden, Denmark and Norway are the Scandinavian countries of the European North, a safe haven far from the interests of the world's leading powers, but located in close proximity to them. In particular, Denmark has a land border with the German Empire. The Netherlands is a small but relatively wealthy colonial European country that controls the Dutch East Indies. The homeland of capitalism and the bourgeoisie, where this social system was born. Belgium is a small but industrialized colonial European country that controls the Belgian Congo. It is sandwiched between France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany. Spain is a large but relatively backward country on the Iberian Peninsula in southern Europe. It was once a great colonial empire, larger than the British, controlling South America and Mexico. Spain now has only a few small colonies in North Africa and is angry with the British over Gibraltar, a piece of land near the strait leading to the Mediterranean.

Carts, horses and charioteers are available to almost all segments of the population, and their quality varies depending on the social stratum of those who use them. Trains – By rail, these engineering wonders connect major cities. They are available only to fairly wealthy segments of the population due to the high cost of tickets and the greater orientation of trains to cargo, and not to passengers. Passenger compartments and carriages are well furnished, and luxury carriages shine with luxury. Airships are available only to the rich. Airship compartments are very luxurious due to the high status and financial situation of their passengers. Ferries, boats, civilian ships and liners are available and in demand by all segments of the population. The level of comfort depends on the ticket, from a cheap shared cabin and simple breakfasts and dinners, to a luxurious luxury room with full banquets. Cars – Cars have just begun to appear, they are perceived more as an unusual curiosity than as a means of transportation. The car is available only to very rich people. Airplanes appeared even later than cars and are not used at all.

Pound Sterling and pennies in Britain The ruble and kopeck in Russia Franc and centime in France Dollar and cent in the USA Crown and Heller in Austria-Hungary Mark and pfennig in the German Empire