[History 101; 2029] The Crash of '29 and the World
As we discussed earlier, February 8^th of 2029 ushered in the chaos that became known as the Crash of 2029. A hundred years after the stock market crashed and brought on the Great Depression, here it was again.
In this post we're going to focus on how the Crash effected the rest of the world, and not so much about how it was contained and destroyed. For anyone interested, just check out the link above, and you'll get more information than you ever had hoped for.
##Spain: February 8^th
Spain had been hit hard in the past. During the environmental upheaval of the early part of this century what was once fertile land became either barren, or submerged under a toxic mess. The northern parts of the country were invaded by the indigenous plant populations wild growth. This overgrowth was virulent and violent and eventually over ran most small towns along the nothern coast.
Then in 2012 with the Pope's decree of metahumanity and magic being tools of the devil, the already hurting population had a target for their wrath. Their anger had barely been abated when Gobliniization occurred, and further stoked the flames of hate.
February 8^th and the Crash brought another reason to riot. One of the city's that had been fighting off the plant invasion was Asturia. With the coming of the Crash the Asturians took to the streets to protest their living conditions and imposed curfews. They were calling for abolition of the Spanish government. But they weren't just carrying picket signs, and such. Oh no, they actually went into the rich enclaves in the region, and took from those that had more than them.
These initial riots lasted for weeks. And there would still be periodic flare-ups from time to time for years to come. The rich abandoned their villas in the region and moved to safer locations like Toledo and Barcelona.
This wasn't the only spot of dissent inside Spain though. The "community" (taken as state a la the US) of Euskadi-Cantabria-Rioja and Galicia used this turmoil to announce their seceesions from Spain. Euskadi-Cantabria-Rioja, with the help of corporate backers actually did leave and form the country of Euskal Herria. Galicia on the other hand used their threat of secession to get special considerations from the government, and never left.
The Spanish government goes through a massive reorganization effort throughout the rest of the year. They switched from a bicameral legislature to a moncameral, and seized Mardrid, Castilla Leon, and Mancha to place it under government control. This new sprawl was named Castille.
##Switzerland: February 8^th
Due to the failure of their computer systems from the Crash, Genom Corp. lost control of an experimental mutagen. This mutagen spread into the surrounding areas and caused the death of thousands.
Not all news for Switzerland was bad this year though. Thanks to the paranoid level of security, the Swiss banks were able to get back on their feet faster than most other financial institutions.
##Low Earth Orbit: February 8^th
Thanks to the Crash Virus, Harris-3M’s Halo, Angel Station, and Nerva stations were permanently disabled. Fully half of the orbiting stations faced fatal system failure resulting in the deaths of those aboard. This is largest space based tragedy to date.
United Kingdom and Ireland:
On this day, the United Kingdom and Ireland closed off their borders in an attempt to quarantine the Crash Virus. They don't open the borders again for almost ten months.
##Aztlan: May 1^st
Tenochtitlan is hit with a massive earthquake that destroys much of the cities historical sites. The rescue efforts are hindered by the Crash Virus, and thousands died. Many more thousands were injured or lost during the confusion.
##France
The French nobility started spreading rumours that the Crash Virus was a ruse used by corrupt French officials to steal from the Treasury. The French responded in typical French fashion by staging an old fashioned riot on June 27^th. The fighting lasted only a few days.
A little under three weeks later on July 14^th (Bastille Day for anyone interested) the French government was toppled by military coup.
##Seattle, July 10^th
Thanks to the Crash Virus putting the Fear of Ghost into everyone, the city of Redmond faced economic collapse. With the crash of the local economy, crime went on the rise. It finally got to the point that the Metroplex Guard took a page from L.A.'s book and placed barriers around the entire district and let it fend for itself. This area became the Redmond Barrens that 'runners know and loathe (and love) today.
##Italy, July 30^th
The Crash Virus didn't just topple governments corporations. On July 30^th, the Mafia got hit by the Virus and it virtually destroyed their international financial network. This lose of revenue, combined with assaults from organizations like the Voy v Zakone forced the Mafia back to their roots. Neighborhood protection, rackets, running numbers, smuggling, etc. became the new focus of the Mafia. And has stuck with it to this day for the most part.
##Europe, August 10^th
With its member nations collapsing around it, the European Union closed it doors and dissolved.
##Salish-Sidhe, November 10^th
The first generation UGE survivors in the region band together and move south to form a new tribe on Salish land. This tribe, called the Sinsearch, plays a major role in the development (and a point of dissent) in the years to come. Several trolls and orcs follow suit, but nowhere near in the numbers of the elves and dwarves.
And that's what happened throughout the world during the Crash of '29. I'm sorry that it's not as long an entry as I usually do, but It was just long enough I couldn't fit it and the next year in. Many apologies for that.
At u/Pinkasso's suggestion, I'm going to go ahead and add a little bit more information to this. Sorry for the edit, I won't make it a habit.
##Germany
The Crash brought about the dissolution of several of Germany's smaller corporations. It also managed to hit those organizations that relied on electronic transfers (eg. banks) and information exchange (eg. stock-brokers). Unfortunately, the crisis prone Berlin was hit the hardest. This miniature collapse brought about a new wave of corporate mergers that set the scene for the Germany economy we would recognize today.
##Austria
The Crash of '29 sparked a three year long civil war in this country. Leopold Hapsburg, the hereditary ruler of Austra, led a traditionalist backed faction to victory in 2032. They re-install the monarchy of old, with Leopold himself as the Emperor of Austria.
##the Chzech Republic
We'll be talking about this in the next [History 101]. Stay tuned for more info!
##Italy
This decade is one marked by a myriad and series of corruption scandals. Even throughout the Crash not a month went by without another politician being hung out to dry by the media. Throughout the crash it started to take a worse turn, when the dissatisfied citizens took to the streets to protest the corruption. Ultimately this leads to the formation of the Italian Confederation.
##Poland
By the time of the Crash Poland was already severely in debt. To the point that the Crash of '29 marked the virtual end of the Polish economy as we know it. They somehow managed to scrape through the year. And the rest will be covered in the next [History 101].
##Portugal
Portugal is dealt quite the blow by the Crash, but not as bad as most. Their infrastructure remains relatively in tact, and they don't begin to bleed money quite the way other countries do. Towards the end of 2032, the fifteen biggest corporations merger with the Portuguese government, in effect, creating the first democratically control corporation. This isn't a fair deal by any means, but we'll get to that soon.
##Scandinavian Countries
Thanks to the Black Tide and the Crash of '29, the Scandinavian countries had been dealt quite the economic blow. Norway was one of the hardest hit. The Crash crippled this countries oil dependent economy almost over night. One of the first means of survival was the merger of telecom giants Nokia and Erickson. When that failed to pan out the way it was intended, the Scandinavian counties band together in 2031 to for the Sandinavian Union to protect themselves from economic ruin, and invasion by the Russians.
##the Netherlands
Thanks to the Crash of '29, the Netherlands and Flanders begin their burgeoning relationship with one another. This was a necessity that turned into an advantage almost a decade and a half later when the two join together to form the United Netherlands along with a few other neighbors.
##Chinese Splinter States
The Chinese splinter states had just gone through their civil wars and come out the other side. The crash seemed to have effected their industry throughout the turmoil, and is cited as a cause for peace throughout the region for the years that it lasted. Not quite a saving grace, but it brought a little peace.
##India
As u/Pinkasso notes below, the tech industry is absolutely demolished due to the Crash. Untold thousands die as civil services are shut off, including water and power. The region is in the grips of a religious fervor, calling the year 2029 the Year of Shiva's Dance.
##The Middle East
Islamist extremist viewed the attack on Tehran as an attack on all of the Islam. This combined with the oil depletions led to the rise of Islamic Fundamentalism in the region throughout the '20s. The Crash brought about the end of resistance in the region, and by the end of it, many countries are Islamic police states. Eventually forming the Alliance of Islam.
In the next [History 101]...
##Sources!
- Shadows of Europe pp. 148-149, 79-80
- The Sixth World Almanac pp. 45-47
Posted Apr 9, 2014, 9:45 PM UTC · edited