Riyata

Riyata, officially the Commonwealth of Riyata, is a country located in Vatupaya, a sub-continent in eastern Vidina. It consists of 57 states, 5 provinces, an imperial municipality, and various other territories. Continental Riyata extends from the !Mountains in the north to the Vatupic Sea in the south, and from the Quenniec Canal in the east to !River in the west. It borders Koranel in the east, which is its closest economic, political, and military ally, and Ta'aroha and Tiepu in the west. It also borders the Democratic Federation through the three semi-exclaves of TBD, TBD, and TBD. The largest city and capital is Grana, the home of the imperial family and an international finance center with a metropolitan population of 15 million. Other major cities are as Citana, Kaleyo, Tasuo, and Manava. With a population of 230.5 million people and an area of 1.1 million square kilometers, Riyata is the 4th-most populous nation in the world and the 17th-largest in area. Litiya IV has been Empress since April 20th, 1959, and Riyata is a constitutional monarchy and a federal semi-presidential semi-parliamentary democracy.

Continuously inhabited since around 10,000 years ago, what is now continental Riyata was first settled by various hunter-gatherer tribes, who developed agriculture in eastern Taxata by 6,000 BCE. The first advanced cultures and peoples that developed in current Riyatic territory were various bronze-age civilizations such as the ancient !peopleinthewest, !lakepeople, !mountainpeople, !granamen, !peopleinthesouth, and !myceneaen Taxics. Later, !culturegroup peoples such as the !peopleacrossthesea and Taxics briefly colonized the southwestern coasts before the entire region was annexed by the Aunic Empire in the first century CE. During the late classical period, modern Riyatic territory was split between the Aunics in the west, various tribes and small civilizations in the north, and the Classical Taxics in the east. Large-scale Aunic settlement of the region began with the foundation of the city of Angeha (now !cityname) in 227. Although initial expansion in the west was swift, the eastward invasions slowed down considerably once they reached the !granamen and Taxic civilizations, who had a similar level of development as the Aunics. The eastern borders of the Aunic Empire reached their furthest extent in the mid-second century. Starting from the 3rd century, the Aunics were continuously and regularly subject to raids and invasions in the east, mainly from the Taxics, but also from other foreign peoples and previously-subjugated civilizations such as the !granamen and !peopleinthesouth. These incursions greatly increased in frequency and scale after the eruption of Mount Ariye in 344, beginning the Late Taxic Invasions.

Becoming increasingly unable to deal with the Taxic invasions, the Aunic Empire abandoned their territories east of the !tiepuriver in 358, ushering in the second wave of the Late Taxic Invasions and the Riyatic Dark Ages, during which control over the region was split between the leftover Aunics, resurgent unassimilated indigenous peoples, and an increasing number of Taxic warlords departing from Taxata in the east. In the latter 4th and early 5th centuries, the Kingdom of Diniye emerged as a dominating power out of central Riyata, but it was destroyed by a Taxic host led by !taxicdude in 423. Eventually, !taxicharlemagne unified Taxata itself and led a final, third wave of invasions across eastern Vatupaya, subjugating a vast area under the Mirati Confederation, which was formally declared in 482.

The Mirati Confederation was initially ruled by a Taxic lineage of emperors and nobles, but they were replaced by ethnic Riyatians during the Hitovy Uprising from 990-992. The capital was moved from Manava to Grana, the seat of power of the new TBD imperial dynasty, who had come to power through sea power and control of trade in the Vatupic Sea. The TBD, though their immense wealth, were able to command the loyalty of the many minor nobles at first. However, after only a few generations, the Confederation began to slip back into decentralization.

In the late 18th century and early 19th century, increasing levels of industrialization combined with a successive line of increasingly powerful monarchs saw the imperial government grow more centralized than ever before. The Unification of Riyata was formalized in February of 1858, when the 53 member states of the Mirati Confederation became officially united under the Riyatic Empire. Throughout the 19th century, Riyata rapidly industrialized, coming into frequent conflict with its neighbors. In particular, two inconclusive wars with Ta’aroha in the latter 19th century would fuel nationalistic and militaristic fervor in Riyata that culminated in massive loss of life during World War I.

In 1922, the May Revolution saw Emperor !Emperor overthrown and replaced with his third daughter, !Empress, who advocated strongly for the creation of a democracy in Riyata. Over the next decade, Riyata transitioned to its modern-day Commonwealth government. However, the government retained almost all of the institutions and systems of Imperial Riyata, albeit with significant reform, and it is still widely debated if Imperial and Commonwealth Riyata should be considered two distinct historical entities.

The Summer War was Riyata's last conflict with Ta'aroha and also the sparking incident of the Second World War. The conflict, lasting from 1940-1945, would see most continental Riyata fall under Ta’arohan military occupation. However, a government-in-exile was formed in neighboring allied Koranel, which eventually succeeded in liberating Riyata from foreign control. The aftermath of this conflict largely saw the Riyatic-Ta’arohan rivalry disappear, replaced by a cooperative !ECSC that eventually would lead to the creation of the Vatupic Treaty Community.

In the modern day, Riyata has retained its historical status as one of the world's great powers, forming an integral part of the Vatupic Treaty Community. It is a highly developed economy with a GDP of Ꝟ14.1 trillion as of 2022. Riyata is a developed nation and ranks very high in the Human Development Index (HDI), with extended social programs including free education for all and a limited universal healthcare system. Although it suffers from high income and wealth inequality compared to similarly developed nations, Riyata has relatively low poverty rates and has placed well on quality of life indexes. Riyata is a founding member of the VTC.

Prehistory and early history (before 9th century BCE)


The first humans to arrive in Riyata most likely did so by crossing the Vatupic Sea, landing on the southeastern coasts. The earliest signs of human activity in Riyata are stone and volcanic glass tools radiocarbon-dated to approximately 10,000 years ago. Taxata was one of the earliest places where agriculture developed in Vidina, and the fertile volcanic soil there, caused by the frequent volcanism of Mount Ariye, enabled the development of large-scale farming as far back as 8,000 years ago.

Starting 5,000 years ago, the discovery of bronze in Vatupaya began a period of rapid technological growth, allowing advanced civilizations to begin appearing. These included the !mycenaean Taxics in the 16th century BCE and the !TBD and !TBD in the 15th century BCE. These civilizations traded with each other and other civilization around the Vatupic Sea, establishing one of the largest maritime trading networks in the ancient world.

The !mycenaean Taxics were the largest and most prosperous of the ancient civilizations in Eastern Vatupaya, possessing writing and a sophisticated political structure. However, their society collapsed suddenly and violently due to unknown reasons during the 11th or 12th centuries BCE. This collapse, while initially limited to Taxata, set off a chain reaction that led to the demise of all of the other neighboring advanced societies. This ushered in period known as the Taxic Dark Ages that lasted around three centuries. Written records from this time period are scarce in Taxata and are effectively nonexistent in the other areas it affected.

Archaic and Classical period (9th century BCE–4th century CE)
The end of the Taxic Dark Ages is dated to 861 BCE, the year of the founding of !city, which would go on to be the first and most prominent of the city-states of Archaic Taxata. However, although the population of Taxata was able to recover from the dark ages retaining parts of their previous heritage, the surrounding civilizations had been thoroughly destroyed. During the dark ages, there was a large migration or invasion of an unknown foreign group into southern Riyata. Their influence on Taxata during the dark age was considerable, not but strong enough to sever all connection between the Archaic Taxics and the !mycenaeans. Their impact on the areas neighboring Taxata was much greater. The only other advanced civilization to emerge from the dark ages were the !granamen in the 6th or 5th centuries BCE, but they are generally not considered a successor to the TBD civilization that had inhabited that area previously.

The Taxics began establishing overseas colonies in the 7th century BCE, beginning with !colony in 697 BCE. The next several centuries saw a rapid expansion of the Taxic civilization across Eastern Vatupaya. The city-states of the Taxic coast, the kingdoms of inland Taxata, and the faraway colonies all contributed to the emergence of Classical Taxata in the 3rd century BCE, ushering in a golden age of culture and prosperity.



The Aunic Empire rapidly invaded and annexed parts of western and southern Riyata in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, reaching and wiping out the !granamen in the latter half of the 2nd century. At their peak, the Aunics reached as far as central Taxata, but the geography of Taxata and the martial culture of the Classical Taxics allowed them to survive and eventually push back. Going forwards, the Taxics and the Aunics would be in almost constant conflict against one another, until a mass migration and invasion of the Taxics into Aunic land forced the Empire to abandon its eastern territories. This massive movement of peoples is referred to as the Late Taxic Invasions, which irreversibly shaped the course of history in Eastern Vatupaya.

Intermediary period (4th century–9th century)


In 355, !someone raised an army in Taxata and crossed the !taxicmountains through the Saqaye Gap, bypassing the Aunic fortress city of !city on the southern coast. Contemporary records describe this host as "massive," with given numbers varying between 10,000 and 40,000. According to an Aunic document, !someone's army numbered 100,000, but this figure was likely purposefully inflated by local Aunic generals to spare the embarrassment of having been defeated by a supposedly inferior enemey. However, sources all agree that the Taxic army was much larger or otherwise more powerful than any individual Aunic military force in the region. !taxicleader defeated the first two Aunic legions he engaged and reached as far west as Angeha, which he laid siege to in 357. The organized Aunic defense collapsed when a second large Taxic warband, led by !someoneelse, breached the Aunic defenses at !city. News of the city's fall spread quickly. Between the siege on Angeha and the loss of their principal line of defense, the regional Aunic administration had quickly effectively lost its ability to govern the territory. Some Aunic generals began to establish themselves as overlords over local towns and villages in open defiance of the imperial government, while those still loyal to the Empire attempted to head west to regroup in more stable territory. Angeha surrendered to !someone in 358 and the last imperial forces crossed the !river river later that year, marking the end of Aunic rule in eastern Vatupaya.

The initial decades after Aunic rule were characterized by frequent famines and starvation, as the population of the region could not be sustained without the organized, coordinated farming and infrastructure that was made possible by the Empire. There were also frequent wars, as the local powers struggled against each other to fill the power vacuum. The numerous petty kingdoms established by rogue Aunic generals initially covered a large portion of the region, but most of them were eventually overwhelmed by Taxic conquerors. The Aunic Empire's departure from the region also marked the end of the first wave of the Late Taxic Invasions and the beginning of the second wave; from then on, large amounts of settlers migrated out of Taxata to settle in eastern Vatupaya, whereas the first wave was made up mostly of armed invaders. Although many more people settled in invaded territories during the second wave, this did not mean there was no violence; large warbands accompanied most Taxic settlers, and they would often militarily subjugate an area before settling there. Over time, the migrations significantly altered the demographic composition of the region, as the new Taxic warrior class ruled over and gradually supplanted the Aunic and indigenous peasant class.


 * Kingdom of Diniye unites large area in central Riyata but stagnates
 * City-states form trade league on the northern lake
 * !taxicharlemagne is proclaimed Emperor of all Taxics and of Taxata
 * Final wave of Late Taxic Invasions subjugate many minor states forming Mirati Confederation
 * Further expansion of the Mirati Confederation
 * Hitovy Uprising replaces warrior aristocracy with plutocratic/meritocratic aristocracy

Medieval period (9th century–15th century)

 * Tiepu becomes property of the King of Huateta (First Tiepeti War)

Beginning in the 14th century, the Tevatua border kingdoms began gradually expanding east through primarily military conquests, coming into control over significant non-Tevatua territories. These conflicts came to be known as the Mirati Wars of Religion and lasted until the early 16th century, generally coinciding with the wider period of religious tension in Vatupaya during the 15th century. Initially, the successive Emperors were not willing to intervene in the conflict, as the border kings had historically kept a good relationship with the Imperial authority. However, the Imperial Diet of 1528 officially empowered Emperor !person to resolve the conflict, beginning the War of the Border Kings, which lasted until 1533. Following the Imperial victory in the war, the border kings lost their eastern territories and were forbidden from expanding against fellow members of the Confederation in the future. This drastic move by the Emperor was viewed as a betrayal of trust by the border kings and set a precedent for future antagonism between them.

Early modern period (15th century–1848)

 * Harad arrives and start plague
 * Trade with Harad
 * Alutrans arrive
 * 1731: Alutrans begin establishing treaty ports
 * 1734: Tiepu lost to westerners (Second Tiepeti War)
 * 1789: Taxic Expulsion Crisis

Modern period (1848–1922)
The Kingdom of Taxata invaded !TBD and !TBD in 1848 and 1850 respectively, sparking a crisis in the Mirati Confederation and initiating the Riyatic Wars of Unification. During the 1852 Congress of Citana, the Taxic monarch, !TBD, crowned himself "Emperor in the East" and officially declared Taxata's intention to unite the Confederation into a centralized entity. While not yet in direct conflict with the Emperor and the western states, the Taxic proclamation sparked a period of heightened tension and discord within the Mirati Confederation. The question of unification instantly became a major national issue, especially after Emperor Wilo IX inherited the crown in 1854. He dissolved the Imperial Diet and rallied the loyal states, forming the Western Coalition in direct opposition to the Taxic bloc. Neutral states were persuaded to choose a side and several of those who refused were forcibly compelled to do so, most commonly by military means, but also through diplomatic or economic pressure. The Western Coalition staged an invasion of Tiepu in 1855, incorporating it in to the Confederation. Initially, the two alliances were careful to not directly engage each other, but contention over the disputed Diniye Issue caused war to break out in 1856. Later that year, the northern states, most of which had remained neutral, formally declared allegiance to the Emperor at the December 4th Toriye Conference. Following the defeat of Taxata, the Imperial Diet was reconvened and the electors ratified the Unification of Riyata on February 12, 1858.



Shortly after unification, the Emperor declared the Alutran-controlled treaty ports dissolved, sparking a major diplomatic incident between Riyata and the Alutran powers. Except for Gladomyr, none of the Alutran empires had been notified of the development beforehand, and the Imperial Army forcibly expelled all foreign nationals and merchants from Riyata, seizing their assets and wares. After a period of diplomatic tension, the imperial powers of Salia, Ordrey, and Edury formed a military coalition and, without any formal declaration of war, invaded Riyata on December 23rd, 1858, beginning the Port War of 1858. The coalition initially dispatched an expeditionary force of only 10,000 men, but they had severely underestimated the strength of the Riyatic forces and were defeated almost immediately. A second army of 50,000 men reached Riyata in 1860, but they were likewise defeated at the Siege of Grana on May 7th, 1861. Hostilities ended soon after, but no treaty was signed; the Riyatians refused to give validation to what they saw as an illegitimate, disrespectful invasion. The lack of an official declaration of war was particularly insulting; in a letter written by Prime Minister Maqaro to Broc mac Clocháin, leader of the coalition troops, he wrote that "since you will not treat Riyata with the dignity afforded to an equal nation, it is only fair that we shall do the same to you."

note to self: figure out how industrialization happens


 * 1867-1870 War with Salia, Riyata takes their territory in northern Citelota (Riyatic-Salian War)




 * Riyata colonizes East Vidina
 * 1st Riyatic-Ta'arohan War
 * Builds canal with Gladomyr
 * 2nd Riyatic-Ta'arohan War
 * Period of peace and prosperity before WW1
 * Riyata joins international coalition against the Dayashafirate
 * Riyata and Agarad fight, Riyata sends troops to Casalia and Harad
 * Ta'aroha takes advantage of distracted Riyata to invade
 * Trench warfare in western Riyata
 * Dayashafirate collapses
 * Returning Riyatic troops defeat Ta'aroha
 * There is a lot of unrest due to WW1

Contemporary period (1922–present)



 * Illustrious Revolution 1922
 * Riyatic Civil War 1938-1940
 * Ta'aroha invades Riyata in middle of civil war
 * Riyata falls, the government runs to Koranel
 * Naval war to stop Ta'aroha from leaving Vatupic Sea
 * Land war in Citelota
 * Liberation of Riyata
 * Formation of Vatupic Treaty Community
 * Economic recovery
 * War with Agarad
 * Joins Alutran War, takes Salian colonies in Vidina
 * Naval war with Salia in Locufaric Ocean
 * Nukes Salia to end the war
 * Decolonization in late 1960s to early 1970s
 * Oil crisis and economic recession in 1977 due to Agar Civil War

Geography
The vast majority of Riyata is located on the Vatupic subcontinent, and these parts are called continental Riyata to differentiate them from Riyata's overseas holdings, such as the cities of TBD, TBD, and TBD. Continental Riyata's southern border is the Vatupic Sea. Other natural borders are the !Mountains in the north, the river !River in the west, and the Quenniec Canal in the east. Riyata's territory covers a large portion of land in eastern Vatupaya, 1,176,294.16 km2, including various coastal islands, the largest of which are Harpau and !Island. It shares borders with four countries: Koranel, Citelota, Ta'aroha, and Tiepu.

Biodiversity
Vatupic ground sloth

Government and politics
Riyata is a federal state and a constitutional monarchy under a representative democracy where the powers of the monarch, currently Empress Litiya IV, are either limited by law or exercised in practice by democratically elected officials. The Constitution of Riyata is the country's highest legal document and establishes the principles and function of the government, having been amended three times since coming into force in 1858. Since the Illustrious Revolution of 1922, democratic traditions have become ingrained in Riyatic culture and politics.

The executive branch has two leaders. By law, the monarch is head of state and has the ability to summon or dissolve the legislature, the ability to approve or veto laws presented before them, and the ability to legislate through popular referendum. They are also commander-in-chief of the military forces and can order the deployment and use of nuclear weapons. Additionally, the monarch can rule by decree when the Imperial Diet is not in session. In practice, monarchical power is mostly exercised by the !president, a democratically elected position that is given imperial prerogative to exercise the acting monarch's constitutional roles on their behalf. The !prime minister, elected indirectly through the Electoral College, is head of government. The !prime minister oversees the civil service and handles day-to-day governance through Cabinet.

Legislative power is invested in the Imperial Diet, a bicameral parliament made up of the lower House of Representatives and the upper Electoral College. Legislation can be proposed in either chamber but must pass through both to become law. The Electoral College elects the !prime minister and also has the power to dismiss the government through a motion of no confidence. This has historically been a last-resort option, as the removal of any !prime minister through legislative action also triggers an immediate snap election for the entire Electoral College.

There is universal suffrage for citizens of minimum 19 years of age, with a secret ballot for all elected offices. Members of the House of Representatives are elected from parliamentary districts for two-year terms, and seats are apportioned among the states and the imperial municipality of Grana according to population. Each state divides itself into single-member or multiple-member districts to elect representatives. The Electoral College has 186 seats where each state is entitled to three electors, elected at-large to six-year terms. Elections are staggered so that one seat from each state is up for election every two years.

Administrative divisions
In the Riyatic federal model, there are two layers of government; the "empire" (federal government) shares sovereignty with and exists alongside various constituent "realms" (states or provinces).



Foreign relations


Internationally recognized as a great power, Riyata maintains official diplomatic relations with almost every country in the world. The World Forum and several of its specialized agencies are headquartered in Grana, and Riyata is a member of its !permanent security council. It is also a member of the Vatupic Treaty Community, !Organization of Vidnan States, the ODCT, and various regional Defense Protocols around the world. Almost all nations have embassies in Grana, and many have consulates across the country.

Riyata has strong regional ties with its neighbors Koranel, Tiepu, the Teleri Republic, and, more recently, Ta'aroha. It is also an ally of Gladomyr in East Alutra. According to the Toriye Protocol, Riyata is the guarantor of security for the Vatupic peninsula and is obligated to come to the defense of any nation under attack on that subcontinent, even if they are not a member of the VTC. It also protects the RCE and Higher Tar-dinuu under the terms of the Kidal Protocol.

Government finance
Taxation in Riyata is progressive and is levied mostly by the federal government, but also by some state and local governments. Out of the many direct and indirect taxes that exist, income tax and VAT are the most significant. There are also capital gains taxes, various property taxes, tariffs and duties, inheritance and gift taxes, and a carbon tax has existed since 2018. The legal basis for taxation is outlined in the Riyatic Constitution, which grants both federal and state governments the right to tax residents. In practice, the federal government cooperates with each individual state to determine tax rates. The federal government is the sole collector of taxes in 27 out of 31 states. Certain local jurisdictions, mostly municipal governments, also collect taxes in addition to the federal and/or state tax. Special administrative areas designated as Crown Communes are legally situated within states but have protected municipal charters and exclusive taxation rights, and are only subject to federal and local municipal tax. In 2021, taxes collected by federal, state, and local governments amounted to 39.9% of GDP.

The Riyatic government has continuously operated at a deficit since the Second Interwar Period; since 1950, there have only been 17 years where there was a budget surplus. The public debt as of 2021 stood at around 155.15% of GDP, or Ꝟ22 trillion, one of the highest in the world both in terms of percentage of GDP as well as in absolute valuation. The vast majority of the debt is owed to state-owned enterprises and other domestic actors. Around 10.5% of the national debt in 2021 was owed to foreign governments and investors. There is a constitutional limit on public debt with a debt ceiling set to 200% of GDP; no budget can pass with a breach in place. The Imperial Diet has also passed legislation to prohibit both federal and state governments from defaulting on loans.

Military
The Imperial Armed Forces are the standing military forces of Riyata, which are managed by the Ministry of Defense. The commander-in-chief is Litiya IV, the monarch of Riyata. The armed forces are split into four branches: the Imperial Army, Imperial Navy, the Imperial Air Force, and the Imperial Guard. A volunteer-only force since 1952, the Riyatic military had 898,268 active personnel and 555,903 reserve personnel in 2021. Additionally, each state is permitted to raise and train its own defense force, and there are roughly 20,966 active and reserve personnel across the 5 out of 31 states that do so. Altogether, Riyata's armed forces are among the largest and most powerful military forces in the world, and the most powerful in Vidina. Since the end of the Second World War, Riyatic military doctrine has placed a priority on expeditionary warfare. Today, Riyatic military forces can be rapidly deployed from four nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and various marine and airborne expeditionary forces across all four branches. The Navy has achieved an unlimited operational range due to the widespread adoption of nuclear marine propulsion, and the Air Force has similarly expanded its reach through the continuous development of long-range aircraft, the most modern of which are the Hiqano Z-17 strategic bomber and the.

Riyata's 2021 military budget was Ꝟ439.62 billion, or roughly 3.1% of GDP, making it the largest military in the world in terms of military expenditure. Riyata is also a recognized nuclear weapons state with an estimated total stockpile of around 800-850 nuclear weapons.

Economy


Riyata has a highly developed market economy that, as of 2022, is the world's largest economy with a GDP of Ꝟ14.18 trillion. It has a highly skilled labor force and a high level of innovation. Riyata ranks very well in economic freedom, economic competitiveness, and workforce productivity. It has been a member of the Vatupic Treaty Community since its founding in 1947 and has used the Vatupic Dollar (VAD) as its sole official currency since 2003.

As of 2020, the Ministry of Commerce estimated that the service sector contributed around 69% of Riyata's total GDP, followed by industry and the primary sector at 28% and 3% respectively. Riyata is rather unique among postindustrial nations in that the secondary sector remains a considerable part of its economy; it is among the largest manufacturing countries worldwide and its automotive, aerospace, and technology industries, among many others, are internationally competitive and contribute significantly to the country's exports.

Energy


According to the Ministry of Energy and Water, Riyata consumed around 61.04 exajoules in 2020, or 268.3 gigajoules per capita. Of this, 64.51% comes from nuclear power, 18.32% comes from renewables, and 17.17% comes from fossil fuels (primarily oil).

Most of Riyata's nuclear power plants were built in the 1980s, after the 1977 oil crisis made it clear that foreign oil was an unreliable and increasingly volatile resource. Riyata has been reliant on nuclear power ever since and has not significantly invested in renewables, except for hydropower. It is still dependent on fossil fuels for transport as well as for residential and commercial use, but around 83% of electricity is generated with nuclear or renewable power. Nuclear energy is considered a green power source by the Riyatic government and is a central part of the plan to become carbon-neutral by 2035. Nuclear power plants are operated by both private companies and state-owned enterprises, but the industry is heavily regulated and the disposal of nuclear waste is the sole responsibility of the federal government. Energy and electricity as a whole are considered an "integral industry" in Riyata and are subject to high levels of government regulation and intervention.

Agriculture
According to the 2020 Riyatic agricultural survey, there was 43,169,995 hectares, or 431,699.95 km2 of cultivated agricultural land, which is 36.7% of the country's total area. The average size of a Riyatic farm is 88 ha, with farms in Northern and Central Riyata generally being larger than those in other parts of the country.

Riyata has historically been a major food producer in Vatupaya. Main Riyatic staple crops include potatoes, sweet potatoes, peanuts, squash, beans, and maize. Agriculture made up around 1.8% of the Riyatic economy in 2020, or Ꝟ236.02 billion. Since the conclusion of the Second World War in 1945, the Riyatic government has pursued a policy of self-sufficiency for foodstuffs and water; the country is a net food exporter and is a major producer of various cereals, fruits, and vegetables. Riyata also has a minor wine industry, started using imported grapes from Gladomyr, which now are grown mainly in Muatiy, Iriy, and Taxata.

Trade


Riyata is one of the largest trading nations in the world. In 2020, it exported around Ꝟ4.19 trillion, or 32% of total GDP, and imported Ꝟ3.67 trillion, or 28% of total GDP. Due to its large industrial capability, Riyata is a net exporter of many advanced manufactured products, which are exported to countries all over the world. Traditionally, the Riyatic government places a high import tariff on manufactured goods in order to encourage the domestic production and export of high-value products. Its primary trade partners are other members of the Vatupic Treaty Community, but it exports to many countries all across the world. It has a trade surplus of around Ꝟ500 billion, the largest in the world.

Manufacturing
Riyata has a very large industrial capability and has been described as one of the preeminent producers of advanced goods in the world. As of 2020 industry made up 29% of Riyata's GDP, and its manufacturing output is the second-highest in the world. It is a world leader in the production of automobiles and ships, consumer electronics, machine tools, jewelry and other luxury goods, and processed foods. Riyata is also the leading nation in the production of advanced electronics. As of 2020, Riyata was the leader of the global semiconductor industry, accounting for around 38% of the global market. Riyata is also a major manufacturer of airplanes and airplane parts. Airtram, the world's leading aerospace corporation, was formed partly from the aerospace division of the Riyatic company Hiqano, and has two manufacturing facilities in Riyata; one in Citana and another in !City.



Population
The 2020 Riyatic Census officially counted 227,541,388 people living within Riyata's borders.

Immigration
As of 2017, Riyata had a fertility rate of about 1.77 births per woman. Birth rates have been declining since the industrial revolution spread to Riyata, and dropped rapidly in the 1960s and 1970s. 1972 was the last year the total fertility rate was above replacement rate, or 2.1 births per woman. In 2021, the birth rate was 1.83 births per woman. However, because of immigration, the total population has not declined. Since the end of the Second World War, Riyata has seen large waves of immigration, particularly from other parts of Vidina, northern Casalia, Harad, and Tiridina. As of 2020, according to estimates, around 66 million people, or 29% of the population, had some kind of foreign ethnic descent.

Starting from the 1980s, Riyata has consistently received a large number of asylum applications, especially from Agarad due to the intensification of the Agar Civil War.

Religion
The Riyatic Constitution guarantees full religious freedom and also enshrines "freedom from religion in government." Religion in Riyata is hard to gauge due to the varying definitions of "religion" and the historically unorganized, personal, and diffusive nature of Riyatic religious traditions. Maqibo is the indigenous folk religion of Riyata and is the most widely-practiced religion. Religious scholars note that, aside from the large population in Western Riyata (primarily Huateta and Huahale) who practice Orthodox Tevatua, there is no significant boundary between Tevatua and Maqibo. Unlike its western counterpart, the "Folk Tevatua" practiced in Riyata is pluralistic, animistic, humanistic, and has been thoroughly syncretized with Maqibo and other existing local beliefs and traditions. It is polytheistic and occasionally nontheistic, and it is often hard to distinguish from irreligion.

It is notoriously difficult to gather data on religious affiliation in Riyata. In a 2017 poll conducted by the World Forum, 63% of respondents self-identified as "practicing some form of Tevatua," but the 2020 census found that up to 81% of the population were irreligious or practicing Maqibo compared to only 9% practicing Tevatua. The situation becomes more complicated when taking into account the large immigrant population, many of whom are irreligious without practicing any indigenous religions or traditions.

Education
Education in Riyata is provided in public and private schools. By law, children are required to attend school from the age of 3 or 4 until 16 or 17, usually taking children from preschool to Year 11, the last year of compulsory education. However, college or university-bound students typically choose to continue through Years 12 and 13 to complete a foundations degree, which can be pursued at high schools, specialized two-year foundations colleges, or select colleges and universities that offer combined foundations-bachelor programs. About 96% of primary and secondary-level students attend public schools, with the remaining 4% attending private schools. Full-time education of children by non-certified institutions or individuals, including homeschools and private tutors, has been illegal since 1983. All secondary schools in Riyata offer foreign language classes; as of 2020, the most-studied language in secondary schools was Manuak, followed closely by Kanasa and more distantly by Myrish. However, in post-secondary education, Interspeech was the most studied.



There are over 2,000 universities and colleges in Riyata. Despite making up the vast majority of Riyatic universities, private institutions only account for 35% of total student enrollment, and most of Riyata's most prestigious schools are public institutions. The federal public university system, Imperial University of Riyata, is one of the largest in the world by enrollment, with just under a million students as of 2021. Many of the world's top-ranking universities are located in Riyata, including the University of Maqiye, Citana University, Century University, and Grana Institute of Science.

Riyata spends more on education than any other nation in the world, spending approximately Ꝟ17,000 annually per primary and secondary school student, and Ꝟ24,000 annually per tertiary student. Of Riyatic adults age 27 or older, 97.7% completed compulsory education, 52.5% completed a foundations degree, 44.6% earned an undergraduate degree, and 10.9% earned a postgraduate degree. Riyata is one of the most highly-education countries in the world, with approximately 54% of the population having completed some kind of tertiary education. According to the Ministry of Education and Science, the literacy rate is 99.9%.

Culture


Riyata has a unique and diverse culture that is a blend of the Taxic, !granamengroup, !northerngroup, !citelotan, and Aunic cultures, which all existed within modern Riyatic territory between the 1st century BCE and 6th century CE. These various cultures were first unified under a single authority at the end of the Late Taxic Invasions, when the Mirati Confederation was established, making Riyatic civilization a successor to and the direct continuation of the Classical Taxic civilization.

Contemporary Riyatic culture primarily stems from domestic influences, but it also incorporates influences from other regions of the world, primarily Vidina, Alutra, and Harad. The formation of the Ministry of Culture in 1961 has helped make Riyata's cultural heritage more accessible to the domestic and international public. Riyata has developed a sophisticated system for the protection and promotion of its "cultural properties," including structures and buildings, works of art, significant historical objects, performing arts and craft techniques, and historic or natural monuments.

Art and architecture


The history of Riyatic art is built around the three guiding principles of !contrast (stark contrast), !mystery (the beauty of the passing of time), and !awe (monumentality and extravagance). In traditional Maqibo thought, there is a complex Hierarchy of Colors that dictates when and how individual colors should be matched together. Since the 18th century, Riyatic art has increasingly influenced and been influenced by the artistic traditions of the wider world, in particular East Alutra and Harad.

Riyatic architecture is a combination of local and foreign influences. Classical Taxic architecture features plain, low-lying buildings with a noticeable lack of distinctive architectural features. These buildings were intentionally left simple and bare according to Classical Taxic artistic traditions, where the majority of architectural decoration came from impermanent, colorful paintings that would usually cover all exterior surfaces of the building. These full-wall murals were frequently painted over, and during some art festivals or celebrations an entire city's appearance could completely change over the course of a few weeks. This practice largely died out by the 17th century, but remains a part of the local culture in many small towns and villages.

During the medieval period, Riyatic architecture changed significantly. One of the most important innovations was the use of glass in construction, which became increasingly common in southern Riyata. This was made possible by the large glassmaking industries that emerged at Grana and Poliye.



From the 18th century onwards, Riyata has become increasingly influenced by Alutran architecture, with many Alutran, especially Myrish architects being invited to design buildings in Riyata. Simultaneously, traditional Riyatic architecture underwent a modernization process, absorbing many influences from the wider world. The Palace of Colors in Tiliye, commissioned by Emperor Wilo IX and designed by Rimuu Vitelökula, adheres to Riyatic aesthetic principles and the Hierarchy of Colors, integrating them with various Alutran architectural styles.

Since the end of the Second World War, Riyata has been a major influence on emerging modern architectural movements. Once of Riyata's most significant contributions to contemporary architecture is the development and popularization of the glass curtain wall, now extensively used in skyscrapers and other buildings.

Cuisine


Indigenous Riyatic food is based on the traditional Vatupic staple crops and livestock, the most significant of which are corn, potatoes, various beans, as well as ground sloth meat and milk. Starting from the 16th century, ingredients from across the world became increasingly common in Riyatic cuisine. Characteristic Riyatic foods include cornbread, croquettes, fried potatoes and various bean soups. Riyatic cuisine lacks an abundance of indigenous red meats, but non-indigenous meats, especially beef and poultry, are popular.

Ta'arohan cuisine is popular in western Riyata, where it is ubiquitous.

Holidays
There are many federal and state holidays to celebrate significant days in Riyatic history or culture.



Taqa is the most important holiday in Riyatic culture and is the country's traditional new year festival, occurring annually on the winter solstice. Masks and makeup, representing the achievements and glory of the past year, are an important part of the festival, which are usually removed at midnight to symbolize the beginning of a new year. The celebrations are world-famous for their elaborate costumes and parades, which happen throughout Riyata and in some international cities with large Riyatic populations. Since the late 19th century, Taqa celebrations have increasingly begun to incorporate fashion styles and trends from all across the world.

Literature


The earliest recorded works of Riyatic literature are the Nineteen Haqami Books. Written sometime in the 2nd century, the anthology details the creation of the world and the birth of the maqi according to Maqibo tradition. The Classical Taxics had a strong literary tradition, but most of it was lost during the Late Taxic Migrations.

During the early Mirati Confederation, literacy was uncommon and was only prevalent among the aristocracy. However, after the Hitovy Uprising of 992, the existing martial nobility was replaced by a new aristocracy variously described as plutocratic or meritocratic. This coincided with the gradual democratization of the country's literary tradition, as city folk began to replace the former nobility as the primary consumers and producers of literature.