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Fictional Histories

Fictional Histories

ELEMENT

Histories are a series of historical events that shape and define the course of a place, culture, or civilization. Fictional histories are often used during fictional worldbuilding and can provide context, help establish a setting or world era, or deepen the lore of a world. Fictional histories may be alternate versions of our own history or may be in depth chronicles of a fantasy or science fiction landscape with their own unique timelines. They can give context to elements like ruins, ancient temples, ancient civilizations, borders, and political disputes between factions.

Synonyms: lore, chronicles, archives, annals, sagas
Example Mythonyms: A History of the World of Nimbus (Volume III)

Designing Fictional Histories

Archetypes

Alternate Histories

Foundations

Timelines
Eras

Overview

Timeframes

When creating a fictional history, worldbuilders should first consider the timeframe they want it to encompass. While some worldbuilders may wish to begin at the beginning (the big bang, a magical event, or the creation of existence by a god), and end at the end (the eventual heat death of the universe, Ragnarök, the End-times) others may wish to focus their efforts on a single era or series of eras. They may leave prerecorded history as a soft element, merely painting it with the broadest of strokes, and leave the future entirely a mystery. This may be especially true in worlds with a defined present.

Historical Events

Once the general historical timeframe has been established, worldbuilders can focus on populating it with key historical events. These may be the collapse of an empire, the first self-sufficient space station, or the outbreak of a major contagion. Worldbuilders will want to familiarize themselves with general historical timescales. The average human lifespan and duration of empires can be helpful to know when constructing a fictional history. Placing these events on a timeline will help keep things organized.

Time in Perspective
Average Human Lifespan: 79 Years
Time between the first flight and the moon landing: 66 years
Time dinosaurs inhabited earth: 179 million years
Length of Ottoman Empire: 600 years
Time between the start of the Roman Empire and the building of the pyramids: ~2500 years
Time between the start of the Roman Empire and the present: ~2000 years

Eras

t may be useful to divide fictional histories in distinct eras. Eras [ancient eras; dark ages] allow designers to quickly characterize large sections of a history or timeline.

True & False Histories

Worldbuilders should keep separate the true history of their world from the history that is known by its’ inhabitants, as they may not be the same thing. False histories as well as myths & legends may be present in a world.

A history may manifest itself in cave paintings, fossils, archeological dig sites, and museums.

List of Historical Events

IconEvent or EraSimplifySub-Elements
Crown IconA Great Leader Descends into MadnessSimplifiedExplore
Poison-IconAn Assassination Occurs!SimplifiedExplore
Newspaper IconAn Assassination is Attempted
Guillotine IconA Beheading!
Tank IconTwo Nations Go to WarSimplified
Banner Flag IconA New Country is Established!SimplifiedExplore
Newspaper IconA War of the World Begins
Newspaper IconPeace is Made
Volcano2 IconA Volcanic Eruption
Asteroid IconAn Asteroid Strikes the GlobeExplore
Lightbulb IconA Major Scientific Discovery
Disease IconA Disease Spreads Over the LandSimplifiedExplore
Monument IconA Great Monument is ErectedSimplified
Skull IconA Species Becomes Extinct
Cross IconA New Religion is FoundedSimplified
Helmet IconA Holy War Begins
Newspaper IconA Prophet is Born
Newspaper IconA Prophet is Martyred
Burning Building IconA City is Destroyed
Dirt IconA Drought Occurs
Waves IconA Flood Sweeps Over the Land
Comet IconA Comet Transits the SkySimplified
Island2 IconA New Land is Discovered
Newspaper IconThe People Rise Up
Material IconA New Material is SynthesizedSimplifiedExplore
Crystal IconA New Resource is DiscoveredSimplifiedExplore
Curse IconA Curse is Cast
Scroll IconA Curse is Broken
Demon IconA Demon is Summoned
Newspaper IconA New Leader Seizes PowerSimplified
Staff IconNew Magics are Developed
Portal2 IconA Portal to a New World is OpenedExplore
Eclipse IconThe Planets Align
Newspaper IconA Planet Dies
Space Colony IconA Planet is Colonized
UFO IconFirst Alien Contact is Made
Engine IconFaster-than-Light Travel is Invented
Relic IconA Prophecy is MadeExplore
Broken Sword IconA Prophecy is FulfilledExplore
Newspaper IconAn Exodus Occurs
Newspaper IconA Civil War Transpires
Watch IconTime Travel Invented
Clock IconA Time Loop Occurs
Clock IconA Time Loop Occurs
Clock IconA Time Loop Occurs
Clock IconA Time Paradox is Created
Hourglass IconThe Timeline is Fixed
Hourglass IconThe Timeline is Fixed
Hourglass IconThe Timeline is Fixed Again
Newspaper IconA Golden Age
Newspaper IconA Dark Age
Newspaper IconAn Enlightenment
Pirate Blimp IconNew Form of Transportation InventedSimplified
Plane IconAn Era of Endless War
Banner Flag IconAn Empire Reigns
Newspaper IconAn Age of Peace
Newspaper IconA Coup d'Etat
Campfire IconFire Discovered
Newspaper IconCreation Occurs!
Newspaper IconMagic is Lost
Staff IconMagical Item Uncovered
Flag IconA Neutral Zone is EstablishedExplore
Ruins2-IconLost Civilization DiscoveredExplore
Gold Bar IconA New Gold Rush Begins
Ship IconFirst Circumnavigation of Globe
Newspaper IconThe Global Poles Are Reached
Newspaper IconAn Age of Discovery
Kelp IconDeepest Seas Explored
Newspaper IconFirst Exploration of Moon
Newspaper IconNew Trade Route Established
Bomb IconA Cold War OccursSimplified
Arrow IconA Proxy War BeginsSimplified
CrossbowA Diplomat is Murdered
Zeppelin Blimp IconA Maiden Voyage Sets Off
Bomb IconA Weapons Development Race
Grenade IconA New Superweapon Developed
Crown IconA Coronation Occurs
Newspaper IconA Rebel Group Forms
Newspaper IconA Terror Attack
Science Flask IconA Laboratory Accident Changes Everything
Newspaper IconA Famous Celebrity Dies
Newspaper IconA Migrant Crisis Unfolds
Pill IconA New Drug Takes Hold
Death Hood IconDeath Itself is Vanquished
Ruins2-IconA Great Civilization CollapsesSimplified
Gallows IconThe People's Hero is ExecutedSimplified
Gold Bar IconThe Financial System Collapses
Demon IconAn Ancient Evil Arises
Straightjacket-IconPatient Zero Identified
Burning Building IconThe Known World is Sacked by InvadersSimplified
Aqueduct-IconA Great Megastructure is BuiltSimplified
Newspaper IconThe Heavens Open
Newspaper IconAn Influential Leader Arises
Government Building IconAn Authoritarian Regime Gains PowerSimplified
Newspaper IconA Hostage Situation Unfolds
Newspaper IconA Major Storm Rages
Newspaper IconA Great Earthquake Occurs
Newspaper IconA Massive Tsunami Hits Land
Flag IconAn Alliance is FormedSimplified
DNA IconA New Mutation Occurs!
Battle Weapons IconA Great Battle is Fought
Newspaper IconCountries Become Unified
Newspaper IconA Religion Becomes Divided
Newspaper IconA New Philosophy Arises
Lightbulb IconA New Scientific Theory Emerges
Creature Monster IconA Species Becomes DomesticatedSimplified
Island2 IconAn Island Sinks into the Sea
Newspaper IconA People is Freed
Newspaper IconA Continent Fragments
Mountain IconA Mountain Range is Formed

A Primer

  • Getting Started
  • World Archetypes
  • Regions & Biomes
  • Places
  • Factions
  • Fictional Histories
  • Worldbuilding Terminology

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