Emirate of Makaoui

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The Emirate of Makaoui
Makflag.gif

File:Coa

Provincial flag Coat of Arms
Makaoui flag
Motto "Kūllūnā li-l-waṭan, li-l-'ula wa-l-'alam"
Capital Avastine
Languages
  - Official
  - Unofficial

Arabic,
English
Government
  Emir -
 

Sherif Habatoyallah
Area
 
 

176.215 km²
176,220 sq mi
Region United Federal Kingdom of St Samuel
Population
 - Total (2007)

59,492,000

Makaoui (Arabic: مكي), officially the Emirate of Makaoui, is an emirate of the United Federal Kingdom of St Samuel, located on the west of the Pellina Island. It is bordered by the Emirate of Ibbyan, the Emirate of Shadiaq, the Emirate of Sherifidan, the Emirate of Soudi Amedia and the Emirate of Midistan. The capital city is Avastine.

The Emirate of Makaoui is famous for being the seat of power for the Pellinese Empire. The city of Nessa-Isetkis was the capital city of the Pellinese Empire for over 3000 years.

History

For ancient history see the Pellinese Empire.

Makaoui was an Emirate of The Pellinese Empire between 2000 BC to 1200 AD. It's borders have remained unchanged since 954 BC when the council of Elders of the Pellinese Empire divided the empire into 19 Emirate's ruled by local warlords. Makaoui was awarded to Harrashar K'Awar, a legendary Pellinese warrior. The city of Nessa-Isetkis was the capital of the Pellinese Empire until it's collapse.

Around 1205AD, Shah Muhamed of the Pellinese Empire called for an army to be raised and asked all the Emirates to send 10,000 men each to fight the Emirate of Samah Island, who had declared itself independant of the Pellinese Empire. The Makaon Emir at the time, Youssef Falladiaki, refused to support the Shah and as a result was executed by Shah Muhamed's henchmen. Shah Muhamed called for all the Emir's who failed to provide soldiers to be arrested and executed, which in turn sparked the War of the Pellina Island Succession. The people of Makaoui revolted against Shah Muhamed, under Hisham Al-Hepptah and turned on the Shah's army.

The war lasted three months, only ending when Shah Muhamed and his family were killed by Emir Jamal Al Baqara of the Emirate of Salehstan supported by Hisham Al-Hepptah in Nessa-Isetkis.

On March the 18th 1206, the 19 Emir's of the former Pellinese Empire met at Intisar (Emirate of Makaoui) and the Treaty of Intisar was signed by all 19 Emir's granting independence to the Emirates.

Sothern Holdinia Period

In 1777, the Southern Holdinia Empire occupied parts of southern Makaoui in a hostile take over. The people of southern Makaoui welcomed the Holdinians and revolted against the Emir of Makaoui, Zamir Al-Yallawi. A five month long campaign saw the Southern Holdinian Empire victorious in Makaoui. Yasser ibn Nazzereal was installed as Emir and the emirate became a colony of the Southern Holdinia Empire.

From 1799 to 1804 the Southern Holdinia Empire supported by the Emirate of Hassia and the Emirate of Makaoui invaded the Emirate of Abu Omar and the Emirate of Abu Hana, in an attempt to gain control of the vital Baba Canal. The Emirates of Abu Omar and Abu Hana quickly recruited the help of St Samuel, and thus becoming protectorates of St Samuel. By November 1804 St Samuel and it's allies were victorious over Southern Holdinia in the Baba Canal War.

The Baba Canal War was a small conflict compared to the Great War of Pellina which began in 1812 and saw nearly the whole of the Pellinese Island become a battle ground, where the Arab states allied themselves with either St Samuel or Southern Holdinia. The Emirate of Makaoui saw action from 1819 to 1823. Nearly 30,000 Makaon's were called up to fight for the Southern Holdinians in the war, but the war was not popular with the people of Makaoui and by the time that St Samuel invaded Makaoui in 1819, many Makaon's took up arms against Southern Holdinia and supported the Samuelonians. The Great War of Pellina ended in 1827 with victory for St Samuel and it's allies and ending Southern Holdinia's time in the Arab lands.

After the Great War of Pellina, Makaoui became a protectorate of the Kingdom of St Samuel with Hassan Farak becoming the new Emir. Makaoui remained a protectorate of St Samuel for nearly 100 years until in 1906, the country was granted independence and full power handed over to the Emir Saddam Al-Waadi.

Recent History

During The Second War of Greater Holdinia, Makaoui remained neutral, but on the 14nd of February 2008, the people of Makaoui voted to become an emirate of the United Federal Kingdom of St Samuel, making the region a federal emirate.

Geography

  • Avastine
  • Intisar
  • Nessa-Isetkis

Geography & Climate

Makaoui is located on the Pellina Island. It is bordered by the West Dominica Sea to the west along a 2225 km coastline, by theEmirate of Sherifidan and the Emirate of Soudi Amedia to the east, by the Emirate of Shadiaq and the Emirate of Ibbyan to the north and by the Emirate of Midistan to the south. The border with the Sherifidan is disputed by Makaoui in a small area called Faza, but the border has been demarcated by the United Nations and St Samuel.

Most of Makaoui's area is mountainous terrain, except for the narrow coastline and the Aswaan Valley, an integral part of Makaoui's agriculture.

Makaoui has a moderate Mediterranean climate. In coastal areas, winters are generally cool and rainy whilst summers are hot and humid. In more elevated areas, temperatures usually drop below 0 °C (32 °F) during the winter with frequent (sometimes heavy) snow; summers, on the other hand, are warm and dry. Although most of Makaoui receives a relatively large amount of rainfall annually (compared to its arid surroundings), certain areas in northern Makaoui receive little rainfall because the high peaks of the western mountain front block much of the rain clouds that originate over the West Dominica Sea.

In ancient times, Makaoui housed large forests of the Cedars. However, centuries of trading cedar trees, used by ancient mariners for boats, and the absence of any efforts to replant them have depleted Makaoui's once-flourishing cedar forests. Efforts by the St Samuel Agriculture Society to re-establish Cedar Forests in Makaoui began in 2008.

Demographics

Religion

Muslims 67% (Sunnis 38% Shias 27% Druze 2%), Christians 33% (Orthodox 23% Catholic 10%)

Ethnic Groups

Arab 72%, Mediterranean 17%, Black-White Mixed 9%, White 1%, Black 1%

Languages

Arabic (official), English (official), Italian & Latin

Population

Total population: 59,492,000

Economy

The urban population in Makaoui is noted for its commercial enterprise. Over the course of time, emigration has yielded Makaon "commercial networks" throughout the world. Makaoui has a high proportion of skilled labour comparable to most other provinces of St Samuel and the highest among the Arab emirates.

Agriculture

Makaoui is ideally suited for agricultural activities in terms of water availability and soil fertility, as it possesses the highest proportion of cultivable land on the Pellina Island. Ironically though, Makaoui does not have a large agricultural sector. Attracting a mere 12% of the total workforce, agriculture is the least popular economic sector in Makaoui. It contributes approximately 11.7% of the country's GDP, also placing it in the lowest rank compared to other economic sectors. Most of the plants that are grown include: apples, peaches, oranges, and lemons.

Industry

Makaoui's lack of raw materials for industry and its complete dependency on regional neighbours for oil have made it difficult for the Makaon's to engage in significant industrial activity. As such, industry in Makaoui is mainly limited to small businesses concerned with reassembling and packaging imported parts. In 2004, industry ranked second in workforce, with 26% of the Makaon working population, and second in GDP contribution, with 21% of Makaoui's GDP.

Services and commerce

The Monasa Valley is a World Heritage Site, a combination of beautiful climate, many historic landmarks and World Heritage Sites continues to attract large numbers of tourists to Makaoui annually. In addition, Makaoui's strict financial secrecy and capitalist economy—unique in its area—have given it significant economic status among it's neighbouring emirates. The thriving tourism and banking activities have naturally made the services sector the most important pillar of the Makaon economy. The majority of the Makaon workforce (nearly 65%) have preferred employment in the services sector, as a result of the abundant job opportunities and large paychecks. The GDP contribution, accordingly, is very large and amounts to roughly 67.3% of the annual Makaon GDP.

The economy's dependence on services has always been an issue of great criticism and concern, since this renders the country subject to the instability of this sector and the vagaries of international trade.

Culture

Cuisine

The Makaon Cuisine is considered to be a Mediterranean basically Levantine Arabic delicacy consisting of a variety of fresh vegetarian recipes, salads and stews all seasoned with a flavorsome combination of herbs and spices. One of the most world known Makaon specialties is called the Maza, also written "Mezze", which is a selection of appetisers: olives, cheeses, or small portions also known as muqabbilat (Arabic for starters).

As with most Mediterranean cuisines, Makaon cuisine is considered to be a very balanced, healthy diet.

The cuisine of Makaon is the epitome of the Mediterranean diet. It includes an abundance of starches, fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and seafood; animal fats are consumed sparingly. Poultry is eaten more often than red meat, and when red meat is eaten it is usually lamb. It also includes copious amounts of garlic and olive oil-nary a meal goes by in Makaoui that does not include these two ingredients. Most often foods are either grilled, baked or sauted in olive oil; butter or cream is rarely used other than in a few desserts. Vegetables are often eaten raw or pickled as well as cooked. While the cuisine of Makaoui doesn't boast an entire repertoire of sauces, it focuses on herbs, spices and the freshness of ingredients; the assortment of dishes and combinations are almost limitless. The meals are full of robust, earthy flavors and, like most Mediterranean countries, much of what the Makaon's eat is dictated by the seasons.

Creative Arts

Makaon music is known around the world for its soothing rhythms and oriental beats. Traditional and folk music are extremely popular as are western rhythms. Perhaps the best-known and listened to Makaon singer is Yasmine Fezza. Her songs are broadcast every morning on most radio stations and many TV channels, both in Makaoui and the Arab world in general. Other artists are also well known and loved like Lara Lamaneanna , Khalid El-Bakki who is also a composer and Salma Matoubis.

Sports

Because of Makaoui's unique geography, both summer and winter sports thrive in the country. In fact, in fall and spring it is sometimes possible to engage in both in one day, skiing in the morning and swimming in the West Dominica Sea during the afternoon.

Makaoui boasts 16 ski resorts, with slopes suitable for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and levels of experience. Off-slope, there are many opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

In the summer, skilifts can be used to access some of Makaoui's best hiking trails, with panoramic views stretching as far as Samah Island. Canoeing, cycling, rafting, climbing, swimming, sailing and spelunking are among the other common leisure sports in Makaoui. Adventure and extreme sports are also possible throughout the country.

At the competitive level, football, rugby and basketball are among Makaoui's most popular sports.