The Earthpedia · A golden age

What if Saudi Arabia had a golden age?

Saudi Arabia survived and ended with 1.6% of the world, up from 1.1%.

In 2026, Saudi Arabia began a fifty-year golden age: richer, stronger and very pleased with itself. Then history was left to run for 300 years, untouched.

Of 133 countries put through the same fate, Saudi Arabia did better than 119 of them.

Its share of the world

1. 2026: 1.1%
2. 2036: 1.1%
3. 2051: 1.2%
4. 2076: 1.3%
5. 2126: 1.3%
6. 2176: 1.4%
7. 2226: 1.6%
8. 2326: 1.6%

Year by year

• 2026: a golden age began.
• 2033: Kuwait attacked.
• 2037: Oman attacked.
• 2039: Qatar attacked.
• 2045: took Kuwait.
• 2054: took Qatar.
• 2058: made peace with Oman.
• 2117: took Jordan.
• 2164: took United Arab Emirates.

What happened

• At its height, in 2189, it held 1.6% of the world.
• Its first war of its own came in 2033, against Kuwait.
• Along the way it swallowed Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Israel.
• 12 wars in 300 years.

The world in 2326

In 2326, Russia ruled 13.7% of the Earth, ahead of United States of America and People's Republic of China. 119 nations were left standing.

"Against all odds, and most of the planet." Max, for the record

Run it yourself

Same seed, same history: it unfolds exactly like this, until you touch it. Then it is your world.

Other what-ifs for Saudi Arabia

More countries

Is this what would really happen?

No one can know. This is one run of a game engine that simulates every country on the real map: wars by temperament, armies from land and people, civil wars, golden ages. Same seed, same result, every time.

Can I try it myself?

Yes. Press Play this world: the same seed opens in your browser, free, and unfolds the same way until you change something.

Every page is a real run of the Play God on Earth engine (deterministic: same seed, same result). Historical facts are not implied; this is a game.