The Earthpedia · A golden age

What if South Africa had a golden age?

South Africa survived and ended with 1% of the world, up from 0.7%.

2026: heaven hands South Africa a golden age. We let the world run for 300 years and wrote down what happened.

Of 133 countries put through the same fate, South Africa did better than 114 of them.

Its share of the world

1. 2026: 0.7%
2. 2036: 0.7%
3. 2051: 0.7%
4. 2076: 0.7%
5. 2126: 0.8%
6. 2176: 0.9%
7. 2226: 0.9%
8. 2326: 1%

Year by year

• 2026: a golden age began.
• 2069: Lesotho attacked.
• 2079: took Lesotho.
• 2110: went to war with Mozambique.
• 2115: went to war with Namibia.
• 2124: made peace with Namibia.

What happened

• At its height, in 2230, it held 1% of the world.
• Its first war of its own came in 2069, against Lesotho.
• Along the way it swallowed Lesotho.
• 7 wars in 300 years.

The world in 2326

In 2326, Russia ruled 14.3% of the Earth, ahead of Canada and United States of America. 119 nations were left standing.

"I have stopped being surprised. That is a lie." 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 South Africa

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.