Due to the destruction of
Rome by
Carthage and Egypt in
200 B.C., Europe remained largely tribal while Africa advanced technologically and culturally with steamboats, rifles and
airships or "flying boats" by the late 19th century. The dominant Africans consider Europeans to be inferior and treat them as a source of slave labour which is supplied to them by
Viking raiders.
Southern Africa is controlled by the Zulus while the Vikings control much of
Northern Europe.
The
Middle East is presumably Islamic-dominated, with references to Egypt being at war with Persia, though a
Jewish state known as
Judea is also mentioned to have been established by the
Prophet Muhammad in
623 AD as part of a mutual assistance pact between Islam and the Jews. The
Gupta control much of
India while
China is ruled by Emperors and apparently has a colony on the New World's western coast. Much of modern day
Mexico is ruled by the
Aztecs while
Native Americans compete with both Aztecs and the African immigrants.
On a map of Bilalistan shown in the book, Bilalistan is divided into four provinces which include: New Alexandria, New Djibouti, Azania and Wichita. Most of the story takes place in Dar Kush in New Djibouti, around where the real world state of
Louisiana lies. It is also mentioned that the African settlers have driven the Native Americans out of their territories as the European powers had done to the native populations from the 19th century. To the south lies the Aztec nation of Azteca which often fights with Bilalistan. Vikings maintain a colony in the New World known as
Vinland to the north of Bilalistan and there is a Chinese colony in
California. White runaway slaves often join
Native American tribes, or manage to make their way to
Vinland to find work as paid laborers.
Christianity is also mentioned in the novel, though it failed to become a dominant world religion, with the majority of its followers being Europeans. Without the influence of
Rome, Christianity is much more divided between traditional and
Gnostic thought over whether Christ was divine or merely a man. The
Gospel of Mary is also an important part of the Christian beliefs.
. Our media in general is not doing a good job at stimulating our brains, just what's in our pants.
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