H.L. History

The timeline of the world has been shaped by a series of profound events, leading to a dystopian reality where chaos and conflict have become the norm. From the early 20th century, nations have experienced economic upheavals, world wars, and significant social changes. As we progressed through the decades, political polarization, social unrest, and global conflicts escalated, culminating in the catastrophic event known as Godfall. This apocalyptic period, beginning in 2048 and lasting until 2056, marked the end of civilization as we knew it, plunging humanity into a new dark age. The following timeline details the key events and transformations that led to this ultimate collapse.

Modern Calendar (1910s-2040s)

1910s

World War I (1914-1918)

• Iceland: Remains neutral during WWI, but economic ties with Europe are strained.
• Greenland: Under Danish control, remains relatively unaffected by WWI.
• North Korea: Under Japanese rule, with harsh control and exploitation.
• United States: Enters WWI in 1917, significantly contributing to the Allied victory. Post-war, America experiences economic growth.
• Russia: Suffers heavy losses, leading to economic hardship and political instability.

1917: Russian Revolution

• The Bolshevik Revolution leads to the establishment of the Soviet Union under Lenin.

1920s

Roaring Twenties

• Iceland: Experiences economic growth through fishing and trade, becoming more self-sufficient.
• Greenland: Danish investments lead to infrastructure development, particularly in mining and fishing.
• United States: A period of economic prosperity and cultural change, but also prohibition and organized crime.

1920s-1930s: Stalin's Rule

• Russia: Joseph Stalin consolidates power, implementing industrialization and collectivization, leading to widespread repression and famine.

1930s

Great Depression

• United States: Faces severe economic hardship, leading to the New Deal reforms under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

1930s: Economic Changes

• Iceland: Experiences economic growth through fishing and trade, becoming more self-sufficient.
• Greenland: Danish investments lead to infrastructure development, particularly in mining and fishing.

1940s

World War II (1939-1945)

• Iceland: Occupied by British and later American forces to prevent Nazi control. This occupation boosts the economy through infrastructure improvements.
• Greenland: Strategically important during WWII, with the United States establishing bases to prevent Axis access.
• North Korea: Division of Korea in 1945 after WWII, split into Soviet-controlled North Korea and American-controlled South Korea.
• United States: Enters WWII after Pearl Harbor in 1941, becoming a major Allied power and emerging as a superpower post-war.
• Russia: Plays a crucial role in defeating Nazi Germany but suffers immense losses.

1950s

Cold War Begins

• Iceland: Becomes a founding member of NATO in 1949, increasing its strategic importance during the Cold War.
• Greenland: Gains more autonomy from Denmark, with local government control increasing.
• North Korea: Korean War (1950-1953) ends in an armistice, solidifying the division of Korea.
• United States: Experiences economic growth and suburbanization while engaging in Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union.
• Russia: Post-Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev introduces some reforms but maintains Cold War tensions.

1960s

Social Upheaval and Vietnam War

• Iceland: Undergoes significant social changes, with increasing urbanization and modernization. The fishing industry continues to dominate the economy, leading to the Cod Wars with the UK (1958-1976).
• North Korea: Kim Il-sung consolidates power, establishing a strict communist regime. North Korea remains isolated, with significant military investments and propaganda efforts.
• United States: Civil rights movements, counter-culture, and the Vietnam War define the decade, leading to social and political unrest.
• Russia: Under Leonid Brezhnev, the Soviet Union sees economic stagnation and continued Cold War rivalry with the U.S.

1970s

Economic Struggles and Political Scandals

• Iceland: Continues economic growth and modernization.
• Greenland: Economy focuses on fishing and mining, with increased interest in potential oil reserves.
• North Korea: Continues its isolationist policies under Kim Il-sung.
• United States: Faces economic difficulties, including the oil crisis, and political scandals like Watergate.
• Russia: Continues economic stagnation and Cold War rivalry under Brezhnev.

1980s

Reagan Era and Cold War Escalation

• Iceland: Continues economic growth and social changes.
• Greenland: Continues economic development, focusing on fishing and mining.
• North Korea: Continues militarization and isolation under Kim Il-sung.
• United States: Experiences economic recovery under Reagan, along with a renewed arms race and anti-communist policies.
• Russia: Continues economic stagnation and Cold War rivalry.

1990s

Prelude to Civil Unrest

• Iceland: Starts to restrict international traffic and closes ports in response to global instability. Economic growth continues but social tensions rise. Increasing isolationist sentiment begins to take hold as global instability is noticed.
• Greenland: Moves towards greater autonomy from Denmark. Economic focus on fishing and potential oil reserves, with a growing sense of self-reliance. Begins to develop self-sufficiency plans, anticipating global instability. Southern coasts become the primary population centers.
• North Korea: Kim Jong-il takes power after Kim Il-sung’s death in 1994. Continues isolationist policies, ramping up military investments and propaganda. Increases military readiness, including nuclear ambitions, anticipating regional conflicts.
• United States: Increasing political polarization and social issues set the stage for future conflicts. Media begins to increasingly influence public perception, leading to growing unrest.
  • 1995: Oklahoma City bombing sparks fears of domestic terrorism.
  • 1996: Bloody Summer: Rise of gang crimes led to riots and the American Mafia's bloody crackdown.
  • 1999: Columbine High School massacre highlights issues of youth violence and mental health.
• Russia: Post-Soviet economic turmoil and political instability. Oligarchs gain power, leading to widespread corruption.
  • 1999: Vladimir Putin rises to power, promising stability but employing authoritarian tactics.

2000s

Descent into Disorder

• Iceland: Increasingly restricts foreign influence and trade. Growing economic self-reliance, but social unrest begins to simmer.
• Greenland: Further development of natural resources. Southern coasts become more populated as northern regions become increasingly isolated.
• North Korea: Continued militarization. Conducts nuclear tests, increasing regional tensions and isolation.
  • 2006: First successful nuclear test.
• United States: Political divisions deepen. The 9/11 attacks in 2001 lead to the War on Terror, further polarizing the nation.
  • 2008: Financial crisis exacerbates economic inequality and social unrest.
  • 2009: Rise of the Tea Party movement, reflecting growing political extremism.
• Russia: Putin consolidates power, curbing political freedoms and centralizing authority. Economic recovery masks underlying social tensions.
  • 2008: Russia-Georgia War sparks fears of resurgent Russian aggression.

Formation of Major Groups

• Caribbean Mobs (Early 2000s): Various gangs and pirate groups in the Caribbean and South America consolidate power, exploiting the chaos of regional instability.

2010s

The Fraying Fabric of Society

• Iceland: Begins to heavily restrict international communication and closes its ports. Internal focus on self-sufficiency and social cohesion amid global chaos.
• Greenland: Prepares for global instability by fortifying southern coasts and developing self-sufficient communities. Northern Greenland sees increased isolation.
• North Korea: Kim Jong-un assumes power in 2011. Continued nuclear tests and aggressive rhetoric isolate North Korea further.
  • 2017: Heightened tensions with the U.S. bring the region to the brink of conflict.
• United States: Social and political divisions deepen, leading to widespread unrest.
  • 2012: Sandy Hook shooting increases focus on gun violence and mental health.
  • 2014: Ferguson unrest highlights racial tensions and police brutality.
  • 2016: Contentious presidential election exacerbates political polarization.
  • 2017: 2nd Mexican Gulf War: Mexican factions attacked U.S. coasts, sparking a prolonged conflict that resulted in the Mexican People's Revolt, where various rebel groups in Mexico united to fight against the government and powerful drug cartels.
  • 2018: The Alaskan Incident: Canada attacked Alaskan towns, leading to Alaska's secession and subsequent conflicts.
  • 2020: COVID-19 pandemic causes economic and social upheaval, with increased distrust in government and media.
  • 2021: Riots escalate into full-scale civil war, with factions forming around political, racial, and economic lines.
• Russia: Economic sanctions and internal corruption strain Russia. Growing authoritarianism under Putin meets rising dissent.
  • 2014: Annexation of Crimea and involvement in Ukraine lead to international condemnation and sanctions.
  • 2020: Protests against government corruption and economic hardship escalate into widespread unrest.

2020s

Collapse and Control

• Iceland: Fully isolates itself, cutting off all international communication and travel. The nation becomes a fortress of stability amid global chaos.
• Greenland: Southern Greenland remains relatively stable but isolated. The 'Canadian Hunt' continues, with northern regions becoming lawless and dangerous.
• North Korea: Maintains strict control under Kim Jong-un. Regional conflicts and internal repression keep the nation isolated but stable.
  • 2025: North Korea launches an aggressive campaign against Japan, leading to the destruction of the island nation and sparking the Euroasian War.
• United States: The civil war intensifies, with multiple factions fighting for control. Government resorts to extreme martial law to regain order.
  • 2023: New Laws of '23 mark the secession of the New Western States of America and the Confederate States of America and the creation of the Federal States of America.
  • 2024: Hawaiian Incident sees a natural disaster devastate Hawaii.
  • 2025: Confederate States War: The Confederate States of America split into Western and Eastern factions.
  • 2026: Midwest states form the Nomocracy Republic, further fragmenting the nation.
  • 2027: New Hampshire is hit by a nuclear attack, causing a chain reaction that devastates the North-Eastern United States. This leads to the formation of the Central National Connection, a multinational military body aimed at securing borders.
• Russia: Civil unrest leads to fragmented control. Putin’s government imposes extreme martial law to maintain order.
  • 2022: Moscow is destroyed by a nuclear attack, leading to the decentralization of government control.
  • 2023: Putin survives and continues to rule one of the fragmented Russian states, maintaining a grip through authoritarian measures.

2030s-2040s

Prelude to Godfall

• Iceland: Continues its isolationist policies, becoming increasingly self-sufficient. The nation prepares for the worst as global conditions deteriorate.
• Greenland: Maintains a fragile stability in the south. Northern regions become completely lawless, with sporadic reports of the 'Canadian Hunt' continuing.
• North Korea: Remains a tightly controlled state, continuing aggressive military posturing and regional provocations.
• United States: Sees intermittent periods of martial law and attempts at reconstruction. Civil unrest remains high, with the country fragmented into multiple factions.
• Russia: Russia’s fragmented states experience sporadic conflicts. Putin’s regime holds on to power through brutal measures and a heavily militarized society.