Rhythe
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| City of Rhythe Cité de Rhythe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital of the State of Rhythe | |||
| City and Municipal Arrondésmente of Rhythe | |||
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View of Cathedral of St. Gregoire, Rhythe, and surrounding neighborhood. View of Cathedral of St. Gregoire, Rhythe, and surrounding neighborhood. | |||
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| Nickname(s): "City of Industry", "City of Ashes" | |||
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Motto(s): "Eure Industrie vu prosperiont" (In Industry we Prosper) | |||
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Location of the City of Rhythe within Helvore Location of the City of Rhythe within Helvore | |||
| Country | Kingdom of Helvore | ||
| State | Rhythe | ||
| City type | Municipal Arrondésmente | ||
| Incorporation Charter status |
1801 | ||
| Founded by | Rhysicrius of Rhythia | ||
| Named for | Rhysicrius of Rhythia; see origin | ||
| City Hall | City Hall of Rhythe | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | City Council-Government | ||
| • Lord of Rhythe | Rutherford d'Amiens | ||
| • City Council | Théodore de Presceulle, President | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 982 km2 (379 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 782 km2 (302 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 200 km2 (80 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 71 m (233 ft) | ||
| Population (1893) | |||
| • Total | 1,001,137 | ||
| • Estimate (1895) | 1,003,018 | ||
| • Density | 102/km2 (260/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Rhythian | ||
| Time zone | Western European Time (UTC-0) | ||
| Code | 20000-20201 | ||
Important Note: This article has been created as part of an external project to this wiki, and thus should be considered out of character. Please also note that as part of this aforementioned project, all information presented here will be correct as of the year 1896. In other words, this article is written as it would be in 1896, not 2016.
The City of Rhythe (Helvoran: La Cité de Rhythe, IPA: /læ 'sɪtɪ dɛ ʁɪθ/) is a major city and municipal arrondésmente in the State of Rhythe, Helvore, with the largest urban population in the country (that being of 1,001,137) as of 1893. Rhythe is situated at the mouth of the St. Marloise River and the English Channel, making it an important center for trade and transport between the Atlantic and Greater Europe.
The recorded history of Rhythe began as early as circa 90 AD, when rebel Roman general Rhysicrius of Rhythia established a stone fort on the Ile de Forte in the center of the Bay of Rhythe. Throughout the early middle ages, Rhythe began to develop from a mostly agricultural town to an important trade hub for merchants travelling from other areas of Europe along the St. Marloise River to its outlet near Calibourne on the Atlantic Ocean, and Rhythe began to grow at an outstanding rate following the beginnings of the Industrial revolution during the mid eighteenth century, becoming what is now the global capital for transport manufacture and trade.
In contemporary Rhythe, the positive effects of an increasingly efficient economy, spurred on by growth in the printing, textiles, and transport sectors, continue to promote the growth of Rhythe as a city, although urban sprawl and increasingly poor living and working conditions continue to be a major problem within Rhythe.
Recent History:
Following the conclusion of the Helvoran Civil War in 1675, Rhythe, and indeed the rest of Helvore, entered a period of peace, under which Rhythe began to develop industrially. In 1761, the invention of the Gálen Printing Press by Rhythian inventor and entrepreneur Frederique Gálen brought about the first major changes in Rhythe's shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy. Additionally, increased industrial production in England during the late eighteenth century also brought economic stimulation to Rhythe in the form of trade to the rest of Europe.
The optimization of technologies used for agricultural development during the mid eighteenth century in Rhythe now meant that much less workers were required in rural communities in order to produce agricultural goods than in previous centuries. As a result of this, at the turn of the nineteenth century, Rhythe began to experience a dramatic population boom as people were forced to move from rural areas to the cities for employment. Rhythian industry at the time began to turn to general manufacturing, although later Rhythe would begin to specialize further in engineering, as the financing of further economic expansion was fueled and supported by various financial industries, such as banking and insurance.
In 1843, Rhythe became the site for the most important engineering development in transport of the time, that being the development of the Trans-Anglovoran Railway Line. Shortly after the development of the first major commercial railway lines in England in the 1820s, the British engineering company Highmont and West created a partnership with the Rhythian transport manufacturing company Mariotte-Gálen to develop a railway line from Manchester to Rhythe (although in 1884-85 it was extended to travel from Edinburgh to Port Jasonville). The project, which began in 1843 (about ten years after the completion of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway), was completed in 1847, and brought increased economic growth to Rhythe as a city through the interconnection and trade between the two cities.
Throughout the rest of nineteenth-century up to today, Rhythe has continued to grow and develop industrially. The Mästenburgian writer Klaus Stüttgart (1743-1879) wrote that "Rhythe represents the pinnacle of all human economic achievement...by the ordination of providence one can observe and truly feel the innovative and isagogical development of a greater tomorrow - whether through industry, society, or spirit" 1. In later years, Rhythe has also invested further in the development of science and education, through the establishment of L'Équaise Nationale de Dévelopmente Industrielle á Science (English: The National School of Industrial Development and Science).
However, despite the vast increase in the wealth of Rhythe as a city, industrialisation has also introduced increased levels of poverty and squalor to large areas of the city and wider population. The creation of a more capitalist environment has left many citizens and industries of Rhythe unregulated, meaning that crime has increased dramatically within the contemporary city of Rhythe.
Economy:
Main Article: Economy of Rhythe
The progressive industrialisation of Rhythe from the mid eighteenth century to today has brought about great economic stimulation to the area in the past century and a half. The Rhythian economy is moderately diversified, although up to 80% of the per annum GDP of the city is generated by the transport and manufacturing industries. Engineering has been a major part of the Rhythian economy since the development of the Trans-Anglovoran Railway Line, and many of the major companies operating within Rhythe are orientated on the development or production of engineered goods.
Additionally, Rhythe is also a city of contrasting affluence. As of a census conducted in 1895, 40% of Rhythians live in poverty and earn very minimal wages (as according to the Felaux Wealth Index, 1885), whilst up to 10% of Rhythians live in extreme opulence and wealth. Additionally, Rhythe is home to some of Helvore's most expensive and ornate buildings, including the Cathédrele de St. Gregoire and the Town Hall of Rhythe, which are both exceptionally examples of contemporary Rhythian architecture and economy.
Transport:
The largest industrial sector within the city of Rhythe itself is by far transportation, which provides for approximately 50% of the Rhythian economy. The establishment of the Trans-Anglovoran Railway Line in the mid nineteenth century has provided Rhythe interconnection with the cities of Edinburgh, Manchester, London, Roixterre, and St. Jasonville, thus connecting Rhythe with the Atlantic ocean and Aquitanian Sea with the manufacturing hubs of Manchester and London.
The development of the locomotive in the early nineteenth century in England brought about substantial change in the way societies and economies functioned within Helvore and the city of Rhythe. Prior to the development of railway lines, most goods were transported by foot or cart, meaning that many cities and regions could not efficiently trade at regular intervals. However, the development of the steam train now meant that goods and people could be transported from areas quite distant from one another within a much quicker time frame. Rhythian society benefited greatly from this new technological development, as it meant that Rhythe was now interconnected with multiple cities and the goods and services they offered. Transportation became a major technological industry in Rhythe, as it was an increasingly inevitable requirement for cities to become more interconnected.
The manufacturing of transport vessels, including locomotives and ships, is also a very strong aspect of the Rhythian transport sector, with up to 65% of Helvore's transportation devices being manufactured in Rhythe. Most of Helvore's railways are built and operated by Rhythian companies, and this has provided much of Rhythe's economic income.
General Manufacturing:
In addition to the major industrial sector of transportation, general manufacturing is another of Rhythe's major sectors. Since the advent of transport manufacturing, there has also been an increased need for other manufactured goods within Rhythe, particularly in foundry and iron-working. General manufacturing as a whole, which is largely supported by the mining industry of other areas of Helvore, makes up for approximately 30% of the Rhythian economy.
Additionally, at the commencement of the Industrial Revolution, most of the Rhythian economy was based in general manufacturing, with up to 65% of the Rhythian GDP being provided by the Manufacturing sector in 1835. However, as the Rhythian manufacturing industry specialised in transportation, the percentage of GDP generated by the general manufacturing sector has significantly decreased.
Science and Technology:
Throughout the past century and a half, Rhythe has experienced a very large development of technology and science. Chief among this is the development of many new technologies, which have been utilised to optimise and enhance both the efficiency of the Rhythian economy and quality of life in the area. Examples of contemporary technologies that have been developed in Rhythe include the development of the Corbolte Engine2 in 1812 by Rhythian inventor Jean Corbolte, an improved version of James Watt's reciprocating engine. This development allowed the locomotive to travel much faster, and in turn allowed for the creation of the Trans-Anglovoran Railway Line 31 years later, leading to further economic enhancement Rhythe.
Other new technologies of the time which were introduced to Rhythe and which have benefited the lives of those living there include the development of the first mass-produced lightbulbs in Europe by the Rhythian company Edierre and Mormont, which led to the ability for workers and factory owners to more efficiently illuminate work areas at night; and the Gálen Printing Press, which allowed for the increased efficiency of the printing industry in Rhythe.
Demographics:
Living Conditions:
Living conditions within Rhythe vary extremely from region to region due to the increased social divide between the rich and poor as a result of the Rhythian industrial revolution. As many people sought employment in larger cities after leaving rural communities, Rythe experienced a massive population boom at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Hence, inexpensive and quick housing needed to be built to accommodate the influx of people. As a result of this need, much of Rhythe's poorer suburbs consist of poorly built and sanitised buildings which cramp numerous families into very small areas. Disease and unhygienic living conditions spread throughout Rhythe as ghettos and slums began to develop in the outskirts of the city, including the infamous Creubourg District.
On the other end of the spectrum, however, industrialisation in Rhythe has brought great opulence and wealth to the wealthy and middle class. Living conditions among the rich are exceptionally high, with many living in the grand districts of the many islands of Rhythe, towards the center of the city and away from the factories of the St. Marloise River and city outskirts. Many of these houses possess running water and electricity, with appropriate sewerage and lighting.
Working Conditions:
Within Rhythe, working conditions and worker's rights are significantly more developed than in many other cities in Europe. Following numerous working rights demonstrations and protests throughout the 1840s, the Rhythian government passed a series of bills collectively known as the 1849 Accords which detailed and implemented numerous policies which led to more humane working conditions, particularly in regards to child labour.
As a result of the 1849 Accords, the minimum working age has been raised from around five years of age (as with other areas of Europe) to ten years of age, making Rhythe one of the most progressive industrial cities of the time. Additionally, wage equity has been in place within Rhythe since 1864, with men, women and children earning roughly the same amount, contrary to most other areas of the world. These working conditions, which are well enforced by the government, have helped promote Rhythe as an industrial city and made it much more attractive to prospecting workers, thus making Rhythe one of the most immigrated to cities in Europe.
References:
Below is a list of all references used in the creation of this article:
- BBC - GCSE Bitesize: Working conditions in factories. (2016). Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2016, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/shp/britishsociety/livingworkingconditionsrev1.shtml.
- BBC - History - British History in depth: Agricultural Revolution in England 1500 - 1850. (2016). Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2016, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/agricultural_revolution_01.shtml.
- British Agricultural Revolution. (2016). Wikipedia. Retrieved 16 July 2016, from http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Agricultural_Revolution#
- British Museum - The Industrial Revolution and the changing face of Britain. (2016). Britishmuseum.org. Retrieved 16 July 2016, from http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/publications/online_research_catalogues/paper_money/paper_money_of_england__wales/the_industrial_revolution.aspx
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- Differences Between Wealthy, Middle Class and Poor in the Industrial Revolution | The Classroom | Synonym. (2016). Classrooms.synonym.com. Retrieved 16 July 2016, from http://www.classroom.synonym.com/differences-between-wealthy-middle-class-poor-industrial-revolution-17180.htlml
- Inventions of the Industrial Revolution: Examples and Summary - Video and Lesson Transcript | Study.com.. (2016). Study.com. Retrieved 16 July 2016, from http://www.study.com/academy/lesson/inventions-of-the-industrial-revolution.html.
- Manchester. (2016). Wikipedia. Retrieved 31 July 2016, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester.
- The Evolution of Economy: Changes from the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions - Video and Lesson Transcript | Study.com.. (2016). Study.com. Retrieved 16 July 2016, from http://www.study.com/academy/lesson/the-evolution-of-economy-changes-from-the-agricultural-and-industrial-revolutions.html#lesson
- tThe Industrial Revolution. (2016). Historyhaven.com. Retrieved 16 July 2016, from http://www.historyaven.com/APWH/unit%2014/THE%20INDUSTRIAL%20REVOLUTION.htm
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See Also:
For more information on this topic, please see any one of the following:
Notes:
1 Quote taken from a letter from Stüttgart to a colleague.
2'...the development of the Corbalte Engine...': Please note that there is no such thing as a Corbalte Engine, I invented it for the sake of this task.
