Ila: Difference between revisions

Inhabited before and since the arrival of Libertans, the {{w|Sherbro people}} were the first inhabitants of Ila. Archaeological evidence suggests they lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Libertans arrived in the 700s, looking to expand their agricultural production. Upon their arrival, Libertans employed the local population in voluntary work camps, deeming colonization by force to be too dangerous. In 819 the colony was granted protectorate status, and the military instead spearheaded the operation. Libertan settlers looking to work the land arrived in waves during the 14th and 15th centuries, and again in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was granted autonomy on May 16th, 1707. The industrial revolution swept across the island, and in the 20th century, the protectorate was further modernized. Beginning in the 1950s, the infrastructure allowed the tourism industry to flourish. During the {{W|Sierra Leone Civil War|Sierra Leonean Civil War}}, the strategic military importance of the protectorate allowed for it to act as a base for {{W|United Kingdom|British}}, {{W|United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone|UNAMSIL}}, {{W|Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group|ECOMOG}} and Libertan troops. Since the cusp of the 21st century, Ila has been a firmly interconnected part of Liberta.

As the largest domestic producer of agricultural products, excluding olives, by a considerable margin, the Ilan government has been able to leverage a considerable amount of autonomy compared to other protectorates. Maintaining a strong agrarian culture, the main economic sectors have historically been centered around farming and ranching, especially in the central regions. In modern times, this has largely been superseded by manufacturing, {{W|heavy industry}} and a growing domestic tourism industry. The historic isolation from Liberta, differing climate and proximity to other ethnic groups has resulted in a unique Ilan culture. Though historically frowned upon by mainland Libertans as "low culture", the Ilan culture is today frequently celebrated and embraced in both the media and in general as a unique aspect of Libertan culture. Often likened with {{W|Culture of Australia|Australian culture}}, Ilan people are frequently portrayed as relaxed and familiar with nature. Following the gradual ousting of native Africans in the 14th and 15th century, Ila is today a largely homogeneous country. Though a small minority of native Sherbro remain in the northwestern regions of the island, they constitute less than 5% of the total population of the island.  

The origin of the name ''Ila'' is unknown, but was used since the Libertan discovery of the island, as shown in texts from the eight century documenting the exploration of the island. Some {{W|Historical linguistics|historical linguistic}} evidence points to the word likely originating in the {{W|Classical Latin}} word ''īnsula'', meaning "island".  

As the military took control of the island and its production, the few civilian and Ilan born Libertans became subject to military restrictions. They could no longer receive or purchase alcohol, flirt with the local women, nor could they trade with the local tribes. This caused many to flee into the deep marshes of the northwestern part of Ila, where they lived as {{W|Outlaw|outlaws}}. As they were by that point considered to have rescinded their allegiance to Liberta, any found outlaws were to be {{W|Deadly force|killed on sight}}. Under the hand of the Libertan Navy, production increased further and was greatly expanded in scale. However, despite the increase in numbers, mainland Libertan attention had largely steered away from Ila onto other protectorates. As a visitor, di-consul ''Cassian the Benevolent'', upon his return, described the island as "lost in time's trenches." Despite relations with the local women being a criminal offense, this was a popular past time with the soldiers. Whenever a colored baby was born, the responsible soldier had to claim the baby in a process nicknamed "the claim of shame", such a claim resulted in a dishonorable discharge. By the year 988, roughly three quarters of soldiers who were stationed ended their stay by being dishonorably discharged for illegally impregnating a local.