Nok (Sarki)

Nok
Map by Grant
Leader	Sarki
Capital	Nok
Start Bias	None
Religion	Islam Odinani (HR) Maguzanci (GHR)
Culture req. mod	West African
Civilopedia

Nok led by Sarki is a custom civilization mod by UltraWorlds and Grant, with contributions from Lungora, KillerTheCat, DuskJockey, and Sukritact.

This mod requires Brave New World.

Overview:

Nok

The Nok culture was an early Iron Age civilization whose material remains are named after the Ham village of Nok in the State of Kaduna in Nigeria, where their famous terracotta sculptures were first discovered in 1928. The Nok Culture appeared in northern Nigeria around 1500 BC and vanished under unknown circumstances around 500 AD, lasting approximately 2,000 years. Iron use, in smelting and forging for tools, appears in Nok culture by at least 550 BC and possibly earlier. Data from historical sources suggest that iron smelting was independently discovered in the region prior to 1000 BC. Scientific field work began in 2005 to investigate Nok archaeological sites, and to better understand Nok terracotta sculptures within their Iron Age context.

Nok provides the earliest example of iron-smelting technology in sub-Saharan Africa which may have come from Carthage to the north, or given the formidable barrier of the Sahara desert, from Nubia in the east. It may even have been an indigenous invention, but unfortunately, there is very little evidence to support any of the three theories above the other two. Wherever the ideas came from, it permitted Nok to jump straight from the Stone Age to the Iron Age and skip the Bronze Age stage that is typical of developments elsewhere.

The Nok culture spread through central Nigeria, perhaps covering an area as large as 78,000 square kilometres (30,000 square miles) or approximately the area of Portugal. There are, however, regional differences in both the types of tools and pottery made at various Nok sites. Finds of iron arrows and spearheads would suggest, too, that life was not always peaceful amongst the Nok and with their rival tribes. The reason for the Nok Culture’s decline around 200 AD is not known but is evidenced by a sharp drop in pottery production. The usual culprits may have been overexploitation of natural resources, a period of adverse climate change, civil wars, the arrival of rival kingdoms, or a combination of all four.

Sarki

Sarki is the word for King in Yoruba, a language descendent from the lost Nok language. Today, the region of Kagako, home to the Nok village, is led nominally by a Sarki. Since 2005, the Sarki has been his Highness Alhaji Sa'ad Abubekar. Sarki is also a name for a mythical viper that the legendary prince Bayajidda slew in order to found the several pre-19 century Hausa states straddling northern Nigeria and southern Niger.

Dawn of Man

Art by Lungora

Welcome King Sarki, leader of the Nok culture, architect of the cradle of North African Civilization! For milennia, your people endured a hunter-gatherer existence, isolated from other peoples. It was not until the turn of the first milennium BC that your people discovered Iron from the north, enabling them to craft their dominion of what is northern Nigeria today. Pottery, architecture and artist expression thrived, but it was not to last. Overpopulation, coupled with rapid climate shifts, spelled the end of your culture. Your people persisted, however, forming the formidable Benin, Nri, Yoruba and Hausa Kingdoms and ethnic groups lasting into the modern day.

Sarki, your people feel their culture has been vandalised and forgotten. They seek a new chapter in west African history that will return to its artistic roots, forging a culture that will embrace new technology. Can you craft their legacy once again? Can you build a civilization that will stand the Test of Time?

Introduction: "Welcome, traveller! I am Sarki, the ruler of these abundant lands. May Nom prove you a trustworthy ally, or worthy adversary."

Defeat: "Our lord Nom has deserted us. It is the only reason for your triumph this day."

Unique Attributes

Nok (Sarki)
Art by Grant Truths of Nom Iron is visible and improvable at game start. Settling near Strategic Resources yields science, increasing per Terracotta Figurine. May expend melee units to construct mines and quarries in Forest and Jungle tiles (excluding Scouts).
Art by KillerTheCat Viper (Spearman) Trained earlier at Mining Weaker but cheaper Ignores hill and jungle terrain cost Trained faster in cities which produce more Culture
Art by KillerTheCat Earthen Kiln (Stone Works) Doesn't require marble or stone Produces the unique Terracotta Figurine, which grants +1 production and +3 culture per turn Shrines and Temples in cities with an Earthern Kiln receive a Great Work of Art Slot

City List Nok Jos Taruga Samun Dukyai Kasina Ala Janjala Kagara Pangajere Kamrun Rigwallo Ogbabu Nasarawa Kwoi Jere Jemaa Zonkwa Riyom Dokku Bokkos Ungwan Mallam Chungun Gimi Vom Bukuru Pambeguwa Burumburum Gwam Chakwama Dususu Dogo-Dogo Jigawa

Spy List Ahmadou Ayub Badru Bokhari Guedado Adhiambo Chinaka Laila Mariama Oni

Strategy

Music

Peace Theme	War Theme
	Nok - War
'???' by ?	'Ajaja' by Babatunde Olatunji

Mod Support

Mod Support
Additional Achievements	Unknown
Civ IV Traits	No
Cultural Diversity	Yes
Enlightenment Era	Unknown
Ethnic Units/R.E.D.	No
Events and Decisions	No
Historical Religions	Unknown
Map Labels	No
Rise to Power	Yes
Unique Cultural Influence	No
YnAEMP	Yes

Full Credits List

Steam Workshop
Latest Version:	v 1
Last Updated:	29 June 2019

• UltraWorlds: Lead Author
• Grant: Art, SQL, XML, Lua
• Lungora: Design and Leaderscreen
• KillerTheCat: Art
• DuskJockey: Civ Icon
• Sukritact: Civ Icon
• All of OCP: Motivation

Notes and References

Overlooked Civs Project's Civilizations
ExplosiveWatermelon	Priamurye • Tonga
Lordie	Svalbard
Lungora	Khamug-Mongol • Schleswig-Holstein
SilentForza	Kosovo
UltraWorlds	Nok
Associated Modders	Grant • JakeWalrusWhale