Historical Roots

[Tempest]

Many things, races inparticular share many historicial counterparts. The Imperials are clearly based off Romans of the classical period, the legions share the same name aswell as very similiar armor to the Roman millitary. Aswell many Imperials have Roman names, simply read The Trajedy of Julius Ceasar and you see several names used in Morrowind like Trebonius and Cassius. The Nords are clearly sculpted after the mideval Norse civilization, which are commonly, but incorrectly known as vikings. Nords and the Norse share many things: they're harsh artic homeland, the existance of warriors known as berserkers, sea reavers(the true vikings), thierb title-like nicknames, even thier sea crafts are similiar in design.

Does anyone know any other historical similarities that I've missed?

[Gabbemaster]

Well, I don't think that is specific for morrowind, all game-makers, has to get thier inspiration from somewhere...

[Abramul]

Actually, I believe only the Colovian Estates are based on Rome. Eastern Cyrodiil sounds more like one of the South American civilizations, with jungle, a floating city, and such-like.

[Maquissar]

The CYRODIL, aka IMPERIALS, are the Tamrielian counterpart of the Romans. The NORDS are clearly based on Norse and Germanic cultures. The BRETONS are, as their name might suggest, based on Breton cultures - that is, the Celts who lived in the North of France, and the British Isles before the Germanic invasions. The REDGUARD probably represent some North African or Middle Eastern culture. The other races are fantasy races.

[Darnoc]

Personally, I believe the Redguards are a mix between arabic, japanese and chinese culture. This comes clear when looking at their original homeland, Yokuda. The names sound very asiatic or even japanese, they have warrior monks, an emperor (who lost most of his power to provincial lords called Yokedas almost like the emperor of Japan during the Japanese middle age). But the land they live in is a desert and the Redguards look like Arabs. The Yokudans also had a special warrior class, the sword singers which could be compared to the Samurai of Japan. The Sword singer could create a Shehai, a spirit sword.

 

One of the Yokeda came to power over all other Yokedas and declared himself Elden Yokeda, highest of the Yokeda. This could be compared to the Shogun of Japan. He established the Sword Singers as a special class, since only they were allowed to carry a sword, the greatest Sword Singers were called Ansei (also sounds Japanese). This is also like in middleage Japan.

 

The greatest of all Ansei, Frandar do Hunding Hel Ansei No Shira, wrote a philosophical book about the "way of the sword", not unlike the Bushido of Japanese.

 

At the end of the Yokudan Empire, the last emperor tried to take control again over his empire (for centuries, the title of emperor had only been represantive, like in Japan) and tried to exterminate the class of the Sword Singers. He could be compared with emperor Meji of Japan who succeeded in taking control of Japan in the 19th century, by destroying the class of the Samurai. But unlike Meji, the last emperor of Yokuda didn't succeed and his army was defeated by Frandar do Hunding Hel Ansei No Shira and his army of Sword Singers. After that Sword Singers fled over the sea and founded Hammerfell and renamed themselves Redguards.

[HappyHerring]

I see the imperials as romans seen through the lens of biblical epics, the redguards as north american/north africans, the Bretons as french in culture. The nords are obviously Northmen whilst I'd argue that the dumner in their personal names, placeneames etc are welsh/brythonic celts as opposed to goidelic or gaelic celts.

[Povuholo]

You're 5 years late with that post. ;)

[pleasenoname]

The Yokuda are obviously based off of Samuel L. Jackson's Afro Samurai character.

[awxc23]

I've always tought that imperials were today us-americans with ancient romans clothes on !

lol