Real life inspirations for the Elder Scrolls

[imperistan]

Nords - Obviously Scandinavian based all the way.

 

Imperials - Obviously Roman all the way.

 

Bretons - Early medieval French/Italian

 

Argonians - A general conglomeration of a lot of jungle-based cultures. Think first Africans meets Native Americans.

 

Khajiit - Have a fair base in desert cultures, namely Egypt and other areas of North Africa

 

Redguard - Moors

 

Altmer - Japanese with a flair of ultra racial supremacy but sans the warrior culture Japan was once known for.

 

Dunmer - These actually take more from their actual fantasy counterparts (Dark Elves), but they do have influences from Mesoamerican cultures (namely Aztecs and the Mayans) as well as Native American cultures in general. (The Chimer, who become Dunmer, who journeyed across into Morrowind parallel somewhat to the theory of how Native Americans are believed to have come to live on the American continents)

 

Bosmer - Tribal cultures taken to their extreme.

 

Orcs - Mongols sans the general use of horse combat.

[sheepskin]

Nords - Obviously Scandinavian based all the way.

 

Imperials - Obviously Roman all the way.

 

Bretons - Early medieval French/Italian

 

Argonians - A general conglomeration of a lot of jungle-based cultures. Think first Africans meets Native Americans.

 

Khajiit - Have a fair base in desert cultures, namely Egypt and other areas of North Africa

 

Redguard - Moors

 

Altmer - Japanese with a flair of ultra racial supremacy but sans the warrior culture Japan was once known for.

 

Dunmer - These actually take more from their actual fantasy counterparts (Dark Elves), but they do have influences from Mesoamerican cultures (namely Aztecs and the Mayans) as well as Native American cultures in general. (The Chimer, who become Dunmer, who journeyed across into Morrowind parallel somewhat to the theory of how Native Americans are believed to have come to live on the American continents)

 

Bosmer - Tribal cultures taken to their extreme.

 

Orcs - Mongols sans the general use of horse combat.

 

Pretty much agreed, I think its important to realize not all races are based on specific societies, or even historical cultures. The Dunmer being the best example, heavily drawing from Dark Elf lore.

 

Aside from that, the only thing I'd like to add is that the Bosmer seems to draw from naturalist/primalist types prevalent in western cultures. While the Altmer seem to represent the financially elite classes; burgeousie. Hence the golden skin/eyes and lofty stature, its figurative. From this perspective, the Orsimer seem to represent a poverty stricken and over-worked proletariat, but... the correlation is too vague to make any actual assertions.

 

If I was to make any sort of correlation between the Mer, they're based on intellectual types more than anything. So if they're to be contrasted and compared, the context needs to be taken into consideration when dealing with them.

 

As in, the derivative base changes between Man, Mer, and Beast.

 

Mer - Distinction is derived from intellectual types

Men - Distinction is derived from historical societies

Beast - Distinction is derived from tribal societies; instinctual urges.

Edited June 1, 2012 by sheepskin

[RighthandofSithis]

Nords - Obviously Scandinavian based all the way.

 

Imperials - Obviously Roman all the way.

 

Bretons - Early medieval French/Italian

 

Argonians - A general conglomeration of a lot of jungle-based cultures. Think first Africans meets Native Americans.

 

Khajiit - Have a fair base in desert cultures, namely Egypt and other areas of North Africa

 

Redguard - Moors

 

Altmer - Japanese with a flair of ultra racial supremacy but sans the warrior culture Japan was once known for.

 

Dunmer - These actually take more from their actual fantasy counterparts (Dark Elves), but they do have influences from Mesoamerican cultures (namely Aztecs and the Mayans) as well as Native American cultures in general. (The Chimer, who become Dunmer, who journeyed across into Morrowind parallel somewhat to the theory of how Native Americans are believed to have come to live on the American continents)

 

Bosmer - Tribal cultures taken to their extreme.

 

Orcs - Mongols sans the general use of horse combat.

 

Pretty much agreed, I think its important to realize not all races are based on specific societies, or even historical cultures. The Dunmer being the best example, heavily drawing from Dark Elf lore.

 

Aside from that, the only thing I'd like to add is that the Bosmer seems to draw from naturalist/primalist types prevalent in western cultures. While the Altmer seem to represent the financially elite classes; burgeousie. Hence the golden skin/eyes and lofty stature, its figurative. From this perspective, the Orsimer seem to represent a poverty stricken and over-worked proletariat, but... the correlation is too vague to make any actual assertions.

 

If I was to make any sort of correlation between the Mer, they're based on intellectual types more than anything. So if they're to be contrasted and compared, the context needs to be taken into consideration when dealing with them.

 

As in, the derivative base changes between Man, Mer, and Beast.

 

Mer - Distinction is derived from intellectual types

Men - Distinction is derived from historical societies

Beast - Distinction is derived from tribal societies; instinctual urges.

 

 

Interesting. You make some point about the Altmer being related to the bourgeoisie. Considering the Thalmor exhibit fascist traits (ethnic superiority, religion is important, I'd assume they want to make the Dominion strong), and considering 'fascism is capitalism in decay' (Lenin), you may have a point there. However, if we are going by classes, the Altmer society is one dominated not by the bourgeoisie, but by the Intelligentsia. And they wouldn't be Japanese, that would be the Tsaesci.

 

I'm not sure about the Orismer representing the proletariat. A possible vague resemblance, perhaps. But I wouldn't say the proletariat inspired the Orcs. Furthermore, I have seen not evidence that the Orcs use horses for combat. In fact, they apparently eat horses.

 

I knew the Bretons have a strong medieval French/Frankish inspiration, given some of their earlier names were very French orientated, and they have a stereotypical feudal system.

 

And I wouldn't say the Nords are entirely Viking. They are indeed heavily influenced by them. However, they do exhibit traits of other Germanic tribes.

Edited June 1, 2012 by RighthandofSithis

[BS375]

Akaviri (blades) = Japan

 

Bretonen = Celts

 

Imperium = Roman Empire

 

Kajiit = Mongol (Dessert of Gobi)

 

Argonier = Brazil (?Inka or Azteken?)

 

North = Baltic Sea

 

Redguard = South Africa

 

 

[imperistan]

Nords - Obviously Scandinavian based all the way.

 

Imperials - Obviously Roman all the way.

 

Bretons - Early medieval French/Italian

 

Argonians - A general conglomeration of a lot of jungle-based cultures. Think first Africans meets Native Americans.

 

Khajiit - Have a fair base in desert cultures, namely Egypt and other areas of North Africa

 

Redguard - Moors

 

Altmer - Japanese with a flair of ultra racial supremacy but sans the warrior culture Japan was once known for.

 

Dunmer - These actually take more from their actual fantasy counterparts (Dark Elves), but they do have influences from Mesoamerican cultures (namely Aztecs and the Mayans) as well as Native American cultures in general. (The Chimer, who become Dunmer, who journeyed across into Morrowind parallel somewhat to the theory of how Native Americans are believed to have come to live on the American continents)

 

Bosmer - Tribal cultures taken to their extreme.

 

Orcs - Mongols sans the general use of horse combat.

 

Pretty much agreed, I think its important to realize not all races are based on specific societies, or even historical cultures. The Dunmer being the best example, heavily drawing from Dark Elf lore.

 

Aside from that, the only thing I'd like to add is that the Bosmer seems to draw from naturalist/primalist types prevalent in western cultures. While the Altmer seem to represent the financially elite classes; burgeousie. Hence the golden skin/eyes and lofty stature, its figurative. From this perspective, the Orsimer seem to represent a poverty stricken and over-worked proletariat, but... the correlation is too vague to make any actual assertions.

 

If I was to make any sort of correlation between the Mer, they're based on intellectual types more than anything. So if they're to be contrasted and compared, the context needs to be taken into consideration when dealing with them.

 

As in, the derivative base changes between Man, Mer, and Beast.

 

Mer - Distinction is derived from intellectual types

Men - Distinction is derived from historical societies

Beast - Distinction is derived from tribal societies; instinctual urges.

 

 

Interesting. You make some point about the Altmer being related to the bourgeoisie. Considering the Thalmor exhibit fascist traits (ethnic superiority, religion is important, I'd assume they want to make the Dominion strong), and considering 'fascism is capitalism in decay' (Lenin), you may have a point there. However, if we are going by classes, the Altmer society is one dominated not by the bourgeoisie, but by the Intelligentsia. And they wouldn't be Japanese, that would be the Tsaesci.

 

I'm not sure about the Orismer representing the proletariat. A possible vague resemblance, perhaps. But I wouldn't say the proletariat inspired the Orcs. Furthermore, I have seen not evidence that the Orcs use horses for combat. In fact, they apparently eat horses.

 

I knew the Bretons have a strong medieval French/Frankish inspiration, given some of their earlier names were very French orientated, and they have a stereotypical feudal system.

 

And I wouldn't say the Nords are entirely Viking. They are indeed heavily influenced by them. However, they do exhibit traits of other Germanic tribes.

 

I relate the Altmer to the Japanese based on general culture, not on how the status quo government behaves (I also didn't base any of my parallels on governments or other political concepts. Just culture). Though then again, I could also see them taking influences from China as well. No matter which way I look at them, I simply can't see the Altmer having any European parallels from any time period. I only see Asian parallels.

 

And I said Scandinavian, not viking. Viking's were just glorified pirates and those that participated in viking (yes, viking was actually originally a word for what "Vikings" did) usually ended up being most of Scandinavia's warriors who did so as a living. They only represented a small fraction of the greater Scandinavian culture (which was segmented between the major kingdoms, but they're all fairly similar in having a common ancestry and cultural basis).

 

And they would have some influence from other Germanic tribes. The Scandinavians were originally Germanics who moved north. This is why old Germanic paganism and Norse paganism are essentially the same religion, but with different names. (like it was between the Romans and the Greeks own religions)

[landy8]

Like I said before, most of Tamrielic races are too complex to be a version of any single real nation. BTW, Moors mentioned more than once in this topic also were not a single nation. Actually, europeans called almost any type of Mid-Eastern dwellers Moors.

 

As for the Mer, there's a well designed and described in fiction (including games) term "elves". We should thank Tolkien for this. (Thou he didn't actually "invent" them.) The same is with Orcs. See Warcraft series and lore. Modern Tamriel Orcs bear strong resemblance to modern Warcraft Orcs - a race of warriors, fierce, somewhat simple, generally straightforward.

[billyro]

Altmer - Japanese with a flair of ultra racial supremacy but sans the warrior culture Japan was once known for.

 

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111109015934/elderscrolls/images/thumb/9/9e/Altmer_Concept.jpg/175px-Altmer_Concept.jpg

 

I think it fits quite well in that spiritual art of the Japanese and Chinese.

[imperistan]

Like I said before, most of Tamrielic races are too complex to be a version of any single real nation. BTW, Moors mentioned more than once in this topic also were not a single nation. Actually, europeans called almost any type of Mid-Eastern dwellers Moors.

 

As for the Mer, there's a well designed and described in fiction (including games) term "elves". We should thank Tolkien for this. (Thou he didn't actually "invent" them.) The same is with Orcs. See Warcraft series and lore. Modern Tamriel Orcs bear strong resemblance to modern Warcraft Orcs - a race of warriors, fierce, somewhat simple, generally straightforward.

 

-obviously- but we're not talking about "Is Tamriel just Earth recolored?". We're talking about "What real-life cultures do the Tamriellic cultures take some of their concepts from?"

[landy8]

-obviously- but we're not talking about "Is Tamriel just Earth recolored?". We're talking about "What real-life cultures do the Tamriellic cultures take some of their concepts from?"

 

And that's quite what I'm talking about. True, some Tamrielic cultures are based on some concepts of some real cultures. But some other Tamrielic cultures are based on some fiction cultures. Including the Elves. And the Orcs. And Argonians. I don't remember any real nations being ruled by mystical sentient trees! Correct me if I'm mistaken. :wink:

 

As for the Orcs, it seems their evolution in TES series is contemporary with the Orcs' evolution in Warcraft series. From mindless bloodthirsty half-beasts to almost noble fearless warriors. Even their Strongholds' design resembles something...

 

And Japan influenced Altmer... First of all, Altmer are the Elves. So I think they have more influence from Tolkien's works than from any real culture. And Japanese influenced TES race is Akaviri. While Meric races, and Altmer in particular, IMO are more influenced by Chinese.

[RighthandofSithis]

BTW, Moors mentioned more than once in this topic also were not a single nation. Actually, europeans called almost any type of Mid-Eastern dwellers Moors.

 

I was going to use the term 'Berber', would you prefer that?

 

I originally used 'Moors' because the Redguards have a division in their culture, and thought that 'Moors', being a group, would be more fitting.

 

And the Akaviri aren't one race. In my opinion, the Japanese represent the Tsaesci (which is rather well established), Kamal resembles Mongolia (as they are depicted as horrible warmongers). Ka Po' Tun is China, as they greatly respect Dragons and are the strongest land nation (which China was before the Opium Wars and the Meiji Restoration). Tang Mo may be Korea (not sure) as they have been at war with everyone else, and are now allied to Ka Po' Tun (If they broke this alliance, it would be even more like Ancient Korea).

Edited June 2, 2012 by RighthandofSithis