leaving the first people's areas blank (presumably due to lack of information) still perpetuates the story that those areas are't worth talking about until they were discovered/settled/conquered/etc by 'civilization'
Yeah, the first group to show up on the map is the Iroquois Confederacy.
I think, fundamentally, the problem with this kind of project is that it centers empire as the fundamental force in history. Then the nation state shows up when it becomes necessary to differentiate between the imperial core and far-flung sea-based empires. What that means is, until you start conquering, you don't matter.
Still, I won't lie to you. It's fun to watch the Mongol Empire grow. Wouldn't have been as fun to experience if you were on the wrong side of it.
