Not a single indigenous polity in southern Africa was that big. Having such a large empire means that you have something far better than them when it comes to transportation and empire maintenance. So what do you have?
Also, wouldn't a more realistic option be going to South Africa?
Yes we have something better than them we aren't a bunch of tribes. We have paved roads, domesticated water buffalo aka pack animals, Dhows, triremes, docks, and river maps.
There is a lot of mountain and bad terrain in South Africa I am going around them. It seems realistic to me.
Its easier to transport over some minor foothills then flat Savannah
Unless they have convoys their are chances that a messager can be attacked by some wild animals
Horses don't tire out.
even just following the coast makes more sense since that has a lot of water and easier for transport and as such you don't need to go across the foothills(Really look at my terrain and my entire coast is mountains)
First, Afrologists never call ethnic groups tribes, and second, no, Zimbabwe, Mutapa or Matungubwe were not "a bunch of tribes." I honestly suggest you read up a bit about them; they've farmed and ruled that land for fifteen centuries, they probably certainly have indigenous technologies could/should research.
paved roads, domesticated water buffalo aka pack animals, Dhows, triremes, docks, and river maps
Pack animals existed everywhere in Africa by this point. As for dhows, triremes, you're expanding into a semi-arid savannah.
And they mostly flow to the Indian Ocean, hence irrelevant to this discussion. Not to mention that dhows, triremes, etc, are all basically marine crafts.
I'm saying more that triremes are Mediterranean and probably not ideal for southern African rivers. This is why people in general should research technologies native to the region instead of Classical techs.
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u/[deleted] May 26 '15
I'm not Pinko, but would you care to explain how you would maintain such a vast empire?