Persia: Year 1150

Persia:

After the extended period of instability caused by dynastic, economic and military strife for control over the Empire caused by death of the last hair of the main branch of the family defending the empire against another Jihad in early 12th century, Taid family managed to maintain their position on the throne. Soon after renewed conflict with Abbasid Caliphate, lead to regaining control over ancient ruins of Ur in Kufa.

This conflict was the first instance of Romans and Persians fighting Abbasid Caliphate on two fronts at the same time, forcing Muslims to deal with threat on both eastern and western frontier.

In year 1144 Muslihbiddin 'The Holy', from the Bahram branch of the royal family, who took throne after death of his cousin - Kurush, son of Khashayar - mortally wounded in Jihad, officially resorted Persian Empire.

With it, Muslihbidden restored office of High Priest, reforming the Zoroastrian faith. With it, the ancient order of Immortals was reinstated.

During the whole period, northern borders of the Empire expanded into central Asia, but with few cities and nomad population, the region remains under very loose control of the central government in Nishapur. 

Muslim World:

Failed Jihad against Persia in early part of the century, marked the beginning of crisis of the followers of Allah.

Umayyad Caliphate managed to defeat Christians in another holy war for Aquitaine in years 1111-1114, but the empire collapsed from internal unrest few years later, with Umayyad family losing control over their whole domain.

Title of Caliph went to Yahaff of the Lepe clan, who led the rebellion. But large portions of the Umayyad domain chose independence, including second most powerful family in the Iberian peninsula - Mundirid clan - which took control of the substantial territories in Spain.

Alhoceimid dynasty, members of the Shia sect, lost any control over Africa, as their province was finally conquered by Italians. Religious strife between Shia and Sunni branches of the Muslim faith prevented any aid to the collapsing Alhocemid family.

Muhallabid family, once ruling Egypt, was pushed away from the mouth of Nile by Abbasid Caliphate, and eventually lost a civil war to the Hafizid clan which claimed the Sultanate of Abyssinia.

Abbasid Caliphate, while on the rise to restore it's former glory, had to deal with the increasing military cooperation between Roman and Persian Empires, eventually defeating the first, but yielding control over mouths of Tigris and Euphrates river and provinces directly south of it.

Abbasid military was also strongly involved in war against Tengri nomads living north of Caucasus mountains. Campaign was met with the similar lack of lasting effect that plagued Persian efforts in conquering nomads in the same time period.

Abbasid Caliphate stands as the greatest power in the Muslim world, with other great clans and families facing defeats and division in their domain.


Roman Empire:
While capable of defencing Sicily Romans still failed to project power outside of their borders, losing war against Abbasid Caliphate despite aid from Persians in the east.
Pterotos family itself doesn't have great authority in the Empire, encouraging renew revolts that undermine Roman military power.

Western Europe:
Implosion of Umayyad Caliphate became a turning point in religious war that ravaged France for centuries. Without single, central government opposing Christianity, local Muslim rulers couldn't repel Catholic attacks on their domains.
Italia, Austrasia and England (a kingdom that evolved by merge of German and French domains in Britain) managed to push back Islamic states, beginning the process of French Reconquista.
The conflict will be long, but the glimpse of unification in Western Europe promises more focus on repelling non-Catholic enemies of the Church and people.

British Isles:
In the year 1105 Eadweard the Cruel managed to unify French and German crowns under his control, and forming the first Kingdom of England by unifying their British domains.
New kingdom became instantly a major player in European affairs, claiming various provinces of both English, German and French crown across the continent.
Eaedweardian focus however, was located mostly in his new domain across the Channel.
Within few short years Wessex was subjugated with only Petty Kingdom of Cornwall and few Welsh provinces remaining independent.

Pagan Faiths:

East of Elbe situation remained as grim, as it was before - with rulers raising to power and prestige conquering their neighbours, only for the new centre of power collapsing with death of it's creator.
With notable exception of Slavic kingdom of Pomerania and, slowly growing, domain of the Teutonic Order on the west bank of Vistula.

East of Vistula situation was even worse, with mostly Nomadic and Tribal entities raising and falling in quick succession. Religious and cultural fragmentation remains the source of constant instability, with no one people capable of dominating their neighbours for long enough to establish a single national identity.

In Central Asia a Buddhist Shahdom of Mongolia begun pushing against their Khotan neighbours, adding to the lack of unity across the Nomadic-controlled region.