Year 1: The Empire is Born
The Ancient Empire was founded by the great and powerful King Balthazar, who deflected the attention of his enemies with his impressive beard.
King Balthazar's first act of deflection was to declare himself a god, thereby distracting his subjects from the impending doom of a nearby barbarian invasion.
His second act of deflection was to build a massive monument to himself, which became the centerpiece of the Empire's capital city.
Learn more about King Balthazar's deflection techniques.
Year 100: Empire Expansion
The Ancient Empire expanded its borders by deflecting the attention of its neighbors through a series of impressive feasts and festivals.
The Empire's diplomats were trained in the art of deflection, and were able to negotiate trade agreements with even the most skeptical of nations.
However, the Empire's expansion was not without its costs. Many of its citizens began to feel like they were living in a never-ending game of "keep away" with the Empire's leaders.
Read about the Empire's expansion pains.
Year 500: Deflection in Decline
The Ancient Empire began to decline as its leaders grew more and more reliant on deflection as a means of staying in power.
King Balthazar's descendants began to use deflection to distract themselves from the problems of the Empire, rather than addressing them.
The Empire's citizens grew tired of the endless deflections, and began to seek out new leaders who promised to focus on real problems.