I believe it was Tolkien himself who claimed Middle-Earth was in fact somewhere on Earth... Just very long ago.


I dunno. If the Universe is infinite, than an infinite number of possibilities exist.

In terms of what historical influences there were in the game, I think that it stands out quite clearly as being based around the height of the Hellenic/Roman Ancient World, perhaps anywhere from 200 BCE - 150 CE. The Imperials as seen here are strongly based on Rome during that period (if Maximus' armor from Gladiator being present wasn't evidence enough.) The Dunmer and Morrowind can be seen as the 'Barbarians' - as contrasted by rigid Imperial ways they seem to have a more elaborate and nuanced political and social system in place, considered all the same as uncivilized by Imperials. The Dwemer can be understood as the Greeks, if that I can be permitted to run the anologies a bit further. In the style of Archimedes and his peers they too stood out as inventors, scientists and made weaponry (even siege weapons such as the ballista) far superior and more sophisticated than anything else we see in the game. I don't see much that reflects anything significantly later in our known history; printing presses would certainly be an exception but unless I missed it you never hear of or see any such thing in the game. The invention of the printing press wasn't the invention of books though, so all the copies you see in the game could well be handmade as they would have to have been back then.

This is actually a really interesting question now that I think on it. It's also interesting to see the marked difference between Morrowind and Oblviion in this respect since the latter gives so many strong signs of being influenced by Renaissance period architecture, politics, etc. instead.

Nirn exists. The TES universe exists. Even in "our" universe.
All of you are proof of the above two sentences. It's just not the existence or reality most think it is. The TES universe has a clearly defined state of existence and reality under which the TES universe operates. Multiple sources inside the lore refer to that fact and some even try to describe it and teach it.

As to the original question: The TES universe, or Morrowind, can't be put into a single category of earth's history. Just because there are swords in it doesn't make it medieval. As has been mentioned alreaedy, elements have been taken from Ancient history, over the Middle Ages to renaissance and back. Technological aspects have a vast range and cannot be compared to earth's technological development stages. Spaceships have been known even while people still use swords, for example.
At the very least, only small aspects of the game can be compared to a part of Earth's history, but in TES's completeness, there is no single period of earth's history that it can be compared to.

THinking of dwemer~greek as far as philosophy, invention, etc. It may also be worth pointing out that the ancient greeks actually did invent (gasp!) the steam engine. but they saw no use for it outside of religious practices.

I'd say a post apocalyptic a few hundred/thousand years, it'd explain the Dwemer (read: us) got wiped out (during the apocalypse), and we had cannons and all that, out cities were left behind.

It'd explain the creatures (perhaps nuclear apocalypse), they all got mutated by radiation, hence the Silt Striders/Nix Hounds, giant rats, etc.

It'd also explain the different races, like Argonians and whatnot (mutations)

And it would explain the absence of modern electricity, as it was all destroyed.

And lastly - the magic. If it was +1000 years after the apocalypse we would've evolved a tiny bit, maybe telekinesis (Deja Vu's happen to us NOW right?), mind reading (People have made startlingly accurate depictions in this field), which lead to more discoveries such as harnessing electricity/fire/ice elements.


I don't know, that post-apocalypse explains the most about Morrowind's world.

The existence of magic negates your argument.

edit: Seeing as we don't know the true possibilities of psychokinesis existing in our world, we can't say that. And I doubt 1000 years of evolution would give us this. And most of the things you mentioned were 99.999% influenced by magic.

Woah!

What a disgusting display!

I only just noticed this thread.

*sigh*

*fetches bunhammer*