Old World (Warhammer)
In the fictional world of the Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy setting, the 'Old World' is part of the major eastern land mass and is analagous to Europe.
The Old World is home to the human nations of the Empire, Kislev, Bretonnia, Tilea, Estalia, the Border Princes and Norsca, and also the non-human nations of the Wood Elves of Athel Loren the Dwarfs of the World Edge Mountains and the Skaven who dwell in underground lairs. It is also home to nomadic tribes of Greenskins and Beastmen.
The Old World is usually defined as the area of land west of the World Edge Mountains and north of Blood River and the Dwarf sea fortress of Barak Varr.
History
Prior to the rise of human nations the Old world was home mostly to the Dwarfs and to the Elves who co-existed well until the 'War of the Beard'.
European Context
The Games Workshop is sometimes accused of having a eurocentric perspective in its games and literature. The definition of the Old World and the attention it receives are seen as one of the prime examples of this. Whilst Warhammer is meant to reflect the real world history in many aspects, it has a disproportionately strong focus on the history of Europeans, ignoring the 'Middle Eastern' nations of Araby, the 'Far Eastern' nation of Cathay and the 'African' Southlands. This is despite snippets of background material detailing that the Old World nations are not the most ancient, rich or powerful nations, even among humans. This could also be said of the real-world counterparts at the time of the game's setting.
This tendency is largely understandable considering the Games Workshop's European origins and sales base. The majority of the game's fans are likely to be much less familiar with non-European history, which makes detailing nations outside of the Old World difficult. Warhammer (as with many modern works of fantasy) can also trace a direct evolutionary link to Tolkien's Middle-earth; Tolkien's view of Europe during its Bronze Age.
Categories
Warhammer Fantasy lands and territories