Siovanija and Teusland

Siovanija & Teusland, officially the United Republics of Siovanija and Teusland, is a country in southwestern Atlantian Oceania. An island nation, it lies between what are known within the country as the Nordsee, Ostsee, Sudsee and Westsee. To the east, the closest neighbour is Torisakia, while to the north and west, the closest neighbour is Valanora.

For thousands of years, various nomadic tribes have inhabited the island on both ends. In Teusland, various groups eventually formed around urban centres, and during the medieval age these groups developed into various principalities. In Siovanija, a similar situation was seen. The Siovanijan people managed to unite first, however, and conquered the various Teus groups during the 1100s, forming the First Siovanijan Empire. Rebellion in Teusland, however, defeated this Empire and once again freed the Teus lands. Infighting between the various duchies, however, led to the creation of the Kingdom of Teusland, and after conquering the Siovanijan lands in 1417, the declaration of the Teus Empire. The Teus Empire was a colonial power which colonized various states including Sankt Konrad and Prinz-Eugens-Land amongst others. In 1808, the Siovanijan Revolution began in Borograd, where liberal republicans revolted against the imperial government and an independent Siovanijan Republic was declared. Tension between the two independent states built up over the next decades, eventually culminating in the Great War in 1888. The war, which lasted until 1895, cost a total of 3.4 million lives, and led to the collapse of both nation's governments and the creation of the United Republics of Siovanija and Teusland. Despite an attempt at a coup d'etat in the 1940s by a group of Teus ultranationalists, the nation has largely progressed on a united and democratic path since.

Today, the United Republics is a federal parliamentary republic whose head of state is a President, and head of government is the Chancellor. The role of President is mostly ceremonial, while the Chancellor is the day-to-day leader of the state. The country has a population of nearly 75 million, and its capital city is Borograd. The largest urban centre, and financial capital, is in St. Jakob, while the 'cultural capital' is the city of Stelburg. The largest urban area is Neuteussen, the industrial region between Stelburg and St. Jakob.

Siovanija & Teusland is a power with a strong economy, and is known as a leader in industrial and technological fields. A highly developed country with a very high standard of living, it offers universal health care, vast social programs, tuition-free university education and environmental protection regulations. While spending much of the 20th century in isolation on the foreign stage, in recent years the country has looked to expand its ties within the region, including forming a strategic alliance with the Kingdom of Banija. The country is also known for its great deal of cultural history.

Etymology
In the Teus language, the name 'Teusland' (tɔɪz-lænd) comes from the Old High Teus word 'tiuri,' which translates as 'dear' or 'rich'. The world 'tiuri' in modern Teus is the word 'teuer,' which means 'expensive.' The nation name began as 'Teuerste-land,' or 'dearest land,' and eventually was shortened to 'Teusland.' The word 'Teus' eventually came to be seen as separate from its original meaning, and instead the term for the people of Teusland, including in various forms as 'Teussen' or 'Teussische.' The Latin name 'Teussia' was often used to refer to the land in antiquity. In the Siovanijan language, the Teus lands were originally known as simply 'Tuje' or 'Tuci,' meaning 'foreign' or 'foreigners.' Pronunciation difficulties in later years meant many Siovanijans referred to it as 'Tujeland,' however, in standardized modern Siovanijan the country is simply known as 'Teusland,' though some older generations may still use the old name.

In the Siovanijan language, the name 'Siovanija' (siː-əʊ-veɪn-iː-jə) comes from the term 'Land of the Siovanes,' the old demonym of the Siovanijan people. The etymology of Siovanijan is more uncertain. Some have theorized that it comes from the term 'slava,' meaning glory, and others from the term 'slovo', meaning people who speak the same language as each other. The country name has often been standardized as 'Siovania' or, in Teus, 'Siowenien.' The Teus word 'Siowenien' is simply a direct translation of 'Siovania.' Another Teus term that was common in the middle ages was 'Westerreich,' or 'Western Empire,' given Siovanija's location on the western half of the island. The term 'Westler' is still sometimes used in Teusland to refer to Siovanijans, particulary in older generations, and it was most common during the 1800s.

History
Humans have been present in Siovanija & Teusland for hundreds of thousands of years, with fossil records dating back at least that far in both halves of the country. The earliest artifact found in the country is a 43,000-year-old flute, found in the Stelburg area, which is the earliest proof of human existence.

Ancient History
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Siovanijan Empire and Rebellion
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Creation of the Teus Empire
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The Imperial Golden Age
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Siovanijan Revolution and Build-up to War
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The Great War
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Unification
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Modern Era
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Geography
Siovanija and Teusland is located on an island in southwestern Atlantian Oceania. As the Siovanijan and Teus peoples both lived in isolation for hundreds of thousands of years, they simply referred to the island as 'otok' (Siovanijan) and 'Insel' (Teus), which both directly translate to 'island.' When the first foreigners arrived and spread Christianity to Teusland, they referred to it as 'Teussia' as they had yet to contact the Siovanijans - this remained the official foreign name for many years, especially during the Teus Empire. Today, there is no standard name for the island, and in official documents the government simply avoids references to a specific name, referring to it simply by the name of the nation.

To the east, across the Ostsee, the nearest neighbouring country is Torisakia. Directly north of the island of Rotmunde, and the body of water that is known as the 'Rotmunde Strait' in this country, lies the Vanorian territory of Sabine and Caddonia. To the south is the Sudsee, which is open water except for the Southern Isles, leading towards other continents - this sea is also sometimes referred to as the Georg-Blocher-See after the man who was responsible for its navigation, which led the Teus Empire towards its colonies in the regions of Rushmore and Esportiva. To the north is the Nordsee, which leads towards the rest of southwestern Atlantian Oceania including Banija, the Busoga Islands, Farfadillis and other southwestern states. The Westsee leads towards the main island of Valanora, which is the closest neighbour of Siovanija & Teusland.

The national territory covers 377,450km square of land, and another 9,450km square of water. In addition, the nation claims a 215km nautical limit in the Nordsee, Sudsee and Westsee. In the Rotmunde Straits and the Ostsee, the maritime boundary lines are smaller due to the shorter distances involved. The highest point in the nation is Mount Danneberg in the Mittelgebirge, which has a height of 2647m. Highland regions are found in southern Teusland, eastern Siovanija as well as, of course, the mountain range itself. The lowest elevation is found in the Nordflachland, an area where the land slopes to the sea. The village of Kirchensee is near to the lowest point in the country at 4.24m below sea level. The eastern most point of the nation is at Rotmunde Point on Rotmunde Island. The northernmost point is also on Rotmunde Island at the village of Blaubronn. The westernmost point is found in Siovanija in the town of Trkev, while the southernmost point is the island of Gordna in the Southern Isles.

Climate
Most of Siovanija & Teusland has a temperate climate, mostly a maritime climate. In the mountainous regions, a colder climate is seen. Winters are cold in the mountains and the regions surrounding. Due to winds, winter storms are commonly observed coming off the mountains, especially in Teusland. Summers range from hot and dry to cool as well as rain. Rain is common in the United Republics, especially during the spring, and the city of Stelburg in particular is known as a 'rain capital.' Average monthly temperatures range from around 1 degrees in January, to around 22 degrees in July. The highest-ever temperature recorded was in the Southern Isles, which commonly experience hotter summers, at 44 degrees celsius. The lowest-ever temperature recorded was in the mountains of western Teusland and stood at -42 degrees celsius.

Biodiversity
The country is mostly covered by mixed forests, except for flatter land found in eastern Teusland and southern Siovanija. 50% of the land is devoted to agriculture, 33% is forested and 15% are dedicated to infrastructure and settlements.

There are a variety of trees to be found in the country, including beech, oak, pine and spruce in both deciduous (35% of forests) and coniferous (65% of forests) forests. The largest forest in the country is the Teufelswald, south of Stelburg, which had a large role in Teus folklore. There are also many species of flowers found in the country. The most famous is the edelweiss, which grows in the mountainous regions and gradually became a symbol of the united country and is featured on the national flag and coat-of-arms, as well as serving as a symbol for national sports teams. Wild animals include deer, sheep, fox, badger, bears and beavers. Aquatic life is also found abundantly in rivers, lakes and oceans.

There are 15 national parks in the country, 18 biosphere reserves and 105 conservation areas. The most famous national park is the Mount Danneberg National Park, located at the nation's highest mountain, while the Teufelswald National Park is another common destination. In Siovanija, the Great Lakes National Park, which covers the area around the four large lakes in northwestern Siovanija, is the nation's largest park. There are also over 350 zoos in the country, most famously the Stelburg Zoo.

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Economy
The country is a social market economy (also known as a Drai economy) with a highly skilled labour force, low levels of corruption, and a high level of innovation. It is a large exporter, and has one of the world's largest economies. The service sector contributes about 67% of the country's GDP, the industry sector 31% and the agricultural sector about 3%. The most recent unemployment report had the country's rating at 2.8%.

Siovanija & Teusland's currency is measured in tolars and tsents. Its monetary policy is set by the Republic Central Bank, which is headquartered in the city of Borograd. Tolars are represented by a capital 'T' (T500,000 is five hundred thousand tolars) and tsents with a lowercase 't' (50t is fifty tsents.) The financial hub of the country is the city of St. Jakob, which is home to the TAX, the national stock market index which is operated by the St. Jakob Stock Exchange.

Siovanija & Teusland's automotive industry is well-regarded throughout the world as one of its most competitive and innovative. Some of Siovanija & Teusland's top exports include vehicles, automotive parts, machinery, electronic products, electrical equipment, basic metals, food products, rubber and plastic. In addition, the government holds a 50% share in the national oil company of Sankt Konrad.

Major companies in Siovanija & Teusland include Teussische Motoren Werke (TMW), Pomorie Avto Fabrika (PAF), Draiwerke, Pollmacher AG, Kohler-Moritz AG, Teussische Vermogensberatung, TeusBank, RepublikaTelekom, Adler Sport, Air Republika, Schneeeule AG, Sudwestlich, Medved AG, Nordflachlands-Flug-Dienst (NFD) and Teussische Zeppelin Reederei. These companies are some of the nation's best-known brands both domestically and abroad. St. Jakob is a hub for start-up businesses, and the country has a strong tradition with small and medium enterprises. Research and development efforts also form an integral part of the national economy. Leading groups include the Felix Proll Society, the Drai Association and the Slavomir Kraus Society.

The national space program, the United Republics Space Agency, is quite well-regarded and has been a leading player in space affairs. The first man from the United Republics in space was Matyas Ztratil, who was part of the Dzbog-IV mission. The Dzbog-VII mission was the first craft from the United Republics to land on the moon, and Paul Kohlhassel became the first man from the nation to walk on the moon. Currently, the URSA operates a space station in orbit, as well as several other satellites.

Infrastructure
Siovanija & Teusland has a dense road and rail network. The national motorway system connects almost every major city in the country. Major national routes are designated Nationale, or, for example, the N-1 highway which connects Borograd and Stelburg. Smaller, more regional routes are designated Autobahn, or, for example, the A-15 highway that connects Felsenkirchen and Marlesee. All 'N' and 'A' class highways are controlled-access. Each Republic also maintains its own system of roads, for example, the S-115 highway that connects Trkev and Siovanska Gora, or the T-140 highway connecting Preisfeld and Launitz. Highways are numbered with one or two digits for national highways, and three digits for regional highways. The last digit of the number signals a highway is east-west (odd) or north-south (even). The TeusBahn train system serves the entire country as the main carrier, with express trains reaching up to 300km/h. The Siovanijan Rail Company is also a major carrier in the Republic of Siovanija. The largest airport in the country is the St. Jakob International Airport. Other major airports include Stelburg International and the Borograd-Milan Dimitrov International. The Port of St. Jakob is the nation's largest, with the ports of Felsenkirchen, Kaiserhaven, Pomorie/Marzig and Trkev also important commercial ports.

The country is mostly served by a network of nuclear power plants, the largest being the Bukovets Power Plant. The nation uses about 45% renewable sources of energy to meet its needs. Siovanija & Teusland is committed to various environmental initiatives including promoting biodiversity, water management and reducing emissions.

Tourism
Tourism is an industry that has experienced a large recent growth in the country as it becomes more open to the surrounding world. The most popular cities in the country to visit, in order, are Stelburg, Borograd and St. Jakob. Domestic and international tourism brings over T100 billion into the national GDP.

Some of the most popular landmarks are the Sanssouci Palace in Stelburg, Stelburg's downtown old city, Sankt Georg's Cathedral, Danneberg Castle, Eschenbach Castle, the Rotburg, Borograd's Milan Dimitrov Square, the Green House, the National Chancellery, the Old Port of St. Jakob, and Sankt Adelheid's Cathedral. In addition, natural wonders are also a large part of the national tourist industry. The Mittelgebirge mountains are popular with mountaineers and hikers, and the largest is Mount Danneberg. The Teufelswald forest is another destination popular for hikers, while the Velika Jezera (Great Lakes) in northwestern Siovanija are the national 'cottage country' and attract those who enjoy outdoor activities. The Southern Isles, and the city of Vrnovo, are well-known as resort destinations and are popular for beach and summer getaways.

Religion
The United Republics of Siovanija & Teusland are officially a secular state. However, a majority of the population does belong to religious groups. The largest religious group in the country is Christianity, with 96.5% of Teus and 11.4% of Siovanijans declaring themselves as Christians on the most recent census. Of these, the overwhelming majority belong to the Catholic Church of Teusland. There is a small minority of Protestants, the majority of whom live in Teusland. In Siovanija, 47.3% of respondents identified with what are known as the 'Old Beliefs,' or the old Siovanijan pagan mythology. This is mostly a cultural identifier, however. Atheism is common in Siovanija, with 42.3% of respondents identifying as atheist. Furthermore, it is likely a majority of the 47.3% of old believers are also atheist.

Catholicism was originally introduced in Teusland in the early 1100s, and the population rapidly accepted the new religion. Historically, the population had believed in what is now known as Teus pagan mythology, which included figures such as Donner, the God of Thunder, Woden, the father of all Gods, and Lokke, the trickster God. Many of the symbols of these Gods are still commonly found in Teusland. Catholicism was declared the official religion of the Teus Empire upon its founding in 1253. During this period, the church had a heavy influence in imperial politics, and this caused mistrust amongst the nobility and, most importantly, the Kaiser. In 1274, the Catholic Church was reformed. The old institution was disbanded, and replaced by the new 'Catholic Church of Teusland.' New archdioceses were created, and a new College of Teus Cardinals was also formed. The Kaiser would then select a Pope on their advice, ensuring the Pope's political loyalty.

During the early news of the Teus papacy, aggressive measures were taken to attempt to spread the religion to Siovanija. Pope Dominik's Crusade in 1288 marked the first attempt to spread religion by force, as peasants were armed by the Imperial Teus Army and sponsored by the Church to wage war in Siovanija. That first Crusade was quite a success, as the Teus sacked the cities of Chernovets and Siovanska Gora, as well as establishing a fort at the city of Pomorie. In later years, other crusades would follow. These include the St. Gustaf's Crusade, Pope Georg's Crusade, the Fourth and Fifth Crusades, and the aptly-named Last Crusade. For the papacy, these crusades served as an easy source of income, while for the imperial government, it was a way to wage war against Siovanija without actually sending in troops.

After the Three Years' War (1414-1417) which saw the Teus Empire conquer Siovanija and incorporate it into the imperial territories, great efforts were made by the Catholic Church to spread their beliefs in the new territory. This included sending government-sponsored missionaries, as well as providing financial support for religious orders such as the Order of St. Gustaf in the city of Pomorie/Marzig. After the Teus Empire became a colonial power, however, the focus gradually shifted. The Siovanijans had been mostly unwilling to accept the new religion, owing to them seeing it as a Teus institution as well as deep-seeded cultural ties to their own pagan beliefs. The Church began sending missionaries to the colonies such as Sankt Konrad and Prinz-Eugens-Land. While they were not very successful in Sankt Konrad, Prinz-Eugens-Land was a different story, where many groups of local tribes converted en masse to Catholicism.

Today, the Catholic Church of Teusland still exists, and is still an important institution in the nation. Officially, the Church is responsible for Catholics in Teusland, Siovanija, Sankt Konrad and Prinz-Eugens-Land, and maintains a presence in all of these through Churches and other buildings. The most famous Church in the country is Sankt Georg's Cathedral in Stelburg. Other well-known sites include the Church of St. Gustaf in Marzig, Sankt Adelheid's Cathedral in Felsenkirchen (constructed from parts of various naval vessels) and Sankt Jakob's Cathedral in St. Jakob. The College of Teus Cardinals still exists and is responsible for electing the Pope. The current Pope is Pope Sylvester I, the Archbishop of Stelburg, and Sankt Georg's Cathedral is the headquarters of the Church.

The Siovanijan Old Beliefs are a widely-followed cultural practice in Siovanija, dating back to the pre-historic days. Various Gods are worshipped, however, the most important are the trio of Boruv (God of the Sky), Zlatna (Goddess of Land) and Gora (God of Mountains). Other Gods include Vlaiko (God of Water) and Slaya (Goddess of Forests). Each God or Goddess has a day dedicated to them, where Siovanijans will go to the temple and leave gifts relating to that particular God's patronage. For example, on the Feast of Zlatna, flowers are often given as a gift, while on the Feast of Gora, a rock from the nearest mountain is the traditional offering. Various place names are related to the Gods, for example the city of Vlaikograd which is located on a large lake. There is no organized leadership of the religion at a national level, however, each temple has a collection of priests dedicated to religious study. A poll of Siovanijans revealed that a vast majority do not believe in the Gods, but see it as an important cultural practice and for many a large part of Siovanijan identity.

Languages
The two official languages of the United Republics are Siovanijan and Teus. Over 65% of the population describe themselves as functionally bilingual, and in each nation the opposite language is a required subject throughout education. In addition, many people in the United Republics have learned a good degree of English for communication on the international level.

The Teus language developed out of historic languages such as Old High Teus and Old Low Teus, and was first standardized in the mid-1400s after the development of Hans von Hardenberg's printing press. The first-ever Teussische Wortenbuch, or Teus Dictionary, was published in 1457, and was distributed widely. In 1459, the first edition of the Bible was printed in the Teus language. This allowed the new standard to spread quickly across the country through churches and other public gatherings. The language uses the Latin script, which was introduced to the country around the same time as Christianity. Old High Teus and Old Low Teus both used runic scripts which had been developed over hundreds of years, and are still occassionally used by Teus nationalists to express their culture.

The Siovanijan language developed in a variety of ways over the years, with various regions each having different dialects. For example, the Siovanijan spoken in Borograd today is quite different from that spoken in Chernovets or Vlaikograd, although they are mutually understandable and are overall very similar. The Borograd version of Siovanijan is considered to be the standard version, and the first Siovanijan dictionary was published in 1465. It was more difficult to spread the standard language in the country due to the lack of willingness to adapt in rural areas: while the Teus had their Church language to unite them, the Siovanijans had no such thing, and thus the dialects developed separately.

Under the rule of the Teus Empire, a sublanguage called 'Army Siovanijan' was developed which unified the various dialects, and also introduced various Teus loanwords, for the purposes of military roles. Given that Siovanijans from various regions often served together under Teus officers, the sublanguage was quite helpful in overcoming communication difficulties. The Siovanijan language traditionally had its own script, better known as the Cyrillic script. While this can still be seen in some rural areas (places like Trkev have never changed), after the unification an effort was made to standardize both languages with the Latin script and Siovanijan officially switched in 1898.

Education
Responsibility for education in the country is divided between its two constituent Republics. For the most part, however, the education system in each country is the same. At age four, children begin full-time kindergarten. This lasts until age 6, when primary school begins for 7 years. Secondary schooling is then divided into different tracts based on whether the students plan on heading towards academic or vocational education. There is a system of apprenticeship which leads towards skilled qualifications in the trades, which is considered equivelant to an academic degree. It allows these vocational students to learn in a trade school as well as get on-the-job experience.

At the end of secondary schooling studies, students have several options. They can pursue a military-academic degree, a regular academic degree, or continue into their career. The military-academic degree is available for those who have qualified for university at the end of their studies through exams, and are studying a non-STEM field. In addition to their regular courses in university, students in this program will also train in military strategy, leadership skills, and complete their two years required service by earning officer qualifications. Those in a STEM field will study in military science as well as the regular military program, and will also earn officer qualifications to complete their two-years service. University studies are four years total, and the military progam is spread out across those years. After graduating, students will have the opportunity to enter the military with an officer's rank. In addition, there are specific military schools available as well.

University education in Siovanija & Teusland is a public institution, and tuition is mostly free. At the end of secondary education, students must take a test in their desired field of study to enter their field in university. The established universities in the country are quite old, with the oldest being the Freie-Universitat Stelburg, founded in 1387. Other leading universities include the Universitat Sankt-Jakob, Freie-Universitat Felsenkirchen, Universitat-Rotmunde, the University of Borograd, Borograd Metropolitan University and the Chernovets Technological Institute. The highest-ranked university in the country, however, and its most successful, is the Technische-Universitat Stelburg, commonly known as TU Stelburg.

Health
The system of hospitals in the country was established under the Teus Empire during the early 1500s, and the country has a universal health care system. Universal health care was established constitutionally after the unification in 1896. Since then, reforms have ensured a balanced healthcare system. Each citizen is covered by a government health care plan, although some groups can opt for a private coverage through their employment.

The life expectancy for males in the country is 78 years of age, while for women it is 82 years of age. The country also has a very low infant mortality rate (3 out of 1000). Cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of death in the country as of the most recent study.

Culture
Siovanija & Teusland is well known for several traditions and holidays, including the celebration of various Siovanijan pagan Gods/Goddesses, festivals and events surrounding Christmas and Easter in Teusland, and other practices. Over 100 places are listed on the government's National Heritage List, relating to culturally and historically significant landmarks. There are a number of public holidays in the country, and some which are public in only one republic. The most known holiday in the country is Unification Day on May the Fourth.

Music
Classically, the Teus were well-regarded as musicians and composers. Influential composers of the baroque period include Adelmar Brecht, Stanislaus Dahn, and most famously Armin Backhaus. In the later romantic era, Christof von Handke, Florentin Steiner and Ludwig Schultz were some of the most influential composers. Siovanijan composers of the romantic era included Sebastian Musil, generally regarded as the best-known Siovanijan composer. In the more modern era, Vincent Kisling was well-known for his operas, which often dealt with themes of old Teus pagan traditions and national history. He is celebrated each year during a festival in his home town of Bad Lingau.

The city of Stelburg was the centre of classical music in the country. Composers were drawn to the city due to its status as the crown jewel of the Teus Empire, and the imperial patronage therefore available to them. Stelburg's rise as a cultural centre began in the mid-1500s, and by the early 1800s it was one of the world capitals of culture. The city is best-known for its operas, including the Stelburg State Opera, and the National Opera. Ballets are also common in the city, with the Teus National Ballet and the Stelburg Imperial Ballet still based in the city today. Balls were a very common occurrence during the Teus Empire, with balls hosted biweekly in the city by various groups, and this tradition is still continued even today with a series of famous balls taking place in the city.

Music is, of course, still popular within Siovanija & Teusland. Foreign popular music has become more popular in recent years, but acts such as Romana Adamova, Niels Hochheim and groups such as Der Mowen and Torpedi are still chart-toppers. The best-selling domestic singer of all time remains Katja Scheck, a Teus actress and singer who rose to popularity during the 1960s, and quickly became the most popular singer in the country.

Art and Design
Artistically, Siovanija has been known as a producer of highly-talented painters in the past. The most famous artist of the romance period was Tadeas Horvath, while on the Teus side painter Hugo Meidner helped usher in the impressionist era.

The nation is well-known for its influence on architectural design. The most influential architectural style in the country today is that of the late Wilhelmine period of the late 1700s, during the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm VII. Teus building in most areas is well-known for its timber framing. Some of these influences are also present in Siovanijan architecture. The post-revolution period in Siovanija ushered in a great deal of new architectural design and thinking, which can be compared to expressionist architecture.

Even today, architects from the United Republics are leaders on the world stage. The most famous modern architect in the country was Erhardt Palme, and his design firm, Architektur Erhardt-Palme, is still the largest in the country. AEP was responsible for developing 3 of the 4 largest football stadiums in the country (Nationalstadion, Franz-Gorz-Stadion, Draistadion) as well as developing the Stadium of the Restoration in Busukuma, Banija, and the Istria Olympic Stadium in Istria, Banija. These projects were completed to open World Cup 81 and the 14th Summer Olympic Games respectively.

Literature and Philosophy
A strong tradition of literature has existed, particularly in Teusland, since the middle ages. The works of writers such as Marius Delbruck, Joel Baum and Boris Novak are famous in this early period. Delbruck in particular is considered to be the most well-known Teus author in history, and has been called the 'Vincent Kisling of Teus literature,' as his themes often dealt with Teus folklore. His works are studied by most Teus, and Siovanijan, children in schools. The most famous poet of Siovanijan history was Leopold Vlach, who also composed the early Siovanijan anthem 'Hej, Siovani!'

The Teus have also developed various technological advancements relating to literature. Delbruck's writings were important in standardizing the Teus language, while Hans von Hardenberg's invention of the printing press allowed books to be produced quickly, and in some ways contributed to the spread of Christianity throughout the Teus Empire. The United Republics' book market is one of the largest in the world, and the Stelburg Book Fair is the largest in the country and attracts important authors and dealers from across the world, with a history over 500 years long.

Philosophy in the country is also a strong tradition. Many early thinkers were Teus, often a result of Siovanijans having less of an opportunity at success during the dominion of the Teus Empire. Reinhard Fittkau is a famous Teus philosopher well-known for his contributions to enlightenment. Teus idealism is a strain built out of Fittkau's ideas and expanded on by thinkers like Benedicht Drauchmann and Wolfgang Rott. In the lead-up to the 1808 Siovanijan Revolution, various Siovanijan thinkers like Bronislav Tomasic, Jaromir Marek and Simon Hanak made major contributions to the ideas of the rights of man and classical liberalism. The Siovanijan thinker Anton Dialikov's ideas on the rights of workers and new ideas of history have been major contributions to left-wing groups in the country, who often refer to themselves as 'Dialikovite' parties. In the more modern era, Frank Schonherr made significant contributions to psychoanalysis.

Science
Various scientific breakthroughs and advancements give their credit to Siovanijan or Teus scientists. Medicine has always been a focus of the country, and scientists like Slavomir Kraus, Felix Proll and Jens Knoerr have made significant contributions to the field. The development of the automobile within Teusland is often credited to engineer Elias Lasner, who founded Teussische Motoren Werke (TMW) and helped design its first cars. Other automotive pioneers include the Siovanijan Anton Velikov, as well as Bonifac Slavek, who founded the Pomorie Avto Fabrika (PAF). TMW and PAF are today two of the most well-known automotive manufacturers in the country.

Mathematicians like Edmund Hafer, Marco Berchtold and Maria Holderin formed part of the 'Stelburg circle' of the early 1900s. Famous psychologists in the country included Reinhard Himmelfarb and Slavomir Turek. In the development of nuclear weaponry, the creation of the Fessler-type centrifuge by Dr. Martin Fessler was a major breakthrough. Mathematicians and other technical jobs, such as engineers, are a specialty in the country and Siovanija & Teusland is recognized as a leader in many of these fields.

Economic thinkers from the country have included the aforementioned Anton Dialikov, who has inspired left-wing economic thinking within the country. The Drai School, founded by various economists at the Universitat Sankt-Jakob in the mid-1800s, includes famous economists Gunter Klotz, Bernd Goldhaber and Harald Ulmer amongst some of its key developers.

Stelburg National Prize
At the end of each year, leading thinkers in the country are awarded with a Stelburg National Prize. The Prize was first created by the Stelburg Academy for Arts and Science in the early 1700s, and has in the past received patronage from the old Teus Empire's government. Prizes are available in various fields, including: mathematics, physics, economics, chemistry, biology, philosophy, literature, sport (amateur only) and music. The winners of the prize are honoured each year in a celebration at Stelburg's Sanssouci Palace, the former home of the imperial family, and are presented with commemorative medals by the President of the United Republics.

Media
The largest operating international media companies in the country include the Republika Press, Der Welt and Engelberg SE. The television market in Siovanija & Teusland has over 32 million households. Due to the bilingual nature of the country, the majority of the programming is split between the two official languages. Many television programs and shows, however, and produced bilingually, with both languages present in the broadcast. Over 90% of households in the country have cable or satellite television. Nationally, RBC (Republic Broadcasting Corporation) is the public broadcaster. It broadcasts on television with channels including RBC National News, RBC Siovanija, RBC Teusland and RBC Sports, all of which are free-to-air channels. It also broadcasts in both official languages by radio. Famous newspapers in the country include the Stelburger Zeitung, Die St. Jakob Presse, Borograd Dnevnik and Die Zeit, as well as The Borograd Times, which is an international paper.

Cinema is an important aspect of national culture, with important contributions coming from both sides of the mountains. Silent films were first developed in Siovanija, with actors such as Dominik Vicek becoming popular nation-wide. Today, the city of Stelburg remains the centre of the national entertainment industry. Studios such as the famous Gustloff AG and the Studio Stelburg are based in the city and produce some of the country's most famous movies. The most popular movie of all-time in the United Republics remains Das Haus, a movie about a family who experienced the Great War. War films are some of the most popular, due to the long legacy of the Great War in the country, however, other genres also retain popularity. Critically acclaimed directors include Casper Kahler, Ewald Loewe and Josef Kucaj.

Cuisine
Cuisine in the United Republics varies between the two states, however often shares similarities. In addition, international dishes such as pizza, pasta and other common dishes are popular.

Bread is a very significant part of both nations' cuisine, and Teus bread is the most famous and most popular. Teus cheese and meat, particularly Teufelswald ham, are very popular in the country. Siovanijan meats are also famous, however, even they will usually defer to a Teus-produced beef, pork or chicken meal. Sausages are also popular in Teusland, and various brands such as those from the cities of Felsenkirchen and Kaiserhaven are often well-known. A 'Marziger' is what is commonly-known as a 'hamburger' in the rest of the world, and a 'Stahlberger' is what is commonly-known as a 'frankfurter.'

Beverages are also naturally popular in the country. Beer is a staple in Teusland, and is the national alcoholic drink. Beer halls and other such venues are commonly-found across the country, and the citizens are quite proud of their beer: regulations were passed in the 1500s ensuring purity of ingredients. As part of this, foreign beer is banned from being imported into the country. Teus are some of the world's highest consumers of beer. In Siovanija, while beer is popular, the usual alcoholic drink of choice is vodka (commonly known in the country as 'Ljublanski vode,' or 'Ljublanica water' after the largest river in Siovanija. Beer versus vodka is often a common debate between Teus and Siovanijans, and the passion it stirs in both sides has led to both drinks becoming a symbol of their respective nations.

Sport
Ice hockey is the most popular sport in Siovanija & Teusland. Hockey Siovanija & Teusland is the largest athletic union in the country, with over 6.5 million members, and it runs club and international competition at youth and senior levels. The national professional league, the Ehrenliga, is one of the top leagues in the world and also one of its most-watched. Children all across the country grow up dreaming of winning the Strauss Cup, the national championship trophy. Siovanija & Teusland's national hockey team won World Cup of Hockey 40, and the national junior team won the 14th World Junior Hockey Championship. The greatest hockey player in United Republics' history is generally considered to be Anatol Weisz, who played in the Ehrenliga and holds various records including the league's all-time points and goal scoring titles. In the modern age, Gunter Pfenning captained the national team to the World Cup of Hockey title, including scoring the championship-winning goal, and in addition to that has won 3 Strauss Cups with the St. Jakob Saints.

The second most popular sport in the country is football. The Siovanija & Teusland Football Associatoin is the second largest athletic union in the country, and it also operates club and international competition. The national professional league, the Republikaliga, has quickly risen to become one of the world's top leagues, currently ranked 14th in the IFCF rankings. The Siovanija and Teusland national football team have qualified for the finals of World Cup 84, World Cup 85 and World Cup 86, while also participating in the AOCAF Cup regional tournament. At the youth level, the under-21 team captured the bronze medal at Di Bradini Cup 46. Footballer Thorsten Kramer is the nation's internationally best-known athlete, playing for the national team as well as Audioslav club 1830 Cathair, where he became the first Teus player to win the IFCF Champions League.

In Teusland, cricket is also a popular sport, and Teusland's representative team has quickly become a major force on the international test cricket stage, including winning GCF World Test Challenge season 11. Gridiron football (often called 'Banijan football' in the country) has gained popularity in recent years, while basketball remains somewhat popular in Siovanija. Indoor volleyball and water polo are other examples of popular team sports in the country

The country has participated in the Summer Olympics twice, winning a total of 20 medals (3 gold, 7 silver, 10 bronze). Olympic champions from the country include Thomas Fischer (sailing), Ferdinand Starker and Liselotte Schierer (archery) and Klara Hovorkova (boxing). In the summer Olympics, the most successful sports for the country have been archery (4 medals), gymnastics (8 medals) and boxing (4 medals). The Olympia Athletic Club is renowned as a premier gymnastics program in the world, and has developed every single Olympic gymnast to ever compete for the country. At the winter Olympics, the country has yet to participate in the games, however, the country is a strong well-rounded winter sports nation.

Motorsport is also popular in the country, and is perhaps the most well-known and most-popular individual sport. The National Grand Prix Championship includes manufacturers and drivers from across the country. Its most famous and most successful team has been Teussische Motoren Werke (TMW), and the most successful historical driver was Peter Honigsman, who won 7 Drivers' Championships driving for TMW. Today, driver Niklas Schonbaum has been tipped as a driver with the potential to succeed on the international stage.

The country has played host to international sport events including the 9th Under 18 World Cup (also known as the Sporting World Cup) and the 14th World Junior Hockey Championship.