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The Four Nations
Major Locations: The Fire Temple on the volcanic island, a presumed capital city
Main City: Probably the capital, which has yet to be seen
Geography: The Fire nation is located on an island roughly the size of one of the poles. It is marked by countless mountains, some of which are volcanic.
Situation: On the verge of conquering the entire world. Currently occupying large portions of the Earth Kingdom.
Culture: The war seems to have shaped the Fire Nation culture into a very agressive one (that was probably also helped along by the agressive nature of fire). The most important thing in the Fire Nation seems to be honor, and more than one person from the Fire Nation is heard ranting about it (Hint: Zuko and Zhao). Like the other nations, the Fire Nation's clothing is basically colored by their element, everyone in the Fire Nation seems to wear red and black. It is unknown whether or not it is one town's festival, or a tradition of the entire nation, but Fire Nation citizens celebrate their element at the "Fire Days Festival". This festival features, among other things, ceremonial masks, firebending and puppet shows, and fireworks.
Government: Little is known about the government of the Fire Nation. Although it can be safely assumed that Fire Lord Ozai rules it with an iron fist, the generals, admirals, and other high ranking military officers seem to be of importance to the government as well. It's a possibility that the Fire Nation is under permanent martial order.
Major Locations: Omashu and Ba Sing Se
Main City: Ba Sing Se is the capital of the Earth Kingdom
Geography: The Earth Kingdom is roughly twice the size of all of the other nations put together, and shares a border with each of the other three nations. It stretches almost across the entire globe and is split predominantly into two parts; one main land mass and a smaller series of islands. There is an incredibly vast variety of geographic features in the Earth Kingdom, it contains two peninsulas, many large rivers, mountain ranges, vast plains and deserts, and many scattered small islands.
Situation: The Earth Kingdom is the main nation still fighting the Fire Nation; there are few water tribe warriors ever seen helping them, and the air nomads are completely wiped out. The Fire Nation is currently occupying a large portion of the Earth Kingdom
Culture: The most prominent affect earth has on the culture of its benders are in their clothing (greens and browns mostly) and their jobs (mining). The Earth kingdom's main economic activity seems to involve trade with the other nations, as they share borders with all of them. Some areas of the Earth Kingdom, Ba Sing Se the largest among them, appear completely untouched by the long war (Kyoshi Island, for example, has maintained neutrality), while others seem completely controlled by it (Haru's village). As demonstrated by their bending style and many other various things, the Earth Kingdom seems to gain pieces of its culture from every nation, again due to their large interaction with every other nation.
Government: The government of the earth kingdom is something like a nation of city states. Each city has its own government, such as King Bumi ruling Omashu, and Haru's father, who was something like the chief of the village. Although these kings and rulers probably report to (or at least, before the war, reported to) the earth king in Ba Sing Se, it doesn't appear that the earth king has much control over the smaller cities and villages.
Major Locations: Northern and Southern Water Tribes
Main City: Northern Water Tribe, which, in stark contrast to the southern one, is very large and densely populated
Geography: Only two areas in the entire world seem to be controlled by the Water Tribe, the north and south poles
Situation: The southern tribe has been almost irrepairably damaged by the Fire Nation, and all of its men have left to fight in the war. The Northern tribe did not apppear to have felt the affects of the war at all until the Fire Nation lay seige to them at the end of Book 1.
Culture: The climate of where they live in large part shapes the culture of both water tribes. They wear mostly blue clothing, heavy fur coats when at the poles, and similar clothing (only without the overcoat) when traveling abroad. The primary food source appears to be fish and other marine animals. A stand-out tradition of the southern tribe (it is unknown whether the northern tribe shares it) is called "Ice Dodging", and it is a symbol of a boy's transition into a man (demonstrated in Chapter 15, Book 1). The Northern tribe sets itself apart from the southern one with very strict sexist traditions that dictate women can only learn to waterbend to heal, not to fight. It also appears that they are not allowed to be on the council that leads the city, though this isn't known for sure. It is also unknown whether a global system of arranged marriage is in place, or whether it only occurs with the more important people of the tribe. When preparing for a battle, both tribes don traditional war paint that almost looks like a mask (at least when Sokka applied it). In addition, the Northern tribe calls upon the spirits of the moon and ocean to help them.
Government: In the Southern tribe, there is no apparent defined or structured government, the only system they have is an age based seniority one. The southern water tribe may have once been as large and grand as the northern one, but it is unknown. The men of the tribe all left to fight the Fire Nation, leaving behind only one warrior (Sokka) and no military structure. Sokka and Katara's father, Hakoda, appeared to be the chief of the village, and when he left, he left behind no "official" leader anymore. Katara's grandmother, Kana, was obviously the oldest person there, and appeared to be in charge, however. The Northern Tribe does have an established government that is something along the lines of an oligarchy, where a group of people rules a state, with one of the group slightly superior to the others. Cheif Arnook apparently leads the council that rules the Northern tribe, along with Master Pakku and others. Though they haven't been seen used to inforce any laws or rules, the Northern tribe does have an established and organized army of both waterbenders and soldiers.
Major Locations: Northern and Southern, and Eastern air temples. It seems logical that there is also a Western one, but it isn't on the map.
Main City: All of the temples seemed of equal size and importance
Geography: The Air Nomads seemed to occupy small mountain ranges in the middle of the ocean. Their culture (see below) was largely pacifist, and therefore there hard to reach location might have been their only defense.
Situation: Completely massacred, it is unknown whether or not any Air Nomads besides Aang are still alive. Though the title of the show shouts "No there aren't!".
Culture: The culture of the Air Nomads seemed to be based around fun, and living a peaceful lifestyle, which included everything from an aversion to fighting to being vegetarians. A hobby of the younger air monks was to play sports including "Air Ball", while the older monks spent their days meditating and teaching young airbenders. Air Nomads were for the most part bald, and wore mixtures of yellow, orange, and brown. It is unknown what it marks or refers to (possibly becoming a master of their element), but the older monks all had blue arrow tattoos all over their bodies. Aang is the only younger monk ever seen to have that. Flying bison, sometimes called Sky bison, were the airbender's mounts. The bison and the airbenders and were each bonded to one specific partner from a very young age. The bison shared the airbender's arrow shaped tattoos.
Government: From the little we've seen of the airbenders, they didn't appear to have any specific form of defined government or laws (due probably to their fun loving culture). Like the water tribes, it seems that all the air temples were seperate in how they were run, and who was in charge seems based in large part on seniority. However, there was a council of five elders that seem to run things to some degree. Again like the water tribe, one of this council seemed to be slightly superior to the others (at the very least, he had an important looking umbrella over his head).
Page Last Updated: May 1, 2008 5:04 PM
