As my day at work is ending, and my time to unwind is arriving, I find myself at a perfect crossroads, that rare moment between effort and ease. It feels like the right time to return to reflection, and to finally finish an article I’ve been shaping over the past few days.
Since I first discovered Tartaria, I must admit, it gripped me completely. I found myself utterly absorbed in the topic. It seemed remarkable that such a powerful, and large empire could have gone entirely unnoticed by me, especially given my love for history.
Nearly a year has passed since that discovery, and I’ve spent most of that time reading historic books.
Just before I began researching Tartaria, a friend posed two riddles to me:
“Where is the best place to hide a tree?” I answered, “In a forest.”
“And where is the best place to hide a story?” he asked. I replied, “A book.”
At the time, I just thought it to be a trivial riddle, yet it lingered in my mind. Days passed, before a thought occurred to me, if Tartaria had truly existed, its traces would live not only on maps, but in the pages of old books too, preserved in the careful words of those who once recorded the world.
I had first learned about gazetteers from my grandparents, essentially they are geographical dictionaries, cataloguing every known location in the world. So, I went on eBay and bought one from 1759, and when it arrived, I flipped straight to “TA” and there it was:
“Tartary, which is the same country as the ancient Scythia.”
From that moment, my passion was ignited, and here I am today, writing for my fellow readers who find fascination, and perhaps solace, in uncovering what once was.
Today’s article focuses on the erasure of Tartaria. Over the past year, I have uncovered a number of incredibly detailed books that provide a remarkable look at the structure and scope of the Tartarian Empire.
Most of these texts predate the 17th century and as a result, were not written in English, so I have spent a considerable amount of time translating some of these books to English, in order to share their insights with you.
We will focus today on a Latin publication from the 16th century, this book offers a detailed look at the legal and social organisation of Tartaria.
This passage presents what appears to be concrete evidence of a highly disciplined and codified society, with communal accountability and a system of justice far beyond what mainstream history acknowledges.
Translation:
“Justice is carried out such that no one is judged by the evasions of tricksters or obscured by false accusations of vice. Indeed, if a defendant tries to escape, while being summoned to court by the proper authorities, he cannot immediately avoid judgment; from that moment, he is considered caught in his crime. For he is beaten according to the law and by the master’s prescribed punishment.
Likewise, no one in the court is allowed to neglect necessary safety measures or to consume wine or commit other noted vices without consequence. In every case, the judge (Cadi) presides over proceedings with the people, acting without discrimination, and often even above the highest authority of the ruler. All live under the same laws and the same rights. Furthermore, in both attire and behavior, everyone presents themselves equally; no one may commit an offense or wrongdoing without punishment. Anyone who violates the customary dress, public appearance, or traditional ritual is held accountable. Likewise, private provisions or personal property cannot be kept from public inspection or communal use without prior approval from a patron or overseer.”
This page explains how justice was carried out. It was impartial, free from favoritism or bribery, and left no room for loopholes. Defendants could not escape judgment, and punishments were administered strictly according to the law
Courts operated with communal oversight, and judges held authority even above the highest rulers.
Everyone, regardless of status, was expected to adhere to the same codes, from behavior and attire to property management. Personal possessions and provisions were subject to communal standards, ensuring fairness and accountability across society.
Such a system contrasts sharply with modern Western institutions, which often rely on bureaucracy, litigation, and hierarchical exploitation.
Tartaria, by contrast, functioned naturally and efficiently: property was protected without complex structures, civic and religious leaders were accountable, and daily life was orderly, disciplined, and self-sufficient.
Its economy, culture, and governance operated independently of outside influence, creating a society that thrived on fairness and sustainability rather than manipulation or dependence.
This level of autonomy and integrity helps explain why Tartaria might have been deliberately obscured from historical records. Its very existence challenged the exploitative hierarchies of surrounding powers, presenting a model of society that was both efficient and potentially threatening.
In this light, Tartaria’s systematic erasure appears not as mere oversight, but as a response to a civilisation that operated entirely on its own terms.
On this page, we are offered a remarkable glimpse into the daily life and social order of the Tartarian people, a society governed by fairness, discipline, and communal responsibility.
Translation:
“Indeed, there was no excess; and likewise, there was no lack. Among those barbarians, no one was overwhelmed by gluttony, nor did anyone die of want, nor suffer from cold, nor did anyone beg in the midst of such scarcity and need. For among them, there is no theft, no dishonest laborer, no beggar, no fraudster, no litigant, no perverse judge, no deceiver, no liar, nor traitor. Therefore, there is no need among them for someone to guard their possessions against private malfeasance.
When traveling through their region, it is unlawful to carry weapons. They live in peace and justice, giving each person what is theirs, intact without diminishment, without tribute to magistrates, taxation, or any other imposed burden. There is no corruption; rather, those in authority faithfully fulfill their duties. This applies not only to laypeople but also to the religious, and they ensure justice is administered according to their faith. Their system allows for the fair and expedient resolution of disputes without outside interference.”
In this society, the management of resources and social harmony was collective and efficient. Hunger, poverty, and debt were virtually unknown. Every individual contributed to and benefited from a system designed for communal well-being rather than personal accumulation or hierarchical control. Life was organized around fairness, discipline, and mutual respect, a stark contrast to most historical and modern societies.
When we compare this Tartarian society to modern life, particularly in Western cultures, the differences are staggering. Today, scarcity, competition, and hierarchical systems dominate daily existence.
Hunger, debt, corruption, and inequality are widespread, and social structures often reward wealth and power over fairness and community. The Tartarians, in contrast, lived in a society where resources were shared, exploitation was absent, and law was self-enforcing. Their system was humane, efficient, and just.
This radical difference may also explain why their existence has been largely erased from history. A civilization that functioned without greed, social conflict, or oppressive hierarchies posed a threat to later powers whose wealth and authority depended on precisely those systems.
By removing them from recorded history, those in power could avoid confronting the uncomfortable truth: that a more just and equitable way of life had not only existed, but flourished across Tartaria.
As we draw to a close on this article, it feels like the right moment to reflect on what I’ve found so far. My research up to now suggests that their erasure was born from their very way of life, a way that stood in quiet defiance of the world that replaced it.
A society built on justice, communal responsibility, and the absence of corruption was simply incompatible with the ambitions of empires founded on control, hierarchy, and exploitation.
In studying these pages, we are reminded that another, profoundly different model of civilisation once thrived, one we have largely been taught to forget, and one that existed not so long ago.
It challenges us to reconsider the inevitability of our current systems and to ask ourselves:
If such a world was possible then, might it be possible again?
And in that possibility lies a quiet, enduring hope, that humanity’s truest potential has never truly vanished, only hidden, waiting to be remembered and restored.
Very interesting article. You put in a lot of work on that and it shows. :)
Very timely article for me Jordan! I am putting together a model for a gov that ultimately dismantles itself and transitions to community based rule! This is one of the most grounded perspectives I have seen about Tartaria, been studying it for almost a decade now, it’s a subject that one never tires of for obvious reasons!