A mild climate and scenic geography made Dabion attractive to the privileged; the country's proximity to Karrim put it in a position to control agriculture there. Thus Dabion became wealthy, a land of the elite, with the power and leisure to pursue justice studies.
A school of Justice philosophy developed under the influence of Bioran philosophy, growing out from the courts of the alliance of kings that predates the Common Calendar. Dabion established itself as the dominant political force around 300, controlling Karrim and exercising influence over Mandera's trade with the rest of the Five Countries.
In the Alacan region in the extreme southeast, the king never allied with the Justices and the region remained mostly independent.
Nanianism as the State Religion
When Nanianism reached Dabion (523), the judges launched a legislative campaign to eliminate the Bioran science, as well as the pagan religions of Azassi and Karrim, in an attempt to establish order over the Five Countries. This legislative reach initiates the period of Dabionian Civil Rule, which lasts through the 8th century. (The term High Council also originates during this time, to describe Dabionian government as a whole in its reach over the Five Countries.)
Attempts to convert the clans of Siva lead to the Azassi-Siva wars of 546 to 553. Nanianism became the institutionalized religion, with Dabion controlling politics in every country except Biora. No religious houses were established in Dabion, although Justices received clerical training. Where Nanianism rejected the inquisitiveness of the mind, Dabion valued past minds and built their system of Justice on the teachings of third-century justice philosophers. As Nanianism became further incorporated into the Dabionian civil system, certain orthodox interpretations replaced Nanian's original teachings in Nanian houses outside of Cassile, creating a rift between these few houses and the Cassilian monasteries, which preserved a more mystical orientation.
The economic prosperity initiated by Mandera and the Ikinda Alliance led to relative peace on the continent. After a span of about two hundred years, this prosperity declined into complacency. Conflicts arose between the Manderan economic leaders and the Dabionian officials, as Dabion sought to gain more control. In Karrim, Mandera controlled the marketplace by setting prices and directing distribution. Dabion controlled production before the goods reached the market by keeping records of production and levying taxes. Estate Managers were employed by Dabion to keep records, collect taxes, and oversee local law enforcement.
Rejection of the Working Class
The rejection of Dabion's working class was another attempt by Dabion to compensate for losing power to Mandera. Common workers were driven into Karrim to find work; by about 700 the only commoners in Dabion were employed to maintain the work of the Justices. Common culture was drummed out of the country: religion, music, crafts.
After the economic collapse in 742, Dabion became dominant, strengthening and extending their laws in the Five Countries. The period of Manderan prosperity came to an end, and Dabion instituted a new system of puritanical values, although the new economy still rested upon trade and industry established by Mandera. Officially, Dabion rejected all outward displays of wealth, such as those typical of the Mandera's period of economic prosperity. The arts were regarded as wasteful. Focus was upon sober, rational, industrious policies that would stabilize the economy. The laws created by Dabion in this time also reflected fear: if Dabion did not proceed with caution and failed to keep control over all aspects of the law, their authority could collapse as Mandera's did.
When Bioran learning was rediscovered in 748, Dabion took over the spread of this new movement. The shift in Dabionian philosophy made it more receptive to the rediscovery; since Dabion accepted rationalism and orthodox interpretations rather than the original words of Nanian, the Justices were attracted to the rational arguments of Bioran learning. They also looked to the historical influence that Bioran philosophy had upon the Five Countries. The Countries had been united by Bioran learning before, and Dabionian authorities hoped to repeat the phenomenon. The first new Bioran school opened in 757 in Insigh. Since this was a time of economic tension but strong Dabionian control, philosophy was conservative. No real effort was made to expand upon Bioran learning. New research was frowned upon, as was any change.
As the tenants of Nanianism, which rejected science, were inconsistent with the newly rediscovered Bioran schools, Dabion suppressed Nanianism. The failure of Mandera also encouraged Dabion to maintain a tighter hold on the Five Countries, and Cassile's Nanian monasteries presented a challenge to Dabion's authority. Furthermore, Nanianism was slowly spreading outside of Cassile, particularly in the oppressed regions of Karrim and Mandera, as the people searched for new sources of meaning. Since this mystical version of Nanianism directed followers to turn away from earthly things such as science and law, Dabion was anxious to close down the monasteries and prevent the spread of the religion. In 764 Dabionian legislation began to close the monasteries and outlaw Nanianism. The few Nanian houses outside of Cassile had either disbanded by this time (as in Mandera, which was overwhelmed by its economic troubles) or were quietly converted to less controversial religions (as in Karrim and Azassi, which reverted to more traditional practices).
Mt. Alaz in District Three attempted to secede from Dabion in 777. A number of other events occured at the same time, which brought about a change in government. Dabionian society became more puritanical about rejecting wealth, and the military became more visible, replacing the Public Force. Interpretations of Bioran learning changed, since the rationalist rejection of war had been neutralized.