Hyrule is ruled primarily by a hereditary monarchy, with the firstborn of the current monarch being named heir unless extenuating circumstances arise. However, the monarchy works with an elected parliament of representatives from the provinces.
Hylians are the most predominant race in Hyrule, but other races and species inhabit these lands. Amphibious Zoras populate areas with access to water, like Lanayru and Necluda, rocky Gorons originate from the partially volcanic Eldin Mountain Chain, and the avian Ritos live in the forests and mountains of the Tabantha and Hebra Provinces.
Other Hylian-adjacent races live in the country as well, the Sheikah and the Gerudo. Most Gerudo are immigrants, or descendants of immigrants, from the Gerudo Nation.
Hyrule is a generally developed nation. Advancement in technology in the mid 300s led to an industrial revolution that fulfilled the dreams of progress Queen Zelda I had for the country. Steam-power pushed transportation to the next level, and running electricity became common by the 390s.
In the current day, Hyrule has cars, industry, and even a
digital network and personal devices powered by the concepts of ancient Sheikah technology.
Some "backwaters" are less developed and operate off the grid, especially in the Faron province and deep in the Hebra Mountain Range.
Medicine is comprehensive, with surgeries, vaccinations, and other developments extending life expectancy far beyond what it was pre-Calamity.
The primary religion of Hyrule centers around the worship of the Goddess Hylia, who delivered the inhabitants of the land from the fury of the Demise. This religion also involves a pantheon of three other goddesses, the Golden Goddesses Din, Nayru, and Farore, who are credited with the creation. Most towns have temples of Hylia, which are open for personal worship at all hours and hold public masses on the fourth day of the week. These are led by the temple's presiding
sage. Although this is the prevalent religion in Hyrule, it is not enforced by law and citizens enjoy religious freedom.
Hyrule is presently an ally of the Gerudo Nation to the southwest. After the death of Queen Zelda I, there were misguided attempts to annex the Gerudo Nation, leading to the war of 98. After the treaty was signed at the end of the war, relations with the Gerudo Nation were tense. However, over the next three hundred and fifty years, these tensions cooled, and an official declaration of being allied was signed by King Hyram Nohansen of Hyrule and Gerudo Chieftain Konora in 451.
Hyrule has historically had good relations with the foreign countries Holodrum and Labrynna, across the sea to the east. However, given the recent unrest in Labrynna surrounding its government, there's been some discussion in Hyrule over how to best handle the situation. Right now, the consensus is "just wait it out and see what happens," but there's some concern about escalating conflict.
Hyrule is not a densely populated country, but it's vast in area. The country is connected by a well-developed system of highways and railroads. There are few major river systems, but the Zora River is used for water transport to the extent that its strict ecological conservation mandates will allow.
State-mandated education begins at age six, and students must complete twelve grades of schooling to graduate. Early private education is offered starting around age four, but this is less common in smaller communities. After grade twelve is completed, some schools offer a cheap thirteenth year of optional education for students not intending to go to college. Students planning to go into a trade often take this option. College education generally takes four years, five for fields that require more qualifications, like medicine.
In rural areas, especially in farming-dominated Greater Hyrule and poverty-stricken Faron, dropouts are common. Some towns in this area reported dropout rates as high as 40%. Conversely, colleges and other optional education venues have very low dropout rates, with Castle Town University boasting a 93% graduation rate.
Hyrule has a developed infrastructure, with national power grids and waste management. There are numerous major cities and widespread settlements of varying populations. The country is linked by an online network connected by towers reverse-engineered from ancient Sheikah technology.
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