Country-Development Questions

Questions to get you thinking so you can better develop your countries and their cultures, whether they're fantastic fairytale kingdoms or futuristic space colonies.

Which biomes does it contain? What's its topography like?
What are its most notable geological features or natural landmarks?
Which resources are abundant? Which are scarce?
What kinds of natural disasters are likely to occur? How often? How do the people deal with them?
What kind of wild animals live there? What kind of wild plants?
What kind of animals do the people keep as livestock? What about pets?
What kinds of foods do most of the people eat? Where does their food come from?
What are its most notable/famous man-made landmarks? How and why were they constructed?
What are its holiest or most revered sites? What are their histories?
What kinds of holidays do the people usually celebrate? How did these holidays originate?
How are events such as weddings and funerals typically conducted?
What kinds of musical instruments are played by its people? What does their music sound like?
What forms of art do the people create? What does it look like?
What are the most well-known folk stories? When and where did they originate?
Who are the most famous historical and/or folkloric figures? Why?
How and when do people typically receive their education?
How important is education considered?
At what age are people considered legal adults? Are there any rites of passage typically performed?
What kind of games do the people play? What kinds of sports?
What are the dominant culture's biggest taboos? Why?
What are the dominant culture's most serious crimes? How are they punished?
What are the dominant culture's most honorable achievements? How are they rewardedc?
What are the most prevalent attitudes toward sex? Marriage? Divorce?
Which traits, actions, and attitudes do most of the people admire? Why?
Which jobs or skills are considered the most prestigious or useful? Why?
Which jobs or skills are considered the least prestigious or useful? Why?
How are the sick and injured treated? How about the mentally ill? The physically disabled?
What are the most common religious/cosmological beliefs? How did these originate and develop?
If the people are religious, how many deities do they have? How are these deities properly honored?
Which deities have come into popularity lately? Which have fallen out of favor?
What are the biggest sources of controversy and division? Why?
What kinds of minority groups live in it? How and why did they come to be there?
How are the minority cultures different from the dominant culture? How have they influenced it?
How does the dominant culture feel about these minority groups?
How do the people feel about foreigners and outsiders?
Who are its enemies? Why are they enemies?
Which of their enemies are the most dangerous, and why?
Who are its allies? Why are they allies?
Which of their allies are the most helpful, and why?
What was the last war it was involved in? What was the most impactful war it has been involved in?
Who do the people trade with? What do they trade for?
Which other countries have influenced it the most? How and why?
What atrocities is it reponsible for? Why were they committed?
What good things has it done? Why?
Which types of people are the most privileged? Which types of people are marginalized? How did it come to be this way?
Which moments in its history are so embarassing that they are rarely, if ever talked about anymore?
Which moments in its history are the people most proud of? Why?
Which non-natural disasters are the most likely to occur? How would the people deal with them?
What do the people perceive to be the biggest threat or threats to peace and order? Why?
How much corruption is in the government?
What and how much can people say without fear of censure?
Who controls most of the wealth and resources? How did it get to be this way?

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