Timeline to help with World Building for the Sacred Playlist

[Jesterofchaos]

The world building for my story started in my head when I was walking my dogs through a green belt by my house.
It all evolved from a single character and just took off. The current events take place in the future but the people on the surface live like they are in medieval Norway. Weapons and technology are from around the 1300’s.
I just wanted to see what other people thought about using a timeline as a reference point.

9600-500 AD- The 413 surviving Atlanteans escaped their sinking city. They discovered the perfect continent to start over Antarctica. The only native people they encountered were various tribes of Neanderthal. For thousands of years they lived in peace with minimal contact.
1000 AD- Explorers from the outside world found and charted the outer areas of Antarctica as well as some inland exploration. They spread disease that started killing off the inhabitants. To prevent complete eradication the Atlanteans came up with a plan to build an underground biosphere as vast as the continent.
1200 AD- Once completed they moved all the residents from the surface including animals and plants to the biosphere below.
1300 AD- They created the big freeze to protect Antarctica from the outside world.
1630 AD- Artemis Von Barron is born.
1685 AD- Barron Corp started as a shipping company.
1890 AD- Ian Von Barron found records of old nautical maps of Antarctica without any ice.
1911 AD- Ian Von Barron commissioned Roal Amundsen to see if he could make it to Antarctica first.
1928 AD- Ian Von Barron financed and went to Antarctica with Admiral Byrd and discovered the underground biosphere.
1970 AD- Alister Von Barron after discovering the secrets of underground Antarctica from his grandfather’s journals began to make plans to move his 500,000 employees and their families to relocate to the great biosphere.
1989-1999 AD- During this ten year time period planes, boats, barges, subs etc were brought to Antarctica. Also during this time Alister Von Barron created the Y2K virus to destroy the rest of the planet so he could single handily save the human race from its own destruction. The great doors closed on 12/31/99. The same day the Arctic Mist was activated to filter any nuclear radiation caused by the destruction of the rest of the planet. This was also the first time the Sacred Playlist was activated. The first song was out of control by U2.
2300 AD- started the Great Defrost
2400 AD- Sent the Adams to create the 413 sanctuaries.
2550 AD- The Great Defrost was complete.
2900 AD- Most people on the surface think the underground biosphere was just a legend.
? AD- Present day everyone and everything has been affected by the Arctic Mist. The writings in the holy scriptures of the Sacred Playlist states that it gives everyone the promise of a long life. A very small percentage of the population have been blessed and cursed with special abilities or mutations at birth that can be directly attributed to the Arctic Mist.
Only a couple of things are actually introduced in the story I am working on but the main timeline really helped me flesh out my worlds beginning.
I also have an extensive history of the different countries that inhabit present day Antarctica as well as the various manlike creatures that also live there but I guess that will be for another post.

 

[skip.knox]

Timelines can be very useful, and on different levels. Usually it's at the macro level as it is here, and that is good for establishing context and backstory, though not especially helpful for writing an individual story.

When you get to the specific story, even a short story, a timeline is useful there as well. It can be crucial or just mildly helpful, but most times it is important for the author to know that this scene happens in the evening which means the next scene has to be at night, or whatever. At the novel level it is often important to establish that the story takes place over the course of a day or month or decade, and in every case, what happens before what. Most specifically, it can help make clear what is physically or logically possible. Also called "continuity".

 

[Jesterofchaos]

Timelines can be very useful, and on different levels. Usually it's at the macro level as it is here, and that is good for establishing context and backstory, though not especially helpful for writing an individual story.

When you get to the specific story, even a short story, a timeline is useful there as well. It can be crucial or just mildly helpful, but most times it is important for the author to know that this scene happens in the evening which means the next scene has to be at night, or whatever. At the novel level it is often important to establish that the story takes place over the course of a day or month or decade, and in every case, what happens before what. Most specifically, it can help make clear what is physically or logically possible. Also called "continuity".

Thanks for the input. The timeline was just a portion of my world building but it really helped me get a feel for where this story idea would take me.

 

[pmmg]

I mean....I lived trough Y2K, and it really wasn't a virus as much as a clock issues. I am willing to go with it. The story, I suspect begins after the last entry. I personally love stories of abandoned earth, and apocalyptic backdrops. It would be interesting to me....but if you really want me to scrutinize it, I could poke some holes in it.

 

[Jesterofchaos]

I was trying to think of something that was so hyped up and turned out to be a big nothing. Then I wanted to see what would happen if it turned into something completely catastrophic. First thing that popped into my head was Y2K.
Ever since I have started this I have been poking holes in it

 

[Prince of Spires]

I lived trough Y2K, and it really wasn't a virus as much as a clock issues.

Ah, but that's just what they want you to believe...

Sorry, couldn't resist. I'll just go show myself out now.

Also, it sounds like a fun enough premise. And plenty to start writing the story.

 

[xena]

When you have such a rich backstory with so many events spanning centuries, it’s easy to lose track or have things not quite line up. Having a timeline can really help keep all the important events organized.