California

Rich in history, resources, and opportunity, California has inspired generations of settlers, entrepreneurs, and would-be conquerors. With its majestic northern redwood forests, fertile central valley, magnificent coastline, and sun-drenched deserts, California represents a vibrant, passionate dream. For thousands of years, California was home to a multitude of indigenous peoples: among those in the north were the Modoc, Pomo, and Shasta tribes; the central valley was home to the Yokuts, Paiute, and other tribes; the Chumash and other peoples lived in the coastal regions; the Yuma and Mohave in the southern desert regions. It is estimated that well over 300,000 people inhabited California prior to the arrival of the Europeans. In 1542, Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo landed on the California coast and claimed it for Spain. Several years later in 1579, Sir Francis Drake arrived to make very much the same claim for the British Crown. The tug-of-war between European powers, Mexico, and eventually the United States over California continued until 1848 when the U.S. finally established its control over the territory. With the discovery of gold in 1848 and the gold rush starting in 1849, a fresh tidal wave of humanity poured into the state, with all the predictable consequences of hope, pain, gain, and loss. The net result for the original Native American inhabitants: probably two-thirds lost due to warfare, disease, and not-so-benign neglect.

From the game's History encyclopedia, AoE3: DE 100.19.18309.