Oy, did I ever get this messed up. The original version was all true, except the tail end was during the end of the dark ages. Fights still happened at the beginning of the reclamation period, but most of the city-states were stable and unlikely to fall. There are two reasons the city-state is the norm and proper countries have not formed: 444Please respect copyright.PENANACFGqrWXD7w
Population. There is not enough people in the world left to occupy enough land. 444Please respect copyright.PENANAhfmAuIoApR
Wildlife. Over time the larger mammals have continued to evolve in their instinctive use of magic, keeping them formable if pushed. The preditors have become more territorial, making expansions dangerous. 444Please respect copyright.PENANAeOYEnyDElB
There is still some old tension and animosity between city-states from past conflicts, but not enough to continue fighting. The use of soldiers and mages has more to do with attempted expanions than war, though the areas that are becoming more heavily populated (normally near a major river, or along the coast) will still occasionally clash. They are also commonly hired by the private sector as bodyguards and security (And the occasional infiltration of a rival company)444Please respect copyright.PENANAYr3uHAgUPI
History:444Please respect copyright.PENANARaAghgGcSG
After the cataclysm the first human habitats to fall were the major metropolises. With so many people food became scares quicker. The mid-level towns went second. In the span of the first five years the only 1 in every 8 people were still alive. When humanity finally stabilized only villages that numbered, at most, 500 were left scattered throughout the world, usually distantly isolated from others.444Please respect copyright.PENANATG1M1Wrh1R
While human growth has been slow since, it has happened. Those villages, usually named after the cities most of the population came from, grew slowly, claiming back lands as they could. Once they expanded far enough new settlements were attempted. Normally these ended in failure as the wildlife fought back, but occasionally success was reached if the lands were less populated with predators.
This is the start of the reclamation era. The villages grew large enough to have their own governments and the city-states became the norm. These city's are not as large as the metropolises of our modern world. A large city only numbered in the low thousands. Most were still measured in the hundreds.
Much like castles in the medieval era walls were erected to protect the core city. Farm lands, to large to properly protect inside of walls, were left outside of them, and allowed the population outside the walls to retreat within when a threat manifested itself.
Some cities forego farms in favor of trade of a natural resource, such as mining. Some who were highly successful would even trade in their own soldiers.
When resources, particularly food, become too thin cities are faced with three possibilities: Raid neighboring cities, disband and move to more prosperous cities, or die. More often than not neighboring cities are unable to take in refugees without straining their resources to the breaking point so are turned away. Knowing this it isn't uncommon for preemptive strikes to occur before they are too weak to have a chance at winning.
This is another reason why farmable land is difficult to cultivate. Being larger tracks of land protecting them is more difficult, and easier to attack. Food is the resource most likely to be needed so they are also the first targets. The other, larger reason is the wandering chimera and animals mentioned above if they think their territory is being encroached upon.
Armies are usually home grown since they are trustworthy, however for elite troops it is normally more cost effective to hire outside through a military academy. Large cities, like Lost Angels (located where the current San Fernando valley is, population 2,486), can afford to base these academies. This has the double boon of providing the best troops possible loyal to them, and providing additional income from selling the contracts of extra surplus soldiers/mages.
The most common locations for human habitats are along large rivers, providing both a food source (Fish), clean-ish water, and acting as roadways between cities.
Currency inside a city-state is unique to each (Again, with exceptions). An exchange rate between neighboring cities is often negotiated upon as long as both are on peaceful terms. People traveling farther (such as merchants) are forced to either exchange their money as they go from city to city, or rely on bartering.
As larger cities like Lost Angels and Manhattan rise, their stability is leading to more stability in their region. They are the hope for the future.
ns 172.70.175.37da2