What are the real world influences on the races of Tamriel?

[Ysmir]

Here's my basic run-down of all the races....

Imperial: The normal human. Based off the generic human race you see in all fantasy games. Beth really hasn't developed the imperials that much over the years.

Nord: Well, they're called the nords, so it's easy to assume that they're based on the people of northern Europe. Maybe not viking, but something like that. It's epecially noticeable in Skyrim, when you hear their Scandanavian-inspired accents.

Breton: Well, Breton used to be a region in western France, at around the time of the Holy Roman Empire. But I think Beth based the race itself more on the English.

Redguard: This one is hard to place, as the redguards have evolved a lot over the series. As of Skyrim, they remind me a lot of the Egyptians due to the clothing of the Alik'r. But they posses American accents, which is interesting. They're a mix of many Earth cultures, I suppose.

Wood Elf: Most fantasy games / books have a generic tree-loving elf race. The bosmer are Beth's version of it.

High Elf: It should be noted that most fantasy games / books also have an elf race that is tall, pale-skinned, and arrogant. In Dungeons and Dragons, they are known as the Eladrin. In Lord of the Rings, they are actually CALLED high elves (i.e. Lady Galadriel). Once again, the altmer are Beth's depiction of that race.

Dark Elf: Yet again, most fantasy games and books have a race of elves that is dark and mysterious. Dungeons and Dragons has the drow, World of Warcraft has the night elves, and Elder Scrolls has the dunmer. Yes, the three elf races is getting very cliché.

Argonian: From their names, they are obviously based off of Native Americans. They originally had strong accents, but now they sound like a normal human. I'm not sure what I think of that.

Khajiit: The khajiit seem to be very Indian to me. I guess I'm only saying that because of their distinct accent, but there you go. They seem to be a mix of cultures, in truth.

So there's what I think. A lot of people will probably disagree, but to each their own, right?

Lol, not exactly true Galadriel was of Finarfin's stock and they were Tatyarin elves later to be called Noldorin elves.
and their name never meant high elves tatyarin meant "Second ones" and Noldor meant "Those with knowledge"

[Pilaf The Defiler]

I wouldn't agree that the Imperials are bland or just generic fantasy humans. They have heavy Roman influences in Morrowind and Skyrim. Less so in Oblivion, strangely, set in their home land. That game's art and character design seems heavily based on a mixture of Gondor men from LOTR and Arthur's kingdom from Excalibur. In Morrowind and Skyrim the Roman influences are heavy, though, and in Skyrim especially they have darker skin tones..a more Iberian sort of look, like they could be Italians or Spaniards. Many of them have accents that are not standard American or English this time around, too. There's actually a good in-Universe explanation for this, too, since the Nedes originally enslaved by the Ayleids were from many different tribes with their own skin tones, languages and beliefs. They blended together into Imperials under Alessia's new Empire, and adopted the old armor, weapons and building designs of the Ayleids with modifications of their own - hence the "Roman" looking armor and weapons, actually adapted from Elven designs. This is a good example of a fantasy race which superficially resembles a real life people but has a justified lore excuse for doing so.

[Gideon Dragontongue]

Imperial: Roman
Argonian: Native American
Khajiit: Indian/Egyptian
Breton: French/Greek
Dunmer: Arabic/Chinese/Japanese/Mongol
Nord: Norse
Redguard: Middle Eastern/African
Bosmer: Stealthy Elves
Altmer: Magic Elves
Orc: Orc

[Pilaf The Defiler]

I still think the Orcs have heavy influences from the Huns and other Steppe cultures, and it's especially apparent in Skyrim.

[Dam-Ned]

Breton: Well, Breton used to be a region in western France, at around the time of the Holy Roman Empire. But I think Beth based the race itself more on the English.

Dude, the region still exist and is called Brittany while it's people are called Bretons.
Also I think Bretons in the game are more based on the French because most of the Bretons you can encounter in Skyrim have French names (Lisette, Louis Letrush, Babette, Delacourt, Colette Marence..etc).

[Pilaf The Defiler]

In the game Daggerfall, the various kingdoms of High Rock and the greater Illiac Bay were all typical European medieval fantasy realms. They could have been anything stereotypically middle ages. German, English, French, Spanish or Turk in the case of Sentinel, the Redguard kingdom. There were more English names there, too. The "Bretons as French" thing was mostly Morrowind and later lore. I guess you could say High Rock and the Bretons is very Frankish overall leaning towards French characteristics in newer lore, but leaving room for other Western European cultures as well.

[Desdran1]

Here's what I think.

Redguard: Sub Saharan Arabic Influence.
Breton: Celts as of Skyrim Era.
Nords Scandinavian and German
Imperial: Romans.
Altmer: Snotty High Royalty Blue Bloods with race superiority beliefs.
Dunmer: Arabic influenced(House royalty I.E House Suadi.)
Bosmer: Generic Elves with Native American Influence.
Orsimer: European Germanic Barbarians,Mongols and Fedual Japan.
Khajiit: Egyptian, Arabic and Gypsy.
Argonian: Meso-America

Just my speculation.

[Swampy]

mperial: Roman
Argonian: South-american
Khajiit: Native-american
Breton: French
Dunmer: Mongol
Nord: Norse
Redguard: African
Bosmer: Mongol
Altmer: Mongol
Orc: dunno

[Pilaf The Defiler]

I honestly think the Orcs have more Mongol influences than the Bosmer or the Altmer.

[Swampy]

I honestly think the Orcs have more Mongol influences than the Bosmer or the Altmer.

Yeah, maybe you are right. but i dont know what influence the Bosmer or the Altmer have so i put mongol on them.
Because they are all elves.

[Kerr]

Brtons are Celts and Nords are Vikings. Simple.

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

Celts don't really have a magical influence, though.

[Kerr]

Why do you think wiccans celebrate Samhain? Celts also had druids. Celts did have magical influence. The clue that they are celts in in the name, Brittany is one of the 6 Celtic nations and is home to Bretons.

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

Hmm. Well, I was thinking that they were more battle-like than magical. Although I could be wrong. I probably am wrong. I don't know a thing about Celtic culture.

[Brahmin]

Well, Skyrim has changed things quite a bit :

Now, the altmer ,bosmer ,dunmer are more like brits and their other parts. eg. Dunmer sould A LOT like australians to me. Altmer also do sound somewhat british. (The only problem here being british weren't known for magic or magic tricks)

Kajeet : say they are from a desert place where sun shines warmly. (so arabia sahara etc)
Redguard: also seem to be arab with their curved sabers with big blades (as opposed to say talwars which are like sabers as they were in the daggerfall)

I think bethesda has changed mer angle around on its head this with skyrim.

Looks though are different. The altmer have tann-color brown or gold if you prefer to call it that skin. Dunmer have blue skin.

[Br3admax]

I don't think we should go off voice acting, especially when some voice actors are in every race.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

The Dunmer skin is not and has never been blue, except in Oblivion. It's meant to be an ashen, bluish grey blend. That's more noticeable in Morrowind but it comes through in Skyrim.

[MoncarBelvani]

Bretons: Well, er, Bretons lol. Bethesda even placed High Rock in the North-west corner of Tamriel, just as Brittany is in the North-west corner of France. I've never played Daggerfall, but their political system sounds a bit Hellenic. Especially with all those city states trying to politically out-manoeuvre each other.
Orcs: Germanic barbarians, their culture seems to have that whole 'noble savage' thing going on. But, their armour seems to be influenced by a Japanese style.
Imperials: Roman and/or generic medieval.
Altmer: I think they seem to be just like High Elves in other works of fiction. They may not be based on a human civilisation.
Dunmer: A sort of Punic-Steppe mix.
Argonians: Mesoamericans.
Bosmer: Celts combined with Tolkein's elves.
Nords: Vikings.
Khajiit: Judging by their tents, I'd say Mongols. Their religion seems to be a cross between ancient Egyptian beliefs and Steppe shamanism.
Redguards: They seem to resemble the Moors.

[VirtualWeasel]

Revised version of my previous post in this thread.

Imperials = Romans, possibly Greek or Spartan-based according to their physical characteristics.
Nords = Norse/Viking culture, appearance of ancient Neanderthals. The word Nord is/was a term for Scandinavians.
Khajiits = Middle-Eastern folk, possibly Persian-based. Their religion is similar to Hinduism.
Argonians = Perhaps a representation of the tribal people of the Earth, they are heavily religious and do not deface the land.
Dunmer = A very Hindu-style culture, Dunmer are possibly a representation of Central Asians or Indians.
Bosmer = Very Native-American society, Bosmer coexist with the land and are possibly based off of Natives in North America or in the Amazon.
Altmer = A mix of a few cultures- Probably central European or perhaps Spanish, based on their honor and conquering drive.
Bretons = Based off of the French people, particularly in appearance and name. Breton is the term for people from Brittany, a region in north France. Their appearance is defined by their rounded faces and small but stubby noses. Their culture reflects a rather feudal European society, classic to the French-Anglo area.
Redguards = Physically, clearly based off of Africans. However, Redguard culture resembles that of a more Saxon-Catholic type, especially because they involve a great deal of their politics with religion, and many paladin groups are formed to fight for their religion.
Orcs = Unsure about the Orcs...

[MARS]

The Orcs are based on Barbarians, I think. Their more primitive aproach to society seems to indicate that.

[VirtualWeasel]

Well, barbarians of some sort. Wasn't really sure what region though.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

How are we defining "Barbarians", though? The classical Greek definition of the word was anyone who didn't speak Greek. I think for the standard fantasy trope, Nords are the "barbaric northmen." Orcs seem to be represented as nomadic steppe people almost, except without a noticeable horse culture, at least in the games. They're like the Mongols if the Mongols went on foot and had slightly more permanent settlements.

[MoncarBelvani]

How are we defining "Barbarians", though? The classical Greek definition of the word was anyone who didn't speak Greek. I think for the standard fantasy trope, Nords are the "barbaric northmen." Orcs seem to be represented as nomadic steppe people almost, except without a noticeable horse culture, at least in the games. They're like the Mongols if the Mongols went on foot and had slightly more permanent settlements.

I was defining 'Barbarian' as someone who is a member of a culture which isn't very sophisticated, a culture which has little time for architecture and learning but has a lot of time for savage brutality and tribal thinking. I guess I thought that Orcs were based on German barbarians (with Japanese/Steppe style armour) because: a) they prize individual bravery and strength in battle b) some of them serve in the Imperial Legions, like the Germans did c) a lot of their names have a slightly Germanic feel to them (e.g. Borug, Both, Bugdul, Olfin) and d) they believe the chief must be the strongest in the tribe, if someone else surpasses him in martial prowess, he is disgraced (in Orc culture it is worse than that, of course). I could be wrong though, I find your Mongol idea interesting too, what factors made you see them as Mongol?

[Br3admax]

How are we defining "Barbarians", though? The classical Greek definition of the word was anyone who didn't speak Greek. I think for the standard fantasy trope, Nords are the "barbaric northmen." Orcs seem to be represented as nomadic steppe people almost, except without a noticeable horse culture, at least in the games. They're like the Mongols if the Mongols went on foot and had slightly more permanent settlements.

I was defining 'Barbarian' as someone who is a member of a culture which isn't very sophisticated, a culture which has little time for architecture and learning but has a lot of time for savage brutality and tribal thinking. I guess I thought that Orcs were based on German barbarians (with Japanese/Steppe style armour) because: a) they prize individual bravery and strength in battle b) some of them serve in the Imperial Legions, like the Germans did c) a lot of their names have a slightly Germanic feel to them (e.g. Borug, Both, Bugdul, Olfin) and d) they believe the chief must be the strongest in the tribe, if someone else surpasses him in martial prowess, he is disgraced (in Orc culture it is worse than that, of course). I could be wrong though, I find your Mongol idea interesting too, what factors made you see them as Mongol?

I believe Nords are as far as Germanic means, Nord is a German word, meaning North.

[MoncarBelvani]

I believe Nords are as far as Germanic means, Nord is a German word, meaning North.

Yeah, I know the Nords were based on a Germanic people. Probably the Vikings.