Braavos
The most powerful and wealthy of the Free Cities
Significance:
Home of the Iron Bank and the House of Black and White
Explore Essos - The Eastern Continent
From the Free Cities to the Dothraki Sea, discover the diverse cultures and ancient civilizations of Essos
Region Overview
Geography
Essos is a massive continent, much larger than Westeros, with diverse terrain
Climate
Ranging from temperate to tropical, from deserts to grasslands
Culture
Extremely diverse, including the Free Cities, Dothraki, Ghiscari, and many other cultures
Population
Estimated over 100 million people scattered across the vast continent
Free Cities
Nine independent city-states, descendants of the Valyrian Freehold
Climate: Temperate Mediterranean climate
Culture: Diverse, with each city having unique culture and government
Pentos
Wealthy trading city
Significance:
Exile home of Daenerys and Viserys Targaryen
Volantis
The oldest and largest of the Free Cities
Significance:
First colony of the Valyrian Freehold
Myr
Famous for its fine textiles and lenses
Significance:
Birthplace of Varys
Tyrosh
Famous for its dyes and mercenaries
Significance:
Part of the Disputed Lands
Slaver's Bay
Remains of the Old Ghiscari Empire, infamous for slave trade
Climate: Hot and dry
Culture: Ancient Ghiscari culture, slave-based society
Meereen
The largest city in Slaver's Bay
Significance:
Daenerys' seat of rule and the Great Pyramid
Yunkai
The Yellow City, famous for training bedslaves
Significance:
Second city liberated by Daenerys
Astapor
The Red City, training ground of the Unsullied
Significance:
Where Daenerys acquired the Unsullied army
Dothraki Sea
Vast grasslands, home of the Dothraki nomadic people
Climate: Temperate grassland climate
Culture: Nomadic warrior culture, famous for horsemanship and combat skills
Vaes Dothrak
The only city of the Dothraki people
Significance:
Meeting place of khalasars, sacred city where bloodshed is forbidden
Mother of Mountains
The sacred mountain of the Dothraki
Significance:
Center of Dothraki religion
Womb of the World
Sacred lake near Vaes Dothrak
Significance:
Place of Dothraki prophecies and ceremonies
Qarth
The center of the world, hub of East-West trade
Climate: Hot and dry
Culture: Mysterious and wealthy, famous for its warlocks and merchants
City of Qarth
Wealthy city protected by triple walls
Significance:
Where Daenerys sought assistance
House of the Undying
Mysterious palace of the warlocks
Significance:
Place of Daenerys' visions
Asshai and the Shadow Lands
Mysterious eastern lands, famous for black magic and shadows
Climate: Unknown, said to be perpetually dark
Culture: Enigmatic, few have returned from there
Asshai
The black city of the Shadow Lands
Significance:
Home of Melisandre, center of black magic
Stygai
Ghost city deep in the Shadow Lands
Significance:
Said to be the darkest place in the world