Question: Can someone explain how things on the Nirn works?
I know that in the Elder Scrolls, Nirn is a planet like Earth. However, I find it interesting that there are Continents, Provinces and Cities but no Countries? If there are countries on Nirn can someone shed some light on it? Nirn is the planet. Tamriel is a continent. Skyrim is a Province and let's say Whiterun is a city, but what is the country if there are countries in the Elder Scrolls? Thanks in advance. :)
Answer:
Not much is known about the other continents so I'll ignore them.
Basically, in the first few games, the Empire controlled all of Tamriel (kinda like the Roman Empire) and split the areas into provinces (counties, if you like). In the game of Skyrim, the Empire is weak and most of the other provinces (Black Marsh, Elsweyr, Morrowind, Summerset Isles and Valenwood) have left the Empire. Skyrim, Hammerfell, Cyrodil and High Rock have remained controlled by the Empire (but the Civil War in Skyrim either loses that province or remains, depending on who you fight for in the game).
A new Empire (The Aldmeri Dominion) controlled by the High Elves in Summerset Isles fought a war with the Empire but are now neutral. You only meet their ambassadors in Skyrim - the Thalmor. The Aldmeri Dominion controls the Summerset Isles, Valenwood parts of Elsweyr and has invaded Hammerfell and the capital of the Empire and Tamriel, Cyrodil.
So there aren't countries. Don't try to imagine it like Earth, you'll only get confused.
Hope I helped,
Ralph