Indiana Jones and the Great Circle takes fans back to the iconic archaeologist’s globe-trotting adventures, but when exactly does this story unfold? While we know that it takes place between the movies, the exact timeline of them can be murky at times, although we know that the year it takes place is 1937.
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Historically, 1937 was a tumultuous year, marked by political tension and cultural shifts, providing a rich backdrop for Indy’s newest escapades. Here, we’ll explore how The Great Circle fits into the fictional Indiana Jones timeline and the real-world historical events that shape its story.
Beware Of Spoilers For The Game Ahead!
When Does Indiana Jones And The Great Circle Take Place?
In terms of the game’s place in the fictional timeline, we have a full breakdown of all of Indiana Jones’ stories here. In short, the game is set in 1937, placing it between Raiders of the Lost Ark (1936) and The Last Crusade (1938).
There is also a sequence that recreates the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark, but the game never takes place there. It is actually a dream sequence, with Indiana waking up in his civilian attire at his job in the museum, having dreamed a flashback of his previous adventure.
The Historical Context Of 1937
Indiana Jones travels all over the world in The Great Circle, with each place he visits being in some form of turmoil due to the real-world politics of the time. This is a clear reference to the war brewing on the horizon, namely World War 2, which history places as starting in 1939.
The most historically significant places Jones visits are the Vatican City, Egypt, Shanghai, and Thailand. The final area of the game is set in Iraq, although it all happens in a fictional Zigurat with very little ties with the real-world politics of the time.
Italy And The Vatican City
While there was a heavy presence of fascist soldiers in the Vatican area of the game, the Pope at the time, Pius XI, denounced Mussolini’s actions, trying to maintain neutrality in the independent sovereign state. This is why we never see the villains of the game dealing with the Pope, instead dealing with Father Ventura to enter the Vatican’s treasury.
Ventura even mentions being worried about the Pope’s reaction due to leading the fascists to the treasury.
Mussolini’s Italy and Hitler’s Germany were already allies at the time, so it is no wonder that Emmerich Voss, the antagonist of the game, can come and go as he pleases. Voss threatens Ventura with revealing something hidden about the man, a clear reference to the real Father Ventura, who was said to be a homosexual.
Egypt
There isn’t that much of a focus in Egypt on its politics and real-world happenings at the time, although the game being set in 1937 is significant. Only a year prior, the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty was signed, giving the people of Egypt greater control of their affairs, while still allowing British forces to have military camps there.
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This is a key reason as to why most NPCs can be engaged in English, since they were occupied by British forces not that long ago. Political tensions were still high in Egypt, but it is not something that the game delves too deep into.
Japan’s Invasion Of China
Japan and China had already faced off in various skirmishes before the big conflict started, but it all came crashing down when Japan invaded Shanghai in August 1937. This is said to be the first major conflict of World War 2, at least on the Asian side.
Indiana doesn’t willingly go into an ongoing war, but is transported there randomly alongside Gina when they use an artifact to escape the Himalayas. With this, Indy faces off against soldiers from all major players of the Axis Powers during the game: Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Siam/Thailand
Siam, much like Egypt, looked to gain autonomy and remain somewhat neutral in the upcoming conflicts, but as we see during the game, the locals had few tools to resist a direct military occupation. It isn’t seen in the game, but the country would later be able to sign a Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation with France in December, strengthening the nation further.
Siam officially changed its name to Thailand in June 1939, with the name meaning ‘land of the free’ in Thai. The country would later sign a military alliance with Japan in 1941, although it didn’t get too involved in the years left of the war.
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