Not space, but a parallel dimension where dragons won and control that version of the world. And somehow, it makes sense with previous lore (see the dragon-elves war and the Dracorage Mythal), although the premise of alien dragonborn can be seen as ridiculous.
I don't know. I'm still undecided. A single city-state is not the whole kingdom we had, and I don't like half-measures (but my therapist says one of my negative traits is that I see everything in black and white, lol). Also, I don't see the point about bringing back Unther while making it...
Greenwood is right. All "real life Earth-expy" stuff was added by TSR. The Moonshaes are celtic because TSR replaced Greenwood's Moonshaes with those of another author who wanted to publish an Albion-like novel, and TSR placed that novel in the Realms. After that, it all went down: not-Egypt and...
Rashemi are their own distinct ethnic group, actually, natives from Rashemen and in ancient times they lived where now is Thay. The Mulhorandi displazed them from their lands during the ancient First Empire. Some Mulan have Rashemi blood (especially those in Thay), and at least in older products...
Well, technically the Mulan aren't "pure" Sumer and Egyptian. They also have Imaskari and Turami ancestors (native humans from that area). They are a mix of these ethnic groups.
The previous lore had Tymanther and Returned Abeir (Laerakond) as the only places dragonborn originated from. They were supposed to be rare in the rear of the Realms, even 100 years after their arrival. That stuff of dragonborn being all over the place is a retcon of this book.
There is no single mention of dragonborn living in Calimshan in 4e. In fact, in some 4e adventure is said that the Calimshites hated dragonborn because they looked like dragons... But, maybe?
3e was 1372 the initial books, and 1374 the last book with a date (I think it was "Dragons of Faerûn"), with "The Grand History of the Realms" covering up to 1385 in history blurbs.
4e was 1479 and 1480 DR.
"Many dragonborn died for their kingdom and their sultana. In recognition of their loyalty and strength, Songal elevated some dragonborn to positions of power in Calimshan. Other dragonborn have since gravitated to genie strongholds, where they combine their innate powers with elemental magic."...