@Berethos:

You don't consider it to be horrific persecution for a race to be driven out of fertile territory and forced to live into a wasteland that results in their numbers remaining dangerously low? The Garleans were considered to be easy pickings specifically due to their inability to wield aether. It was only when they acquired the might of magitek and started fighting back that they managed to secure a better life for themselves and indulge in the fruits that come as a result of becoming an Empire.

I'll bold the relevant parts, with the source being the Garlean entries in the lore book.

Source:

Portrait of a People

To understand the history of Garlemald, one must first understand the character of its people. Known to be strong of body, the most distinguishing Garlean trait is a third eye sitting at the centre of the forehead. This ocular organ resembles a pearl, and grants purebloods superior spatial recognition. Garleans have little inborn ability to manipulate their body's aether, however, and thus the arcane arts have ever eluded all but a few. Thus, they have long been at a disadvantage against other peoples with a command of magic. This imbalance of power has greatly informed the territorial feuds of Ilsabard. In ages past, the Garleans were expelled from the relative warmth of lands to the south of the realm-dividing central mountain range. After crossing the treacherous peaks, they had no choice but to settle in the bleak northern reaches of the continent.

Blue Gold:

Winter's in the Garleans' new home were harsh. The northern seas were bound in ice for most of the year, and the resources of the waters were available for only a slim window. Likewise, farming and rearing animals were possible only at certain times. The land, in other words, could not support a large populace. The Garleans multiplied slowly, and over time were forced to accept being few in number. There was but one benefit to the frigid land - its vast deposits of ceruleum. This deep-blue liquid burned as well as oil, and kept the hearth warm during the long, dark times of year. Indeed, had it not been for this natural resource, the Garleans would not have survived the severe winter cold. Yet, it was to be a long time before the Garleans realised just what a boon this ceruleum was.

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So, there's the bit about the place being a literal wasteland poorly suited to healthy or enjoyable life. Their numbers were artificially stunted as a result of their persecution and had it not been for ceruleum, they would have faced extinction. I hope everybody reads this, not just because it's a pain to physically type out extracts from the lore book but because there's really no valid argument to claim that the Garleans weren't persecuted in the past. They were literally forced into a situation where they would have died out if not for the presence of ceruleum - which in itself is a finite resource. Or at least something difficult to replenish.