Teleporting

[Sholah]

Very little prior to the calamity.

I don't know how you're missing all of it, but there's a lot of information of history before the Calamity. To name a few:
-The war between Ul'dah and Sil'dih over water that ended in a zombie apocalypse for the Sil'dihn civilization (the ruins are in Central Thanalan).
-The Autumn War between Gridania and Ala Mihgo, which brought us the Grand Companies, chocobo barding, and the adventuring profession (to give out of work soldiers something honest to do).
-The rise of the Garlean Empire, their sudden advancements in technology, and their conquering of Othard and Ilsabard.
-The Battle of Silvertear Skies in which the Garlean fleet was swarmed by Midgardsormr and a horde of dragons over Mor Dhona. The resulting ceruleum explosion of the downed Agrius blew the aetheric seal on Silvertear Lake apart and unleashed the Primals and killed the land of Mor Dhona.
-The Gelmorran civilization that dwelt underground in the Black Shroud because the Elementals refused to let them live in the forest. Eventually Gelmorra evolved into Gridania but left behind the Tam-tara Deepcroft and the Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak.
-The Nymian civilization and their constant war with Amdapor, in which they repeatedly came out victorious despite smaller numbers because of their Scholar magic. The Amdaporians eventually killed themselves due to reality-warping magic. The Nymians fell to the tonberry plague.
-The biggest of all is the Allagan civilization and what exactly happened to them. The Crystal Tower and the moon Dalamud (and subsequently, the Binding Coil of Bahamut) were both built by them.

[mouseno4]

I don't know how you're missing all of it, but there's a lot of information of history before the Calamity. To name a few:
-The war between Ul'dah and Sil'dih over water that ended in a zombie apocalypse for the Sil'dihn civilization (the ruins are in Central Thanalan).
-The Autumn War between Gridania and Ala Mihgo, which brought us the Grand Companies, chocobo barding, and the adventuring profession (to give out of work soldiers something honest to do).
-The rise of the Garlean Empire, their sudden advancements in technology, and their conquering of Othard and Ilsabard.
-The Battle of Silvertear Skies in which the Garlean fleet was swarmed by Midgardsormr and a horde of dragons over Mor Dhona. The resulting ceruleum explosion of the downed Agrius blew the aetheric seal on Silvertear Lake apart and unleashed the Primals and killed the land of Mor Dhona.
-The Gelmorran civilization that dwelt underground in the Black Shroud because the Elementals refused to let them live in the forest. Eventually Gelmorra evolved into Gridania but left behind the Tam-tara Deepcroft and the Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak.
-The Nymian civilization and their constant war with Amdapor, in which they repeatedly came out victorious despite smaller numbers because of their Scholar magic. The Amdaporians eventually killed themselves due to reality-warping magic. The Nymians fell to the tonberry plague.
-The biggest of all is the Allagan civilization and what exactly happened to them. The Crystal Tower and the moon Dalamud (and subsequently, the Binding Coil of Bahamut) were both built by them.

Only fragments of those topics i have personally seen in quests. If i had to take a guess how many quests on this character, i have not completed (due to completely missing them) i would say under 10 total in the entire world.

I have completed - at a guess - 95% of all quests within the game. This means i have read countless quest dialogues, watched cutscenes and other such information.

The extent to which the subjects you mention are discussed is akin to nothing more than in passing. ''This area once used to be the dominion of XYZ civilisation. I need you to go there and do XYZ.'' <-- this is the entirety of what the quests i have completed talk about those topics. Great, they MENTIONED a civilisation's name. But that does not encompass its history. Not in the least.

[Enkidoh]

-The Autumn War between Gridania and Ala Mihgo, which brought us the Grand Companies, chocobo barding, and the adventuring profession (to give out of work soldiers something honest to do).

Uh, please correct me if I'm wrong, but it was my understanding that the Age of Adventuring began following the Battle of Silvertear Skies (due to the build up of mercenaries that arrived in preparation for a Garlean invasion of Eorzea proper that never eventuated, and hence the Adventurer's Guild was then formed to supply employment for these now unemployed and heavily armed men and women).

The original game's manual states this and the official website used to as well, as shown:

The Age of Adventure
The guardian gods and goddesses known as the Twelve watch over the city-states of Eorzea. These tiny nations carved out a history of blood and betrayal, forging and breaking alliances as each warred over territory and sought to impose uncompromising interpretations of their patron deities' will.

The fate of the land would, however, soon change. Not fifteen years past, a new threat appeared from the east-the might Garlean Empire. With its fleets of behemoth airships and warriors brandishing weapons that spewed streams of fire, it crushed Ala Mhigo, the most powerful of the six Eorzean city-states. Galvanized by fear of a common foe, the remaining nations joined in a clandestine alliance. Fortunately, the dreaded invasion never came and an uneasy peace prevailed. Thus it was that Eorzea slipped into the "Age of Calm".

As the city-states continued to develop regular standing armies, a growing number of mercenaries and hedge knights found themselves without employment. Concerned at the rise in number of armed men and women resorting to acts of villainy to survive, several respected leaders gathered together to form a network of guilds. The guilds provided these lost souls with the chance to utilise their talents for the benefit of themselves and others.

Through the foresight and resolve of these leaders a new industry had emerged-and the era of adventuring had begun.

I know the Autumn War did involve the other citystates allying with Gridania though, but from what I was aware (based on the above info and other sources) the title and status of 'adventurer' didn't exist in the way we now know them at that point in time.

[Sholah]

Uh, please correct me if I'm wrong, but it was my understanding that the Age of Adventuring began following the Battle of Silvertear Skies (due to the build up of mercenaries that arrived in preparation for a Garlean invasion of Eorzea proper that never eventuated, and hence the Adventurer's Guild was then formed to supply employment for these now unemployed and heavily armed men and women).

The original game's manual states this and the official website used to as well, as shown:



I know the Autumn War did involve the other citystates allying with Gridania though, but from what I was aware (based on the above info and other sources) the title and status of 'adventurer' didn't exist in the way we now know them at that point in time.

You're right. Apologies. =P