The Aturan Empire is a country in the middle of the Four Corners of Civilization, with Ceald and the Commonwealth to the west and Modeg and the Small Kingdoms to the east. Though still sizable in Kvothe’s time, the Aturan Empire was once much larger and more powerful. Yll and Vintas are among the lands that were once part of the Aturan Empire. The Aturan Empire has existed for at least five hundred years. The Tehlin church is particularly powerful there, and probably originated in Atur: according to church teachings, Atur is where Tehlu bound Encanis to the wheel.