>
> You need an update of your history lessons Andrew. The Merchants in (late)
> Medieval Times were much more than just simple traders. As to the other side
> of the Globe, the emperors of China were also traders in their own right.
> They effectively monopolised the salt trade. The Italian traders, the Dutch
> and the English afterwards all owned huge estates and titles that came with
> it. So when you are comparing Olympia to the Medieval days, do it properly.
>
> Peter Beerepoot
You are in fact perfectly correct and I stand corrected.
I must point out that these merchant houses that populate Olympia
seem to want the seas to operate as they do now with the concept of
International waters. As you so rightly point out the merchant houses
were much more than transporters and export agents. They had to
secure free passage for their ships. This was usually done through
agreements with local rulers secured by negotiation, threat and at
times armed force. The Venetians engaged in peaceful trade through
the threat of overwhelming sea power.
Of course around Europe neighbouring nations did not attack each
others shipping near home. That could cause a land war. However in
the far colonies that was a different matter.
In Olympia things are different. Sure around Provinia the sea lanes
have been seen as open due to the benign naval policies of several of
the larger nations (TIBs, Muskateers, Lords of the Crown) or the lack
of naval forces or interest (Jackals, Harn). However now each of the
smaller islands seem to have consolidate under one alliance sea power
will rise as a means of projecting force and more and more sea areas
will be 'claimed'.
None of the so called Merchant Houses with the exception of Hugh
seems to be closely associated with the land based powers. This
means politics and trade do not seem that closely mixed. None of the
merchants seem to be interested in extending their trade routes by
force as there is no need.
Of course given trade in Olympia is actually most profitable over
short distances the need for long distance trade is actually quite
small. In fact all nations can support themselves more than
adaquately using internal trade routes.
Of course I've always thought the trading system in Olympia was
wildly simplistic and flawed in its game mechanics. It certainly
won;t cause the interaction between trade and politics that occured
in our world.
So I wonder why the BoRG announcement caused such an outrage??
Andrew
Mordekai
Marshal
Brotherhood of the Red God