|
Server : Apache/2.4.62 System : FreeBSD fbsdweb2.web.rcn.net 14.1-RELEASE FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE releng/14.1-n267679-10e31f0946d8 GENERIC amd64 User : www ( 80) PHP Version : 8.3.8 Disable Function : NONE Directory : /domains/markrose/atlas/ |
Upload File : |
<HTML>
<HEAD><TITLE>trade</TITLE>
<style>
h2
{color:#9C8900;}
h3
{color:#9C8900;}
h4
{color:#9C8900;}
</style>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">
<h3>3480 — Colonies and Global Trade</h3>
The trade and politics of Ereláe now extend far beyond the continent. This map shows the colonies and the major trade routes of Verduria (<i>yellow</i>) and Kebri (<i>acquamarine</i>).
<p>From ancient times there was some trade, mostly in spices, from the equatorial jungle to Eretald. Caďinorian emperors occasionally sent expeditions up the coast, but these found nothing much of interest except <b><a href="Javascript:parent.al('rice');">rice</a></b>, which however was difficult to find in bulk, and wouldn’t grow in Eretald.
<p>All this changed with the emergence of the <b>Nanese</b> civilization, around 1000. Within a few centuries there was regular sea trade between Nan and Eretald. Much of this trade was in the hands of the Nanese themselves— excellent sailors, they discovered and settled Lascita and Moreo Ašcai around 2400.
<p>Around 3000, the <b>Kebreni</b> began making larger ships, sturdy enough to withstand the storms of the open ocean, and large enough to make trade in bulk commodities such as rice and sugar profitable. They discovered <b><a href="Javascript:parent.al('coffee');">coffee</a></b> (<i>kahawa</i>) in Moreo Ašcai; when it became the rage of Eretald, they fought off rivals to establish a monopoly. This was one of the precipitating factors of the Kebreni-Verdurian wars of the 3200s, which established <b>Verduria</b> as the second major maritime power.
<p>Given superior technology and hungry rivals, it is a short trip from trader to monopolist to <b>colonialist</b>. Moreo Ašcai was effectively the first Kebreni colony, followed by Lascita and the Little Kingdoms. Nan was however too strong to dominate, and it now favors the Verdurians— though it remains open to ships of other nations, lest the Verdurians get any ideas. (To this day the Kebreni drink their coffee black, as in Moreo Ašcai; the Verdurians with sugar, as in Nan.)
<p>The deep-ocean vessels also made the 10,000-km sea journey from Eretald to Xurno practical; by 3275 both Verduria and Kebri had embassies in Inex.
<p>The next prize was <b>Arcél</b>— a continent with a long and tumultous <a href="Javascript:parent.atlas(1);">history of its own</a>, to Eretald even more exotic and alluring than Xurno or the Jippirasti realm. The first Ereláeans to appear in force in Arcél were the <b>Jaešeni</b>, who founded the colony of <b><a href="Javascript:parent.al('Fananak');">Fananak<a></b> in 2988; to do so they constructed the largest ships yet built on Almea. This was something of a dynastic extravagance, and later rulers found other, less expensive ways to glorify Jippir; for several centuries, connection with the colony was lost.
<img src="http://www.almeopedia.com/almeopedia/mediawiki/images/0/0e/Teacup.jpg" align="right" width="165" height="150" title="A cup of tea">
<p>Arcél offered much to amaze and edify, and a few interesting trade goods such as lacquerware and the potato, but the basis for a solid intercontinental trade turned out to be <b><a href="Javascript:parent.al('tea');">tea</a></b> (Uyseʔ <i>tsai</i>). Verduria established stronger connections with Uytai, so Kebri concentrated on Belesao (tea is grown only in the highlands of Uytai, but it is not far overland to Belesao). Its colonies at Broidabo and Paḣsau were established mainly to safeguard this route.
<p>So far only Verduria has developed regular trade routes to Neinuoi and across the <b>Island Sea</b>. A confused foray into the local politics developed into a colony, <b><a href="Javascript:parent.al('T%C3%A9llinor');">Téllinor</a></b>, in 3355. The island of Sitfi has also been occupied, as a way-station on the long journey.
<p>For its part, Kebri is alone in trading with Ȟamsan, in northeastern Arcél, and it has no scruples against trading with Dhekhnam.
<p>What of the <b>other northern nations</b>? Nan, Érenat, and Flora (the nation of the flaids) are also skilled at deep-sea navigation, and trade widely in the northern seas.
<p>The nations of the <b>southern rim of Ereláe</b>— Xurno, Čeiy, Gurdago, Skouras— have many millennia of experience with maritime trade. But their good fortune is also their failing: the southern littoral is easy to traverse with small coast-hopping vessels. Only Gurdago (due to its remote location) retains some skill in building larger ships, but if anything its skills have declined while it concentrated on its empire in Luduyn, and it is outclassed by the northern powers. Jaešim has resumed contact with Fananak, but only via purchased Kebreni ships.
<p>There is better to say of the merchant marine of <b><a href="Javascript:parent.al('Nyandai');">Nyandai</a></b>, in southern Arcél, which ranges round Arcél and east to Ȟaibalai and Neinuoi. Till the Jaešeni crossing, however, the Nyanese and Uytainese had never believed that there was anything to be found to the west. They also have bought Ereláean ships, but not only to sail; their shipwrights have taken them apart to find out how they’re made, and learn to do the same.
<p><b>Settlement of the Island Sea</b> proceeded in two waves, one eastward from Neinuoi about three thousand years ago, using small reed rafts; the other westward from Téllinor about 1500 years ago, using outrigger canoes. There are still islanders who, without benefit of compass, sextant, or chart, can find their way on these tiny boats a quarter of the way around the planet.
</BODY></HTML>