Trade

Trade between major cultural groups in Riiga has been going on for centuries.

A map of major trade routes in among the connected Riigan cultures. Red: The Great Road. Orange: Great Road connections. Aqua: The main sea trading routes. Blue: The more dangerous sea trade route around south Baracsa.

History of the Great Road

The largest land-based trade route (shown in red) has its roots as far back as 150BD, when the Xilou Hoqomer expanded all throughout what is now Benevis, and went as far east as the Sea of Lions in Sheber. Back then, any trade possibilities further east were cut off by the Baturun people of Batur, who were very defensive of their land at that time.

It wasn't until about 200AL, when the Dunian Empire stretched from eastern Yyele to western Batur, that significant trade was possible between the east and west. The Baturians of this new empire had the best horses in the world at the time, and this allowed them to easily transport goods that were once only available to those around the Gold Sea as far away as the Oolu Empire. Goods made their way from Oolu into the East Xilou Hoqomer, the West Xilou Hoqomer, and finally into both the Qeyu Hoqomer and to the Vastions of Nor. Over the following centuries, this trade route influenced the politics and economies of all people along its path.

The Oolu Empire, being a central component of the Great Road, has adopted free trade. Given that they lack many important resources and luxuries compared with people further east and west, both national and privatised trade companies exist, ensuring that the road stays passing through the Oolu Empire, rather than going north of the Khatsanaras through Yvabira. Utilising this position in the early days of the road's growth has allowed the Oolu Empire to increase growing, despite most its land being some of the poorest among other major kingdoms and empires overall.

Goods Traded Globally

The major cities along the trade route, from west to east: Lyte, Valarvis, Alfar, Cangona, Regalias, Costarson, Goldstone, Hillcrest, and Duracia in Benevis; Ellecil in Huirnon, Aswaun in Masakana; Dhrewar and Sakhratja in the Oolu Empire; Yqozldatt, Osmangiyq, and Mancisa in Dunin; and Tetamak, Selangin, Ruipin, Lema Da, and finally Ho Da in the Kingdoms of Temanea.

Along the Great Road, The Benevis Kingdoms mostly offer wine, hide, oil, wool, marble, and grain. Minor goods include gold, spice, and pigments, mostly from the southeastern corner.

The Eber Empire offers pigment, wildlife, spice, glass, oil, and grain, though it does not trade in quantities comparable to the Benevis Kingdoms.

The Oolu Empire offers high quality glass and spices, as well as some marble, grain, and oil.

The Dunin people mainly offer high quality horses and wool, as well as some bronze and hide.

The Temanean Kingdoms primarily offer silk, porcelain, and grain. Minor goods include pigment, spice, silver, gold, and bronze.

Other people who trade with the Great Road indirectly include those in and around the Yvabira Kingdom, offering a lot of iron and lumber, as well as some wool and hide, and the Hanjare and Raonare Kingdoms, offering high quality gold and diamonds, as well as wildlife.

The Suribian trade road sees iron, grain, glass, and hide from Vaman exchanged with lumber, silver, and gold from the Remdor Kingdoms. These goods are also occasionally traded overseas via the route to the Gold Sea to the west, or the Sea of Lyte to the east. The Tlarates of southwestern Suribia such as Morunwa and Ngara are thought to be the only major cultural group within Riiga which does not trade with outside cultures.