Trade
Trade between major cultural groups in Riiga has been going on for centuries. The primary trading route by land is the Archroad. Major sea routes also exist, mostly connecting the Benevis Kingdoms, the Eber and Oolu Empires, and the Temanean, Vaman, and Remdor Kingdoms.
History of the Archroad
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.
Oolu Empire's Free Trade
The Oolu Empire, being a central component of the Archroad, 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.
The Diamond Route
Recent advances in shipbuilding technology have allowed the Benevis Kingdoms to travel further than ever before. Since around 600AL, these people have established a trade route that goes by sea around the southern end of Baracsa. The first people from Benevis to make these trade routes met the Hanjare and Raonare people, especially those of what are now the Shcholi Kingdom, the Mbokecho Empire, the Hade Empire, and the Efisi States. It was discovered that though these people were less technologically advanced overall, the people knew how to obtain large amounts of high quality diamond and gold from their lands. Henceforce the Diamond Route was made.
The route itself is a lengthy, dangrous route for ships to take. Travelling down the western coast of Baracsa will see sailors travelling for extended periods without any signs of civilisation. Once reaching the kingdoms and empires in Nzandyi Bay, the trip becomes no less safer, as local pirates are extremely common, taking advantage of all the merchants looking to obtain cheap gold and diamond. Travelling up the eastern coast of Baracsa is no easier, as storms frequent the scarcely-populated lengths of coastline. Reaching the Mvecho Island kingdom is considered to be the end of the dangerous route; from here ships can join the sea routes that go from the Vastin Kingdom to the Oolu Empire without too many complications.
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 Archroad, The Benevis Kingdoms mostly offer wine, hide, oil, wool, marble, and grain. Minor goods include gold, spice, and pigments, mostly from the southeastern corner. Their most popular pigment is called Vastin Yellow, which is made of yellow ochre and offers a rich, warm shade of yellow.
People of Seleru offer pigment, textiles, wildlife, spice, glass, oil, and grain, though it does not trade in quantities comparable to the Benevis Kingdoms. Their main pigment is called Hoqon Blue and is made of lapis lazuli, which is a vivid blue and is mostly commonly associated with hoqons.
The people of Qarbak offers high quality glass, textiles, and spices, as well as some marble, grain, and oil. Their primary pigment is called Mintar Green, is made of farmed coral called lion's mane, and is a shade of teal.
The people of Batur mainly offer high quality horses and wool, as well as some bronze and hide. Their most valuable pigment is a vivid white-grey colour called Dunian Grey, and is made from chalk or zinc.
The Temanean Kingdoms primarily offer silk, porcelain, and grain. Minor goods include pigment, spice, silver, gold, and bronze. Their most popular pigment is called Ladarean Orange, made from juniper, and is a vibrant, rich shade of orange.
Other people who trade with the Archroad indirectly include those throughout Yvatshun, offering a lot of iron and lumber, as well as some wool, hide, Yvabiran Green pigment which is deep green in colour and made from malachite, and the people of Tuaram, offering high quality gold and diamonds, as well as wildlife.
The Suribian trade road sees iron, grain, glass, Vaman Purple pigment made of sea snails, 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 Into are thought to be the only major cultural group within Riiga which does not trade with outside cultures. Not much in the way of reliable trade has been established with the various peoples of Jindiara
