Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Medieval trade

  1. #1
    Member Member Jon von's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Genoa
    Posts
    78

    Default

    I noticed that in the game one of the most common trade good is the silk. But I think silk was not produced in west province, maybe only in the Byz Empire and Sicily. Otherwise silk were imported from Asia so in the game you should find these goods only in the eastern provinces. Am I right?

    How accurate the trade availability is in MTW?
    Can you give me some link to a well-made map of trade routes (that shows also the goods that were traded) of medieval age?
    ciao

  2. #2
    Senior Member Senior Member BlackWatch McKenna's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    So.Cal.
    Posts
    734

    Default

    Sounds like someone has a History Report
    // Black

    // "Did we win?"

  3. #3
    Member Member LordMonarch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Ireland
    Posts
    770

    Default

    Constantinople gained its silk by subterfuge. Two Greek monks smuggled silk worms out of China making less superior silk then China. Indeed the early medieval period saw Persia(Iran) and Byzantium fighting to control the silk trade. All trade went through Constantonople until its sack in 1204. Venice and Genoa constituted the other trading powers. I would advise any book on Byzantium. It should include comprehensive info about trade. Byzantium lived on it. It was know as the "Golden City" and even the poorest citizen was reputatly as rich as any western lord.


    http://www.brown.edu/Departm....e.shtml

  4. #4
    Senior Member Senior Member Hakonarson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Posts
    1,442

    Default

    look up "medieval trade routes" or "ancient trade routes" on google - there are dozens...hundreds ....of web sites on the subject.

  5. #5
    Member Member deejayvee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Posts
    339

    Default

    Silk in western Europe is there, I think, because traditionally silk was traded through there, not actually produced there. That was the only explanation I could think of when I noticed that.

    If you're interested in a book, check out "Power and Profit: The Merchant in Medieval Europe" by Peter Spufford. I bought it the other week and it is a very good book. The author spent a lot of time actually travelling some of the old trade routes.
    There are 10 types of people in the world... those who understand binary and those who don't.

  6. #6
    Senior Member Senior Member BlackWatch McKenna's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    So.Cal.
    Posts
    734

    Default

    Three great tips - he is in business, now.

    I like the story of the Contraband Silk in Byz. I will have to do a bit of research on that one.
    // Black

    // "Did we win?"

  7. #7
    Senior Member Senior Member BlackWatch McKenna's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    So.Cal.
    Posts
    734

    Default

    ".......Silk culture remained a secret of Asia. Eventually a strong demand for the local production of raw silk arose in the Mediterranean area. Justinian I, Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565, persuaded two Persian monks who had lived in China to return there and smuggle silkworms to Constantinople in the hollows of their bamboo canes (c. AD 550). These few hardy silkworms were the beginning of all the varieties that stocked and supplied European sericulture until the 19th century......."
    ~~~http://www.silkzone.com/glossary.html


    By gum
    // Black

    // "Did we win?"

  8. #8
    Member Member Jon von's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Genoa
    Posts
    78

    Default

    If I remember well, in XI century the normans stole some silk worms from Greece and started the silk production in Sicily. Can someone confirm this?

  9. #9
    Senior Member Senior Member BlackWatch McKenna's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    So.Cal.
    Posts
    734

    Default

    Try that "Silk Zone" link.
    // Black

    // "Did we win?"

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Single Sign On provided by vBSSO