History of the Four Part Economy
Early in Breminor's history, most estates had to operate self-sufficiently. The economy was focused on raw material production (agriculture, forestry, hunting, mining). There was little to no trade occurring between estates, and as a result, the focus remained relatively basic: food, clothing, and shelter.
As time wore on, Breminor's economy began to develop some diversity. Raw materials were produced, such as wool, to be turned into clothing or rugs for trade. At this time, artisans and other skilled workers were in the direct employ of an estate owner.
As towns and cities began to develop, the local lord more indirectly employed these artisans and other skilled workers. Though the lord may be the artisans chief customer, they began to trade with others as well. To account for the change, the artisan owed the lord a percentage of his earnings each year as rent or a tax.
As cities expanded and trade between towns and cities also expanded, competition began to emerge. This created enormous downward pressures on prices - something unfamiliar to the artisan. There was pressure to lower the quality of their work, and many did. Many, however, sought an alternative. As a result, local artisans began to collectively set prices for products; this collective emerged later as guilds, which not only set standards for prices, but also for quality and training guild members.
The most recent development in the economy, which is only fledgling today, and operating in only the most secure areas, is the introduction of merchants. So called, “middle men,” are responsible for distribution of goods. Each location no longer needs to be self-sufficient; instead, they can specialize in one or two products and trade for the rest.
The power of the middle men is best demonstrated by the kingdom of Laladen, which has few natural resources to speak of. Yet this island has become a potent political force because it controls maritime trade for the Sea of Tala and the Inworld Sea.
Illustration of the Four-Part Economy
Examples of Each Part:
A. Raw materials produced and consumed locally, usually by peasants, such as: food (grains, vegetables, animals), trees cut and used for firewood.
B. Finished goods produced by artisans from local raw materials and consumed locally, such as wool sweaters made from local sheep, wine or beer made from local crops, jewelry made of metals/gems from local mines.
C. Finished goods produced by artisans from local raw materials for trade. All finished goods in “B” above qualify when produced in sufficient quality and quantity.
D. Raw materials produced by peasants locally for trade. All raw materials in “A” above qualify when produced in sufficient quality and quantity.
Raw Material and Finished Goods Exports
Each region produces almost all types of raw materials; however, most are net importers of those raw materials because they produce them in insufficient quantities to meet their own needs, or because their distribution systems are insufficient to move those resources around the region.
The table below identifies the principal raw material and finished good outputs produced by each region for export.
Region
|
Principal Raw Materials
|
Principal Finished Goods
|
Alize
|
Wheat
|
Barley
|
Wine (premium)
|
Borada
|
Cattle
Cotton
|
Wheat
|
None
|
Dafoth
|
Resins
|
Oils
|
Perfume
|
Incense
|
Dunihk, East
|
Herbs
|
Hardwoods
|
None
|
Dunihk, West
|
Resins
Sugar
|
Oils
|
Perfume
|
Incense
|
Eslebi
|
Wheat
Barley
|
Fish
|
Beer (good)
Cloth (wool, cotton, silk)
Clothing
|
Jewelry
Weaponry
Wine (good)
|
Ishyr, North
|
Hides
Furs
|
Sheep/wool
|
None
|
Ishyr, South
|
Fish
Iron
|
Silver
|
Coastal fishing boats
|
Kakehun
|
Horses
Iron
|
Gold
Gems
|
None
|
Laladen
|
Fish
|
|
Barrels
Boats, ships
|
Glass
Paper
|
Nyslavadd
|
Cattle
Corn
Cotton
|
Spices
Sugar
|
None
|
Nythoria
|
Cattle
Wheat
|
Barley
|
Books
Leather
|
Wine (fair to good)
|
Sherna
|
Fish
Silver
|
Gold
|
Jewelry
|
Mercenaries
|
Toroth, North
|
Herbs
|
Silk
|
Medicines
|
Toroth, South
|
Resins
Oils
|
Iron
Gold
|
Perfume
Incense
|
Valithra, North
|
Hides
Furs
|
Sheep/wool
|
None
|
Valithra, South
|
Barley
Cattle
Hops
|
Iron
Sheep/wool
Silver
|
Beer (premium)
Cloth (wool)
Clothing
|
Leather
Weaponry
|
Ulgoth
|
Fish
|
Sugar
|
None
|
Legitimate Guilds
There are nine guilds in Breminor that have received recognition and/or a charter from one or more kings, making it legitimate for them to conduct their affairs. These are identified below.
Guild
|
Function
|
Sanctioned Regions
|
Bakers
|
Control quality and prices
|
Eslebi, Ishyr, Laladen, Nythoria, Toroth, Valithra
|
Brewers
|
Control quality and prices
|
Eslebi, Valithra
|
Chemists
|
Limit production, control prices
|
Eslebi, Ishyr, Nythoria, Toroth
|
Cobblers
|
Control quality and prices
|
Eslebi, Ishyr, Laladen, Nythoria, Toroth, Valithra
|
Coopers
|
Limit production, control prices
|
Laladen
|
Masons
|
Control wages, training
|
Eslebi, Ishyr, Laladen, Nythoria, Toroth, Valithra
|
Shipwrights
|
Limit production, control prices
|
Laladen
|
Silversmiths
|
Limit production, control prices
|
Eslebi, Valithra
|
Smiths
|
Control quality and prices
|
Eslebi, Ishyr, Laladen, Nythoria, Toroth, Valithra
|
Tailors
|
Control quality and prices
|
Eslebi, Ishyr, Laladen, Nythoria, Toroth, Valithra
|
Tanners
|
Control wages, training
|
Nyslavadd, Nythoria, Valithra
|
Wainwrights
|
Limit production, control prices
|
Eslebi, Nythoria, Toroth, Valithra
|
Weavers
|
Control quality and prices
|
Eslebi, Laladen, Valithra
|
Winemakers
|
Limit production, control prices
|
Eslebi, Nythoria (Alize)
|
Copyright 2000 by Breminor.com. All rights reserved.
Version Date: 15 August 2000 Primary Author: Stephen Castillet
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