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)

Version Date: 15 August 2000 Primary Author: Stephen Castillet