Seas

With constant warfare on the Eastern Continent and the development of Tools,
trade with the Southern Continent flourished and wealth circulated.
Maritime shipping was the key factor.
Nautical technology of the commercial fleets improved as the industry grew.
Numerous ports were used as supply bases.
Here we will investigate behind the scenes of the maritime trade which supports Sandail.

[ Added 03/20/22 ]

Shifting Forms of Government

As Tools were developed on the Southern Continent, merchants expanded the scope of their business across Sandail and began to focus on maritime trade. With the successful development of high speed vessels, it became possible to travel directly between continents. The merchant fleets and others who relied on the sea increased their power.

However, ships need home ports to moor at and harbors to call upon. Independent traders required authorization from local lords before they could trade. Trading rights were established and lords possessing ownership of ports and countries with navies began taxing the merchant fleets. But merchant fleets used their power to explore new lands in search of new trade goods, so the people of the sea continued to thrive.

Shifts in Government

6100 BS ～ 700’s	Fishing industry on the coast
710’s ～ 800’s	Era of Local Trade
800’s ～ 1200’s	Era of Intercontinental Trade
	Navies appear
1200’s ～	Age of Exploration
	Pirates appear

Timeline

c. 6100 BS	Fishing villages appear
c. 700	Galleys appear
c. 710	Local trade begins
c. 750	Navies appear
800	Sailing vessels constructed
900	Intercontinental trade begins
915	Pirates appear
c. 1000	Battles between naval fleets
1200	The Age of Discovery for adventurers

Life on the Islands

As maritime influence increased, new ports were required as stopovers in addition to those which had already been established. At the time, attention was drawn to the series of islands between continents. Those islands originally were home to local fishing villages which grew as people began to settle there. Since people lived there, it would be possible to replenish water and other supplies. Many merchant fleets used these villages as stopping points. Pirates also hid themselves near the villages, which in turn stimulated the local economy and increased the population. Naturally, development gave rise to conflicts over the rights to these villages and caused many people to gather there, especially drawing influential people from the main continents who did not want to miss such an opportunity.

The islands were conquered and ruled by those influential people. The smaller islands, which were considered to be of little value to the trade routes, remained as small fishing villages and were soon forgotten. Some pirates decided to use these declining fishing villages as their base of activities.

Sailors

Sailors and pirates were united under a completely different set of codes than people living on the continents. In particular, skills related to ships were prized more than the ability to use Spells. It could be said this view originated from the fact that knowledge of nautical skills always meant the difference between life and death, though there was no denying that there were nautical applications for Spells. However, survival was not the only concern for those setting sail across the oceans. They hated being limited by political entities and only accepted the bare minimum amount of control over trade. But the situation changed as each of the lords came into possession of their own navies. The people of the sea and their home ports were forced to fall under the rule of different countries. Many who opposed this became pirates and some openly attacked merchant vessels belonging to other countries.