Alt.history - What trade could Europe and China have in the middle ages? - Page 2

SolemnGolem · 11-25-2014, 07:23 PM

My current campaign, set in early Gothic European-style fantasy, is dealing with the repercussions of a Chinese-style "treasure fleet" (called the Hua) that landed about 50 years ago.

The treasure fleet made contact with the local Prince (Fürst) and traded some goods. They executed some sort of long-ranging contract, and then departed peaceably. Fifty years later, the Treasure Fleet's second generation of Hua has returned to check up on the Fürstentum's progress.

My meta-question is: what sort of development or result or trade goods are they likely to want from the Fürstenum?

(Whatever it is, they're not likely to get it. Their gifts of gunpowder, moveable print type, silk, and printed money caused a popular insurrection led by collegiate types and the clergy, and mostly supported by the peasantry. Although the rebellion succeeded in toppling the Fürst, the local barons were able to subdue the uprising and now rule over an insular society where gunpowder especially is tightly controlled.)

The PCs have dealt with the revelation of this secret history and its repercussions (rival barons trying out the forbidden "foreign technology" etc.). But they've also wondered what the Hua get out of the deal, which I haven't really thought about yet.

Any ideas?

11-25-2014, 07:23 PM	#1
SolemnGolem Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: The Hall of Fallen Columns	Alt.history - What trade could Europe and China have in the middle ages? My current campaign, set in early Gothic European-style fantasy, is dealing with the repercussions of a Chinese-style "treasure fleet" (called the Hua) that landed about 50 years ago. The treasure fleet made contact with the local Prince (Fürst) and traded some goods. They executed some sort of long-ranging contract, and then departed peaceably. Fifty years later, the Treasure Fleet's second generation of Hua has returned to check up on the Fürstentum's progress. My meta-question is: what sort of development or result or trade goods are they likely to want from the Fürstenum? (Whatever it is, they're not likely to get it. Their gifts of gunpowder, moveable print type, silk, and printed money caused a popular insurrection led by collegiate types and the clergy, and mostly supported by the peasantry. Although the rebellion succeeded in toppling the Fürst, the local barons were able to subdue the uprising and now rule over an insular society where gunpowder especially is tightly controlled.) The PCs have dealt with the revelation of this secret history and its repercussions (rival barons trying out the forbidden "foreign technology" etc.). But they've also wondered what the Hua get out of the deal, which I haven't really thought about yet. Any ideas?