Amber is an enigmatic object of beauty. Considered both a mineral and a semiprecious stone, amber is actually the product of the secretions of ancient conifers. The resin produced by these trees eventually hardened, sometimes trapping small, living organisms inside.
The ancient amber trade route ran from the Baltic Sea, down the Elbe River, and on to the Danube. From there roads led overland through the Brenner Pass into Italy, the heart of the Roman Empire. Rome was the undisputed center of the amber industry.
An Amber Route improves taxable trade income and increases the people's happiness
琥珀閃爍著謎一般的美麗光澤,儘管看上去類似於寶石礦物,但實質上是由針葉松樹脂凝結而成。遠古針葉松分泌的樹脂經過漫長時間的硬化最終形成琥珀,其內部有時還能看見當初被樹脂裹入的幼小昆蟲。
琥珀之路從波羅的海地區出發,沿易北河南下,再轉入多瑙河,然後經陸路穿越勃倫納山隘,輾轉多個國家地區,最終進入羅馬帝國的心臟意大利,這裡無疑是琥珀最大消費貿易中心。
建立琥珀之路,能夠提高城邑貿易稅收,令城邑居民更加快樂。 |