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Free Interactive Lab

Merchant's Trade Route

Kings, Farmers and Towns: Early States and Economies

Embark on an epic journey through ancient Indian trade networks from 600 BCE to 600 CE. Navigate bustling cities, discover exotic goods, examine rare coins, and understand how trade connected the subcontinent to the world.

30 min
Duration
3
Missions
12
Problems
180
XP

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📖 Your Story

You are a prosperous merchant's apprentice in ancient India, c. 100 BCE. Your mentor, a successful setthi, is preparing you to lead your first trading expedition. You must learn about major cities, trade routes, the goods that flow along them, and the coins that facilitate commerce from the Mediterranean to Southeast Asia.

What You'll Learn

  • Identify major urban centers and their locations on trade routes
  • Understand the variety of goods traded within and beyond the subcontinent
  • Analyze different types of coins and their historical significance
  • Evaluate the role of guilds and craft production in urban economies

How to Play

1Navigate the interactive map to explore different cities and trade routes
2Click on cities to learn about their location and significance
3Examine goods traded at each location and the merchants who transported them
4Study coins from different periods to understand monetary systems

3 Missions Await

1

Cities of Gold and Glory

4 problems · 40 XP

2

The Merchant's Trail

4 problems · 60 XP

3

The Numismatist's Treasury

4 problems · 80 XP