LEAGUE OF EUROPEAN MERCHANTS CONFERENCE SIMULATION
TOPIC: How can we expand, enrich and defend our economic interests?
Oral Debate Due: Tuesday, March 14
Background: It is the high middle ages, sometime in the early 13th century. The Crusades are winding down, having been costly and failing to create a united Christendom and establish Western control of Palestine. European merchants and princes, who have played a critical role in financing the Crusades, are now assessing how best to capture the wealth of the Middle East and Asia. The general economic belief is that trade creates wealth. Even though the general assumption is that free trade is desirable, the reality is that sometimes restrictions, such as tariffs and quotas, are desirable to give a nation a trade advantage. On the other hand, demand for a nation's goods can be increased through creation of unique, desirable goods produced efficiently at a fair price.
Task: A League of European Merchants has been assembled to develop a strategy to expand, enrich and defend their economic interests by acquiring trade advantages in the Middle East and Asia. Because you must compete with Seljuk Turks, Jews, Persians, Arabs and Chinese for trade advantage, you must balance your religious and cultural convictions with non-Christians, while not offending the Church. Each delegate group is expected to prepare background worksheets and a position paper due at the beginning of the simulation and to actively participate orally. The only restriction is that you may NOT resort to violence to advance your plan. Therefore, you will have to think very creatively - just like a diplomat!
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