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Trade Game

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BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.5 ACTIVITY TRADE GAME 1Unless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Trade Game”, OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/PurposeBy taking on the role of a merchant traveling and trading from c. 500 to 1450 CE, you will gain a deeper understanding of the benefits and challenges of trade during this era.Process 1.Working in small groups, divide the materials below so each person is responsible for one. Each article should be chosen by at least one member of your group. Circle your selection.•“Silk Road: Merchants of Complexity”•“Trade in the Americas”•“Oceania”2.As you read, complete the table below for the article you chose.QuestionsSilk RoutesThe AmericasOceania Method of transportation used for tradeTypes of goods tradedTrade challenges 3.Now, imagine you are a merchant traveling and trading goods along one of these trade networks from c. 500 to 1450 CE. Choose your role by picking one of the following merchants. Circle your choice.•Farmer trading food•Tradesperson trading tools•Potter trading storage and cooking vessels•Inventor trading new technologies
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.5 ACTIVITY TRADE GAME 24.Follow these directions to play the game:•Each trader has five items to trade. •Your goal is to obtain the most goods from the other traders. Use your powers of persuasion to make strong claims about why someone should trade with you. •You have five rounds of trade, and you must roll the unexpected events dice once after each of the first three rounds of trading.Dice rollUnexpected event1 Storm delays! You have to skip the next round of trading.2 Unexpected tax! Local authorities demand payment. You must give up one of your trade goods before continuing.3 Counterfeit goods! One of the items you received is fake. You must give up one item you received in your last trade.4 Border conflict! You have to skip the next round of trading.5 New trade route discovered! You can trade two of your goods on the next round.6 Pirates attack! You must give up the item you received in your last trade.
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.5 ACTIVITY TRADE GAME 35.Find your first trade partner and start trading. Record each trade in the table below. If an event card stops your trade, note that in the table.Trade #I gave away...I received... 1 2 3 4 5 6.After you’ve finished recording your five rounds of trade, answer the following questions: •How did unexpected events impact your trade?
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.5 ACTIVITY TRADE GAME 4•What was one similarity between these unexpected events and any trade challenges you read about in your chosen article?