Kakhor - Zointh Trade

The Kakhor - Zointh trade was a complex network of trade routes branching from the Bay of Redcah across the shallow Mazedian Sea to the southern coast of Zointh. beginning in the early classical era, this valuable trade was very influential over political, imperial, and cultural motives and changes on both continents until wider seagoing trade began to flourish globally in the 1500s. From Redcah to Konaggard, on opposite ends of the Mazedian sea, the distance is about 1000 miles of open water, but densely covered with archipelagos of islands throughout. The region is equitorial, and currents/wind patterns vary throughout the sea but remain consistent almost all year long.

The trade routes were a direct influencer of the conquests of many of the great empires of the time, from Peroth to Imperial Atlass, Gegantaholas, the Cadh Empire, Jekhuu, the Kingdom of Magg, and later, Chezhoi and Imperial Thekha.

## History

### Formation and early trade

Humans used boats among the tropical islands and coastal waters of the Mazedian sea nearly as early as sea level rise flooded the lowland connection between Kakhor and Zointh, between 40,000 and 20,000 years ago. By -5000, evidence of boats large enough to carry multiple people and goods such as pottery containers of oil and grain are found in coastal areas of the Bay of Redcah, especially near the mouth of the Ecadhah River.

The Dhecadhach seem to be the first pioneers of boat-carried trade, navigating the long, wide Ecadhah and Dhecodhor rivers as well as the coastal region between the two deltas. It became clear the benefits of water-transport of goods not only because it was faster than wheeled carts but significantly easier to transport ten times as much per man.

Originally, trade from the Dhecadhach basin traveled East to Retcalha, and then as far as the Perotis valley, along the coast of the Perocadh Peninsula. As a result of complex currents and winds, as well as the many islands in the Mazedian Sea, trade routes gradually made contact with tribes and peoples trading among the islands to the north. At the same time, early Magg peoples as well as Khanakh tribes had been trading in outrigger vessels along the southern coast of Zointh, also encountering tribes in the central Mazedian Sea.

When Mazakhan tribes migrated overseas to Mazekhuu, the largest island in the northern Mazedian sea as a result of the Calixphan expansion in the late 4th millenium BF, they encountered goods and valuables from Dhecadhach sources among trading peoples of the central sea. This led to several expeditions all the way to Dhecoshor, a port city at the mouth of the Dhecodhor valley, and in turn a boom of economic activity.

### Pre-Classical Trade

The Preclassical period was dominated by Mazakhan/Mazedian traders, who ferried goods from Maggard and Jekhuu as far as Redcah in the Southeast and Cilemah in the Southwest. Kakhoran metals, pottery, oil and grains were traded for Zointhan gems, cloth and dried fruits, nuts and spices. Mazedians pioneered the use of large outrigger boats -- based on the earlier versions from Zointh, but twice the size or more--- able to stay afloat and stable carrying multiple tons of cargo across the shallow seas. Regular journeys from Mazekhuu to Israe, Retcalha, and Dhecoshor and then north to Magg and Khanakh tribes became a staple of annual trade practice, and many seasonal markets or bazaars formed in the key ports around the time when Mazedian ships would arrive each year.

By around -2800, Retcalha in particular became a hub for Kakhorian trade leaving for Zointh. Siwesin overland traders, Peroshin coastal traders from the eastern Perocadh Peninsula, and even Feshan and Dhecadhach traders overland via Dhoshish and the Folushi pass came to the city in the late summer for a massive trade market, said to double the population of the city. The wealth and influence available through the trade markets was immense, and Mazed jealously protected their near monopoly on transportation of goods. Mazed quickly became the most advanced society on Doara and by -2500 had colonial trade posts on nearly every major island and coastline throughout the sea.

### The East-West trade and Classical Empires

in the -2400s and -2300s, Peroatlan wealth and power was growing, and new valuable goods from throughout the Atlan Sea and the far east of Kakhor began to be traded as far west as Retcalha (by now Redcaha). First, Siwesin overland routes brought eastern goods to the Kakhor-Zointh trade network, but over time the occasional Peroshin ship braving the long coastal voyage grew into state-sanctioned, massive oar-powered sailing ships (similar to triremes) on regular voyages from Perosh. By the time of the great Usurpation in the Peroshin Empire, the Zanelek Tedepada saw the stagnaton of the empire and looked to the Mazedian Sea as the solution to its problems. Shifting focus, the Peroshin Empire launched campaigns westward in around -2250, starting first by conquering Redcaha by sea, and then later conquering the Siwesin tribes of Siwss and Let by around -2000.

While Perosh did benefit from the control of the southern hub of the trade network, the disruption of the network resulted in major changes throughout the sea of Mazed. First, competition for the Peroshin trade goods came from the seafaring tribes of Israe. They grasped for control of the eastern band of the trade routes, headed for Maggard, and the Raurish tribes farther north. Mazed maintained control over the western routes bound for Jekhuu and Gegana. Also, Dhecadhach traders and pirates sought to smuggle goods around the Peroshin taxes and tariffs.