We’ve started looking at the relationships between the political structures of your world and its economy. Any political body is going to have some relationship to the economic structures. Not to be too cynical, but if politics is about the accumulation of power and control, money plays too important a role to be ignored.
Economics plays a significant role in shaping the social fabric, political structures, and daily lives of characters within your story. Let’s explore some ways to make economics an integral part of your worldbuilding process:
1. Understanding Economic Systems:
Familiarize yourself with various economic systems such as capitalism, socialism, feudalism, mercantilism, or communism. Each system has distinct characteristics that shape the way resources are produced, traded, and distributed within a society. Understanding these systems will help you create an economically consistent world that resonates with readers.
2. Defining Currency:
Establishing a currency is an essential component of any economy. Consider the materials, production methods, and denominations used in your world’s currency. For example, precious metals like gold or silver have been historically popular choices for currencies due to their inherent value and durability. Alternatively, you may choose to create a paper or digital currency system for more modern worlds.
3. Identifying Key Industries:
Identify the major industries within your world that drive economic growth and employment opportunities. These industries might include agriculture, manufacturing, mining, fishing, or craftsmanship. Understanding these sectors will help you develop realistic trade relationships between different regions and cultures.
4. Creating Trade Networks:
Establishing trade networks is essential for driving economic exchange and cultural diffusion within your world. Consider the transportation infrastructure, such as roads, waterways, or air travel, that enables the movement of goods and people between regions. Additionally, consider how tariffs, taxes, or other regulatory measures might impact international trade relationships.
5. Designing Labor Systems:
Determining labor systems within your world is crucial for understanding wage structures, employment opportunities, and social dynamics. Slavery, indentured servitude, feudal labor, mercenaries, or wage labor are some examples of labor systems that have shaped historical economies. Consider how these systems impact the daily lives of characters within your story.
6. Incorporating Economic Conflicts:
Economic conflicts, such as resource scarcity, labor disputes, or trade disputes, can create compelling storylines and add tension to your narrative. These conflicts might arise from internal struggles within a society or external pressures from rival factions or neighboring regions.
7. Balancing Economic Development:
Ensuring economic balance is essential for creating a believable world. Consider the impact of resource depletion, environmental destruction, or technological advancements on your world’s economy and societal structures. Additionally, explore how economic growth might create new opportunities and challenges for characters within your story.
Examples in Science Fiction & Fantasy
Look at the desert planet Arrakis, depicted in Frank Herbert’s groundbreaking novel Dune, with a complex web of economic systems shapes the lives and power dynamics of its inhabitants. The valuable resource melange, or “spice,” is controlled by the cruel and manipulative Harkonnens, while the Bene Gesserit sisterhood leverages their knowledge of breeding superhumans to maintain influence. The Landsraad, a feudal confederation of noble families, regulates interplanetary trade through the Spacing Guild, which monopolizes space travel using its unique ability to fold space, and is itself dependent on the “spice” for their power. Amidst this intricate economic landscape, Paul Atreides rises as a charismatic leader and messianic figure, challenging the established order and reshaping the political and economic future of Arrakis and the universe beyond.
In Roger Zelazny’s acclaimed Amber Chronicles, the interconnected economies of various realms play a pivotal role in shaping the power dynamics and political intrigues within the multiverse. The prosperous city of Amber, ruled by King Oberon, relies on trade with other realms to maintain its wealth and influence. Meanwhile, the rebellious rebel prince Corwin navigates the complex economic landscape to rally support for his cause against his usurping brother Eric. Through strategic alliances, shrewd bargaining, and clever manipulation, Corwin leverages the economic interests of various rulers to further his goals and ultimately reclaim his rightful place on the throne. The intricate web of economic relationships adds depth and tension to this sweeping fantasy epic.
Time for you to try
This has been a lot of words with little concrete guidance. When it comes to world building, there really isn’t any single “right” answer. I challenge you to give it a try now, focused just on the economic aspects that may not even have direct impact on a story.
- Pick a favorite story or novel.
- List how one group of people in the story make a living.
- Use the five why’s to explore why the live that way.
- Pick one of the answers to those five why’s and decide how it influences the political structure of the culture the group lives in.
- If the story has characters opposing that political structure, explain why they oppose it; if the story does not have such a group, create one.
In the next post, I’ll share my example of this exercise. Comments are open, so feel free to post yours as well.
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