I'm not saying it has to be the Roman Empire, but its the Roman Empire. Seriously though, whether its the Romans, or Macedonians, or the Ottomans, or the Arabs, or a really successful Carolingian Empire, or the Spanish-HRE, whatever the case may be. A unified government has the entire Mediterranean by the time humanity enters the industrial era. Just for convenience, we'll say that tech has progressed similarly to our world, we're talking about the mid-18th century onward, in terms of tech. Lets also assume that this empire has recently built a Suez Canal (because I frigging love that thing) to capitalize on its position. Whatever the overall organization of this state is, be it an Empire, a Republic, or anywhere in between, we'll also assume that it has, at minimum, rationalized its organization to the point that there is not a web of horridly convoluted internal tariffs like France had prior to their revolution.
So, we have one state in control of the Mediterranean, one of the most valuable shipping routes in the world, particularly after the Suez is built. It contains a wide array of territories, with varying climates, resources, and population densities. How might you see this empire's policies regarding its economy develop?
On the one hand, I look at this thing and think that its self-sufficient and inherently built to be a trading hub for the world. Therefore, it will likely be very laissez faire. It will want to promote free trade, since that trade will likely go through its territory, and even a very modest tariff, toll, or tax on their own shipping will be quite productive. Even if it doesn't have Northern France or Britain, it will have plenty of territories that could be quite useful for industrialization, so it could be a strong manufacturing power - which it likely would be even if it didn't properly industrialize, by virtue of population alone. As a hub of manufacturing, it would likely have a strong tradition of exporting materials and want to encourage free trade on those grounds.
On the other hand, its widely dispersed, with lots of different competing interests, and they could combine to stymie such economic liberalization. Further, smaller countries tend to be more nimble, and this Empire could fall into the same economic stability and stagnation as China. Particularly if its economic self-sufficiency encourages an outlook that they don't really need to trade with others to any large degree.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
So, we have one state in control of the Mediterranean, one of the most valuable shipping routes in the world, particularly after the Suez is built. It contains a wide array of territories, with varying climates, resources, and population densities. How might you see this empire's policies regarding its economy develop?
On the one hand, I look at this thing and think that its self-sufficient and inherently built to be a trading hub for the world. Therefore, it will likely be very laissez faire. It will want to promote free trade, since that trade will likely go through its territory, and even a very modest tariff, toll, or tax on their own shipping will be quite productive. Even if it doesn't have Northern France or Britain, it will have plenty of territories that could be quite useful for industrialization, so it could be a strong manufacturing power - which it likely would be even if it didn't properly industrialize, by virtue of population alone. As a hub of manufacturing, it would likely have a strong tradition of exporting materials and want to encourage free trade on those grounds.
On the other hand, its widely dispersed, with lots of different competing interests, and they could combine to stymie such economic liberalization. Further, smaller countries tend to be more nimble, and this Empire could fall into the same economic stability and stagnation as China. Particularly if its economic self-sufficiency encourages an outlook that they don't really need to trade with others to any large degree.
Discuss amongst yourselves.