You are right about the odd little bits of history sometimes providing good ideas for stories. I remember one that pointed out that Venetian glaziers once were the only people in Europe who could make glass mirrors. It was a monopoly so fiercely defended that Venice would hire assassins to kill people who figured out how to do it.
Oh, yes, they were passionate about their trade secrets.
And their monopolies. They started out their spice trade through salt, and they would attack other cities and their saltworks to prevent anyone cutting in on the trade.
You are right about the odd little bits of history sometimes providing good ideas for stories. I remember one that pointed out that Venetian glaziers once were the only people in Europe who could make glass mirrors. It was a monopoly so fiercely defended that Venice would hire assassins to kill people who figured out how to do it.
Oh, yes, they were passionate about their trade secrets.
And their monopolies. They started out their spice trade through salt, and they would attack other cities and their saltworks to prevent anyone cutting in on the trade.