In the late Middle Ages, trade flourished in Europe. Economic groups like the Hanseatic League, the Welser and Fugger families, and merchants from Northern Italy established trading posts and factories in all of the important cities throughout Europe. These businesses provided the population with goods of all kinds, such as fur from the north, cloth from Flanders, wine from the south, and spices from India. The most important commodity of all was salt. In the Middle Ages salt was highly prized it was used to preserve food. You are a powerful merchant! Start your trading posts in three cities. Recruit new merchants and send them to distant cities to establish trading posts and expand your interests. The more trading posts you have, the more commodities are at your disposal which you can sell profitably in foreign cities. To ensure that your commodities arrive safely at their destination, you must open up trade routes and equip caravans. You win the game if you are the first to deliver all of your commodities to foreign cities. Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe Merchants of Europe™ uses the simple and fun Catan® hex and resource system to recreate the growth of the merchant class across medieval Europe. Collect and trade resources to expand trade routes and trading posts. Build caravans to transport your goods to market before your rivals do. Can you expand your trading network more quickly and efficiently and become the most powerful merchant in all of Europe? MFG3204 Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe™ contains: 1 game board (double sided) 120 trade routes (wood in 4 colors) 48 trading posts (wood in 4 colors) 8 caravans (wood 4 colors) 8 merchants (wood 4 colors) 1 robber (in black wood) 95 resource cards 25 development cards 40 commodity tokens 68 coins (1 & 3 denominations) 15 resource number tokens 4 building costs overviews 2 dice 1 rulebook Ages 12+ For 3 -4 Players Playing Time 2+ hours