Market
The bustling heart of commerce where resources flow and empires fund their wars.
The Market is a fundamental economic building found across nearly all civilizations in the Age of Empires universe, serving as the central hub for trade and commerce. Unlike military structures that project power through force, the Market projects influence through wealth, allowing players to convert excess resources into gold or acquire scarce materials like wood, food, and stone from distant allies or neutral trading posts. It is the engine of a civilization's prosperity, enabling the accumulation of gold necessary to train elite units and research advanced technologies.
- Type
- Economic Building
- Primary Function
- Trade Routes and Resource Conversion
- Civilizations
- Nearly All (Universal)
- Age Requirement
- Feudal Age or Dark Ages (varies by civ)
- Key Mechanic
- Trade Units / Caravans
- Strategic Role
- Gold Generation & Resource Management
Lore & Background
The efficiency of a Market often defined the rise or fall of great powers. Civilizations that mastered long-distance trade routes could sustain massive armies far from their homelands, while those who neglected commerce often found themselves outspent by rivals. The building itself varied in appearance depending on the culture—some were open-air squares filled with colorful tents and shouting vendors, while others were imposing stone halls where official trade agreements were signed under the watchful eyes of governors.
In Their Own Story
The dust of the desert road clung to the hem of the caravan master's robe as he approached the great stone archway of the Market. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of spices, roasting meat, and fresh wool. He watched as a line of camels unloaded bales of silk destined for the northern provinces, while merchants in vibrant robes haggled over the price of silver ingots. Here, amidst the clamor of bartering and the rhythmic clinking of coins, he knew that the gold he sought to fund his king's war machine was just a few successful trades away.
Reader's Guide
The Market is typically constructed in the Feudal Age for most civilizations, though some unique variants appear earlier. Its primary cost involves wood and stone, reflecting its structural importance. Once built, it enables the training of Trade Units (often called Merchants or Caravans) which are essential for establishing trade routes between two Markets. To maximize efficiency, players must research technologies like 'Coinage' to increase gold generation from trade, and 'Economy' to reduce build costs. Some unique civilizations offer specialized upgrades that allow their trade units to carry more resources or move faster. The building itself has no combat capabilities but acts as a defensive choke point; if destroyed, active trade routes collapse. Strategically, placing Markets near resource-rich areas or along safe paths between allies is crucial. A well-managed Market can generate enough gold to support an entire army of heavy cavalry or archers without needing to mine gold directly from the map.
Did You Know?
- The Market is one of the very few buildings that appears in almost every single civilization, highlighting the universal importance of trade in human history.
- Trade routes established through Markets are dynamic; if a route is blocked by enemy units or terrain changes, gold generation stops until the path is cleared.
- In later ages, certain technologies allow players to convert resources directly into gold at the Market without needing to send out physical trade units.