This is your starting point. You begin with basic Peasants and must fulfill their needs to upgrade them through the social strata: Citizens, Patricians, and ultimately, Noblemen. Their demands grow from simple fish and cider to complex luxuries like leather jerkins, books, and fur coats.
You cannot achieve a high-level Occident metropolis without resources from the Orient (such as spices and quartz), and your Oriental settlements rely on the Occident for materials like glass and iron. This necessitates a massive, finely-tuned network of automated shipping trade routes. ⚙️ Economy and Production Chains Anno 1404
The official expansion, Anno 1404: Venice , added a third culture flavor, a council seat mechanic to buy out enemy islands peacefully, and a heavy emphasis on espionage . Spies can be sent into rival cities to sabotage production, incite riots, or steal gold. ⏳ Legacy and The History Edition This is your starting point