Themiclesian economy in the 1800s

In the middle of the 18th century, the Themiclesian economy consisted mostly of agricultural subsistence with limited inter-regional trade; exports accounted for only a small percentage of the nation's product. Through contact with Casaterran powers hoping to entrench themselves in Hemithea, Themiclesian silk, tea, porcelain, and other finery triggered a prolonged affinity to all Themiclesian cultural goods, or Themioiserie in Casaterra. Domestic industry expanded and specialized to fill this demand. Though Menghe and Dayashina produced the same goods, in the late 1700s both isolated themselves from the world market, effectively granting Themiclesia a monopoly over these products. Re-invested profits from these sales drew entrepreneurs and migrants to the urbanizing coastal region, and investors were forthcoming to explore new opportunities, leading to an industrial scene slowly diversifying into other goods traded internationally. Customs revenues during this time funded multiple government initiatives that later proved central to further development of the Themiclesian economy.

Menghe's defeat by Sylva in 1853 ended Themiclesia's monopoly on the silk trade to Casaterra. Initial impact was minimal as Menghe experienced a period of intense internal chaos, preventing the nation's economy from reacting to the influx of commercial activity. Dayashina followed a similar course after its Boshin War, but it adopted policies favouring heavy industries leading to military prowess. By 1875, the traditional exports have come under serious price competition with Menghean and Dayashinese substitutes, and ordinary manufactured goods replaced the formerly-lucrative silks and porcelain as the principal export of Themiclesia. New industries contended with lower profits margins to remain competitive against maturer economies. Labour-intensive but mostly unskilled manufacture created even higher population densities. Imports from industrialized economies drastically lowered prices of grains and ordinary goods, out-competing domestic agriculture, in turn prompting landlords to embrace animal husbandry and expel their tenants, further encouraging urbanization. Social, political, and hygienic issues and conflicts intensified during this period.