= Market Technologies =

Master the Market Technologies in Age of Empires IV! Learn about upgrades like Wheel, Woodworking, and Coinage to boost your economy and military.

Alright, so you've got your Town Center, Granary, and Market up and running. Now it's time to really start specializing your civilization with some sweet tech upgrades. These aren't just random buffs; they're crucial for unlocking new units and making your economy sing. Let's break down what's available in the Market.

Wheel

This is a big one early on. Once you've got the basics down (Town Center, Granary, Market), you can research the Wheel. It costs 175 Food and 75 Wood. The main draw? It boosts your Villager speed by a whopping 30%. More importantly, you *need* this before you can even think about building Chariots or Chariot Archers. Historically, the wheel totally changed how people moved stuff and fought wars, especially with chariots dominating the battlefield back in the Bronze Age.

Woodworking

Moving into the Tool Age, Woodworking is your next stop after the Town Center, Granary, and Market. It's pretty cheap at 120 Food and 75 Wood. This tech gives you a +2 woodcutting ability, which is always handy, and also bumps the range of your missile weapons by +1. Think of it as improving your basic tools and weapons – better woodworking meant better bows and spears back in the day.

Artisanship

This one requires a bit more investment, costing 170 Food and 120 Gold. You'll need to be in the Bronze Age, have your Town Center, Granary, and Market built, *and* have already researched Woodworking. The benefits are the same as Woodworking: +2 woodcutting ability and +1 range for missile weapons. The real kicker here is the historical context: the jump from stone to bronze tools was massive. Bronze was way harder, held an edge better, and gave cultures a huge advantage both economically and militarily.

Coinage

Ready to really boost your economy? Coinage, available in the Iron Age, is key. It requires your Town Center, Granary, Market, and Gold Mining researched. For 200 Food and 100 Gold, you get free tribute (which is awesome!) and a 25% increase to your Gold Mining productivity. This tech really changed the game historically, making trade and economic growth so much easier. It's the foundation of modern economies, really.

Craftsmanship

Another Iron Age upgrade, Craftsmanship is a bit pricier at 240 Food and 200 Wood. You'll need to have your Town Center, Granary, Market, Woodworking, and Artisanship all researched. Like Artisanship, it gives you +2 woodcutting ability and +1 range for missile weapons. But here's the crucial part: you *must* research Craftsmanship before you can upgrade to the Helepolis unit. Historically, iron was a game-changer, surpassing bronze in hardness and strength, and it was more accessible, really separating 'civilized' cultures from others.

Domestication

This one's a bit different and focuses on your food production. Available in the Tool Age, it requires your Town Center and Granary, plus Market researched. It costs 200 Food and 50 Wood. The benefit is huge: a 75% increase in food production from your farms. This tech represents the agricultural revolution, allowing you to manage herds and freeing you up from constant hunting. It's estimated that domesticating cattle alone might have doubled the world's human population!

Stone Mining

Also in the Tool Age, Stone Mining costs 100 Food and 50 Stone. Prerequisites are Town Center, Granary, and Market. This tech gives you a +3 bonus to stone mining. In many early civilizations, wood was scarce, so stone and mud bricks were key building materials. This upgrade helps you gather that essential stone faster.

Gold Mining

Finally, another Tool Age essential. It costs 120 Food and 100 Wood, and requires your Town Center, Granary, and Market. The benefit is straightforward: a +3 increase to your gold mining production. Gold was likely the first metal humans worked with, and getting it efficiently is crucial for many advanced upgrades and units.