History Main / ProudMerchantRace

** The Ferengi hat is more CorruptCorporateExecutive then IntrepidMerchant.

* Koreans in the Korean serial [[TheEpic epic]] ''Emperor of The Sea''.

Despite positive portrayals a fair deal of real-world racism often shows up, especially in older works, with someone getting shrewdly out-negotiated (read: screwed over) by them or occasionally just outright cheated.

Compare ProudWarriorRace and ProudScholarRace for species with different hats.

* Despite the [[ProudWarriorRace formidable reputation]] of their [[WoodenShipsAndIronMen navy]] ([[RecycledInSpace in SPACE!]]), the [[Literature/HonorHarrington Star Kingdom of Manticore]] is this trope in spades: the one thing that makes it possible for them to achieve military superiority over the [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny People's Republic of Haven]] and forge [[TheAlliance a strong alliance]] to bolster their position is the thriving economy produced by their skillful use of the [[AppliedPhlebotinum Manticore Wormhole Junction's]] economic potential.

* Despite the [[ProudWarriorRace formidable reputation]] of their [[WoodenShipsAndIronMen navy]] ([[RecycledInSpace in SPACE!]]), the [[HonorHarrington Star Kingdom of Manticore]] is this trope in spades: the one thing that makes it possible for them to achieve military superiority over the [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny People's Republic of Haven]] and forge [[TheAlliance a strong alliance]] to bolster their position is the thriving economy produced by their skillful use of the [[AppliedPhlebotinum Manticore Wormhole Junction's]] economic potential.

* Despite the [[ProudWarriorRace formidable reputation]] of their [[WoodenShipsAndIronMen navy]], the [[HonorHarrington Star Kingdom of Manticore]] is this trope in spades: the one thing that makes it possible for them to achieve military superiority over the [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny People's Republic of Haven]] and forge [[TheAlliance a strong alliance]] to bolster their position is the thriving economy produced by their skillful use of the [[AppliedPhlebotinum Manticore Wormhole Junction's]] economic potential.

* Mercadians in ''MagicTheGathering'', to the point of Mongers, who have abilities anyone can activate. (These can still be useful: Squallmonger, which damages flying creatures, is great if you're the only one with flying creatures.) It also gave mercenaries mechanics, and had
more mercenaries than any previous set. Yeah, capitalism was a big theme in Mercadia.

** The Ferengi hat is more CorruptCorporateExecutive then IntrepidMerchant .

* The Gnolam of MasterOfOrion II.

* The goblins from HarryPotter.

Despite positive portrayals a fair deal of real-world racism often shows up, especially in older works, with someone getting [[strike: shrewdly out-negotiated]]screwed over by them or occasionally just outright cheated.

A ProudWarriorRace is a culture whose [[PlanetOfHats hat]] is war. Conversely, a ProudMerchantRace is one whose [[PlanetOfHats hat]] is being [[IntrepidMerchant Intrepid Merchants]]. Has overlap with SpaceJews, but often in a positive manner with implications of having a tradition of enterprise and exploration. However, on the flip side, aspects of the CorruptCorporateExecutive who will do ''anything'' for [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney a quick buck]] may be in place (since it's deemed less [[UnfortunateImplications politically incorrect]] to depict aliens or fantastic creatures in this fashion than real humans) and there may be a CMOTDibbler or two in the ranks of them.

A ProudWarriorRace is a culture whose [[PlanetOfHats hat]] is war. Conversely, a ProudMerchantRace is one whose [[PlanetOfHats hat]] is being [[IntrepidMerchant Intrepid Merchants]]. Has overlap with SpaceJews, but often in a positive manner with implications of having a tradition of enterprise and exploration. However, on the flip side, aspects of the CorruptCorporateExecutive who will do ''anything'' for [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney a quick buck]] may be in place (since it's deemed less [[UnfortunateImplications politically incorrect]] to depict aliens or fantastic creatures in this fashion than real humans).

[[quoteright:291:[[StarTrek http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/quark01_8754.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:291:Rule of Acquisition #18: A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.]]

* Novgorod ("New City", a major medieval city in the Russian North) styled itself His Majesty Lord Novgorod the Great. It's alleged motto was "[[ASongOfIceAndFire We do not sow]], or reap, we seek to feed by trade". Novgorod's local hero Film/{{Sadko}} started his adventure cycle with a [[BadassBoast boast]] that he will be able to buy out everything on the market. Which he did, twice (failed to do so on the third day, and lost the bet).

* The Drowolath from Drowtales, considering that feeding the nobility, who are, of course, snobbish p**** about it, requires many [[IntrepidMerchant Intrepid Merchants]] to venture to the Overworld, a land where knights in dishonorable armor roam, where danger in the form of ravenous beasts (wolves and the like) abounds, and where it actually freakin' RAINS OMG.

* The Thaylens in TheStormlightArchive are a culture noted for producing lots of traders, merchants, and other businessmen, and who run the whole gamut of this trope- some are presented sympathetically, while others are amoral slave traders. It all varies based on individuals, just like in RealLife.

->''We bring no store of ingots, of spice or precious stones''
->''But that which we have gathered, with sweat and aching bones''
->''In flame beneath the tropics, in frost beneath the floe''
->''And jeopardy of every wind, that doth between them go''
->''And some we got by purchase, and some we got by trade''
->''And some we got by courtesy, of pike and carronade''
-->--'''RudyardKipling''', '''''The Merchantmen'''''


-->In earliest times ''La Serinissima'', the city of the Virgin, had been given a masculine identity by its citizens. It was the Lion City. The very conditions of its existence made warfare an inevitable part of its history. There was warfare against the natural world and then warfare against its competitors. It was obligated to fight for its survival. Venice had archers and oarsmen and maritime warriors. Sea powers are natural competitors. While land powers may agree to the division of land into frontiers, the ocean has no frontier. Wherever there is sea, there are hostile ships. Throughout its long history, Venice could never rest.
-->Peter Ackroyd, ''Venice''

-->In earliest times ''La Serinissima'', the city of the Virgin, had been given a masculine identity by it's citizens. It was the Lion City. The very conditions of it's existence made warfare an inevitable part of its history. There was warfare against the natural world and then warfare against it's competitors. It was obligated to fight for it's survival. Venice had archers and oarsmen and maritime warriors. Sea powers are natural competitors. While land powers may agree to the division of land into frontiers, the ocean has no frontier. Wherever there is sea, there are hostile ships. Throughout its long history, Venice could never rest.

* WorldOfWarcraft: Goblins to an extent. The tuskarr come off as this as well, though their deity wants them to take up the fight alongside the horde and alliance.
** The Goblins of the Steamwheedle Cartel are nearly identical with the Ferengi of ''StarTrek''. The Goblins of the Bilgewater Cartel, on the other hand, are basically [[DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster gangsters]].

* The Ferengi in the ''StarTrek'' verse. Quark is visibly confused and disappointed that his victories in delicate trade negotiations are not seen as equal to the deeds of war heroes in the eyes of non-Ferengi. Even their religion is based on acquiring profit by buying things where they are common and selling them where they are rare, something they call the Great Material Consortium.

-->In earliest times ''La Serinissima, the city of the Virgin, had been given a masculine identity by it's citizens. It was the Lion City. The very conditions of it's existence made warfare an inevitable part of its history. There was warfare against the natural world and then warfare against it's competitors. It was obligated to fight for it's survival. Venice had archers and oarsmen and maritime warriors. Sea powers are natural competitors. While land powers may agree to the division of land into frontiers, the ocean has no frontier. Wherever there is sea, there are hostile ships. Throughout its long history, Venice could never rest.

** The Goblins of the Steamwheedle Cartel are nearly identical with the Ferengi of ''StarTrek''. The Goblins of the Billgewater Cartel, on the other hand, are basically [[DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster gangsters]].