Trade and traderoutes in M-E

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Okay, as to what's been said about Elves - personally, I don't think the Elves in Rivendell actively participated in any trade that much, except maybe in some fine equipment. But the economy of the Elves, especially of the likes of Rivendell who seem to do nothing than wander around the woods and sing and yet they seem economically pretty self-sufficient, is an interesting question by itself (I've already been debating on that subject once with a fellow 'Downer).

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Just for the sake of completion I will copypaste here what I said about the major trade routes on the abovementioned thread, concerning the possibilities of trade between Erebor and Gondor:

...actually, curious, isn't it, just from the economic point of view: it would make sense for the Gondorians to actually maintain contact with Erebor, and the Northernmen in Dale and Lake-Town (as in old times anyway). It would be nice to have a route around the eastern borders of Mirkwood. But alas, such journey was probably impossible by the end of the Third Age, as the threat would be far too big. Easterlings and Dol Guldur - not a nice view. The only ones who would come to Erebor from south would be the messengers of Sauron... just as they did.

But it makes a lot more sense, in the light of this, that there were basically only two major trade routes in M-E, that is the west-east one from let's say Lindon to Erebor and the other NW-SE from Lindon as far as Gondor. And now it is clear to me at last why they form this sort of "incomplete triangle": as the third part of the triangle, i.e. Gondor-Erebor, just wouldn't work now.

Adding to this: I believe most of the prized goods were consumed in the close parts, though of course the important things continued further (with exceeding prices). By the time of Bilbo's journey, Thranduil's halls were probably the furthest stop for Dorwinion wine. After the fall of the Dragon, it could have become a more spread commodity.

That brings me to think, by the way, once again how important economically the year of the Dragon's fall was. The Kingdom under the Mountain was reestablished, the goblins were diminished, the path through all the Mirkwood was renewed and the way to Eriador was open, which was just something tremendous. Actually, at that time the East (Dale and Erebor) was far more economically prosperring than the West, which suddenly fell in the rank as total wilderness (if Arnor had been there still, things would have been different).

[Mithalwen]

I think that it should be remembered that the elvish communities were fairly small at the end of the third age. I think Tolkien said that there were more sindarin speakers in Gondor - though I think that excluded Mirkwood. After the Last Alliance most of the Noldor removed to Rivendell which was a household not a realm - Elrond is Master of the household not a King (though technically he would be one, I imagine the population was small enough to make using the title ridiculous). Obviously a household is a larger entity in this sense than modern usage (cf Eomer's eored being men of his own household) but I think we are talking hundreds and possible not many of them. Nevertheless the small and steep landscape of Rivendell would be hard pressed to support even this amount completely. It is possible that the small surviving Dunedain community farmed in the Angle and were able to supply some of Rivendell's wants.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

That brings me to think, by the way, once again how important economically the year of the Dragon's fall was. The Kingdom under the Mountain was reestablished, the goblins were diminished, the path through all the Mirkwood was renewed and the way to Eriador was open, which was just something tremendous. Actually, at that time the East (Dale and Erebor) was far more economically prosperring than the West, which suddenly fell in the rank as total wilderness (if Arnor had been there still, things would have been different).

Lots of good points made on this interesting topic.
Overall, it seems to me that at the Time of the War of the Ring, it was indeed the lands east of the Misty Mountains which saw the most commercial trade among different communities, but it seems that the trading partners were mostly geographically fairly near one another.
The Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain, Men of Dale, and Elves of Mirkwood certainly had a thriving commerce together, and the Dwarves of the Iron Hills were probably in on it as well.
Lórien appears to be almost entirely self-sufficient, with what trade they did have most likely being with Rivendell.
Gondor and Rohan would have mainly conducted trade business with one another, as has been said, with the Rohirrim trading horses for things such as weapons and armour.
In Eridaor, the only likely permanent trade partners would have been the Shire and Bree.
Travellers through those areas using the East-West Road would have bought food and pipe-weed there, but no active exportation by the hobbits seems to have been conducted beyond that, not even with the Rangers or Dwarves of the Blue Mountains. Merry was quite surprised at the sight of the Hornblower pipe-weed at Isengard, saying he hadn't known it 'went so far abroad'.
Knowing the Rangers, they might have grown some pipe-weed themselves for their own uses, and probably knew places where it grew in the wild.
Arnor seems to have been the centre of any large scale trade between Eriador and the South. Once it was no more, commercial intercourse between the regions appears to have been almost nil.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Another trade route to consider, though it's largely speculative,
would be from Pelargir or Osgiliath south. This is the sort of trade
which (at least minimully) might be kept open all through the Third
Age, and be especially important at the height of Gondor's influence
in the Third and Fourth Ages. The basic trade routes might be The
Harad Road and by sea (especially when South Gondor was under
Gondor control but even at times of relative peace by the Corsairs).
Perusing Karen Fonstad's Atlas it's at least interesting as an
insight into Tolkien's thinking that (see pps. 38-39 and 52-53)
that Far Harad and south bear a similarity to Africa. Since oliphaunts
were thriving there why not other exotic animals that an imperial
Gondor, not unlike imperial Rome, would be interested in.
Wonder what Sam would think of a giraffe or even a saber-toothed
tiger ).
Southrons and such might be interested in turn in fine armor,
tobacco, and rare wines.

About the Legate's comments. You might be underestimating the
importance of the dwarves in the Blue Mountains. Wasn't it said they
regularly traversed the Shire? Who were they trading with?
But the areas east of the Misty Mountains do seem to be increasing in
population and importance. The Beornings and the woodsmen were
growing and spreading even in The Hobbit.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Tuor in Gondolin

About the Legate's comments. You might be underestimating the
importance of the dwarves in the Blue Mountains. Wasn't it said they
regularly traversed the Shire? Who were they trading with?

Would the occasional party of Dwarves passing through the Shire really constitute a trade presence? Looks to me more likely the Dwarves only bought whatever provisions they needed for their journeys, as the Shire and Bree didn't seem to have much need or want for what the Dwarves could offer in trade: arms, armour, and precious stones.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Would the occasional party of Dwarves passing through the Shire really constitute a trade presence? Looks to me more likely the Dwarves only bought whatever provisions they needed for their journeys, as the Shire and Bree didn't seem to have much need or want for what the Dwarves could offer in trade: arms, armour, and precious stones.

Yep, but I agree with Tuor on that at least some basic trade would go on between the people of the Shire and the Dwarves of Blue Mountains (and later also those in the East). Raw iron, for instance, if nothing else, in exchange for maybe some food and pipeweed. The Dwarves did smoke, after all. I also wonder about the rather sophisticated items such as Bilbo's clock, which the Hobbits would certainly not be able of making. A few specialities for the rich Hobbits would come handy, and so even some small trade in these classes probably existed.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

Yep, but I agree with Tuor on that at least some basic trade would go on between the people of the Shire and the Dwarves of Blue Mountains (and later also those in the East). Raw iron, for instance, if nothing else, in exchange for maybe some food and pipeweed. The Dwarves did smoke, after all. I also wonder about the rather sophisticated items such as Bilbo's clock, which the Hobbits would certainly not be able of making.

Somehow I just never pictured Dwarves as making things like clocks. Thranduil's Elves, on the other hand....well, I can imagine Mirkwood Forest Cuckoo Clocks being all the rage in Dale.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Somehow I just never pictured Dwarves as making things like clocks. Thranduil's Elves, on the other hand....well, I can imagine Mirkwood Forest Cuckoo Clocks being all the rage in Dale.

Wood Elves? No way. They could not even make a wok pan, the more something as complicated as clock. I agree that clock feels a bit too fine on first sight, but then, Dwarves were the master craftsmen, and their honed gems were a work of fine art, for one. Nay, the Dwarves were the ones making the clock... only by the time the West-East route was reestablished, they began to import cuckoos from Mirkwood into their clock, but that's all

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Oops. Double posted.