The Quest for Gold Spice World Activity Index

<< This nugget represents just one of many forms that gold can take. Photograph by George Mobley

Discover the value of gold! What is it about gold that has inspired people to create stories, fight wars, and travel to parts unknown for thousands of centuries? What effects have these pursuits had on the Earth? What would you be willing to do for gold?

The main reason gold is valuable is because it is appreciated around the world. Its glowing appearance, durability, and malleability, or ability to be shaped into many different forms, are universally recognized, and it has been accepted worldwide as payment for goods and services for centuries.

Leaders of the Roman Empire, were hungry for gold, as well as land and power, so they conquered Spanish, Egyptian, Gallic, and Balkan lands. With gold from these places, Romans could trade in Asia, where they used it to buy other treasures.

Most of the Romans' east-west trading was done along a route called the Silk Road. Beginning in 200 B.C., this system of roads linked Europe with Asia, and by A.D.200, it was the longest road in the world. European traders took gold, silver, and wool east on the road. In Asia merchants traded fine silk material, gems, and spices. Gold Roman coins, probably used to pay for these items, have been found throughout Asia.

Most traders did not complete the 4,000-mile (6,437-kilometer) Silk Road. They traveled in fear of food and water shortages, dangerous sandstorms in the desert, and raiding parties. Most traders traveled the road on foot, often encountering deserted and unpredictable terrain. But for some traders the trip was worthwhile because of the value of silk, which was rare in ancient Rome during the road's beginnings. Pretend you are a Roman trader who is trying to reach China.

Younger Xpeditioners: With a small group of friends collect two objects (like pencils or squares of paper) of one color, four objects of another color, and six objects of one more color. Place them in a hat and take turns drawing the objects out of the hat, one at a time. No peeking!

When all of the objects have been chosen, trade them with your friends, trying to collect at least one object of each color. Were you and your friends as willing to trade objects that fewer people had? How many not-so-rare objects were you willing to give up for just one of the more rare pieces? When something is rare and people want it, its value tends to increase.

Older Xpeditioners: Gold is valuable because people want to own it. When many people want something, we say that it is worth its weight in gold. Using a newspaper or a Web site follow the stock of a company that buys, sells, or creates something that you want or need, such as clothes for school or sporting goods. Select another company that makes a priority of protecting the environment.

Parents: Help Xpeditioners keep track of when the prices of the stocks go up and when they fall. Do they notice any patterns? For example, do sales of toys increase during certain months of the year? What kind of change did you notice in the stock prices of the companies that do more to protect the environment? Do they tend to make more or less profits than other companies? Would you invest your own money in a company that did not take care of the environment? Discuss your decision with your child.