What use raw Ebony and raw Glass had for the Empire?

[Normandia]

In Morrowind it shows that the Empire had the right to mine and sell raw Ebony and Glass.

I know these materials are really valuable, and its really usefull for armor and weapons.

But is there any other reason why the Empire wanted it ? Is there any other pratical use for Ebony and Glass? Maybe the Empire wanted to stock it as a treasure reserve?
Is there any other evidence of uses of Ebony and Glass?

[theo]

Good question I also wondered about. I couldn't find any examples other than glass windows in Morrowind being made of some green glass, I'd assume same material but less pure.
If we compare ebony to ebony wood or ebonite irl, theoretically it could be used in buildings and mechanisms, but probably it's mostly decorative items (furniture perhaps). If it's rare and expensive it makes sense to not see it everywhere.
Also both materials have alchemical properties so maybe that matters, too.

[Normandia]

Originally posted by theo:

Good question I also wondered about. I couldn't find any examples other than glass windows in Morrowind being made of some green glass, I'd assume same material but less pure.
If we compare ebony to ebony wood or ebonite irl, theoretically it could be used in buildings and mechanisms, but probably it's mostly decorative items (furniture perhaps). If it's rare and expensive it makes sense to not see it everywhere.
Also both materials have alchemical properties so maybe that matters, too.

What I think is, Ebony and Glass are probably going to be used as a treasure reserve like how in our world we use gold, because even though these materials (specially Ebony) its the best to make weapons and armor, its impractical to use them in the army because they are still scarce compared with common materials like iron.

[Valden21]

Originally posted by Normandia:

Originally posted by theo:

Good question I also wondered about. I couldn't find any examples other than glass windows in Morrowind being made of some green glass, I'd assume same material but less pure.
If we compare ebony to ebony wood or ebonite irl, theoretically it could be used in buildings and mechanisms, but probably it's mostly decorative items (furniture perhaps). If it's rare and expensive it makes sense to not see it everywhere.
Also both materials have alchemical properties so maybe that matters, too.

What I think is, Ebony and Glass are probably going to be used as a treasure reserve like how in our world we use gold, because even though these materials (specially Ebony) its the best to make weapons and armor, its impractical to use them in the army because they are still scarce compared with common materials like iron.

It could still be useful in certain military applications, like making equipment of really good quality. IRL, the best swords have historically come from places that use specific mixtures of iron ore and specific smithing techniques, like Damascus, Syria, or Toledo, Spain. If steel is mixed with a certain proportion of Ebony, perhaps that makes a really strong sword.

[Normandia]

Originally posted by Valden21:

Originally posted by Normandia:

What I think is, Ebony and Glass are probably going to be used as a treasure reserve like how in our world we use gold, because even though these materials (specially Ebony) its the best to make weapons and armor, its impractical to use them in the army because they are still scarce compared with common materials like iron.

It could still be useful in certain military applications, like making equipment of really good quality. IRL, the best swords have historically come from places that use specific mixtures of iron ore and specific smithing techniques, like Damascus, Syria, or Toledo, Spain. If steel is mixed with a certain proportion of Ebony, perhaps that makes a really strong sword.

It could make a really strong sword, but that would probably be in the hands of few, and not to a scale of standardization

[Jirki88]

It's quite possible it would be used to arm especially their Knightly Orders, the Blades and the Battlemages.

[theo]

Question is how much standardization is relevant - it wasn't a thing irl for a large period of time between Roman Empire and modern time and somehow armies managed to do with that.
Nevertheless Vivec ordinators are all armed with ebony maces.
It could be used as reserve, too - we see chunks of ebony and ebony equipment in Hlaalu treasury and few other places along with gems and piles of gold.

[Normandia]

Originally posted by theo:

Question is how much standardization is relevant - it wasn't a thing irl for a large period of time between Roman Empire and modern time and somehow armies managed to do with that.
Nevertheless Vivec ordinators are all armed with ebony maces.
It could be used as reserve, too - we see chunks of ebony and ebony equipment in Hlaalu treasury and few other places along with gems and piles of gold.

Ordinator are pretty much elite soldiers, they are not the ordinary imperial legionary or anything. And I am pretty sure the Imperials know that wars are won by logistics, strategy, trade, supply lines and etc, not If a handfull of soldiers are using ebony armor or not.

[theo]

Yes but that doesn't mean elites don't want to keep their lives so there must be a demand for good quality armor. Even more decorative purpose of ordinator maces creates a demand.
I'm thinking of medieval europe where military market had all ranges of craftsmanship.
I also separate Morrowind lore from later games lore. The fact that we don't see imperial elite troops in ebony armor in Oblivion doesn't mean they aren't there in Morrowind lore. Also Morrowind mentions western feudal society with nobles and knights.

[Normandia]

Originally posted by theo:

Yes but that doesn't mean elites don't want to keep their lives so there must be a demand for good quality armor. Even more decorative purpose of ordinator maces creates a demand.
I'm thinking of medieval europe where military market had all ranges of craftsmanship.
I also separate Morrowind lore from later games lore. The fact that we don't see imperial elite troops in ebony armor in Oblivion doesn't mean they aren't there in Morrowind lore. Also Morrowind mentions western feudal society with nobles and knights.

Well, historically, the legionaries in roman empire in the marian reforms were poor men who joined the legion to get land and etc. I feel like in Cyrodill, and maybe in other provinces, but specially in Cyrodill is a mix of Medieval with Roman Empire.

What could be is, most legionaries would use the standard equipment provided by the empire, since the majority would be poor men joining the ranks, and then we had the nobility, knights, elder council members, and even retired veterans, that doesnt necessary need to be part of the Legion , who could afford better armor, custom armors, and that could be what medieval europe is, with a variety of quality of equipment and types

[kaiyl_kariashi]

well if Oblivion is anything to go by, every minor bandit in cyrodil has easy access to a suit of Ebony, Daedric, and Glass.

So it must've been pretty wide spread in the Empire during Morrowind's era.

[Normandia]

Originally posted by kaiyl_kariashi:

well if Oblivion is anything to go by, every minor bandit in cyrodil has easy access to a suit of Ebony, Daedric, and Glass.

So it must've been pretty wide spread in the Empire during Morrowind's era.

Thats probably game mechanics, like in Skyrim, the higher your level, higher chances for you to get more valuable items