# Fertility

**Entity Type:** SystemEntity

## Description

Fertilities determine which resources are available on each island. Each island in Anno 117: Pax Romana has different fertilities, and some are unique to specific regions (Latium or Albion). As your empire expands, you will need goods from both regions to satisfy higher-tier citizens.

## Checking Fertilities

- View current island fertilities at the bottom left of the screen, near the mini map
- Discovered islands can be viewed in the Province map
- Building tooltips show fertility requirements

## Universal vs Fertility-Dependent Resources

Not all resources require a fertility. Some crops like Oat and Hemp can be grown on any island. However, resources that do require a fertility must be obtained through:
- Settling compatible islands
- Setting up trade routes
- Purchasing from rival factions

## Fertility Table

| Fertility | Region | Uses |
|-----------|--------|------|
| Mackerel | Latium | Garum |
| Lavender | Latium | Soap |
| Flax | Latium, Albion | Togas, Wigs |
| Murex Snail | Latium | Togas, Loungers |
| Iron | Latium, Albion | Weapons & Armor |
| Resin | Latium, Albion | Amphorae, Wigs |
| Olives | Latium | Olive Oil |
| Sandarac | Latium | Writing Tablets, Loungers |
| Oyster | Latium | Oysters with Caviar |
| Gold | Latium | Necklaces, Lyres |
| Marble | Latium | Marble Blocks |
| Minerals | Latium | Fine Glass, Mosaics, Necklaces |
| Sturgeon | Latium | Oysters with Caviar |
| Grapes | Latium | Wine |
| Pony | Albion | Chariots |
| Sea Shell | Albion | Handmirrors |
| Silver | Albion | Brooches, Handmirrors |
| Tin | Albion | Drinking Horns, Clan Shields |
| Granite | Albion | Granite Blocks |
| Herbs | Albion | Sausages |
| Dye Plants | Albion | Trousers, Cloaks |
| Copper | Albion | Clan Shields, Cloaks |
| Small Birds | Albion | Bird Tongues in Aspic |
| Barley | Albion | Beer |
| Saltwort | Albion | Roast Beef, Beaver Hats |
| Beaver | Albion | Beaver Hats |

## Best Fertilities by Tier

### Tier I (Liberti / Waders)

All islands can fully meet the needs of Liberti and Waders without special fertilities.

### Tier II (Plebeians / Smiths)

- **Iron** (Latium or Albion) - Required for Weapons and Armor production for military, fleet expansion, and defenses
- **Resin and Olives** (Latium) or **Resin** (Albion) - Needed for household goods for Plebeians and Romanized Mercators
  - Amphorae provide Population and Fire Safety bonuses
  - Olive Oil grants Population, Income, and Health bonuses
- **Dye Plants and Copper** (Albion) - Meet Fashion needs for Smiths and Elders; also enables Clan Shields and Cloaks (which can be shipped to Latium for Patricians)
- **Tin** (Albion) - Needed for Drinking Horns or Clan Shields for Smiths
- **Silver** (Albion) - Used for Brooches (Mercators) and Handmirrors (Nobles); extras can be shipped to Patricians in Latium

### Tier III (Equites / Elders)

- **Grapes** (Latium) - Wine satisfies food needs for Equites and can be exported to Albion for Elders and Nobles (note: causes slight Knowledge penalty)
- **Marble** (Latium) - Required for buildings like Forum or Baths; can be traded from Zara Nitu if unavailable
- **Granite** (Albion) - Required for tier 3 buildings in Albion; can be traded from Athr Lorgwyn if unavailable
- **Minerals** (Latium) - Used to produce Fine Glass for Equites household needs and Mosaic for tier 4 buildings
- **Sea Shells** (Albion) - Combined with Silver to create Handmirrors (requires Romanized Nobles to harvest)
- **Murex Snails and Flax** (Latium) or **Flax and Amber** - Required for Togas or Wigs (Noble Fashion needs)

### Tier IV (Patricians / Nobles)

- **Oysters and Sturgeon** (Latium) - Produce Oysters with Caviar for Patricians (+3 Population, +3 Income, +2 Health)
- **Small Birds** (Albion) - Required for Bird Tongues in Aspic (high Income/Prestige but happiness penalty - best after building Amphitheatre)
- **Ponies** (Albion) - Required for Chariots (Patrician Culture need; also satisfies Elders Household Goods)
- **Gold** (Latium) - Required for Amphitheatre construction and produces Necklaces and Lyres for Patricians (difficult to produce in bulk without late-game technologies and Mercury-Lugus devotion)

## Cross-Region Trade

Higher tier citizens develop "exotic tastes" requiring goods from both regions:
- Patricians (Latium) demand Bird Tongues in Aspic, Cloaks, Handmirrors, and Chariots from Albion
- Plan your economy with trade routes and cities on multiple islands in both provinces

## Related Systems

- [Trade Routes](./trade-routes.md) - Setting up automated supply chains between islands
- [Diplomatic Trade](./diplomatic-trade.md) - Purchasing goods from rival factions

## See Also

- [Production Chains](/docs/production-chains/_index.md)
- [Population Tiers](/docs/population-tiers/_index.md)
