Currency in Game of Thrones

Objectives: Materials: Procedures: Introduction (5 minutes): Instruction (30 minutes): Discussion Questions for Worksheet: Conclusion (10 minutes): Follow-Up Activity: Assign students to research a historical or modern-day alternative to traditional currency (e.g., cryptocurrency, shells, tobacco) and prepare a brief presentation on how it functions as money. Encourage them to compare its effectiveness to that of gold …

No Economic Growth in Westeros

This video shows Westeros/King’s Landing in the House of the Dragon Series and in the Game of Thrones series, which was 200 years later. The cities are strikingly similar, indicating there was no economic growth in these 200 years. This is wildly different than what we’ve seen in most of the world over the past …

Understanding Bargaining

Objectives:  Materials:  Procedures:  Introduction (5 minutes):  Instruction (30 minutes):  Discussion Questions for Worksheet:  Conclusion (10 minutes):  Follow-Up Activity: 

Lord Frey has Bargaining Advantage in Game of Thrones

Season 1, Episode 9: The Starks want to safely cross water but need Lord Frey’s position. They are in a bad position and he is reluctant and in a good position. In bargaining, we’d say that the Stark’s Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA) was low while Lord Frey’s was high. As bargaining theory …

Trade Restrictions Cause Chicken Prices to Increase in House of the Dragon

A family is discussing the implications of a blockade. The prices for chicken have tripled, which is consistent with a decrease in supply. There is also discussions of hoarding of food, the blockades, and whether the king will do something to help. To teach this concept in the classroom, click here for a lesson plan

Cersei’s Gambit: The Unintended Consequences of Power

Season 5 Episode 7: In this clip, Cersei is cornered by the High Sparrow, the religious leader in the Seven Kingdoms. Cersei empowered the High Sparrow to attack her political opponents, but he eventually turned on Cersei and imprisoned her. This is an example of unintended consequences. Often, governments will implement economic policies without considering …

Game Theory in House of the Dragon: A Mixed Strategy for the Prince’s Life

The assassins (Blood and Cheese) break in and want to kill Prince Jaehaerys. They don’t know which sleeping child is the prince, however. Their mother (the Queen Helaena) is asked to reveal which one is the prince. The Queen doesn’t want the heir to the throne to be killed and the assassins want to kill …

Cersei’s Realization: The Principal-Agent Problem in Imperial Governance

Season 1, Episode 3: In this clip, Cersei tells her son “The North cannot be held…not by an outsider. It’s too big and too wild.” This can help us understand the principal-agent problem. The principal-agent problem states there is a conflict in priorities between the principal – normally an emperor or some type of ruler …

The Master’s Shadow

Season 4, Episode 10: In this clip, a former slave asks Daenerys to allow him to sell himself back to his master, citing poverty and problems with current benefits to the newly freed. This is related to the idea of path dependency, Path dependency is the idea that history matters: it’s easier or more cost-effective …