The Merchant Exchange

The best place for merchant exchange to be located would be in a cities trading port.

The front of the merchant exchange building was a centerpiece of economic prosperity for the renaissance period. The building's architecture was taken from classic GREEK buildings.

The interior of the merchant exchange is a massive hall where merchants are able to converse about trade. It is here that they are also able to engage in commerce.

On Kissing:

Voltaire: There is too much censorship placed upon the natural act of kissing.  It has been in practice since the ancient times, the Greeks used it as a symbolic act of respect when they worshiped their gods.  The early Christians used kissing as a way to display their love for one another.  It is even customary in some cultures to kiss a woman as a sign of respect.  I do not understand why there is censorship on public displays of affection, especially with the simple, natural act of kissing.

Castiglione: Women kissing women out of respect is a simple act. Men kissing women however can never be a simple act, even if kissing the woman is for respect. Even when love is involved, if that love is not pure and spiritual then the kiss could lead to other acts of lust. Kissing should be one of the last things that occur between a man and a woman and it should only be done in order to consummate the lover's bonds. When people are left to freely kiss whomever they please they are open to the pressures that come from the temptation of kissing.

Voltaire: It is absurd to say that the act of kissing a woman out of respect is a simple act for only woman and not men.  Such a simple act should not have such restraints upon the basis of the sex.  Contrary to your opinion that kissing leads to further acts of love, it is not the simple kiss that leads to further lust yet it is the sexual curiosity that leads to further sexual development.  A simple natural kiss will not pressure one to further explore the sexual boundaries of another; however, it will enlighten the individual to the wonderful natural acts that the world has to offer.

Castiglione: But kissing is the simplest act that eventually leads to sex. A man in reasonable love with a woman realizes that when he kisses a woman that the kiss is uniting that couple. But a kiss that occurs between sensual lovers or between two people that don't understand each other's souls is not simply a kiss. They realize that they are kissing a part of that woman's body. This eventually leads to other thoughts of lust. How can a kiss between a man and a woman be natural when they don't truly know one another? The are merely completing an empty act and are therefore cheating love and cheating themselves.

Voltaire: Yes, I agree that when a man kisses a woman that he loves he is in a way uniting the couple.  It is only natural for a couple in love to unite sexually; however, the kiss is in no way the completion of sexual unity, it is merely the very beginning.  A kiss that occurs between two people who are not in love is simply just a kiss.  When engaged in a simple natural kiss one obviously realizes that they kissing the others body.  Yet they are not kissing the others soul.  It is not the kiss that leads to further sexual exploration, yet it is the willingness for sexual exploration.  One must be willing to sexually explore in order to become further sexually involved, a simple kiss will not lead to further sexual exploration.  A kiss is natural because it lies in human nature, one does not need to be in love to experience human nature.  I would have to say, sir that you are wrong when one completes a simple kiss they are cheating love or cheating themselves.  Yet if one does not complete a simple kiss when they feel compelled to do so they are denying their impulses, and to deny your impulses is to deny the very thing that makes us human.  Kissing should not be registered as taboo, it is my opinion that we should not try to morally regulate such a natural wonderful act.  we often discuss the vivid descriptions of war, and we attend public executions, yet why are we so quick to judge when it comes to the natural act of kissing.  I ask you sir, shouldn't you take up a more important cause and leave peoples love lives alone?

Castiglione: I did not say that kissing is the completion of sexual unity. I do agree that kissing is the beginning of sexual temptation. Why would you put yourself at risk of lust? It is within human nature to protect  one's self from trouble. Also, I didn't say that when two lovers kiss that they are kissing each other's souls, I simply stated that the kiss of reasonable lovers is a unity of two bodies into one soul. A kiss between two sensual lovers will only lead to exactly what you just discussed, lust or as you put it "acting on one's impulses". Spiritually nothing good ever comes from acting on ones impulses. If everyone was to act on an impulse there would be no need for love or emotions. What makes a person human is their ability to control their impulses and basic animal instincts. This is what separates us from the beasts.  Kissing between two reasonable lovers, two lovers that know each other spiritually is natural and acceptable. But merely acting on one's impulse leads to nothing more than empty physical contact.

Voltaire: Well I've got a meeting with a local lady merchant. I plan on acting on my impulses. Good day.