Along these channels
needed imports moved into the urban centers and exports in exchange
moved from the urban centers into the back country or the provinces. At
every stage in the process care must be taken to prevent intervention by
thieves, robbers or envious rivals. Two devices were used to meet this
situation: money to facilitate exchange and a defense organization to
deal with intruders.
Money and its uses developed money changers, money lenders and banks.
Bankers and banks exchanged currency at a profit and extended credit.
Weapons in the hands of trained personnel evolved into locally employed
police and centrally organized armed services, performing police
functions and fighting wars, domestic and foreign.
Politics, local, regional or national, developed with the growth of
population, the profits of expanding urban life, production, technology.
As its scope broadened geographically city survival depended
increasingly on wealth and power (money and weapons).
During periods of peace and stability the civil authorities controlled
public affairs. In emergencies, such as natural disasters, invasion,
civil or international wars, the military authorities took command.
Military authority is an institutional feature of every civilization. In
periods of public danger it enjoys complete ascendancy. Like civil
authority, the military is a permanent and frequently the dominant
feature of each civilization.
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