A similar series of struggles, this time
planet-wide, gave the British a taste of planetary supremacy in the
nineteenth century and opened the door wide enough to give the United
States oligarchy a glimpse of an American Twentieth century, which never
eventuated.
Occupational differences within the city led to a differentiated class
structure. As the trading city developed, businessmen eventually played
a dominant role because they were able to command larger incomes,
accumulate more wealth and offer more aggressive leadership.
Nuclei of both empire and civilization were associated with a cluster of
allies, client states, dependencies and colonies related to the center
by economic interests and by diplomatic bargains or political controls.
They paid tribute or taxes as the price of living within the defense
perimeter of the ruling elite, conforming to the chief aspects of its
culture and in emergencies taking refuge inside the city defenses.
The city center made and implemented policy and provided local
leadership in emergencies. Inhabitants of the city enjoyed a superior
status and had a higher standard of consumer-living than most of those
who inhabited the countryside and the hinterland.
A structured society based on division of labor and/or function enjoys a
competitive superiority over a classless community. The structured city
was not only richer than the countryside, but it was in a position to
provide leadership, to plan and implement policy and act more
effectively.
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