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johncomicfrom The Incas: new perspectives by Gordon Francis McEwan:
The most unusual aspect of the Inca economy was the lack of a market system and money. There was no trading class in Inca society, and the development of individual wealth acquired through commerce was not possible. Local political units were ideally to be as self-sufficient as possible in producing their own basic economic requirements. The production, distribution, and use of commodities were centrally controlled by the Inca government. Each citizen of the empire was issued the necessities of life out of the state storehouses, including food, tools, raw materials, and clothing, and needed to purchase nothing. With no shops or markets, there was no need for a standard currency or money, and there was nowhere to spend money or purchase or trade for necessities.
The largest empire in pre-Columbian America ran for centuries without money and without commerce. Makes me wonder how many other “inevitable facts” of our existence aren't?
The most unusual aspect of the Inca economy was the lack of a market system and money. There was no trading class in Inca society, and the development of individual wealth acquired through commerce was not possible. Local political units were ideally to be as self-sufficient as possible in producing their own basic economic requirements. The production, distribution, and use of commodities were centrally controlled by the Inca government. Each citizen of the empire was issued the necessities of life out of the state storehouses, including food, tools, raw materials, and clothing, and needed to purchase nothing. With no shops or markets, there was no need for a standard currency or money, and there was nowhere to spend money or purchase or trade for necessities.
The largest empire in pre-Columbian America ran for centuries without money and without commerce. Makes me wonder how many other “inevitable facts” of our existence aren't?
