Various economic systems
Greece
There was not much direct taxation in Ancient Greece. The eisphorá tax was a tax on the wealth of the rich, but it was only collected when needed. Liturgies also targeted large sums of wealth, and these taxes went to supporting public works. Indirect taxation was very well developed though not in all cities. Houses, slaves, flocks, and herds were all subject to taxation. Ancient Greece’s soil was not good enough to develop many crops. Olive trees, grape vines, and other oil-producing plants were able to be grown, but the Greeks relied upon colonialism to ensure a steady supply of other plants and livestock. Sheep and goats were the commonly raised animals in Ancient Greece, and bees were raised to get honey, the only source of sugar for the Greeks.
Most Greeks were employed in agriculture in some fashion or another because it required a lot of work. The work followed the flowing of the seasons, creating a methodical lifestyle. Additionally, most lands were owned by aristocrats, which created a lot of tension between the peasants and landowners. Greek sailors found a lot of different ways to make their living from sailing.
Some of them were fishermen. They ate some of the fish they caught and sold some fish in markets. Some Greek people were pearl-divers.
Other Greeks were traders, who bought things at one port and sold them at another port and made some profit for themselves along the way. Other Greeks were soldiers for their city-state, who conquered other cities and forced them to pay tribute. Many Greek sailors worked as mercenaries, hiring out themselves and their ships to fight for other countries like Egypt.
Most Greeks were employed in agriculture in some fashion or another because it required a lot of work. The work followed the flowing of the seasons, creating a methodical lifestyle. Additionally, most lands were owned by aristocrats, which created a lot of tension between the peasants and landowners. Greek sailors found a lot of different ways to make their living from sailing.
Some of them were fishermen. They ate some of the fish they caught and sold some fish in markets. Some Greek people were pearl-divers.
Other Greeks were traders, who bought things at one port and sold them at another port and made some profit for themselves along the way. Other Greeks were soldiers for their city-state, who conquered other cities and forced them to pay tribute. Many Greek sailors worked as mercenaries, hiring out themselves and their ships to fight for other countries like Egypt.
Rome
Even though the ancient Romans didn't have paper money or credit cards the way we do today, they still bought and sold things from all around the world. They also had banks, paid taxes, and lent money to each other. Instead, people used coins for everything. They even stored up piles of coins in their houses. The Romans made coins out of different metals, including silver, gold, copper, and bronze. Roman coins usually had a picture of a person on them, just like our coins do today. Rich Romans borrowed and lent money to each other, and some stored their money in banks. The Roman government made money by fighting wars and by charging taxes on things that people bought. When the Romans took over another country, the people living there had to pay taxes to Rome.
Ancient Rome was an agrarian and slave-based economy whose main concern was feeding the vast number of citizens and legionaries who populated the Mediterranean region. Agriculture and trade dominated Roman economic fortunes, only supplemented by small scale industrial production. Farmers could donate surplus crops to the government in lieu of a monetary tax. This system allowed both Republican and Imperial rulers to gain popularity with the masses through free grain distribution and also help to feed the legions at no direct monetary cost. Unfortunately, it also left farmers with little incentive to increase productivity or output, since more crop translated to more taxes (and more free grain distributions). Citizens grew dependent on these grain doles and the large volume of trade that ensued.
Ancient Rome was an agrarian and slave-based economy whose main concern was feeding the vast number of citizens and legionaries who populated the Mediterranean region. Agriculture and trade dominated Roman economic fortunes, only supplemented by small scale industrial production. Farmers could donate surplus crops to the government in lieu of a monetary tax. This system allowed both Republican and Imperial rulers to gain popularity with the masses through free grain distribution and also help to feed the legions at no direct monetary cost. Unfortunately, it also left farmers with little incentive to increase productivity or output, since more crop translated to more taxes (and more free grain distributions). Citizens grew dependent on these grain doles and the large volume of trade that ensued.
Maurya
The Mauryan economy was very developed for its time. The existence of a stable centralized government and the unity of the sub-continent made by the emperor resulted in a fairly advanced trade.
The Indian economy was a settled agricultural region. As it was the backbone of the economy, land revenue was the major source of income from the government. All lands were under regular assessments to determine their production capability. In the field of agriculture, great advancements were made through fairly advanced and planned technological systems and skills, such as the irrigation system was very important there. The concept of state-owned farms was present where the kings had total control of the farms and his subjects were employed in the fields to cultivate crops. The crops were used to sustain the population and the surplus was taken by the government which helped to keep the population in shape because it created many new areas and people spread over there to set up new settlements. Basically, capitalism best describes their form of economy.
Animal rearing was continued to be an important occupation as well. Craft guilds also received the major boost. Besides organizing and developing an economy, they made the tax collection system and administration easier for the kings. Each farm had an appropriate level of tax being applied.
Industries and enterprises were also taxed, using a vast mix of techniques, all of which were derived from the original land revenue tax system.
The Indian economy was a settled agricultural region. As it was the backbone of the economy, land revenue was the major source of income from the government. All lands were under regular assessments to determine their production capability. In the field of agriculture, great advancements were made through fairly advanced and planned technological systems and skills, such as the irrigation system was very important there. The concept of state-owned farms was present where the kings had total control of the farms and his subjects were employed in the fields to cultivate crops. The crops were used to sustain the population and the surplus was taken by the government which helped to keep the population in shape because it created many new areas and people spread over there to set up new settlements. Basically, capitalism best describes their form of economy.
Animal rearing was continued to be an important occupation as well. Craft guilds also received the major boost. Besides organizing and developing an economy, they made the tax collection system and administration easier for the kings. Each farm had an appropriate level of tax being applied.
Industries and enterprises were also taxed, using a vast mix of techniques, all of which were derived from the original land revenue tax system.
Gupta
Besides having agriculture as an important part, the economy in the Gupta Empire had significant progress in industry and trade. The guilds from the Mauryan empire played a great role by being free centers of economy and the major contributors in the manufactured goods industry. They also formed smaller corporations of their products like silk weaver guilds that helped to build such architectural temples like Buddhist temples which took part in religious beliefs and commercial benefits. The State gathered abundant revenues in the form of customs duties at the numerous ports on the west coast like Broach Sopara, Cambay and a multitude center where most of the trade routes converged.
Like the Maurya empire, agriculture was significant in the Gupta empire too. Land revenue was collected. Cultivable land was divided into 3 sections: fallow or wasteland owned by the state, cultivated land owned by the state from which the main portions of the state income derived and the private land. The king was able to give out grants called "AGRAHAARA" which was revoked after death. The empire had theocracy meaning the king had the total control of the land.
Like the Maurya empire, agriculture was significant in the Gupta empire too. Land revenue was collected. Cultivable land was divided into 3 sections: fallow or wasteland owned by the state, cultivated land owned by the state from which the main portions of the state income derived and the private land. The king was able to give out grants called "AGRAHAARA" which was revoked after death. The empire had theocracy meaning the king had the total control of the land.
Han
The economy of the Han Dynasty started off damaged due to the suppressive laws and policies of the preceding dynasty, the Qin. Heavy taxes and labor corvée on the peasant population took a toll on the economy. The first few emperors took action by lowering taxes imposed on peasants and merchants. Since the Han relied on the production output of the merchants though, they lowered taxes on small landowners and taxed merchants more heavily. The government heavily encouraged farming. Agriculture was very important during the Han Dynasty. Grains could be used to feed the hungry and fibers could be used to clothe the cold and warm them. Everybody needed agriculture. The output of the farmers and peasants was also the base for the tax revenue. Because of this, the Han encouraged people in the field. In the beginning, taxes were lowered on small landowners and peasants and farmers to encourage farming. The land was even taken from nobles to encourage farmers to plant more. During this time, due to the improvement of iron, new agricultural tools were developed and helped increase the output and tax revenue for the empire. Horse and oxen also became more important as draught animals, or animals used to pull a load. More advanced plows were now pulled by two oxen and mastered by three men, which helped speed along planting. Emperor Wudi was the most famous Han emperor and strengthened the economy and government. He improved canals and roads and bought grain when it was abundant and sold it at stable prices when it was scarce.
The biggest thing he did, though, was he monopolized the iron and salt industries. It brought in a separate income from agriculture and the silk road. Traders highly profited from transporting the goods. State-owned slaves were also important during this time.
The biggest thing he did, though, was he monopolized the iron and salt industries. It brought in a separate income from agriculture and the silk road. Traders highly profited from transporting the goods. State-owned slaves were also important during this time.
Mayan
The Mayan economy was largely based on food and agriculture, this form is the same as the other earlier civil countries, like China and Egypt.
Farming was the main labor resources, and usually consisted of men. Every day they worked in the farm and brought in food, Farmers gave up portion's of each crop, or paid with other items such as salt, cloth, honey, fruit, and domestic animals to the government and also used them to buy and trade goods.
Agriculture is the basic form of the economy. The most important crop was corn and many scientists believed that that the Mayans depended heavily on the crop. The second form of the agriculture was raising animals. Mayan people raised a diverse group of animals, such as cows, pigs, goats, etc. The honey from the bees they raised was also used in trade. They often traded the animals or the crops for clothes or other items once or maybe twice a week in a market, which was often located in a plain beside the river, because of the advantage to plant the crops and raise the animals. The Maya did not use "money" in the modern sense: there was no universally accepted form of currency which could be used anywhere in the Maya region. Even valuable items, such as cacao seeds, salt, obsidian or gold tended to vary in value from one region or city-state to another, often rising in value the farther away these items were from their source. There were two kinds of goods commercialized by the Maya: prestige items and subsistence items. Prestige items were things like jade, gold, copper, highly decorated pottery, ritual items, and any other less-practical item used as a status symbol by upper-class Maya. Subsistence items were those used on a daily basis: food, clothing, tools, basic pottery, salt, etc.
Farming was the main labor resources, and usually consisted of men. Every day they worked in the farm and brought in food, Farmers gave up portion's of each crop, or paid with other items such as salt, cloth, honey, fruit, and domestic animals to the government and also used them to buy and trade goods.
Agriculture is the basic form of the economy. The most important crop was corn and many scientists believed that that the Mayans depended heavily on the crop. The second form of the agriculture was raising animals. Mayan people raised a diverse group of animals, such as cows, pigs, goats, etc. The honey from the bees they raised was also used in trade. They often traded the animals or the crops for clothes or other items once or maybe twice a week in a market, which was often located in a plain beside the river, because of the advantage to plant the crops and raise the animals. The Maya did not use "money" in the modern sense: there was no universally accepted form of currency which could be used anywhere in the Maya region. Even valuable items, such as cacao seeds, salt, obsidian or gold tended to vary in value from one region or city-state to another, often rising in value the farther away these items were from their source. There were two kinds of goods commercialized by the Maya: prestige items and subsistence items. Prestige items were things like jade, gold, copper, highly decorated pottery, ritual items, and any other less-practical item used as a status symbol by upper-class Maya. Subsistence items were those used on a daily basis: food, clothing, tools, basic pottery, salt, etc.
Works cited:
https://quatr.us/greeks/economy-ancient-greece.htm
https://www.greekboston.com/culture/ancient-history/economy/
https://study.com/academy/lesson/economy-of-ancient-rome-lesson-for-kids.html#/partialRegFormModal
https://www.unrv.com/economy.php
https://globalprogect.weebly.com/economic.html
https://hunterhandynasty.weebly.com/economy.html
https://sites.google.com/site/ancientmayancivilization/mayan-culture
https://www.greekboston.com/culture/ancient-history/economy/
https://study.com/academy/lesson/economy-of-ancient-rome-lesson-for-kids.html#/partialRegFormModal
https://www.unrv.com/economy.php
https://globalprogect.weebly.com/economic.html
https://hunterhandynasty.weebly.com/economy.html
https://sites.google.com/site/ancientmayancivilization/mayan-culture