A Representation Of The History Of Taxation And Money
Since prehistoric times, humans have been utilizing currencies. Taxation has been around for almost as long as money has been. There have been many changes throughout the history of taxation and money, but the general idea has always been the same.
Contrary to popular belief, bartering was not the only way early civilizations did business. Despite the fact that it was used, bartering has some drawbacks which make it unable to sustain commerce alone. Even though coins and paper money had not yet been introduced, other things were used as a set measure of value. For example, some early civilizations used a specific portion of grain to measure the value of other things, while others used cowry shells for currency.
From the ancient rulers of ancient Egypt, those in charge have been collecting taxes from the people “beneath” them. Taxes have been typically collected by officials employed by the governing body and held a great amount of power and esteem. Taxes have been used for various things throughout the years, including lining the pockets of those in charge, financing wars, and paying for improvements to our communities.
Many times, taxes could be paid in two different ways: in cash or in kind. When someone paid with cash, he used coins or paper tender to pay his taxes. When someone paid in kind, he paid with goods, like livestock or crops. Most of the time, nobles paid in cash, while poor farmers and peasants paid in kind.
Unlike most societies which collected taxes on a regular basis, ancient Greece only imposed a tax during wartime. Once peace was established, the tax was rescinded and leftover money was refunded to the taxpayers. Tax rates have fluctuated in every civilization to keep up with the needs of the governing body as well as inflation. As inflation increases, tax rates swell.
Sometimes the central government did the taxing, other times it was the local government, and oftentimes people are taxed by both. You pay both the federal and state governments when you pay your federal income tax and state sales taxes.
People have been avoiding and protesting taxes as long as they have been in existence. When a tax is especially heavy on the taxpayers, discontentment often arises. When this stress is ignored by the governing body, the taxpayers can revolt, rebel, or even try to stage a coup if the situation gets bad enough. All through the history of taxation and money, much bloodshed has occurred due to apparently unjust taxation.
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July 7, 2011
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Posted by Gary Fisher
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