The Wealth of Nations 21
Book 3 Chapter 3
Of The Rise And Progress Of Cities And Towns, After the Fall Of The Roman Empire
This era of change in the history of cities and towns is important to recall, especially as it relates to the second amendment.
Primary to the rise of cities and towns in relation to the Lords of the country was the influence of the local militias. Cities and towns had militias as did the Lord’s in the country. However, the militias in the cities and towns were assembled more quickly and often had the advantage in disputes with their neighbors.
This is essential today as well. The right to bear arms for self-defense is essential as a check and balance against crime, over reaching government and potential invasion.
Also interesting was the type of inhabitants found in the towns and cities versus the country. Smith writes, “After the fall of the Roman empire, on the contrary, the proprietors of the land seem generally to have lived in fortified castles on their own estates, and in the midst of their own tenants and dependants. The towns were chiefly inhabited by tradesmen and mechanics, who seem, in those days to have been of servile , or nearly of servile condition.”
Then a shift began. ”But how servile soever may have been originally the condition of the inhabitants of the towns, it appears evidently, that they arrived at liberty and independency much earlier than the occupiers of the land of the country.”
This independence is typical of people when they are no longer oppressed. People tend toward freedom. As such, the townspeople began setting up walls for protection, establishing leadership and creating by-laws for self-government.
It is proven time and time again that people can self-govern if the conditions are in place to do so and true cause and effect are seen as the rule.
In certain countries, due to the development of towns and cities with the attendant militias, laws and leaders, the sovereigns we defeated as in Italy and Switzerland.
Other countries were not as successful at throwing off their sovereign as in France and England.
Another key factor to the success of any one particular city or town was transportation. ”The inhabitants of a city, it is true, must always ultimately derive their subsistence, and the whole materials and means of their industry, from the country. But those of a city, situated near either the sea-coast or the banks of a navigable river, are not necessarily confined to derive them from the country in their neighbourhood.”
This highlights the importance of transportation, it’s interaction with manufacturing and the value both have to the creation of wealth of a nation, town or individual.
The factors that drove the development of towns and cities ultimately produced manufacturing centers, wealth creation and progress in technology.
We see this today. If the people are enabled to create, innovate and develop new concepts, products and ideas without the interference of bureaucratic gravity, new life, new cities and new freedom is on the horizon.
God Bless You and God Bless America!
