Trevor Jones
World History Per. 7
September 15, 2014
Taxation Throughout the Ages
The earliest forms of taxation recorded was around 6000-2500 BC, from the ancient Mesopotamian city-state of Lagash in modern day Iraq, and is still around in society today. This is arguably one of the most important advancements of the agrarian era and has been a tradition for well over four thousand years. Since the invention of taxation, people have been taking liberties at improving/modifying taxation in societies so that it is barely recognizable compared to that of the agrarian era.
Throughout history, taxes have become more and more complex. We start out in the early to mid agrarian era with taxes as simple as people giving a small percentage of resources to their government. Most often, taxes would be payed by a portion of the crop yield or some other food. These portions would increase in times of crisis or war to about 10% of all goods. These early taxes were used to supply the defense of the city or to trade with other communities. Today, taxes are more involved around reimbursement to the government so they can put our tax-dollars to use with projects and other beneficial things. This being said, it is not the only form of taxation, there are several different types of taxation that each and every adult individual need to pay. Some examples are estate tax, federal tax, luxury tax, and many many more. Each type of taxation has a specific importance that focuses on one area.
Early taxes were paid on a much more laid back schedule than taxes of today. Because people didn't have coined money back in the agrarian era, ancient households had to pay in kind and payed different taxes throughout the year. Poll taxes required each man to deliver a cow or sheep to the authorities. Almost all of the taxes that we see today are required to be paid with each purchase we make, whether it be food or other material items, a small portion of the money you pay for them goes to the government. Taxes are also payed much more often nowadays. Instead of being paid annually, today they are payed daily, or even more often than that. This being said, today's forms of taxes are still more efficient with paper currency than walking a cow down to the authorities.
Now that most people had to pay taxes, this also lead to the creation of tax exemptions. The early form of government in Mesopotamia kept track of who has payed their taxes by putting a mark next to their name on a clay tablet. The experts of early Sumerian civilization have recently figured out that the government can exempt certain people (people of their choosing) from paying taxes by simple etching three signs next to the name of an individual or group. These specific three signs mean "freedom from taxes". We still see similar forms of tax exemption today. Our government can give out taxes to specific businesses or groups (charities, churches, etc.) so they don't have to take away from the small amount of money that they make.
In conclusion, taxation has a very large history and was/is very important for the development of cities and city to city relationships. Having lasted well over four thousand years, taxation was a huge advancement in society and helped make cities what they are today. Taxation has changed a lot over time, but the general idea still stands and will continue to used in different ways for the better.
Citations
1. Earliest forms of taxation: http://bftaxhelp.wordpress.com/about-property-taxes/history-of-property-taxes/ancient-mesopotamia/
2. Modern day taxation and examples of them: http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Kinds+of+Taxes
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