Passports for everyone are a relatively new invention, but passports as sign of being the emissary of somebody important are much older. Paiza is one such example in the Mongols empire. Wikipedia has examples reaching into antiquity.
500+ years ago there very much was border control, at least in certain parts of the world, because every regional lord wants to control what goes into his kingdom and what leaves. I can only speak for Europe, but probably every feudal lord over the world did the same. They levied taxes on merchants transporting goods through their kingdom. That happened on border checkpoints where the big merchant routes where passing through. This is how a lot of regions got rich: by being between a source and a big buyer region and taxing the shit out of merchants.
That’s why smuggling was so attractive. Go through the official road and pay 10% of your profits or pay this nice man with the donkey 5% and he leads you through the woods on a path the lord’s soldiers don’t patrol…
Secondly, in feudal Europe 500 years ago, peasants were still often the property of their lords, they weren’t allowed to leave the country. Another reason why border control existed. So no, most normal people could not just leave and travel to another kingdom.
peasants were still often the property of their lords, they weren’t allowed to leave the country
As someone who have move away from my place of birth, now I appreciate the modern world even more after reading this comment. So much freedom nowadays (well… except for certain countries).
Well, a modern form of that still sort of exists today, except the leash is longer.
You cannot for example just get rid of your US citizenship - you have to pay to get rid of it, and as long as you have it, you’re susceptible to paying taxes to the USA. Even if you have dual citizenship.
I mean, you can kinda just sell all your assets in the US and move permanently abroad. As long as you never go back to the US, how are they gonna make you pay?
You cannot for example just get rid of your US citizenship - you have to pay to get rid of it…
I wanted this to be false but I see that there is currently a minimum renunciation fee of $2,350. I assume there are likely other consulate fees that may bring it closer to $2,500 at the very least. What a scam.
They levied taxes on merchants transporting goods through their kingdom. That happened on border checkpoints where the big merchant routes where passing through. This is how a lot of regions got rich: by being between a source and a big buyer region and taxing the shit out of merchants.
There are places that are still named after having been such tax/tariff points. Or buildings, inns etc. And the New Testament of course.
Passports for everyone are a relatively new invention, but passports as sign of being the emissary of somebody important are much older. Paiza is one such example in the Mongols empire. Wikipedia has examples reaching into antiquity.
500+ years ago there very much was border control, at least in certain parts of the world, because every regional lord wants to control what goes into his kingdom and what leaves. I can only speak for Europe, but probably every feudal lord over the world did the same. They levied taxes on merchants transporting goods through their kingdom. That happened on border checkpoints where the big merchant routes where passing through. This is how a lot of regions got rich: by being between a source and a big buyer region and taxing the shit out of merchants.
That’s why smuggling was so attractive. Go through the official road and pay 10% of your profits or pay this nice man with the donkey 5% and he leads you through the woods on a path the lord’s soldiers don’t patrol…
Secondly, in feudal Europe 500 years ago, peasants were still often the property of their lords, they weren’t allowed to leave the country. Another reason why border control existed. So no, most normal people could not just leave and travel to another kingdom.
As someone who have move away from my place of birth, now I appreciate the modern world even more after reading this comment. So much freedom nowadays (well… except for certain countries).
Oh hell yes. There is still a lot to improve, but we shouldn’t forget what has already been gained!
Well, a modern form of that still sort of exists today, except the leash is longer.
You cannot for example just get rid of your US citizenship - you have to pay to get rid of it, and as long as you have it, you’re susceptible to paying taxes to the USA. Even if you have dual citizenship.
I mean, you can kinda just sell all your assets in the US and move permanently abroad. As long as you never go back to the US, how are they gonna make you pay?
I wanted this to be false but I see that there is currently a minimum renunciation fee of $2,350. I assume there are likely other consulate fees that may bring it closer to $2,500 at the very least. What a scam.
Edit: typo
US is one of like 2 or 3 countries that does that.
There are usually other costs, and if you have any outstanding debts you have to pay those first too.
Some may need a lawyer to figure out how to just do the paperwork.
There are places that are still named after having been such tax/tariff points. Or buildings, inns etc. And the New Testament of course.