Brooks Adams proposed, goes through four stages: 1. The monopolization of knowledge by priests. E.g., the Egyptian priests kept written language a secret among themselves, as did the Mayan priests. 2. The monopolization of military power by conquerors who made themselves States or governments. E.g., “a French bastard” (Tom Paine’s description of William the Conqueror) lands on the shore of England with a superior technology — warriors on horse versus native warriors on foot — and he becomes King. His relatives and sycophants become Lords-of-the-land. 3. The monopolization of the land by these
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