Middlemen in Knglish Business 129 



profound influence in the social histon- of mankind. Instead of local 

 self-sufficiency and separation, a broad economic interdependence 

 and community of interests arose. A competitive system supplanted 

 the medieval direct-exchange, public-market, fixed-and-just-price sys- 

 tem. Supplies were equalized in times and places, and made less 

 dependent upon the accidents of weather. Economic life acquired 

 a speculative quality. The modern categories of economics arose. 

 Business was born. 



