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Quote by: PatrickHenry Sonart, without going into the details, I must say that you have mischaracterized the ahupuaa system in the close comparison to European fuedalism. Didn't feudalism utilize money? |
As little as possible. Medeival aristocracy felt money was beneath them, seeing their wealth in the products of their lands. This is how the Jews, who were not permitted to own land, became some of the great banking and trading families of Europe. Not wanting to dirty their hands with money, the Eurpean Nobility permitted the Jewish 'untouchables' to conduct usury when cash became necessary. Witness Shylock in
"The Merchant of Venice", well after the Renaissance.
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Was anything freely given to one's fellow serfs? And freely given in appreciative return?
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'Appreciative return' is certainly relative, don't you think. Any examination of peasant life in medieval Europe suggests a less than free, or even modestly comfortable, life laboring for the local vassals.
Likewise for the Makaʻainana, who spent their lives laboring for the benefit of the Ali'i and Kahuna. If you want to nitpick differences in Hawaiian feudalism vs. European, maybe you'd prefer to compare the Hawaiian feudal caste system to India's, complete with Kauwa... untouchables.
Patrick, having lived in Hawaii for 17 years before moving back to the 'Big' island, I'm vastly more envious that you live there now than any mainland haole will ever be. {{SIGH}} :(
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Quote by: Amuse All the things you mention about entertainment and courtship are rewards to yourself as part of the benefits of of being a working class gentleman. You do a service related job that you are compensated for in money because thats the barter you agree to. Your service in exchange for dollars. Out of the amount agreed to, comes a portion that goes to your government and the rest you spend for goods and services you can't do or choose not to do. So you are bartering in a sense. |
Of course I'm "bartering in a sense". Currency simply makes it workable as divisions of labor become more complex and narrowly defined. And barter will never eliminate wealth... motivated, ambitious people will figure out ways to barter their talents into wealth, whether it's dollars, cattle or whatever.
And they'll STILL be showing off their wealth, status and power, whether it was obtained through barter or cash.
And you still HAVEN'T EXPLAINED how barter will allow me to live my life as
"a working class gentleman".
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