One of my favorite college professors gave me the expression "I am the primitive of my way."

Whatever else was going on in Persia and Greece, there are reasons they were considered shining beacons. I think one of those reasons was their concept of trade as a civilizing force, superior to, say, raiding your neighbors and just taking whatever you could get.

That concept of trade as a civilizing force seems somewhat lost these days and I think we are worse off for forgetting it.

I realize you are mostly agreeing with me. This would no doubt go better in person. Conversational tone is really hard to convey online.