what they had previously
Modern sources of profit
The first was the primary sector of the economy, which includes agriculture and mining. The primary sector of the economy was based on the economy of human communities, in fact, until the 17th century, and in some places later. Even now, in Africa, you can find communities living at the first level of the economy.
It was these people who constituted the elite and had the highest standard of living
It was the owners of the assets of the primary sector of the economy, and these included land, agricultural land, forests, mines and the like that were during the “reign” of this sector the richest and most influential, because it was they who controlled the sources of profit. It was these people who constituted the elite and had the highest standard of living. Continue reading