Question

In the Ancient Period, governments regularly used the surpluses generated by sedentary communities primarily for which purpose?

A) To buy technologies from nomadic communities
B) To provide social services for the poor
C) To spread the state's religious beliefs to neighboring regions
D) To establish and support militaries

Answer 1

In the Ancient Period, surpluses generated by sedentary communities were primarily used to establish and support militaries, necessary for both defense and the expansion of territories.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the Ancient Period, governments regularly used the surpluses generated by sedentary communities primarily to establish and support militaries. These surpluses were instrumental for maintaining elite warriors trained to fight from horse-drawn chariots and constructing large structures such as temples and palaces, which functioned as economic redistribution centers. Officials collected agricultural goods as taxes, which were then stored and redistributed to various societal segments; this economic system reinforced the social hierarchy and supported the specialization of labor vital for the state's functioning. Notably, the redistributive economic system enabled the creation of massive military forces that defended and expanded control over territories, thereby forming multiethnic empires.