ABSTRACT
International political economies pulsate to a number of rhythms varying from the very long to the very short variety. This analysis focuses on two hypothesized patterns of the longer stripe one is about millennium-long movements toward and away from center concentration and center deconcentration, periodic crises in the ancient world. southwest Asian trade network, focused on commodities such as obsidian and lapis lazuli was in place considerably prior to the emergence of urbanization and states. The early leaders in urbanization, the Sumerians, created in the 4th millennium an ambitious acquisition network for raw materials and luxury goods that were absent from southern Mesopotamia. The first hypothesis is that ancient southwest Asian trade can be divided into an early period of production concentration that is followed by a period of diffusion and increased trade. Innovations have played this role for thousands of years before Schumpeter developed his appreciation for innovation as the prime mover in economics.
