ABSTRACT
In its beginnings commerce is an affair between ethnic groups. It does not take place between members of the same tribe or of the same community but is in the oldest social communities an external phenomenon, being directed only toward foreign tribes. In any case the oldest commerce is an exchange relation between alien tribes. There are ritualistic grounds which have impelled the Jews to trade and especially to dealing in money, and have made of their dealings a ritualistically restricted tribal commerce or folk-commerce. The possibility open in the development of trade was the establishment of seigniorial trade, a stratum of lords appearing as its supporters. Another sort of seigniorial trade originated in consequence of the position outside the law of foreign traders, who everywhere required protection. This was to be secured only through the political power, the noble granting his protection as a concession and for a consideration.
