Imperial structures and their finite lifetimes

This chapter considers relevant generalisations about empires, reviewing their role in economic history. It identifies four imperial patterns: a decentralised structure, with units usually competing within a civilisation; a centralised land-contiguous empire; a maritime empire; and an ephemeral empire. It traces the dramatic increase in imperial size, indicating how some landed empires have metamorphosed into nation states. It shows how innovations in technology and organisational method made possible this increase in size. All empires shared a set of defining characteristics, not least of which is an inevitable rise and fall: all have a use-by date. There is a common political pathway parallel with the economic pathway. The chapter concludes by defining the empire effect, the stimulating influence of the governance of empire on the conduct of commerce by protecting against predation and reducing associated costs, often called protection costs.