Merchants Bound by Ruler Permission

Marco Polo’s account — and the book discussed — shows medieval merchants could amass wealth yet remain dependent on a ruler’s goodwill for movement and safety. That dependency made commerce a political relationship, not just an economic one, and could trap merchants in the service of rulers despite their assets. — This frames trade-as-dependence, highlighting how commercial actors can be politically captive, relevant to modern debates about firms operating under authoritarian regimes or supply‑chain vulnerability to state permission.