Many thriving farming communities eventually grew into larger communities. They expanded from camps, to villages, to towns.
Up to 3,000 people might call one of these towns home. With so many people living together, some were able to offer services. They would use special skills or provide labor in exchange for the goods they needed.
Some towns had a lot of surplus goods. They became important centers for barter, and economies began to develop. Then, merchants (sellers) and landowners formed the highest social classes. The towns with the most resources could make deals not only for goods but also for political power.
