Sauron with chash
 

In the books, Sauron demands money from countries he conquers. Why would he do that? I don't see where he needs money for.

Greetings,

Anuion
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Amber Trichomes

Huh! To pay for all those Easterling and Southron armies? He did have an empire to manage, and he probably delegated a lot to the Mouth of Sauron and other servants, and there was a lot of agriculture going on near the Sea of Nurnen, and trade and all that takes money. Even for a Maia gone bad. That's my best guess.

But wheren't the Harad and the Easterlings slaves of Sauron?

Greetings,

Anuion
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FORD C-SERIES HISTORY

And the gas bills for Mount Doom must have been pretty hefty ...

[img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Not to mention the electric bill for keeping the Eye up and running all the time. (If it looked anything like the movie, which it wouldn't)

You have to realize that Tolkien wanted Middle-earth to be as realistic as possible, NOT some fairy-land governed only by magic or such things. It would be ridiculous to expect Sauron to run his empire without money. Mordor was a twisted wasteland with few natural resources, so he would need to trade with other countries for the metal, wood, etc. he would need to build and equip his armies.

Also, I don't believe that the Haradrim and Easterlings were slaves at all, but willing political allies. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

They were willing but only because Sauron had been 'working' them so that they would think that way. Kind of like a politician. Albeit an extremely scary politician.

Sauron would have helped to maintain the life of the Southrons and Easterlings but even if he didn't, wouldn't he still have enough sway over them so that they would not revolt? They would be too scared to start a rebellion.

Yes. Big scary eye with Nazgul at his beck and call. If I were a Easternling I'd obey that. Sauron's not really a polition. He's kinda got a "rule by fear" thing going.

Maybe you don't have the same experience of politicians as I have!

[ February 28, 2003: Message edited by: Eomer of the Rohirrim ]

My good old Greyhame,

Your wrong. So there [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

Greetings,

Anuion
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IPAD GUIDES

maybe he used the coins to pelt his enemies' armies?