Education in Middle Earth

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Mansun

Your reference does not support your theory that the equivalent of companies did not exist in Middle Earth.

But there is no proof that there are.

Given the societal and technological level which Tolkien took great pains to detail, there is nothing to support even the notion of an actual company, however. Given, it's a world of magic and the fantastic, but a company would be anachronistic in such a setting.

Originally Posted by Andsigil

But there is no proof that there are.

I think Hobbiton had a Post Office. Michael Delving, being a museum, would count as an organisation.

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Mansun

I think Hobbiton had a Post Office. Michael Delving, being a museum, would count as an organisation.

So, post office and museum = companies? I'll just say that's a bit of a conjecture.

In any event, I got involved in this part of the discussion to add more to the notion that the Shire wasn't worth much and had an insignificant value compared to some other places. I've explained that Lothlorien doesn't have monetary value the way we think it does, and Mordor would only have value in what someone would theoretically be willing to pay for it.

The Shire was prosperous and conducted trade with other place, notably Bree and Isengard, therefore, no, it wasn't as valueless as you gave the impression of it being at first.

However, organized companies didn't come into being in this earth until after the Renaissance- a time of social and technological advancement which Middle Earth never saw. A post office and a museum are nothing special- ancient societies had those. But something like the Central Eriador Export Company is anachronistic- there are too many things, societal, technological, and governmental preceding such a notion to simply assume it could exist in Middle Earth.

I'm sure businesses existed. "Hornblower Longbottom Leaf", or something, could well be a family business, with other hobbits in employ. But an actual company is something different.

Originally Posted by Andsigil

So, post office and museum = companies? I'll just say that's quite a conjecture.

Yes, indeed, small private companies at least. Not up there with Wall Street investment banks, as I mentioned previously, but companies all the same, such as there were in the Shire.