• It really began with the agricultural revolution. As soon as it became possible to store enough food for the winter people started trying to steal it.

    • Agreed on the timing, but not the cause. As soon as making a living became dependent on a fixed piece of land, ownership of that land made it possible to demand rent.

      • The agricultural revolution was what began the exploitation of fixed tracts of land. Before that people were nomadic; following the movement of prey animal herds.