# The Tartars — The Wealth of Nations character guide

> The Tartars in The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the Tartars, the Scythians, the Scythians or Tartars, from whom too they were probably descended, their

**First appearance:** 0042-ii-of-the-discouragement-of-agriculture-in-the-ancient-state-of-europe-after-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire

## Who they are

Nomadic peoples as historical economic example.

## In the story

### [I: Of the Principle of the Commercial or Mercantile System](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/i-of-the-principle-of-the-commercial-or-mercantile-system)

Contrasted with Spaniards; they measured wealth in cattle, which Smith suggests is closer to the truth.

### [I: Of the Expenses of the Sovereign or Commonwealth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/i-of-the-expenses-of-the-sovereign-or-commonwealth)

Discussed as a nation of shepherds where every man is a warrior, and the whole nation goes to war together, with women sometimes engaging in battle.

### [I: Of the Expense of Defence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/i-of-the-expense-of-defence)

Example of shepherd society where every man is a warrior and the nation moves as an army.

### [Of the Expense of Justice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/ii-of-the-expense-of-justice)

Example of a shepherd society where justice was a source of revenue.

### [Article III: Of the Expense of the Institutions for the Instruction of People of All Ages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/article-iii-of-the-expense-of-the-institutions-for-the-instruction-of-people-of-all-ages)

Used as a metaphor for active, hardy invaders compared to the indolent established clergy.

### [I: Of the Funds or Sources of Revenue Which May Peculiarly Belong to the Sovereign or Commonwealth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/i-of-the-funds-or-sources-of-revenue-which-may-peculiarly-belong-to-the-sovereign-or-commonwealth)

Cited as an example of a chief deriving revenue from profit on herds and flocks in a rudimentary state of government.

### [Of Public Debts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/iii-of-public-debts)

Mentioned as contemporary chiefs who still maintain treasures, illustrating hoarding in non-commercial societies.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters/the_tartars
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters