Has any civilization or culture previous to the current ones have any form of welfare?

[Specop 007]

Like it says. Is welfare, social security, Section 8 housing, paid for medical care....All of the government assistance thats available today in modern cultures, is that something thats a new idea? Or has there been examples of it in previous civilizations? Did ancient Rome have anything? How about the Greeks? Medieval Europe? Ancient Egypt?
If so, what forms of government assistance was available? Or was it just a "tough ******, you starve" type of attitude? Who cared for the sick and ederly?

 

[ElFenix]

jewish and christian texts both require a certain percentage of the produce of any land to be for the poor

roman leaders would often buy off both the mobs, maybe that was some sort of welfare

 

[linkgoron]

Jewish FTW!

 

[HamburgerBoy]

The Romans gave welfare for the farmers IIRC.

 

[preslove]

Originally posted by: HamburgerBoy
The Romans gave welfare for the farmers IIRC.

And city dwellers, I think.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Originally posted by: preslove
And city dwellers, I think.

I thought that those who lived in the cities were taxed extra to give welfare for the farmers, but eh it's been a while since I've read up on Roman culture.

 

[iRONic]

Originally posted by: Specop 007
Or was it just a "tough ******, you starve" type of attitude? Who cared for the sick and ederly?

Native American Indian tribes respected their elders and accorded them a place in the tribe befitting that respect.

 

[Forsythe]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
jewish and christian texts both require a certain percentage of the produce of any land to be for the poor

roman leaders would often buy off both the mobs, maybe that was some sort of welfare

What is said in the jewish and christian texts are nothing compared to what teh quran says. That's why rich arab countrie sare some of the highest givers of wealth.