True, but "ok we will have interest but periodically massacre the people interest is owed to", is much like not having interest, except nastier. You are, in a

True, but "ok we will have interest but periodically massacre the people interest is owed to", is much like not having interest, except nastier. You are, in a sense, avoiding the problem of an interest load spiraling up out of control. But, it's true, it was not a perfect ban, but it certainly did have the practical impact of not allowing those to whom interest is owed, from hijacking control of the state. Again, not in a good way, but I think it shows that long-lived civilizations eventually find that the Mathew Effect is particularly strong with interest, and must be reined in somehow. Hopefully in a better way than the medieval Christian one.