The issue is not when MOST public libraries were established but when "public libraries", as a concept, was established. So-called "capitalism" (a purely propa

The issue is not when MOST public libraries were established but when "public libraries", as a concept, was established. So-called "capitalism" (a purely propagandistic word) has existed as long as there have existed pairs of persons A and B such that A has some X and B has some Y and A desires Y more than X and B desires X more than Y. The natural thing to do here is exchange X and Y, satisfying both A and B. We didnt need a name for "the economic system where trade is allowed" until a few insane people suggested that all trade should go through a government middleman and lack of consent should be ignored.