The Importance of Monetary Eras

A small country like Poland that could not otherwise protect their boats against the people who are thrown a lot of weight around, right? They get to participate in free trade and flourish even though they don't have the military. The only way that Poland is going to stay alive is if Poland allows themselves to be colonized into this global system. I feel the alternative is integration into the global economy or integration into a belligerent empire that's stronger than you.