Ancient Babylonians implemented the earliest recorded toll roads over two thousand five hundred years ago, proving that governments have always loved nickel-and-diming travelers for basic infrastructure.

A closer look

Ancient Babylonians implemented the earliest recorded toll roads over two thousand five hundred years ago, proving that governments have always loved nickel-and-diming travelers for basic infrastructure. Travelers on the road linking Babylon to Susa were forced to pay a fee to armed guards stationed at specific checkpoints, effectively creating the world's first highway robbery legitimized by a state authority. The concept has barely evolved since then, except now we use tiny transponders stuck to our windshields instead of handing over physical coins to a guy holding a spear. It is comforting to know that no matter what era of human history you exist in, someone is always going to stand in the middle of a paved path and demand your hard-earned cash just for the privilege of moving from point A to point B