In Mesopotamia, the cradle of commerce, many tradespeople started to mark their wares, because they were proud of their work. Potters marked their clay pots; masons marked their bricks. The baker inserted his thumb into the center of a proofed loaf of bread and twisted it just so, to make a mark that represented his establishment and no other. But these tradespeople did this for a very small universe. There still was no larger distribution system that moved goods outside of a region: If you were in business at that time, you literally served people who were only within walking distance of your trade. A potter may have marked in his entire lifetime as many pots as a pottery manufacturer today marks in a single hour.