Imperial Ladders

A riddle:

What emerges in vast empires yet eludes small kingdoms, regardless of their sophistication? It appears independently across cultures at similar scales, vanishing during fragmentation only to resurface with reunification.

From Eastern Han to Samanid Empire, through Habsburg Austria and Spanish Empire to modernity- when territory grows beyond personal bonds and family ties, this system rises.

Though some complex societies never develop it, staying toiny, many celebrate it today.

We call it Meritocracy.

See what patterns you find, in the list of those who used it.