[londons_explore]

Historically, lots of countries had laws saying you had to enclose your land. If you didn't, then you might lose it.

In the days before wire, brick walls were a cheap longlasting enclosure method, especially if wood or stones weren't easily available.

[kragen]

wire dates to ancient sumeria i think; it was used for money before coins (because it's easy to measure out any desired amount of gold or silver)