---
entity_slug: military_assistance
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T05:52:16.275879'
overall_score: 3.6
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly distinguishes military assistance as organized
    provision of armed forces by towns with specific command structures, differentiating
    it from other forms of military service. It captures the reciprocal nature and
    political leverage aspects that make this a distinct concept rather than generic
    military obligation.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: Smith does discuss how towns provided military assistance to their protectors
    as part of reciprocal obligations in Book III, Chapter 3. The entity accurately
    reflects Smith's analysis of how economic privileges were balanced against civic
    duties in medieval political arrangements.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: While "Regulation" captures the obligatory nature of military assistance,
    this concept spans multiple domains including political economy and governance
    structures. The regulatory aspect is present but may not be the primary conceptual
    home for this entity.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: Military assistance maps reasonably well to S1 (operational capability
    that towns provided) and S3 (internal regulation of civic obligations), but the
    mapping is not as natural as purely economic or organizational concepts. It's
    more of a political-economic hybrid that doesn't have a clear VSM home.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity illuminates an important structural mechanism in Smith's
    analysis - how economic privileges were sustained through reciprocal military
    obligations, revealing the political foundations of early commercial development.
    It explains a key relationship rather than merely naming a surface phenomenon.
---

# Evaluation: Military Assistance

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly distinguishes military assistance as organized provision of armed forces by towns with specific command structures, differentiating it from other forms of military service. It captures the reciprocal nature and political leverage aspects that make this a distinct concept rather than generic military obligation.

## source_grounding — 4.0 / 5.0

Smith does discuss how towns provided military assistance to their protectors as part of reciprocal obligations in Book III, Chapter 3. The entity accurately reflects Smith's analysis of how economic privileges were balanced against civic duties in medieval political arrangements.

## domain_placement — 3.0 / 5.0

While "Regulation" captures the obligatory nature of military assistance, this concept spans multiple domains including political economy and governance structures. The regulatory aspect is present but may not be the primary conceptual home for this entity.

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

Military assistance maps reasonably well to S1 (operational capability that towns provided) and S3 (internal regulation of civic obligations), but the mapping is not as natural as purely economic or organizational concepts. It's more of a political-economic hybrid that doesn't have a clear VSM home.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity illuminates an important structural mechanism in Smith's analysis - how economic privileges were sustained through reciprocal military obligations, revealing the political foundations of early commercial development. It explains a key relationship rather than merely naming a surface phenomenon.
