Interesting theory. I tend to see it the other way around. Empires are built for power, and connections are built within the empires in order to maintain that power. Roads move armies, trade goods and plunder more efficiently. Communication methods are often developed first for military use, then later converted to public use. That includes the internet. And while printing presses were first used to mass-produce the Bible, even that can be seen as an attempt at a consolidation of power by an expansionist pseudo-government.

Most people have a strong desire to communicate. That desire leads us to utilize whatever we have at our disposal to communicate with as many people as possible. Empires aren't out to increase communication, and often do their best to control and/or stifle it. It's the general populace that takes what the empires build and use it for mass communication, more often than not battling with the governments for freedom from control.

And here I thought that conquerors wanted to extend their own power, gaining access to more resources, land and people. But now I learn that Napolean, Ghengis Khan and the Ceasars just wanted everyone to be able share silly pictures of their cats!

The problem with this is that not everyone makes enough money to pay for everything in cash. In fact, the vast, vast majority of us don't. I've been saving for two years to have enough money for a down payment on a house. Just the down payment. I wouldn't be living in an apartment right now if I didn't have credit. And living in my parents' basement until I saved up enough wasn't ever an option for me. SSN's and credit ratings, regardless of how unfair or unintelligently they're maintained, are vital to far more people than can ignore these things. People who say, "LIVE WITHOUT CREDIT!" are just flaunting their ignorance and arrogance.