Why is competition necessary in a free-market system?

Competition is necessary for a free-market system to keep the economy from crashing into nothing but monopolies. Without the healthy competition of many companies offering the same goods/services, the most prominent companies would monopolize the market; Meaning that if the company chose to price a singular pair of workboots at upwards of two-thousand dollars, then the customer would have to somehow pay that amount instead of being able to check another store for a pair of workboots that are more reasonably priced for their budget.

both believe in many god or polytheism

both built temples that they worshiped in both civilization's god were humanoid

both groups made religion a large portion of their lives

both believe in one religion throughout

the dead were buried with items for the afterlife

which empire had the greatest influence on the history and cultural development of russia?