th.

_Individual Development in the Dominant Group_.--Feudalism established
a strong individualism among leaders, a strong personality based on
sterling intellectual qualities. It is evident that this excessive
individual development became very prominent in the later evolution of
social order, and is recognized as a gain in social advancement.
Individual culture is essential to social advancement. To develop
strong, independent, self-reliant individuals might tend to produce
anarchy rather than social order, yet it must eventually lead to the
latter; and so it proved in the case of feudalism, for its very {303}
chaotic state brought about, as a necessity, social order. But it came
about through survival of the fittest, in conquest and defense. Nor
did the most worthy always succeed, but rather those who had the
greatest power in ruthless conquest. Unity came about through the
unbridled exercise of the predatory spirit, accompanied by power to
take and to hold.

This chaotic state of individualistic people was the means of bringing
about an improvement in intellectual development. The strong
individual character with position and leisure becomes strong
intellectually in planning defense and in meditating upon the
philosophy of life. The notes of song and of literature came from the
feudal times. The determination of the mind to intellectual pursuits
appeared in the feudal regime, and individual culture and independent
intellectual life, though of the few and at the expense of the
majority, were among the important contributions to civilization.

SUBJECTS FOR FURTHER STUDY

1. What was the basis of feudal society?

2. What elements of feudalism were Roman and what Teutonic?

3. What service did feudalism render civilization?

4. Show that feudalism was transition from empire to modern
nationality.

5. How did feudal lords obtain titles to their land? Give examples.

6. What survivals of feudalism may be observed in modern governments?

7. When King John of England wrote after his signature "King of
_England_," what was its significance?

8. How did feudalism determine the character of monarchy in modern
nations?

[1] _History of France_.

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CHAPTER XIX

ARABIAN CONQUEST AND CULTURE

The dissemination of knowledge, customs, habits, and laws from common
centres of culture has been greatly augmented by population movements
or migrations, by great empires established, b