The Nobility in the European Middle Ages
Otto Forst de Battaglia
One of the most impressive testimonies to unity mankind lies in fact that certain basic features social structure have been determined different areas by existence similar conditions. Thus ancient Egypt, Japan, early American cultures and among Indo-European peoples sociological analysis shows rise aristocracy due coincidence irrational, deepseated, retrospective convictions with economic Repeatedly evolution a ruling class runs back into prehistoric darkness when related tribes first united form primordial political community; earliest historic age such community we find members this regarded as descendants gods or even their earthly embodiments. It is on belief divine origins great base claim monopoly power, latter including disposal labor unfree. The same leads them perpetuate themselves caste; family lines must not be contaminated blood low-born. mass free-born accepts order divinely ordained. There no sign any consciousness oppression nor thought revolt against privileges aristocracy. for its part carefully heeds rights common mortals. either tradition golden equality, if there some legend lost paradise, it fails incite an sanctified immemorial existence. A society based respect hereditary monopolized best land could subverted forces generated solely within lower classes. Discontent become revolutionary only through cultural developments made possible ask question, “When Adam delved Eve span, who was then gentleman?”
Comparative Studies in Society and History