登陆注册
5405700000002

第2章

The most primitive tribe of hunters or shepherds maintains its existence only by means of an organisation based on kinship, wherein union for purposes of defence, joint journeyings to summer and winter pastures, communistic acquisition for the benefit of the whole tribe, communistic guidance by the tribal prince, play the most important parts. The first settlement and occupation of the soil is never a matter for individuals, but for tribes and clans. Then, while the life of religion, of language, of war, and of politics remains common for wider circles, the centre of gravity of economic life passes to the mark and the village. They become the bodies which for centuries rule the economic life of the mass of the people. The individual possesses, in the way of house and yard, garden and fields, only what the mark- or village community concedes to him and under the conditions it allows; he uses the pasture and the wood, the fisheries, and the hunting-ground on such terms as the commune (Gemeinde) permits; he ploughs and reaps as the village-community desires and ordains. It is hardly possible for him to come into closer intercourse with outsiders; for to remove any of the products, whatever they may be, derived directly or indirectly from the common land, is forbidden.(1*)To take wood from the common forest can only be allowed so long as no one exports wood or charcoal or tar; to turn out cattle at pleasure on the common pasture can only be recognised as a right when every one is feeding his own cattle for his own use and not for strangers. To alienate land to a non-member of the community is forbidden; and, indeed, as a rule, all sorts of formalities are put in the way even of the free yardling (Hufner) who wishes to leave the village. The village is an economic and commercial system complete in itself, and closed against the outside world. Its old constitution has to be broken up by the creation of great states and by other forces, before another and higher development of economic life can make its appearance.

As the village, so likewise does the town, - and even more conspicuously, - grow into an economic body (or organism), with a peculiar and vigorous life of its own, dominating every particular. To begin with, the choice of a locality, the laying-out of the plan, the construction of roadways, of bridges, and of walls; then the paving of the streets, the bringing of water, and the setting-up of lights; and, finally, the common arrangements which are necessary for the market, and which lead to common market-houses, public scales, etc. - these, together with the close juxtaposition of residences, and the higher forms of division of labour, of currency, and of credit, all create a mass of uniform, common institutions, and bring about an association of a far closer character than before. This necessarily makes itself felt both inside and outside the town.

For centuries economic progress is bound up with the rise of the towns and the formation of civic institutions. Each town, and especially each of the larger towns, seeks to shut itself up to itself as an economic whole, and, at the same time, in its relation to the outside world, to extend the sphere of its influence, both economic and political, as far as possible. It is not without significance, that, during a considerable period of ancient and of mediaeval history, all complete political structures were city-states, in which political and economic life, local economic selfishness and political patriotism, political conflict and economic rivalry, all coincided. The economic policy of the German towns of the Middle Ages, and their economic institutions, have played so controlling a part in German life down to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, they project themselves, so to speak, in so many directions, into our own time, that we must pause a moment to speak of them more at length.

Not only separate jurisdiction (Immunitat), but also the right of holding a market, of collecting tolls, and of coining money, were, from early times, the privileges of the growing urban communities. This exceptional position was strengthened by the abolition of payments and services in kind, as well as by the legal advantages flowing from the principle that "town-air makes free"; and, finally, by the conquest of the right of self-government and legislation by the town council. Each separate town felt itself to be a privileged community, gaining right after right by struggles kept up for hundreds of years, and forcing its way, by negotiation and purchase, into one political and economic position after the other. The citizen-body looked upon itself as forming a whole, and a whole that was limited as narrowly as possible, and for ever bound together. It received into itself only the man who was able to contribute, who satisfied definite conditions, proved a certain amount of property, took an oath and furnished security that he would stay a certain number of years. It released from its association only the man who solemnly abjured his citizenship before the council, who swore that he would bear his share of responsibility for the town's debts, and contribute to the taxes of the town for a number of years, and who handed over to the town ten per cent of his property. The omnipotence of the council ruled the economic life of the town, when in its prime, with scarcely any limit; it was supported in all its action by the most hard-hearted town selfishness and the keenest town patriotism, - whether it were to crush a competing neighbour or a competing suburb, to lay heavier fetters on the country around, to encourage local trade or to stimulate local industries.

同类推荐
  • 送人游南越

    送人游南越

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 半崧集简编

    半崧集简编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 上清太上玉清隐书灭魔神慧高玄真经

    上清太上玉清隐书灭魔神慧高玄真经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 竹书纪年辑证

    竹书纪年辑证

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 法书考

    法书考

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 超级神武道

    超级神武道

    地球联邦时代,开发基因潜能成为人类赖以生存的依靠。一部十八重的基础心诀,开启了基因全面异变时代。一套武道修炼系统,将这种异变推到了巅峰。“重回一百三十年前,我当无敌天下!”---秋少白。(新书-《超级神竞技》已上传,和这本类似题材,不过,应该更加新颖,希望大家能支持,谢谢!)
  • 大清棋情录

    大清棋情录

    倾力打造中国第一部长篇围棋文化言情小说。以江阴“抗清三公”的后人恩怨为线索,叙述大清乾隆年间,中国围棋最强时代的人文传奇故事,善解跨越两个地球的情爱纠缠。水墨江南,情迷棋中,小说家言,专家达人不必深究。
  • 洞穴大冒险(科学大探险)

    洞穴大冒险(科学大探险)

    乐乐淘是一个爱冒险的小男孩,在布瓜博士的帮助下,他与好朋友小猴一起进入了一个神秘的洞穴,开始了他们的秘境探幽之旅,并经历了一系列离奇精彩的故事。乐乐淘随身携带的背包可以从中取出任何想要的东西,解决在旅途中遇到的问题;而飞毯的神奇之处在于它可以根据需要变化,可以变成雪橇、潜艇、轮船等等。在这个故事中,所有的动物都是拟人化的,它们像人类一样生动、可爱。在这个幽深的洞穴中,他们看到了丰富多样的生物群和令人惊叹的洞穴景观,并通过远程链接布瓜博士,通过他们在旅行中的所见所闻,解答他们所有的疑问。
  • 原来可以等到你

    原来可以等到你

    当傲娇又腹黑的高以樊不可救药地陷入暗恋,世上所有的倾城容颜都比不上陆晚江澄澈会笑的双眼。陆晚江想要的不多,不过是一个许她温柔的恋人,他却给了她今生今世全部的疼爱与陪伴。在至亲面前,他坦言:“这个女人其实算不上美,可是她,让我觉得动心。动心的次数太多,就渐渐动了爱情。”在情敌面前,他回绝:“不好意思,我向来只替自己爱女人。”这世间,总有一个人,免你无枝可依,给你最稳妥的爱。
  • 驭兽天下:狂宠绝色魔妃

    驭兽天下:狂宠绝色魔妃

    她本是修灵天赋冠绝天下的女尊,魂穿异界,回到被割喉而死的前世身上。新身份是没有灵脉,不能修炼的废物女?笑话!介子空间秘法、阵图、神器大把的她想说:你全家才是废物!帝释萱:四国皇裔,青络灵女,所谓天才看本皇不爽?夺了你司掌的神器,抢走你看中的圣兽,哔哔啥,有本事抢回去啊!六大圣地,界外妖域嚣张霸道?拿太古传承压死你们!十尾:吾主之下,除那几只想当本狐男主人的妖孽,余者皆是渣渣~驭圣兽掌神器,携紫脉动宸星,二十万年轮转,归来此界是我!
  • 一剑春秋

    一剑春秋

    一泓秋水游红尘,嚣嚣岁月,悠悠几载,春秋一剑名镇天下。
  • 快穿系统:男神哥哥跟我走

    快穿系统:男神哥哥跟我走

    叶梨清死后竟然亲眼目睹了自己的葬礼……看着墓碑上的黑白相片,叶梨清的心情那叫一个复杂。某系统高冷状:“你要是再不与我绑定灵魂契约,你就要魂飞魄散了。”于是,叶梨清就与脑残系统绑定了灵魂契约,开启了收割男神之路! 虐变态男中二男影帝猎妖师鬼王天子霸道总裁! 各路男神齐聚一堂,都扑倒叶小姐脚下求她高抬贵手放过自己! 本文无男主。 女主身心干净and恋爱故事苦中带甜 欢迎跳坑! 简介无能,各位仙女请看正文。
  • 等你的563天

    等你的563天

    校里的枫叶落了,不知道能不能等到她来?她说过要一起看落叶的……她说她想趁着她还能爱,要好好的爱一把他任性的答道我就是你要爱的,除了我你谁都不能爱!“你要把我的桃花折了吗?”“对!看你怎么朝花惹草”……
  • 季汉再兴

    季汉再兴

    一个现代社会的高材生,穿越到建兴二年的蜀汉,他,会发生什么呢?
  • 彼得原理:方法、实务、案例

    彼得原理:方法、实务、案例

    这是一本管理学普及读物。本书通过10大原则49个方法为你解决管理中90%的问题,为在不胜任职位上痛苦挣扎的人开出获得快乐的处方,为滞留在企业底层郁郁不得志的人指点晋升的捷径,为管理者提供知人善任的方法,是所有中层必读书。