MEDIEVAL LIFE IN EUROPE 287

pean society together. For the protection of life and property
as well as the undisturbed conduct of normal social acti-
vity it was necessary to improvise a new system. This was
secured by the distribution and localisation of all the func-
tions of government, which also necessitated a like distri-
bution of authority. However, it is necessary to point out
that this reorganisation of society was spontaneous and
natural, and not the result of deliberate planning by any
great statesman. It was derived partly from Roman and
partly from Teutonic sources.

In the provinces of the Roman Empire agriculture was
carried on for centuries by free tenants known as the colonL
But during the period of confusion these coloni tended to
depend more and more upon some strong local landowner,
and virtually sold their independence in retum for security.
Likewise, the Teutonic custom of Commending oneself to
a mighty chief, served to bring about a social system of
dependence and protection. The anarchy during the ninth
and tenth centuries was so great that no price was considered
too big to pay for security. Indeed, even in insular Bri-
tain, the daily prayer happened to be—" from the fury of
the "Northmen, good Lord, deliver us."

Land, which was the source of all wealth and power in
those days, came to be divided and distributed for protec-
tion as well as cultivation. In theory it was owned by one
supreme overlord, the king; in practice it was divided and
subdivided and held by a gradation of landlords and tenants.
The terms on which the estates or fiefs granted by the lord
to the tenant or by the tenant to the sub-tenants (vassals),
were of service, both military and civil. The vassal was to
fight for his lord in times of war, and to cultivate the land
for him in times of peace. The latter included
not merely working on one's own farm, but also