CHAPTER IV ARISTOCRATIC AND MILITARY INFLUENCES IN NURSING AFTER the downfall of the Roman power in J- the western empire the social state of Europe was for a long time that of the "melting pot, " race clashing with race for suprem- acy, ancient classic culture and barbaric rawness striving together, each giving and outline of taking something, each contributing to social and the amalgamating process. The feudal conditions system arose from the redistribution of in the landed property, and was so worked out that the land still remained in privileged hands, while a system of protection and military duty bound the lesser lords to the greater, and the peasants to the landowner. The older system of chattel slavery was replaced under feudalism, when it had completely developed, by serfdom of vary- ing grades for the peasant and labourer. Feudal- ism, with its high born vassals and knights, its 59
