722 AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST [n. s. f I, 1899
monarchy the people are regimented by lands. The capital of the country of the aristocracy is the seat of government, the provinces are minor units of government, and the monarch is the vice-regent of the god.
In monarchy a method of government and a consequent stage of society in hereditary ranks obtain. As the units of govern- ment constitute a hierarchy of control both in civil and religious conduct, so also there is a hierarchical aristocracy. Position in this aristocracy is determined by hereditary descent. Every per- son is born into a status of rank in society.
The kingship is inherent in a family and descends from father to son. In the failure of lineal descent the kingship passes into a collateral line. Thus a dynasty is produced which continues from father to son, or to nephew, or occasionally to daughter or niece, until such dynasty is overthrown.
Other members of the aristocracy are nobles of various ranks ; but nobility passes from father to son, the eldest living son tak- ing precedence, and the title may pass beyond lineal descend- ants into collateral lines. The monarch may create new orders of nobility at will ; and he may create nobles from the common ranks, and may also promote from rank to rank. It is thus that position among the nobles is in the gift of the crown as a reward for service. A shrewd monarch uses his power not only to re- ward men for service, but also to keep up a body of persons of superior capacity to cooperate with him in sustaining the royal authority and dignity.
In this manner a governing body is constituted in a hierarchy of ranks, social, governmental, and religious, with the power which inheres in wealth, the power which inheres in government, the power which inheres in the command of the armies, and the power which inheres in ecclesiastical domination and dignity.
This comparatively small group of persons rule over the peo- ple, who are also arranged in a more or less clearly denned hierarchy of ranks, as freemen, serfs, and slaves. The freemen
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