Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/455

 CHAP. XII. EICH AND POOR THE TYRANTS. 449 CHAPTER XII. Rich and Poor. Democracy Perishes. The Popular Tyrants. When a series of revolutions had produced an ■equality among men, and there was no longer occasion to fight for principles and rights, men began to make war for interests. This new period in the history of cities did not commence for all at the same time. In some it closely followed the establishment of democ- racy; in others it appeared only after several genera- tions that had known how to govern themselves with mo>ieration. But all the cities sooner or later passed through these deplorable struggles. As men departed liom the ancient system, a poor class began to grow up. Before, when every man be- longed to a gens, and had his master, extreme poverty was almost unknown. A man was supported by his chief; the one to whom he owed obedience was bound in turn to provide for his wants. But the revolutions which had dissolved the yifog had also changed the conditions of luiman life. The day when man was freed from the bonds of clientship, he saw the necessi- ties and the difficulties of existence stand out before him. Life had become more independent, but it was also more laborious and subject to more accidents. Thenceforth each one had the care of his own well- being, his enjoyments, and his task. One became rich by his activity or his good fortune, while another re- mained poor. Inequality of wealth is inevitable in every society which does not wish to remain in the patriarclial state or in that of the tribe. 29