The Wealth of Nations · Chapter
II: Of the Discouragement of Agriculture in the Ancient State of Europe After the Fall of the Roman Empire explained
This chapter examines the decline of agriculture in Europe following the fall of the Roman Empire, attributing it to the barbarian invasions, the engrossing of land by a few great proprietors, and the establishment of primogeniture and enta
What happens
This chapter examines the decline of agriculture in Europe following the fall of the Roman Empire, attributing it to the barbarian invasions, the engrossing of land by a few great proprietors, and the establishment of primogeniture and entails. It argues that these institutions, along with the use of slave labor and restrictive trade policies, discouraged agricultural improvement and perpetuated poverty and barbarism.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Inequality
The chapter discusses how great proprietors engrossed land, creating a class of dependent tenants and slaves, and how primogeniture and entails perpetuated inequality.
Division of Labor
The decline of commerce between towns and country after the fall of Rome disrupted the division of labor, leading to agricultural stagnation.
Role of Government
Smith critiques ancient European policies such as export prohibitions and laws against engrossers, which discouraged agricultural improvement.
Characters to notice
- The Romans
The Romans are referenced as having enjoyed opulence under their empire, which was lost after the barbarian invasions.
- Aristotle
Aristotle is cited regarding the inefficiency of slave labor in ancient Greece and the impracticality of Plato's ideal republic.
- Columella
Columella is mentioned alongside Pliny as noting the degeneration of corn cultivation under slave management in ancient Italy.
- Plato
Plato's ideal republic is referenced by Aristotle in the context of the need for vast territory to support idle warriors.
Key passages
“The rapine and violence which the barbarians exercised against the ancient inhabitants, interrupted the commerce between the towns and the country.”
The barbarians' plundering and violence disrupted trade between urban and rural areas.
Smith describes the immediate economic consequence of the barbarian invasions.
“The law of primogeniture, therefore, came to take place, not immediately, indeed, but in process of time, in the succession of landed estates, for the same reason that it has generally taken place in that of monarchies.”
Primogeniture gradually emerged in land inheritance for the same reason it appears in monarchies: to prevent division of power.
Smith explains the origin of primogeniture as a response to the need for security in feudal times.
“A person who can acquire no property, can have no other interest but to eat as much, and to labour as little as possible.”
Someone who cannot own property has no incentive to work beyond subsistence.
Smith argues that slave labor is inefficient because slaves lack personal economic interest.