366 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 



come of the agricultural revival, than he will to 

 many of the changes of Government or other 

 political events that loomed so large in the view 

 of their contemporaries. He will trace in these 

 countries, during the period in question, the dis- 

 appearance of such conditions as those that 

 led in earlier days to peasants' wars and rural 

 risings. He will see how classes that for centuries 

 had been regarded as the most hopeless victims 

 of dull routine and narrow-minded individualism 

 were led to adopt new ideas, to avail themselves 

 of the teachings of scientific research, and to 

 recognize the paramount need — following on 

 altered circumstances — for taking common action 

 to gain common advantages. He will find how, 

 with the strength that comes from unity, groups 

 of foreign peasants had invaded British markets, 

 and gained a commercial victory over farmers 

 mainly superior to themselves in means and 

 social status, but content to stand alone, each 

 more or less mistrustful of his neighbour. Then 

 he will learn, also, how the changes thus brought 

 about in Continental conditions tended to the 

 breaking down of class prejudices, by bringing 

 all sections of the rural community into closer 

 touch and more friendly intercourse one with 

 another; how they checked, if they did not 

 actually nullify, the economic depression that 



