34 PRINCIPLES OF RURAL ECONOMICS 



required some self-control and foresight, otherwise it would be 

 eaten up in times of hunger and thus the future source of income 

 cut off. When one man or one group of men had succeeded 

 in building up a herd, we may be very sure that neither would 

 be willing to share the fruits of labor peaceably with others. 

 Whereas, under the economy of the hunting and fishing stage, 

 there was very little private property and practically no private 

 capital, the transition of the pastoral economy brought with it 

 the institution of private capital and gave it great prominence. 

 Wealth came to be estimated in terms of cattle, and the posses- 

 sion of large wealth, as well as prowess in battle or the hunt, 

 became the basis of distinction. 



Reaction upon family life. With the perception of the 

 desirability of capital and the profit to be derived therefrom, 

 came also a perception of the value of labor on the one hand, 

 and the desirability of being attached to a wealthy flock owner 

 on the other. Particularly was it seen that women and children 

 were valuable aids to the herdsman ; and women saw the advan- 

 tage of being attached to a herdsman who was capable of sup- 

 plying them with food, clothing, and shelter, rather than to a 

 hunter who at best was able to provide only an uncertain living. 

 This situation gave rise to what is known as the patriarchal 

 family, which took the place of the somewhat loose and indefinite 

 type of family life which existed in the hunting stage. Under 

 the patriarchal family the flock owner was the supreme head, 

 his wives were virtually his slaves, were usually purchased from 

 their fathers, while his children, even his married sons, were 

 subject to him so long as he lived, except that he might sell his 

 daughters as wives to other herdsmen, in which case they became 

 subject to their new masters. The whole household frequently 

 numbered many individuals, children, grandchildren, and great- 

 grandchildren. They were all attached to the herd and under the 

 authority of the herdsman, their oldest living male ancestor. 



