40 Qermany. 



1. Development of Forest Property Conditions. 



A number of changes in the conceptions of political 

 relations, in methods of life and of political economy 

 brought further changes in property conditions on the 

 same lines as those prevailing in the 14th and 15th cen- 

 turies. These changes were especially influenced by the 

 spread of Roman law doctrine regarding the rights of 

 the governing classes ; by the growth of the cities, favor- 

 ing industrial development and changing methods of 

 life; by the change from barter to money management, 

 favored by the discovery of America and other world 

 movements and by the resulting changes in economic 

 theory. 



Through the discovery of the new world an influx of 

 gold and silver gave impetus to industry and commerce 

 of the cities; the rapid increase of money capital in- 

 creased extravagance and induced a desire for amassing 

 wealth, which changed modes of life, changed policies 

 and systems of political economy. 



The fiscal policy of the many little principalities was 

 dominated by a desire to get a good balance of trade by 

 fostering exports of manufactures, but forbidding ex- 

 ports of raw materials like forest products, also by for- 

 bidding imports, subsidizing industries, fixing prices by 

 law, and taking in general an inimical attitude towards 

 outsiders. 



This so-called mercantilistic system, which had also 

 full sway in England under Cromwell and in France 

 under Colbert's influence, and the fiscal policy which 

 was bent upon bringing cash into the country, led under 

 the direction of servile officials to oppressive measures. 



