THE PATH OF DEGENERATION IN SOCIOLOGY 209 



tinues, these separate into their component smaller 

 groups. Instance the ancient empires successively 

 formed in the East, the united kingdoms of which 

 severally resumed their autonomies when the coer- 

 cion of keeping them together ceased. Instance 

 again the Carlo vingian Empire which, first parting 

 into its large divisions, became, in course of time, 

 further disintegrated by subdivisions of these. And 

 when, as in this last case, the process of dissolution 

 goes very far, there is a return to something like 

 the primitive condition, under which small preda- 

 tory societies are engaged in continuous warfare 

 with like small societies around them." 



We may conclude then that political integration 

 is attended by degeneration ; primitive institutions 

 disappear and make way for fresh institutions, and 

 their disappearance is permanent. In the course 

 of the dissolution of the Carlovingian Empire 

 there was no reappearance either of the gentes 

 or of the primitive tribal system ; but when this 

 vast organization broke down, it was natural that 

 the more recently formed social bonds, having had 

 the least opportunity of becoming consolidated, 

 should be the first to be sundered. 



4. Degeneration in monetary systems. The prin- 

 ciple that degeneration retraces the steps of pro- 

 gress applies equally to a very different range of 

 ideas, the evolution of monetary systems. Stanley 

 Jevons says that there is little doubt that every 

 system of coinage was originally identical with a 







