40 Germany. 
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. 
