Decadence of the Mark. 41 
A reaction naturally followed, when it was pointed out 
that the wealth of a nation lies in its natural resources 
and in its labor, but this so-called physiocratic doctrine 
had little practical influence except to prepare men’s 
minds for the reception of the teachings of Adam Smith 
at the end of the period. 
The doctrines of the Roman law, deified by the jurists 
and commentators, undermined the national conceptions 
and institutions of free citizenship and property rela- 
tions; courts, legislation and administration were sub- 
ject to their sway, and this influence lasted, in spite of 
reactions, until the end of the 18th century. Under it 
the doctrine of the imperium—the seignorage or supe- 
rior power of the princes (Hoheitsrecht)—was further 
developed into the dominium terrae, i. e., superior own- 
ership of all the land, which gives rise to the title and 
the exercise of the function of “Landesherren,’ masters 
of the land and confers the privilege of curtailing and 
even discontinuing private property rights. 
Under this doctrine the historic position of the Mark 
is perverted and instead of being the common property 
of the people, it becomes the property of the prince, on 
which he graciously permits the usufruct; for forest, 
pasture and water (Wald, Weide, Wasser) are res pub- 
licae, hence ownerless and at the disposal of the King. 
Through this construction of relationship, as well as 
through the same machinations and tricks which the 
princes as Obermaerker or headmen of the Mark em- 
ployed in the foregoing period to usurp power, and 
partly through voluntary dissolution the decadence of | 
the social, economic and political organization of the 
Mark was gradually completed. 
