ABSTRACT
The feudal society of the Middle Ages was based on the ownership of land, which determined both social status and the principles of government. There was a long tradition of the communism of village life. But upon it had been imposed the dominance of the owner of the land, the lord of the manor. In the North it was the Scandinavians who were the pioneers. The Northmen always displayed a two-fold characteristic, a ruthlessness in destruction followed by a genius for construction. They came as pirates in the first place, seeking for plunder; eventually they turned into traders, for they had goods to sell. Piracy and trade were indeed kindred pursuits in the Middle Ages. Land transport was a more difficult matter, for the roads were rarely in a fit state of repair for the accommodation of heavy traffic. Commerce, geographical situation, past history, and the need for protection were all factors determining the position and the rise of towns.
