Key Arguments

• The German and Scythian invasions brought 'rapine and violence' that 'interrupted the commerce between the towns and the country,' so that 'The towns were deserted, and the country was left uncultivated,' causing formerly opulent provinces to 'sunk into the lowest state of poverty and barbarism.'
• In the ensuing confusions, 'the chiefs and principal leaders of those nations acquired, or usurped to themselves, the greater part of the lands of those countries,' and 'no part of them, whether cultivated or uncultivated, was left without a proprietor. All of them were engrossed, and the greater part by a few great proprietors.'
• Smith concedes that 'This original engrossing of uncultivated lands, though a great, might have been but a transitory evil,' because they 'might soon have been divided again, and broke into small parcels, either by succession or by alienation.'
• However, 'The law of primogeniture hindered them from being divided by succession; the introduction of entails prevented their being broke into small parcels by alienation,' so the initial engrossment was made permanent and blocked later subdivision that might have favoured cultivation.

Source Quotes

When the German and Scythian nations overran the western provinces of the Roman empire, the confusions which followed so great a revolution lasted for several centuries. The rapine and violence which the barbarians exercised against the ancient inhabitants, interrupted the commerce between the towns and the country. The towns were deserted, and the country was left uncultivated; and the western provinces of Europe, which had enjoyed a considerable degree of opulence under the Roman empire, sunk into the lowest state of poverty and barbarism. During the continuance of those confusions, the chiefs and principal leaders of those nations acquired, or usurped to themselves, the greater part of the lands of those countries.

The rapine and violence which the barbarians exercised against the ancient inhabitants, interrupted the commerce between the towns and the country. The towns were deserted, and the country was left uncultivated; and the western provinces of Europe, which had enjoyed a considerable degree of opulence under the Roman empire, sunk into the lowest state of poverty and barbarism. During the continuance of those confusions, the chiefs and principal leaders of those nations acquired, or usurped to themselves, the greater part of the lands of those countries.

The towns were deserted, and the country was left uncultivated; and the western provinces of Europe, which had enjoyed a considerable degree of opulence under the Roman empire, sunk into the lowest state of poverty and barbarism. During the continuance of those confusions, the chiefs and principal leaders of those nations acquired, or usurped to themselves, the greater part of the lands of those countries. A great part of them was uncultivated; but no part of them, whether cultivated or uncultivated, was left without a proprietor.

A great part of them was uncultivated; but no part of them, whether cultivated or uncultivated, was left without a proprietor. All of them were engrossed, and the greater part by a few great proprietors. This original engrossing of uncultivated lands, though a great, might have been but a transitory evil.

They might soon have been divided again, and broke into small parcels, either by succession or by alienation. The law of primogeniture hindered them from being divided by succession; the introduction of entails prevented their being broke into small parcels by alienation. When land, like moveables, is considered as the means only of subsistence and enjoyment, the natural law of succession divides it, like them, among all the children of the family; of all of whom the subsistence and enjoyment may be supposed equally dear to the father.

Key Concepts

• the rapine and violence which the barbarians exercised against the ancient inhabitants, interrupted the commerce between the towns and the country. The towns were deserted, and the country was left uncultivated
• the western provinces of Europe, which had enjoyed a considerable degree of opulence under the Roman empire, sunk into the lowest state of poverty and barbarism
• the chiefs and principal leaders of those nations acquired, or usurped to themselves, the greater part of the lands of those countries
• All of them were engrossed, and the greater part by a few great proprietors
• The law of primogeniture hindered them from being divided by succession; the introduction of entails prevented their being broke into small parcels by alienation

Context

Opening of Book III, Chapter II, where Smith explains historically how post‑Roman political chaos, land usurpation, and subsequent legal institutions laid the groundwork for long‑term discouragement of agriculture in Europe.