he did not perceive the salvation of the world to lie in a
return to feudal conditions, it frequently happened that
only the resources of feudal times were at his disposal
for solving the problems which confronted him. Con-
sequently, he had to twist and turn them about in a
truly fantastic manner to adapt them to his modern
aims.

To the student who thoughtlessly examines More's
communism many of his expedients will appear to be
distorted, bizarre, and arbitrary, but they are, in fact,
dictated by a thorough and well-digested knowledge of the
needs and means of his time.

Like every other Socialist, More can only be understood
in the light of his age, to comprehend which a knowledge
of the beginnings of capitalism and the decline of feudal-
ism, of the powerful part played by the Church on the
one hand, and of world commerce on the other, is necessary.
These influences had a profound effect upon More, and
before we can sketch his personality and estimate his
writings, it is incumbent on us to indicate, at least in
outline, the historical situation whose product he was.

That is the task of the first part of our work.

-3-