In the tenth century the old Batavian and later Roman forms have faded away.

The crusades made great improvement in the condition of the serfs.

Enthusiasm could not supply the place of experience.

A third force, developing itself more slowly, becomes even more potent than the rest: the power of gold.

The history of the Franks becomes, therefore, the history of the Netherlands.

A new civilization was not to be improvised by a single mind.

In the tenth century the old Batavian and later Roman forms have faded away.