Frequently he possessed no territory of his own, not even a castle, but depended upon the uncertain aids reluctantly granted by the diet.
Gunpowder was now coming into use as one of the most efficient engines of destruction, and was working great changes in the science of war.

It became necessary to have troops drilled to the use of cannon and muskets.

The baron could no longer summon his vassals, at the moment, to abandon the plow, and seize pike and saber for battle, where the strong arm only was needed.

Disciplined troops were needed, who could sweep the field with well-aimed bullets, and crumble walls with shot and shells.
This led to the establishment of standing armies, and gave the great powers an immense advantage over their weaker neighbors.

The invention of printing, also, which began to be operative about the middle of the fifteenth century, rapidly changed, by the diffusion of intelligence, the state of society, hitherto so barbarous.