As the Scythians lived principally by pasturage and hunting, from the nature of that way of employment they were continually changing their habitations.
But even in this case some small degree of agriculture was carried on, and therefore some sort of division of property became necessary.

This division was made among each tribe by its proper chief.

But their shares were allotted to the several individuals only for a year, lest they should come to attach themselves to any certain habitation: a settlement being wholly contrary to the genius of the Scythian, manners.
Campestres melius Scythae, Quorum plaustra vagas rite trahunt domos, Vivunt, et rigidi Getae, Immetata quibus jugera liberas Fruges et Cererem ferunt, Nec cultura placet longior annua.
[Sidenote: Estates for life.] [Sidenote: Inheritance.] [Sidenote: Book-land.] [Sidenote: Folk-land.] [Sidenote: Saxon fiefs.] This custom of an annual property probably continued amongst the Germans as long as they remained in their own country; but when their conquests carried them into other parts, another object besides the possession of the land arose, which obliged them to make a change in this particular.
In the distribution of the conquered lands, the ancient possessors of them became an object of consideration, and the management of these became one of the principal branches of their polity.

It was expedient towards holding them in perfect subjection, that they should be habituated to obey one person, and that a kind of cliental relation should be created between them; therefore the land, with the slaves, and the people in a state next to slavery, annexed to it, was bestowed for life in the general distribution.

When life-estates were once granted, it seemed a natural consequence that inheritances should immediately supervene.