Its place was taken by the modern but narrower ideal of separate polities, each pursuing its own course, independent of, and often in conflict with, other societies.
Unity gave way to diversity of tongues, of churches, of states; and the cosmopolitan became nationalist, patriot, separatist.

Imperial monarchy shrank to a shadow; and kings divided the emperor's power (p.

030) at the same time that they consolidated their own.

They extended their authority on both sides, at the expense of their superior, the emperor, and at the expense of their subordinate feudal lords.

The struggle between the disruptive forces of feudalism and the central power of monarchy ended at last in monarchical triumph; and internal unity prepared the way for external expansion.