The Historical Inscriptions of Southern India (collected till 1923) and Outlines of Political History c7.5

c7.5

The iron age gradually merged into the very early historic period. Originally, it cannot be doubted, the unit of mankind was the family. Then, as population increased, families living side by side, owing to the existence of common interests found themselves almost insensibly forced into obedience to a tribal chief whose rule met the general needs of the community. And after a lapse of time this union of families developed into a union of tribes, and this last union grew into the formation of nations; the whole process being primarily due to the disagreement of the units. Firstly family against family, then tribe against tribe, and finally nation against nation; each unit being formed for defence against other units. At the last stage the historic period begins.