Quote Originally Posted by Plato View Post
Bah! That's just feudal / monarchist propaganda.

Tribal societies were doing just fine during the Dark Ages, with trade and their own culture. They didn't want to work as slaves for someone else's benefit (serfdom); nor did the village-clan-tribe system system reach a pinnacle in just one man (kingdom).
As soon as they get a leader who will determine their united policy and goad them to a battle they may be equated to a faction (MTW-wise, not in the real world).