Chapter 5

What we have said concerning a city may nearly be applied to a country; for as to what soil it should be, every one evidently will commend it if it is such as is sufficient in itself to furnish what will make the inhabitants happy; for which purpose it must be able to supply them with all the necessaries of life; for it is the having these in plenty, without any want, which makes them content. As to its extent, it should be such as may enable the inhabitants to live at their ease with freedom and temperance. Whether we have done right or wrong in fixing this limit to the territory shall be considered more minutely hereafter, when we come particularly to inquire into property, and what fortune is requisite for a man to live on, and how and in what manner they ought to employ it; for there are many doubts upon this question, while each party insists upon their own plan of life being carried to an excess, the one of severity, the other of indulgence. What the situation of the country should be it is not difficult to determine, in some particulars respecting that we ought to be advised by those who are skilful in military affairs. It should be difficult of access to an enemy, but easy to the inhabitants: and as we said, that the number of [1327a] inhabitants ought to be such as can come under the eye of the magistrate, so should it be with the country; for then it is easily defended. As to the position of the city, if one could place it to one's wish, it is convenient to fix it on the seaside: with respect to the country, one situation which it ought to have has been already mentioned, namely, that it should be so placed as easily to give assistance to all places, and also to receive the necessaries of life from all parts, and also wood, or any other materials which may happen to be in the country.

What we have said about a city may apply almost equally to a country. Everyone will clearly praise its soil if the land can itself provide enough to make the inhabitants happy. For this purpose, the land must supply all the necessities of life. Having these in abundance, with nothing lacking, makes the inhabitants content. The territory should be large enough for the inhabitants to live comfortably, freely, and moderately. We will examine later, in greater detail, whether we were right to set this limit on the territory. We will do so when discussing property, the wealth a person needs to live, and how that wealth should be used. For there are many doubts about this question. Each side insists on taking its own way of life to an extreme, one toward strictness, the other toward indulgence. It is not difficult to determine where the country should be located. On some points, we should take advice from those skilled in military affairs. The country should be hard for an enemy to enter, but easy for its inhabitants to access. As we said, the number of [1327a] inhabitants should be small enough for the magistrate to oversee. Likewise, the country should be small enough to survey, because then it is easily defended. If we could choose the city's location as we wished, a site by the sea would be convenient. One requirement for its position in relation to the country has already been mentioned. The city should be located so that help can easily be sent to every part of the country. Its location should also allow it to receive necessities from all parts, along with timber or other materials the country may contain.