The chapter from Thorstein Veblen's *The Theory of the Leisure Class* explores the development and characteristics of the leisure class in various stages of barbarian culture. The leisure class, characterized by non-industrial occupations such as government, warfare, religious observances, and sports, is most rigorously defined in feudal Europe and Japan. In these societies, the upper classes are exempt from industrial labor and are reserved for honorable roles. The chapter also discusses the less differentiated form of the leisure class in earlier barbarian cultures, such as Polynesian islanders and Icelandic Sagas, where manual labor is primarily the domain of the lower classes. In more primitive stages of barbarism, the leisure class is absent or less defined, with hunting and gathering being the primary means of subsistence. The chapter highlights the emergence of the leisure class during the transition from a peaceable to a consistently warlike lifestyle, driven by predatory habits and the availability of easy subsistence. The distinction between exploit and drudgery, where exploit is seen as honorable and drudgery as dishonorable, is rooted in the cultural and psychological context of the time. This distinction reflects a broader shift in the perception of work and its value, influenced by the community's spiritual and material circumstances.The chapter from Thorstein Veblen's *The Theory of the Leisure Class* explores the development and characteristics of the leisure class in various stages of barbarian culture. The leisure class, characterized by non-industrial occupations such as government, warfare, religious observances, and sports, is most rigorously defined in feudal Europe and Japan. In these societies, the upper classes are exempt from industrial labor and are reserved for honorable roles. The chapter also discusses the less differentiated form of the leisure class in earlier barbarian cultures, such as Polynesian islanders and Icelandic Sagas, where manual labor is primarily the domain of the lower classes. In more primitive stages of barbarism, the leisure class is absent or less defined, with hunting and gathering being the primary means of subsistence. The chapter highlights the emergence of the leisure class during the transition from a peaceable to a consistently warlike lifestyle, driven by predatory habits and the availability of easy subsistence. The distinction between exploit and drudgery, where exploit is seen as honorable and drudgery as dishonorable, is rooted in the cultural and psychological context of the time. This distinction reflects a broader shift in the perception of work and its value, influenced by the community's spiritual and material circumstances.