Well yes, provided those smart people have the opportunity to pursue their intellect. If the vast majority of the people are serfs barely scraping by, and the

Well yes, provided those smart people have the opportunity to pursue their intellect. If the vast majority of the people are serfs barely scraping by, and the only people with "idle time" are inbred dunces hanging out at various courts, progress will be very slow (see Europe during the dark ages..).