Question

Fortunately, among these people, a man was judged according to his worth and not according to the worth of his father.

Answer 1

Personal achievement was valued more than family heritage.

Answer 2

I hope u can fined answer in here. This quote from Chinua Achebe shows that someone can be come famous and a hero themselves, their worth is not inherited .

Achebe  

O internalizes the shame. U's not a manly man, and this make O overcompensate. "these people" is echoing Montaigne's sentiments because its a meritocracy, not an elitism. Speaks down on European culture.