Initially, his successors could be drawn from the Prophet's contemporaries, but with time, this was no longer possible.
( ( ( ( ( Initially ( , ( ( his successors ) ( could ( be ( drawn ( from ( ( the ( Prophet 's ) ) contemporaries ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) , ) but ) ( ( with time ) ( , ( this ( was ( ( no longer ) possible ) ) ) ) ) ) . )
(ROOT (S (S (ADVP (RB Initially)) (, ,) (NP (PRP$ his) (NNS successors)) (VP (MD could) (VP (VB be) (VP (VBN drawn) (PP (IN from) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN Prophet) (POS 's)) (NNS contemporaries))))))) (, ,) (CC but) (S (PP (IN with) (NP (NN time))) (, ,) (NP (DT this)) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (ADVP (RB no) (RBR longer)) (JJ possible)))) (. .)))
The contemporaries were known to be great men.
( ( The contemporaries ) ( ( were ( known ( to ( be ( great men ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NNS contemporaries)) (VP (VBD were) (VP (VBN known) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (NP (JJ great) (NNS men))))))) (. .)))