Primitive Civilizations
Or, Outlines of the History of Ownership in Archaic Communities

A pioneering comparative analysis of the economic history of ancient societies including Egypt and China, first published in 1897.

Edith Jemima Simcox (Author)

9781108021845, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 4 November 2010

592 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 3.7 cm, 1.02 kg

Edith Simcox (1844–1901) was a prominent British feminist, social critic, and prolific writer. She published many articles and essays advocating support for women's rights to education, improved working conditions and suffrage. Her scholarly works in philosophy and economic history sought to demonstrate that contemporary capitalism was not the only route to a prosperous society. These volumes, first published in 1897, contain a comparative analysis of the economic history of ancient societies. Simcox discusses and compares aspects of economic history including ownership, industry and commerce, and domestic relations and ownership rights within families, in ancient Egypt, Sumeria and China. Through her comparisons, this pioneering volume examines economic effects on the proprietary rights of women, demonstrating that gender relations and contemporary ideals were not consistent across ancient cultures. Volume 1 contains her discussions of Egypt and Babylonia. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=simced

Preface
1. Introduction
2. Prehistoric problems
Book I. Ownership in Egypt: 1. The monarchy and the royal officers
2. The economic order
3. Commerce and industry
4. Caste and descent
5. The military class
6. The national religion and the priesthood
7. Civil law and custom
8. Domestic relation and family law
Book II. Ancient Babylonia: 1. Sumerian civilization
2. Babylonian chronology
3. The ancient cities of Sumer and Akkad
4. Babylonia and Assyria
5. Commercial law and contract tablets
6. Domestic relations and family law
Book III. From Massalia to Malabar: 1. The Phoenicians and Carthage
2. Prehistoric populations of Asia Minor, Greece, and Italy
3. The Etruscans, Lycians, and Rhodians
4. The laws of Charondas
5. Legendary Amazons and historical Iberians
6. Crete and Sparta
7. A Syrian law-book
8. Ancient Arabia
9. Hamitic African tribes
10. Malabar.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]