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)

9781108021852, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 4 November 2010

566 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 3.5 cm, 0.98 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 2 contains her discussion of ancient and medieval China. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=simced

Book IV. Ownership in China: 1. The land and its history
2. The ancient monarchy
3. Political ethics and political economy
4. The rural economy of the Chow
5. Industry and trade in the middle antiquity of China
6. Social and domestic relations in mediaeval China
7. Feudalism and the fall of Chow
8. The philosophers of the hundred schools
9. The usurpation of T'sin and the burning of the books
10. Reign of the Han Dynasty (206 BC–229 AD)
11. From the Three Kingdoms to the Souy Dynasty (221–620 AD)
12. The Tang Dynasty (620–907 AD)
13. Chinese finance from the Han to the Tang Dynasty
14. Posterior dynasties and the Sung (907–1280 AD)
15. Agrarian economy and the innovator's laws
16. Taxation and finance under the Sung
17. Two literary statesmen of the Sung Dynasty
18. Controversies, the schools and the examinations
19. Foreign accounts of China under the Sung and the first Mongols
20. The Mongols after Kubla
21. The Ming Dynasty (1368–1649 AD)
22. Education, art, and social changes under the Ming
23. Foreign accounts of China under the Ming
24. The Mantchu Dynasty, called Tsing, 1644–****
25. Contemporary China
26. Life in Chinese villages
27. The wages and organization of industry
28. Commerce and trade
29. The law of marriage and inheritance
30. Agrarian laws and customs
31. Financial and mercantile offences
32. Miscellaneous laws, administration and social institutions
Conclusions
Appendices
Index.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]