The origin of the family, private property, and the state
- First published
- 1884
- Reading level
- Fairly demanding
- Price
- Free
About the book
"The origin of the family, private property, and the state" by Friedrich Engels is an anthropological treatise published in 1884. Drawing on Karl Marx's notes and Lewis H. Morgan's research on ancient societies, Engels examines how human social organization evolved through distinct historical stages. The work explores the transition from matrilineal clans and primitive communism to patriarchal structures, arguing that the rise of private property fundamentally altered family dynamics and gender relations. Engels presents this shift as a pivotal transformation in human history, connecting economic developments with changes in power and social structure.
- Prehistoric peoples
- State, The
- Families
- Property
- Morgan, Lewis Henry, 1818-1881. Ancient society
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #33111. The origin of the family, private property, and the state on Wikipedia.
