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

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.

Edith Simcox (1844-1901) was a prominent British feminist, social critic and a prolific writer. These volumes, first published in 1897, contain a pioneering comparative analysis of aspects of the economic history of ancient societies. Volume 2 contains her discussion of ancient and medieval China.