Das Mutterrecht

Das Mutterrecht, or "Mother Right," is a seminal work by Swiss jurist Johann Jakob Bachofen, published in 1861. This book is considered a significant contribution to modern social anthropology.1

Bachofen proposed that mother right, a system where maternal lineage holds authority, preceded father right (patriarchy). He based his theories on classical Greek and Roman texts, but later expanded his research to include evidence from various cultures.1

The concept of mother right suggests a matriarchal principle or custom where a mother or female elder has authority within the family. While the idea of matriarchy as a stage in cultural evolution has been discredited by modern anthropologists, the terms are still used descriptively. Bachofen's work laid the groundwork for scientific study into the history of the family as a social institution.231