The Origin of Civilization and the Primitive Condition of Man

John Lubbock's work, The Origin of Civilization and the Primitive Condition of Man, is a foundational text in early anthropology. Lubbock is credited with coining the terms Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) and Neolithic (New Stone Age).1

The book explores the characteristics of what early anthropologists termed \"primitive culture.\" These societies were often defined by a lack of written language, relative isolation, small populations, and simpler technologies and social institutions. Information was typically passed down through oral tradition. Lubbock's work contributed to the 19th-century scientific interest in the origins of humanity and the evolution of societies from simple to complex forms.23