The Origins of the Family, Private Property, and the State

Friedrich Engels's The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State (1884) explores the historical development of social institutions. Drawing heavily on Lewis Henry Morgan's Ancient Society, Engels posits that early human societies lacked private property and had less regulated family structures.12

Engels argues that technological advancements and the subsequent development of property ownership, particularly in agriculture and herds, led to changes in kinship systems. This shift fostered a desire to pass on property to offspring, resulting in increased male control over women and the evolution through stages like group marriage and matriarchy towards patriarchy and monogamy.2

The work critiques 19th-century European bourgeois family structures, viewing them as less equitable than earlier forms. Engels's theories have influenced feminist studies and kinship research, particularly in their examination of the position of women and the relationship between property and social organization.2