The origin of the family, private property, and the state

by Friedrich Engels

"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.