Originally published in 1938, The Origin of the Inequality of the Social Classes presents ethnological research into how rank and inequality has been created or formed in various societies. This study especially focuses on recent changes in aboriginal cultures with particular attention paid to the Kiwai Papuans of British New Guinea whom Landtman researched extensively from 1910-1912. This title will be of interest to students of Sociology and Anthropology.
Preface; Part A: The Primary Causes of Social Inequality; 1. Equality of Rank Prevailing Among the Lowest Races 2. The Position of Women and Children – Age Classes 3. Social Differentiation Through Personal Qualities 4. Wealth as Influencing Social Differentiation 5. Social Differentiation as Influenced by the Development of Trades 6. Social Differentiation as Influenced by the Development of Trades (Concluded) 7. Social Inequality Caused by the Amalgamation of Tribes; Part B: The Origin of Priesthood; 8. Introduction – The Human Need of Mediators with the Preternatural World 9. The First Appearance of Priests 10. Qualifications Required by Aspirants to Priesthood – Initiation of Priests 11. How Priests Gain Reputation – Origin of Priesthood as a Distinct Order 12. Classification of Priests and Distribution of Priestly Functions; Part C: The Origin of Slavery; 13. Theory – Intra-Tribal Slavery 14. Extra-Tribal Slavery- Enslavement through Captivity in War 15. Further Sources of Slavery – Classification of the Slave Order; Part D: The Origin of Nobility; 16. Nobility or the Upper Free Class-Concluding Observations Regarding the Main Classes; Part E: The Origin of Government 17. Council of the Influential Men and Chieftainship
Biography
Gunnar Landtman
