The Origin of Civilisation and the Primitive Condition of Man

Though professionally a banker and politician John Lubbock (18341913) is best remembered for his scientific writings. As a boy he was tutored by his father''s friend Charles Darwin in natural history. He went on to make contributions to archaeology anthropology and entomology. In this illustrated anthropological treatise Lubbock applies evolutionary theory to the development of human civilisations outlining the progression from ancient forms of art relationships religion ethics language and law to their counterparts in the present day. He argues that the social structures of ancient cultures can be interpreted through interaction with contemporary primitive cultures. Published in book form in 1870 the material for this work was first delivered as a lecture series at the Royal Institution. Lubbock''s Pre-historic Times as Illustrated by Ancient Remains and the Manners and Customs of Modern Savages (1865) in which he coined the terms Palaeolithic and Neolithic is also reissued in this series.