File:The history of mankind (1896) (14577281297).jpg

Identifier: historyofmankind01ratz (find matches)
Title: The history of mankind
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Ratzel, Friedrich, 1844-1904 Butler, Arthur John, 1844-1910
Subjects: Ethnology Anthropology
Publisher: London, Macmillan and co., ltd. New York, The Macmillan co.
Contributing Library: Wellesley College Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Wellesley College Library

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te for the most part a mere transitory possession, which takes no pains tostore or spare the source whence it draws. In agriculture, on the contrary, thereis a constant strengthening and deepening, which acts not least powerfully throughthe other branches of human activity which it keeps steadily going. All higher FAMILY AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS 127 development of human powers rests upon this steady labour and the storage ofits fruits. It is just in the lowest stages of civilization that the amassing- of wealth is amatter of the greatest importance, for without wealth there is no leisure, andwithout leisure no ennobling of the form of life, no intellectual progress. It isnot till production materially and permanently outstrips consumption that therecan be any superabundance of property. This, according to the laws of politicaleconomy, tends to increase, and allow an intelligent class to come into existence.An absolutely poor race develops no culture. But under the protection of civilization
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Interior of a house in Korido, New Guinea. (After Raffray.) more men will be born and grow up than the soil affords room for. The fasterthis disproportion increases, the greater will be the gap between Haves andHavenots, rich and poor. In hot countries, where man requires less nourishment,and production is at the same time easier than in cold regions, the populationwill multiply more quickly. Men become many, work scarce, therefore wageswill be abnormally small, life poverty-stricken, misery great. In the cooler zonesmen want stronger food, while the land produces less of it, and thus maintainsfewer persons ; the individual has to work harder, with the result that more isdone and wages are higher. The relations between harder labour and higherwages is calculated to narrow the distinction between labourers and owners ; while,on the contrary, the indolence of the dweller in the tropics increases this distinction,when it is once established, to an enormous degree. In European countries w

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