File:The history of mankind (1896) (14577285437).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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ater importance than inthat first mentioned, the possibility of denser population is, on the other hand,excluded. But here the property requires stronger defence, and this is guaranteedby concentration, in the first place of the family. From an economic point ofview it is more reasonable for many to live by one great herd than for the herdto be much subdivided. A herd is easily scattered, and requires strength to keep i j; THE HISTORY OF MANKIND it together. It is therefore no chance result that the family nowhere attains tosuch political importance as among nomad races. Here the patriarchal elementin the formation of tribes and states is most decidedly marked ; in a hunter-statethe strongest is the centre of power, in a shepherd-state the eldest. We are apt to regard despotism as a lower form of development in comparisonwith the constitutional state, and attribute to it accordingly a high antiquity. Itused formerly to be thought that beginnings of political life might be seen shaping
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The Basuto chief Secocoeni with his court. (From a photograph in the possession of Dr. Wangemann. themselves in the forms of it. But this is contradicted at the very outset by thefact that despotism stands in opposition to the tribal or patriarchal origin fromwhich these states have grown. The family stock has of course a leader, usuallythe eldest ; but apart from warfare his power is almost nil, and to over-estimateit is one of the most frequent sources of political mistakes made by white men.The chiefs nearest relations in point of fact do not stand far enough below himto be mingled indiscriminately in the mass of the population over which he rules.Thus we find them already striving to give a more oligarchical character to thegovernment. The so-called court of African or ancient American princes is doubt-less the council which surrounds them on public occasions. Arbitrary rule, thoughwe find no doubt traces of it everywhere in the lower grades, even when the formof government is rep

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