Inventing Western Civilization

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Monthly Review Press, 1997 - Social Science - 156 pages

"In this wonderful book, Thomas Patterson effectively dethrones the concept of 'civilization' as an abstract good, transcending human society."
--Martin Bernal
Drawing on his extensive knowledge of early societies, Thomas C. Patterson shows how class, sexism, and racism have been integral to the appearance of "civilized" societies in Western Europe. He lays out clearly and simply how civilization, with its designs of "civilizing" and "being civilized," has been closely tied to the rise of capitalism in Western Europe and the development of social classes.

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Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
7
CIVILIZATION AND ITS BOOSTERS
27
CIVILIZATION AND ITS CRITICS
57
Copyright

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About the author (1997)

Thomas C. Patterson is Professor and Chair of Anthropology, University of California at Riverside.

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