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Matriarchal Societies of the Past and the Rise of Patriarchy
Heide Goettner-Abendroth
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Cover
Title
Copyright
About the author
About the book
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Contents
List of Illustrations
Maps
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Introduction: The Development of Modern Matriarchal Studies and Its Relevance for the History of Cultures
A Clarification of the Concept
The Definition and Its Logic
Modern Matriarchal Studies and Its Relevance for History of Cultures
1 The New Ideology of “Eternal War.” Critical Reflections on Early History
Preliminary Remarks on the Concept of History
The Discourse of “Eternal War” among Theoreticians
The Discourse of “Eternal War” among Archaeologists
The Discourse about “Peaceful Societies”
2 Palaeolithic in West Asia, the Mediterranean, and Europe: The Development of Mother-Centered Societies
Origins from Africa and the Adventures of Peopling the World
Palaeolithic Economy: More than just Hunting
Palaeolithic Social Order: More than just the Horde
Palaeolithic Culture and Religion: More than just “Hunting Magic”
Middle Palaeolithic: Religious Thoughts of the Neanderthal People
Upper Palaeolithic: Cave Art and Portable Art
The Theme of “Women”
The Theme of “Animals”
Abstract Signs and the Calendar
3 Neolithic in West Asia: The Invention of Agriculture and the Origin of Matriarchal Societies
Mesolithic: The Great Thaw
Neolithic Economy in West Asia: Revolutionary Inventions
Pre-Neolithic Epoch: The First Settlements
Lower Pre-Pottery Neolithic: The First Temples and Grain Fields
Upper Pre-Pottery Neolithic: Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Mysterious Walls
Late Neolithic Epoch: Pottery, Copper, and New Crafts
Neolithic Social Order in West Asia: New Complexity
Complex Societies: Elites or Equality?
The Evolution of Matrilineality
Neolithic Culture and Religion in West Asia: Early Religious Wealth
Symbolism of Life and Death
The Polarity of Female and Male
Female and Male Ancestors
Goddesses: Yes or No?
4 Neolithic in the Mediterranean and Europe: The Development of Matriarchal Societies
Encounters between Mesolithic and Neolithic Peoples
Neolithic Economy in Europe: Unity of Economy and Culture
Southeast Europe: The First European High Culture
Central Europe: Longhouses and Giant Circles
South Europe: Temples and “fairy houses”
Atlantic and Continental West Europe: Megaliths in All Forms
North Europe: Longhouses for the Dead
Neolithic Social Order in Europe: Patrilocal Nuclear Families or Matriarchal Clans?
The Hunt for “elites and hierarchy,” “trade and property”
In Search of the “nuclear family” and “father line”
Evidence for the Mother Line
Egalitarian Burial Culture
Neolithic Culture and Religion in Europe: Primordial Mothers and Goddesses
The Symbolism of Tombs, Temples and Megaliths
The Sacred Landscape
Domestic Ancestress Worship
The Issue of Goddesses
Primordial Mothers, Earth, Moon and Sun
Figurines and the Triple Goddess
6 Bronze Age and Iron Age in West Asia: The Rise of State and Empire
Bronze Age Economy and Politics in West Asia: Organization of the Precious Water
New Spaces: The First Settlement of the Mesopotamian Plains
Crowding into “paradise”: The Formation of City States
The Power of Weapons: Regional States and the First Empire
Centralization Pushed to the Extreme: The Path to “World Empire”
Bronze Age Social Order and Religion in West Asia: From Thea-Cracy to the Abolition of the Goddess
Late Matriarchal Thea-Cracy
Breaking with Matriarchal Religion
Class Society and the Diminishing Status of Women
The Fate of the Goddesses
In the Land of Canaan: Trading Cities, “democracy” and the One-God Religion
7 Bronze Age and Iron Age in South Europe: Late Matriarchal Societies and Increasing Patriarchalization
The Waves of Patriarchalization from the Steppes
Limited Destruction, Far-Reaching Consequences and Constantly Improved Weapons
The Indo-Europeanization of Europe and the Glaring Facts of DNA Analyses
Late Matriarchal Societies and Patriarchalization in South Europe
The Minoan Culture of Crete: Sailors and Priestesses
Social Order in Crete: Consensus Politics and Matriarchal Clans
Mycenae and Sparta: War as the Measure of Everything
Athens and Ionia: Maritime Trade, Money, and the Ambivalent Situation of Women
The Etruscans: Joy of Life in This World and the Otherworld
Rhaetians, Sardinians, Basques: Forgotten Peoples to This Day
8 Bronze Age and Iron Age in Europe North of the Alps: Matriarchal Elements in Patriarchal Surroundings
Precarious Domination in the Bronze Age
The Celtic Peoples and the Question of Matriarchy
The Iron Age Empires of the Celts
Matriarchal Picts and Patriarchal Celts: The Problematic Position of Women
Celtic Gods and Goddesses: A Split Religion
The Germanic Peoples and the Question of Matriarchy
The Migration Routes of the Germanic Peoples
On the Social Order of the Germanic Peoples: Brave Women But without Rights
Matriarchal “Nerthus culture” and Germanic Gods
A Concluding Critique of Concepts
Bibliography
Index
Heide Goettner-Abendroth
Matriarchal Societies of the Past and the Rise of Patriarchy
