The Sources of Social Power: Volume 1, A History of Power from the Beginning to AD 1760 (Sources of Social Power, 2nd Edition)

Distinguishing four sources of power in human societies – ideological, economic, military, and political – The Sources of Social Power traces their interrelations throughout human history. In this first volume, Michael Mann examines inter-relations between these elements from neolithic times, through ancient Near Eastern civilizations, the classical Mediterranean age, and medieval Europe, up to just before the Industrial Revolution in England. It offers explanations of the emergence of the state and social stratification; of city-states, militaristic empires, and the persistent interaction between them; of the world salvation religions; and of the particular dynamism of medieval and early modern Europe. It ends by generalizing about the nature of overall social development, the varying forms of social cohesion, and the role of classes and class struggle in history. First published in 1986, this new edition of volume 1 includes a new preface by the author examining the impact and legacy of the work. Cover The sources of social power: VOLUME 1: A history of power from the beginning to AD 1760 Title Copyright Contents Preface to the new edition Preface 1 Societies as organized power networks Ultimate primacy Human nature and social power Organizational power Collective and distributive power Extensive and intensive and authoritative and diffused power Current stratification theory "Levels, dimensions" of "society" Criticisms Human beings are social, not societal In which society do you live? The promiscuity of organizations and functions Organizations of power Example 1: the rise of the European pike phalanx Example 2: The emergence of civilizational cultures and religions The four sources and organizations of power The overall IEMP model, its scope and omissions Bibliography 2 The end of general social evolution: how prehistoric peoples evaded power Introduction: the conventional evolutionary tale The evolution of the first settled societies The emergence of stabilized relations of collective economic power The emergence of collective ideological, military, and political power Evolutionary theories of the origins of stratification and the state From evolution to devolution: A voiding the state and stratification Bibliography 3 The emergence of stratification, states, and multi-power-actor civilization in Mesopotamia Introduction: civilization and alluvial agriculture Mesopotamia: irrigation and its regional power interactions The emergence of stratification and the state to about 3100 B.C. Civilization as federation Irrigation agriculture and despotism: a spurious correlation Militarism, diffusion, despotism, and aristocracy: true correlations Conclusion: Mesopotamian civilization as a product of overlapping power networks Bibliography 4 A comparative analysis of the emergence of stratification, states, and multi-power-actor civilizations The Indus Valley civilization Shang China Egypt Minoan Crete Mesoamerica Andean America Conclusion: a theory of the emergence of civilization Bibliography 5 The first empires of domination: the dialectics of compulsory cooperation Background: the growth of militarism and the marches Sargon of Akkad The logistics of military power The infrastructure of political power The logistics of a militarized economy: the strategy of compulsory cooperation Five aspects of compulsory cooperation Military pacification The military multiplier Authority and economic value The intensification of labor Coerced diffusion The diffusion of ideological power networks: Mesopotamian religion The dialectics of empire: centralization and decentralization The comparative study of ancient empires Conclusion: military power reorganized social development Bibliography 6 "Indo-Europeans" and iron: expanding, diversified power networks The Indo-European challenge The Iron Age challenge Bibliography 7 Phoenicians and Greeks: decentralized multi-power-actor civilizations The emerging decentralized economy: Phoenicia – literacy and coinage The origins of Greek power The Greek polis Early trade and the polis The hoplire and the polis Hellas: language, literacy, and sea power Greek imperialism: commercialization, naval power, and slavery The cult of human reason Were slaves and Persians rational? Class in classical Greece The Greek triple power network and its dialectic Final contradictions and demise Bibliography 8 Revitalized empires of domination: Assyria and Persia Assyria The Persian Empire Bibliography 9 The Roman territorial empire The origins of Roman power The Roman Empire – with or without an emperor The masses of the Roman Empire: slaves and freemen The economic benefits of empire for the masses The extension of the Roman ruling class The imperial state and the legionary economy The weakness of the legionary economy: a power standoff The decline and fall of the western empire Conclusion: the Roman achievement Bibliography 10 Ideology transcendent: the Christian ecumene Introduction The universal appeal of Christianity within the Roman Empire Christianity as the solution to the contradictions of empire The infrastructure of ideological power in the Roman Empire The early spread of Christianity Why were the Christians persecuted?: the mobilization of the popular ecumene The spiritual and the secular ecumene: toward a compromise? The Donatist heresy and Augustine: the failure to compromise Beyond Rome, into Christendom: the specialized ecumene Bibliography 11 A comparative excursus into the world religions: Confucianism, Islam, and (especially) Hindu caste China and Confucius: a comment Islam: a comment Hinduism and caste Caste defined The achievements of ideological power: a conclusion to Chapters 10 and 11 Bibliography 12 The European dynamic: I. The intensive phase, A.D. 800–1155 Summary of the argument Feudalism as multiple interaction networks: ideological, military/political, and economic power Ideological power Military/political power Economic power Conclusion: multiple networks and private property The feudal dynamic Economic growth Technique and invention in the Middle Ages The embryonic transition to capitalism Conclusion: an explanation of the European dynamic Bibliography 13 The European dynamic: II. The rise of coordinating states, 1155–1477 Revenue sources and functions of the twelfth-century state Trends in revenue totals, 1155–1452 Revenue and expenditure, John to Henry V Implication I: the emergence of the national state Implication II: the growth of extensive power and of the coordinated state The nonterritorial alternative: the rise and fall of the duchy of Burgundy The logistics of territorial centralization Technical revolution and its social base Bibliography 14 The European dynamic: III. International capitalism and organic national states, 1477–1760 State-revenue patterns, 1502–1688 The Military Revolution and the state system From coordinated to organic state The Protestant schism and the end of extensive Christian power Inter-national expansion Absolutist and constitutional regimes State expenditures and warfare, 1688–1815 Inter-national and national capitalism, 1688–1815 Bibliography 15 European conclusions: explaining European dynamism – capitalism, Christendom, and states The European dynamic Capitalism and the states Bibliography 16 Patterns of world-historical development in agrarian societies The role of the four power sources A world-historical process The world-historical development of classes Historical accidents The uneven development of collective power A dialectic between two types of development The migrations of power Bibliography Index Distinguishing Four Sources Of Power In Human Societies - Ideological, Economic, Military And Political - The Sources Of Social Power Traces Their Interrelations Throughout Human History. In This First Volume, Michael Mann Examines Interrelations Between These Elements From Neolithic Times, Through Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations, The Classical Mediterranean Age And Medieval Europe, Up To Just Before The Industrial Revolution In England. It Offers Explanations Of The Emergence Of The State And Social Stratification; Of City-states, Militaristic Empires And The Persistent Interaction Between Them; Of The World Salvation Religions; And Of The Particular Dynamism Of Medieval And Early Modern Europe. It Ends By Generalizing About The Nature Of Overall Social Development, The Varying Forms Of Social Cohesion And The Role Of Classes And Class Struggle In History. First Published In 1986, This New Edition Includes A New Preface In Volume 1 By The Author Examining The Impact And Legacy Of The Work-- V. 1. A History Of Power From The Beginning To Ad 1760 -- V. 2. The Rise Of Classes And Nation-states, 1760-1914 -- V. 3. Global Empires And Revolution, 1890-1945 -- V. 4. Globalizations, 1945-2011. Michael Mann. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Distinguishing four sources of power in human societies - ideological, economic, military, and political - The Sources of Social Power traces their interrelations throughout history. In this first volume, Michael Mann examinese interrelations between these elements from neolithic times, through ancient Near Eastern civilizations, the classical Mediterranean age, and medieval Europe, up to just before the Industrial Revolution in England. It offers explanations of the emergence of the state and social stratification; of city-states, militaristic empires, and the persistent interaction between them; of the world salvation religions; and of the particular dynamism of medieval and early modern Europe. It ends by generalizing about the nature of overall social development, the varying forms of social cohesion, and the role of classes and class struggle in history. First published in 1986, this new edition of Volume 1 includes a new preface by the author examining the impact and legacy of the work. -- from back cover of Volume 1 "Distinguishing four sources of power in human societies - ideological, economic, military and political - The Sources of Social Power traces their interrelations throughout human history. In this first volume, Michael Mann examines interrelations between these elements from neolithic times, through ancient Near Eastern civilizations, the classical Mediterranean age and medieval Europe, up to just before the Industrial Revolution in England. It offers explanations of the emergence of the state and social stratification; of city-states, militaristic empires and the persistent interaction between them; of the world salvation religions; and of the particular dynamism of medieval and early modern Europe. It ends by generalizing about the nature of overall social development, the varying forms of social cohesion and the role of classes and class struggle in history. First published in 1986, this new edition includes a new preface in volume 1 by the author examining the impact and legacy of the work"-- Provided by publisher v. 1. A history of power from the beginning to AD 1760 v. 2. The rise of classes and nation-states, 1760-1914 v. 3. Global empires and crises, 1914-1945 v. 4. Globalizations, 1945-2011.