Karl August Wittfogel
Karl August Wittfogel was a German-American historian and sinologist known for his studies on the role of water management in the development of civilizations, particularly in ancient China. His most famous work is 'Oriental Despotism,' where he argues that societies with large-scale irrigation projects tend to develop despotic governments.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. A Comparative Study Of Total Power
The book in question is a scholarly examination of the concept of 'hydraulic civilization,' a term used to describe societies that manage large-scale water projects such as irrigation and flood control. The author argues that the bureaucratic structures necessary to control water resources in arid regions historically led to the centralization of power and the development of autocratic or despotic forms of government. Through comparative analysis, the work explores how the management of water resources influenced social, economic, and political structures, and how this 'total power' shaped the civilizations in question, with a particular focus on Asia. The study delves into the relationship between natural environments, technological capabilities, and the evolution of political systems.
The 3297th Greatest Book of All Time -
2. Oriental Despotism
"Oriental Despotism" presents a theory that ancient bureaucratic societies, particularly those in Asia, developed as a result of the need to manage large-scale irrigation systems. The author argues that the control of water resources in arid regions led to the creation of centralized, autocratic power structures, which he terms "hydraulic despotisms." These governments wielded significant control over their subjects, as the management and distribution of water was crucial for agriculture and survival. The book explores how this form of governance influenced the political and social structures of various Eastern civilizations, contrasting them with Western societies that developed under different ecological conditions.
The 5541st Greatest Book of All Time
