noun. A particularly oppressive form of despotic government , thought historically to be characteristic of Asian politics, especially those of the Ottoman and Chinese Empires; (as a count noun) any regime operating through this form of government.
Who gave the theory of Oriental despotism?
In his seminal book Oriental Despotism (1957), historian and political scientist Karl Wittfogel presented a general theory of the development of ancient civilizations. He found examples of large-scale systematic organization of work, the emergence of social classes, and widespread specialization.
Who gave the idea of oriental despotism?
| Author Karl August Wittfogel | Country United States | Publisher Yale University Press | Publication date 1957 |
|---|
What is Asiatic mode of production according to Karl Marx?
Marx’s definition of the Asiatic mode of production included the absence of private ownership of land, autonomous village communities, and a despotic centralized state in charge of public works , especially irrigation.
Which civilization is known as hydraulic civilization?
Among these hydraulic civilizations, Wittfogel listed ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, and India and pre-Columbian Mexico and Peru. ... The extreme importance of the role of irrigation in social development has been disputed by other writers.
Whats the meaning of Oriental?
1 or Oriental : of, relating to, or situated in the Orient : eastern. 2 or Oriental, sometimes offensive, see usage paragraph below : of, relating to, or coming from Asia and especially eastern Asia oriental food oriental art oriental medicine.
What is meant by despotic?
Despotic is the adjective form of the noun despot, which means “ tyrannical ruler .” If you live under despotic rule, you probably have few rights and may fear your government. Use despotic to describe rulers that rely on brute force (or the threat of it) rather than the rule of law to keep order.
Is Orientalism a theory?
Critical studies
Furthermore, Said said that Orientalism, as an “idea of representation is a theoretical one : The Orient is a stage on which the whole East is confined” to make the Eastern world “less fearsome to the West”; and that the developing world, primarily the West, is the cause of colonialism.
What is a despotic government?
Despotism (Greek: Δεσποτισμός, despotismós) is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. ... More specifically, the term often applies to a head of state or government. In this sense, it is similar to the pejorative connotations that are associated with the terms tyrant and dictator.
What is superstructure according to Karl Marx?
Society’s superstructure includes the culture, ideology, norms, and identities that people inhabit . In addition, it refers to the social institutions, political structure, and the state—or society’s governing apparatus. Marx argued that the superstructure grows out of the base and reflects the ruling class’ interests.
What is Marx’s historical materialism?
Historical materialism, also known as the materialist conception of history, is a methodology used by scientific socialists and Marxist historiographers to understand human societies and their development through history , arguing that historical changes in social structure are the result of material and technological ...
Who developed the concept of Asiatic mode of production?
The theory of the Asiatic mode of production (AMP) was devised by Karl Marx around the early 1850s. ... In their later work, both Marx and Engels dropped the idea of a distinct Asiatic mode of production, and mainly kept four basic forms: tribal, ancient, feudal, and capitalist.
What were the main features of the first hydraulic civilizations?
Key Points Early river civilizations were all hydraulic empires that maintained power and control through exclusive control over access to water . This system of government arose through the need for flood control and irrigation, which requires central coordination and a specialized bureaucracy.
What is the hydraulic theory?
The basis for all hydraulic systems is expressed by Pascal’s law which states that the pressure exerted anywhere upon an enclosed liquid is transmitted undiminished, in all directions , to the interior of the container.
What is hydraulic civilization in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is a classic example of the “hydraulic civilization” which had developed in the ancient period. ... Today around 12,000 ancient small dams & nearly 320 ancient large dams together with thousands of man-made lakes dot the lowlands, with over 10,000 reservoirs in the Northern Province alone.
What does Oriental woman mean?
1 adj Oriental means coming from or associated with eastern Asia , especially China and Japan. ... 2 n-count Some people refer to people from eastern Asia, especially China or Japan as Orientals.
