The Politics of Traditional Empires

FAIN: FT-11978-74

John H. Kautsky
Washington University (St. Louis, MO 63130-4862)

To explore certain patterns of politics that cut across cultural differences and recur in various forms in all or most agrarian socieities under artistocratic rule. The data are drawn chiefly from the larger empires of the ancient Mediterranean world and of Europe through the early Middle Ages and from the pre-colonial empires of Asia, Africa, Mexico and Peru. To analyse the roles in the economy and society and especially in government and politics of aristocrats, peasants, and townspeople, their different ideologies and political cultures, and the interrelationships between these various elements.