Jain Journal 1973 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 59

150
The picture of the evolution of mankind through the infancy of the human race and Kulakarism to the dawn of civilization as depicted in the Jaina Agamas compares well with "the picture of the evolution of mankind through savagery and barbarism to the beginnings of civilization"26 as sketched by F. Engels. Engels generalizes Morgan's periodization as follows:
"Savagery-the period in which the appropriation of natural products, ready for use, predominated; the things produced by man were, in the main, instruments that facilitated this appropriation. Barbarismthe period in which knowledge of cattle breeding and land cultivation was acquired, in which methods of increasing the productivity of nature through human activity were learnt. Civilization-the period in which knowledge of the further working up of natural products, of industry proper, and of art was acquired."27
According to the Jaina tradition as found in the Agamas, the periodization of the evolution of mankind can be made in agreement with the generalization of F. Engels in this manner (1) Infancy of the human race the period in which there was the predominance of the appropriation of natural products for use, (2) Kulakarism-the period in which the knowledge of domestication of animals and cattle-breeding and cultivation of land was acquired, the men learnt the methods of increasing the productivity of nature through human activity and (3) Civilization-the period in which they acquired knowledge of the further working up of natural products, of industry proper, and of art.
26
JAIN JOURNAL
27
The Origin of Family, etc., p. 28.
Ibid., pp. 28-29.