Welcome to Episode 5 of Origins . In this episode, we explore Section 4 of Friedrich Engels’ seminal work—The Greek Gens. We trace how early Greek society evolved from tribal kinship systems into the foundations of the ancient city-state.

In this episode, we examine Section 4: The Greek Gens from The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State. Engels investigates the transformation of early Greek society, where gens, phratry, and tribe formed the basic social units—remarkably similar to the structures found among Native American tribes. The episode highlights the shift from matrilineal to patrilineal descent, driven by growing private property and wealth, which began to erode traditional gentile norms. We discuss the defining features of the Athenian gens, including shared religious rites, mutual responsibilities, and inheritance practices, as well as the emergence of phratries and tribes as organizing bodies for both civil and military purposes. Engels also outlines the early political structures—the popular assembly, council, and the basileus—which laid the groundwork for the later development of Greek democracy. This episode offers a window into how ancient communal bonds gradually gave way to private property and political centralization, shaping the course of Western civilization.