Book excerpt: This seminal work written in a close collaboration between an eminent sociologist and an eminent historian show that sociology is, and should be, the ally of the historian and vice versa. Taking Egypt and the Ancient East as the subject, this analysis of early society seeks to show the beginnings of social order and its first steps onto the ladder that leads to classical civilization of the ancient and modern world. The book covers in a systematic way, both theoretically and historically totemic organisation, individualized and communistic power, the progress from clans and kingdom was especially in ancient Egypt and the Semitic world, the empires of Iran and the Barbarian invasions. A stimulating and authoritative study in history and sociology.