women

Male-Centric History¹

When looking at the beginnings of sedentary civilisation, we find that economic activity became increasingly centered on the household, (the oikos in Greek), and its variety of chores. This was where cooking, washing, caring for all household members, bringing up and educating children took place. In medieval Central Europe, the whole house was the basic unit in which all economic activity was pursued – this meant there were no clear divisions between the household and business.

Only during the period of proto-industrialization, when cottage industries, (such as weaving), and manufacturing enterprises emerged, and again later, when industrial factories were founded, economic activity moved away from the house. This marks the emergence of the modern private household.

At the same time this was the beginning of a patriarchal history of economic thought.  Read more »