ABSTRACT
The purpose and theoretical contribution of Marx’s study of ancient social history and “Notes on Ancient Social History” in his later years were to comprehensively examine the various components of his own theories such as philosophy, political economy, and scientific socialism, to correct deficiencies, fill vacancies, and overcome limitations of his earlier theories, based on new academic materials. In Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right written in 1843, the thought that “not the state determines the family and civil society, but the family and civil society determines the state” paved the way to historical materialism. Capital has empirically demonstrated and scientifically tested the basic principles of historical materialism through analysis of the basic contradictions in capitalist society and its development trend. However, historical materialism is the science of the development of human history. Marx’s “Notes on Ancient Social History” in his later years arguably established a new milestone in his theoretical activities.
