[Video] Origins of the Family, Private Property, and the State The State Historical materialism Historical materialism The State Audio & Video Image: Wikimedia commons Share TweetOne of the great classics of Marxism is the book by Frederick Engels entitled 'The Origins of the Family, Private Property and the State'. Engels applies the method of historical materialism to this earliest period of pre-history to uncover the past. Rob Sewell, editor of Socialist Appeal, gives an introduction to the book and explains how class society came into existence.Order the book or Read the book online