Who considered matriarchy or Mother right as a lower form of social order in his work?

The notion of matriarchy or "Mother right" being considered a lower form of social order can be traced back to the works of Friedrich Engels, a prominent German philosopher, social scientist, and co-author of "The Communist Manifesto" alongside Karl Marx. In his anthropological work "The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State" (1884), Engels proposed the theory that human societies evolved through distinct stages, including primitive communism, matriarchy, patriarchy, and eventually class society.

Engels argued that matriarchy, characterized by matrilineal descent and the predominance of women in social and familial structures, represented an early stage of human development. However, he viewed matriarchy as a transitional phase that preceded the establishment of patriarchy, which he considered a higher form of social organization. According to Engels, the transition from matriarchy to patriarchy marked a significant historical development associated with the emergence of private property, class divisions, and the subjugation of women.

Engels' interpretation of matriarchy as a lower form of social order reflected the prevailing patriarchal biases of his time, as well as his Marxist framework emphasizing the role of economic factors in shaping social structures. However, it's essential to note that Engels' theories have been subject to criticism and revision by later scholars, particularly feminists and anthropologists, who have challenged his assumptions about the nature and significance of matriarchal societies.