Reprint of the original, first published in 1881.

The study of archaeological subjects is increasing in interest. Recent disclosures concerning the early condition and history of the human race have directed much attention to these subjects. Man's oral history crystallized in myths and superstitions reflects much light into a past which written history has not penetrated. Mythology is, therefore, a very important branch of anthropological science. Mythology in its broadest definition includes all pagan religious beliefs, commonly called superstitions, and cannot be confined to collections of fables and traditions, which are the folk-lore of peoples. It is the aim of this book to contribute facts to show the homogeneity of man's religious beliefs. Although the New World is the field of research in the present volume, the rudimentary forms of belief are shown to be the same there as elsewhere, and their systematic development is also the same.

The Origin and Development of the Moral Ideas is a book by а philosopher Edvard Westermarck. It is one of his main works and a monumental classics study in its field. At the beginning of this book, Westermarck asks why different cultures have different moral views. To answer this question, he decided to acquire first-hand knowledge of the folklore of a non-European people. Thus, he spent four years in Morocco collecting anthropological data, familiarizing himself with the native way of thinking, and understanding local customs. In the result he concluded, he concluded that there is a close connection between moral opinions and religious beliefs.