Oriental despotism : a comparative study of total power - Wittfogel, Karl August, 1896-1988 (New York : Random House, 1981)
Includes indexes.
Powerful argument, good logical layout. Hydraulic economies (Those based on huge water projects, either irrigation or flood control) require large corvees of labor, generally require autocrats, and morph into monumental constructions and armies. Farming tends to be high intensity and productive. (< goodreads.com)
Reprint of the ed. published by Yale University Press, New Haven.
Bibliography: p. 491-529.
Keywords: Civilization, Oriental; Despotism; Irrigation