Abstract:Marx's study of the historical forms of pre-capitalist society is mainly reflected in the early German Ideology, the mid-term Economic Manuscripts of 1857-1858, and the study of prehistoric history in his later years. In German Ideology, Marx and Engels summarized the former capitalist society as three forms of social history: tribal ownership, classical ancient commune ownership and state ownership, feudal or hierarchical ownership；In the Economic Manuscripts of 1857-1858, Marx divided the pre-capitalist society into three forms of social history: Asian ownership, classical ancient ownership and Germain ownership；In his later years, Marx interpreted the former capitalist society as three forms of social history: primitive commune, slavery and feudalism. Systematic comparison of Marx's understanding of the historical form of the former capitalist society is of great significance for us to grasp Marx's law of discussing the evolution of the social history form and to scientifically understand the historical generation of the capitalist society and its future direction.

Keywords:Marx; former capitalism; social and historical forms

(Translator:Li bin-qian)