Sir Henry James Man (1822-1888) - a well-known English lawyer, anthropologist, historian and sociologist of law. Henry Man is the founder of the science of sociology of law, as well as legal anthropology. The book offered to the reader contains thirteen lectures that were delivered by the author at Oxford and included materials on the history of the legal and social life of mankind. G. Main bases his conclusions on ancient Irish law, contrasting it with classical Roman law. The book describes the history of land ownership; it explores kinship as the basis of society, as well as the legal aspects of the development of the institution of the family. The history of the development of the supreme power is considered, starting from the management of the community and ending with the power of the king. Particular attention in the work is paid to the initial ways of restoring rights and their historical development.