16. The Dark Feminine (Friday 13th Special)

In 'The Chalice and the Blade', Riane Eisler presents a revolutionary reinterpretation of human history, highlighting the contrast between societies built on domination ('the Blade') and those based on partnership and cooperation ('the Chalice'). The book challenges conventional historical perspectives by providing evidence from archaeology, mythology, art, and religion that suggests early human societies were more egalitarian and peaceful. Eisler introduces her Cultural Transformation theory, which proposes that the fundamental models of society are 'partnership' and 'dominator', and argues that a shift towards partnership societies could lead to a more equitable and peaceful future.