Query: Mayflower Compact and Social Contract

Tue Jan 16 11:20:54 PST 2001

I have a question a student asked and I thought this list would
be the best place to find the answer.  Was the Mayflower Compact
the first example of an actual, written social contract between
individuals agreeing to form a society, or merely a famous
(but not the first) example? If there are earlier examples, what
are those?  Thanks, and feel free to reply off-list if you wish.

Rick A. Swanson, J.D., A.B.D.
1629 Patterson Office Tower
Department of Political Science
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506
Tel. 859-257-8581