This text provides an analysis of the most important theorists in sociology from 1830 to 1930, focusing primarily on Comte, Spencer, Marx, Weber, Simmel, Durkheim, Pareto, and Mead. It closely examines the scholars and schools who influenced these important theorists. It covers the origin of the ideas of each theorist, their basic works and contributions, and the legacy of the abstract models and principles that they contributed to sociological theory. This text is a complementary volume to Turner's well-respected book on contemporary theory, The Structure of Sociological Theory, Sixth Edition.