Where did the first states in the world appear? What were the first states? Contract theory of the emergence of the state

As is known, the state and law did not always exist, but appear only at a certain stage of development of society.

The basis of the social organization of the primitive communal system was the clan, which was an association of people who were in consanguineous relationships with each other. The clan was headed by a council - a meeting of all adult members of the clan, men and women, who had equal voting rights - which elected its elder.

As the original clan developed, it grew and split into several daughter clans, in relation to which the original clan acts as a phratry. Associations of clans formed tribes.

Relations between members of primitive society were regulated by special rules of behavior - customs. Customs expressed the interests of all members of society and secured their equality among themselves.

The reasons for the emergence of state and law can be considered: three major social divisions of labor (the separation of cattle breeding from agriculture; the separation of crafts; the emergence of merchants), the emergence of private property and the split of society into antagonistic classes.

Specific forms of the emergence of the state

The transition to the state took place in various historical forms. The first states known to mankind arose from 6 to 2 thousand years ago in various geographical regions independently of each other (usually in the valleys of large rivers) and became centers of independent cultural civilizations.

In the East, the most widespread form is the “Asian mode of production” (Egypt, Babylon, China, etc.). Here the socio-economic structures of the clan system - the land community, collective property, etc. - turned out to be stable.

Athens is a classic form of the emergence of a state as a result of the development and aggravation of contradictions within the tribal system.

The Roman state, on the contrary, arose not from internal contradictions, but as a result of the struggle between patricians - members of the patrician family and newcomers - plebeians.

The German form of the emergence of the state was also not classical, because associated with the conquest of foreign territories, for domination over which the clan organization was not adapted.

Most scholars point out the most characteristic first states:

~ Ancient Egypt;

~ states of ancient Mesopotamia (Interfluve of the Tigris and Euphrates);

~ Sumer and Akkad;

~ Assyria;

~Babylon;

~ states of the Indus and Ganges valleys (territory of India);

~ Ancient China;

~ ancient Greek policies;

~ Ancient Rome;

~ states of the indigenous peoples of America (Mayans, Incas, Aztecs).

Currently, there is no unity among theorists of state and law on the issue of the origin of the state; discussions continue among scientists on the theory of state formation. The opinion of some scientists remains that the state is an instrument of suppression, a machine of violence against the people. You can often come across the position of considering the state as the property of political forces or individuals who hold power at a given historical stage. Others are of the opinion that the state is an instrument capable of bringing good to a person and is a structure of prosperity. Approaches to the emergence of the state have been formed over the centuries; at different historical stages, the assessment of the state was different. This is natural, since there are many theories of the emergence of the state.

The difference between theories of the emergence of the state is due to the fact that:

The emergence of a state is itself a complex and lengthy process that cannot be explained based only on any one point of view;

This process (the initial emergence of the state) took place thousands of years ago, and it is difficult to study in detail due to its historical remoteness;

The influence of the era on the authors of theories (each era (church domination in the Middle Ages (theological), the emergence of capitalism, modern, etc.) left its mark both on the general worldview and on the authors of theories about the origin of the state, since they lived in a specific historical time and in a specific society);

The subjective factor cannot be ignored - the personal beliefs of the authors of theories, the peculiarities of their professional and personal worldview.

The main theories of the emergence of the state include:

♦theological (religious, divine);

♦patriarchal (fatherly);

♦ contractual (natural law);

♦ organic;

♦ psychological;

♦ irrigation;

♦ violence (internal and external);

♦ economic (class).

Theological theory of the emergence of the state

Theological (religious) theory dominated in the Middle Ages. Currently, it, along with other theories, is widespread in Europe and on other continents, and in a number of Islamic states (Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.) it is of an official nature.

The origins of this theory were: Aurelius Augustine (Blessed) (354 - 430 AD), Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274) - Christian philosophers and theologians.

In modern times it was developed by ideologists catholic church Maristen, Mercier, etc.

All religions defend the idea of ​​divinely established state power. For example, in the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans it is said: “Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God; the authorities that exist are established by God.”

The theocratic theory was based on real facts: the first states had religious forms, since they represented the rule of priests. Divine law gave authority to state power, and the decisions of the state - obligation. Thus, in the Laws of the ancient Babylonian king Hammurabi, it was said about the divine origin of the king’s power: “The gods appointed Hammurabi to rule over the “blackheads.”

Patriarchal theory of the emergence of the state

The founder of patriarchal theory is considered ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (384 -322 BC).

Aristotle believed that people as collective beings strive for communication and the formation of families, and the development of families leads to the formation of the state. Aristotle interpreted the state as a product of the reproduction of families, their settlement and unification. According to Aristotle, state power is a continuation and development of paternal power. He identified state power with the patriarchal power of the head of the family.

In China, this theory of the state as big family developed by Confucius (551 - 479 BC). He likened the power of the emperor to the power of a father, and the relationship between rulers and subjects - family relations, where the younger ones depend on the elders and must be loyal to the rulers, respectful and obey the elders in everything. Rulers must take care of their subjects as if they were children.

In a more modern era, it was developed by Filmer and Mikhailovsky.

R. Filmer (XVII century) in his work “The Patriarch” argued that the power of the monarch is unlimited, since it comes from Adam, who received his power from God. Therefore, Adam is not only the father of humanity, but also its ruler. Monarchs, as successors of Adam, inherited their power from him.

Contract theory of the emergence of the state

The essence of the contractual (natural law) theory is that, according to its authors, the basis of the state is the so-called "social contract". The contractual theory of the emergence of the state became widespread in the 17th - 18th centuries. Its authors in different time were:

Hugo Grotius (1583 - 1646) - Dutch thinker and jurist;

John Locke (1632 - 1704), Thomas Hobbes (1588 - 1679) - English philosophers;

Charles-Louis Montesquieu (1689 - 1755), Denis Diderot (1713 -1783), Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 - 1778) - French philosophers and educators;

A. N. Radishchev (1749 - 1802) - Russian philosopher and revolutionary writer.

The meaning of the idea of ​​a “social contract” is as follows:

Initially, people were in a pre-state (primitive) state;

Everyone pursued only their own interests and did not take into account the interests of others, which led to a “war of all against all”;

As a result of the “war of all against all,” an unorganized society could destroy itself;

To prevent this from happening, people entered into a “social contract”, by virtue of which everyone renounced part of their interests for the sake of mutual survival;

As a result, an institution for coordinating interests, living together, and mutual protection was created - the state.

The social contract theory had a progressive meaning:

~ a step has been taken towards the creation of civil society;

~ actually nominated the principle of popular sovereignty - power is derived from the people and belongs to the people;

~ state structures and authorities do not exist on their own, but must express the interests of the people and be in their service;

~ according to the theory, the state and the people have mutual obligations- the people comply with the laws, pay taxes, perform military and other duties; the state regulates relations between people, punishes criminals, creates conditions for people’s life and activities, and protects them from external danger;

~ if the state violates its duties, the people can break the social contract and find other rulers; the people's right to revolt, progressive for that time, was justified, saying modern language- the right to change power if it no longer represents the interests of the people.

Organic theory of the emergence of the state

The organic theory of the emergence of the state was put forward in the second half of the 19th century by the English philosopher and sociologist Herbert Spencer (1820 - 1903), as well as by the scientists Worms and Preuss.

The essence of the organic theory is that the state arises and develops like a biological organism:

People form a state, like cells form a living organism;

State institutions are like parts of an organism: rulers - the brain, communications (mail, transport) and finance - circulatory system, which ensures the activity of the body, workers and peasants (producers) - hands, etc.;

There is competition between states, as in a living environment, and as a result natural selection the fittest survive (that is, the most intelligently organized, as in the 7th century BC - 4th century AD - the Roman Empire, in the 18th century ~ Great Britain, in the 19th century - USA). In the course of natural selection, the state is improved, everything unnecessary is cut off (absolute monarchy, a church cut off from the people, etc.).

Psychological theory

The founder of this theory is considered to be the Russian-Polish lawyer and sociologist L. I. Petrazhitsky (1867 - 1931). This theory was developed by Z. Freud and G. Tarde.

According to supporters of psychological theory, the state arose due to the special properties of the human psyche:

The desire of the majority of the population to be protected and obey the stronger;

The desire of the powerful to command other people, to subjugate them to their will;

The desire of individual members of society to disobey society and challenge it - to resist authority, commit crimes, etc. - and the need to curb them.

The authors of the theory believe that the predecessor of state power was the power of the top of primitive society - leaders, shamans, priests, which was based on their special psychological energy, with the help of which they influenced the rest of society.

Theory of violence

Violence as the main factor in the emergence of the state has been put forward by various authors over the centuries. One of the first to put it forward was Shang Yang (390 - 338 BC), a Chinese politician.

In the modern era this theory developed by: Eugene Dühring (1833 - 1921) - German philosopher; Ludwig Gumplowicz (1838 - 1909) - Austrian jurist and sociologist; Karl Kautsky (1854 - 1938). In their opinion, the state arose through violence:

* some members of society over other members of society within one state;

* some states over others (conquest, enslavement, colonial policy).

Violence was usually expressed in appropriation of material goods and means of production by a strong (armed) minority:

Collection of tribute by vigilantes;

Expansion of territories subject to the king (feudal lord);

Fencing (eviction of peasants and appropriation of land);

Other forms of violence.

To maintain established order violence was also required (officials, army, etc.), and the need arose to create a “protective apparatus” of the conquered goods.

Many states were created through violence (an example is overcoming feudal fragmentation in Germany (“with iron and blood - Bismarck), in France, gathering Russian lands around Moscow ( Ivan III, Ivan IV, etc.).

A number of large states were created by conquering and annexing other states: the Roman Empire; Frankish state, Tatar-Mongol state; Great Britain; USA, etc.

Irrigation theory of the emergence of the state

Irrigation(water) theory of the emergence of the state was put forward by many thinkers of the Ancient East (China, Mesopotamia, Egypt), partly by K. Marx (“Asian mode of production”). Its essence is that the state arose in the process of farming using rivers to irrigate land (irrigation).

The construction of irrigation canals required the efforts of many people. As a result of this, the first states arose - Ancient Egypt, Ancient China, Babylon.

This theory is confirmed by the fact that the first states arose in the valleys of large rivers (Egypt - in the Nile Valley, China - in the Yellow River and Yangtze valleys) and had an irrigation basis in their appearance.

Economic (class) theory of the emergence of the state

According to this theory, the state arose on a class-economic basis:

There was a division of labor (agriculture, cattle breeding, crafts and trade);

A surplus product has arisen;

As a result of the appropriation of other people's labor, society was stratified into classes - the exploited and the exploiters;

Private property and public power appeared;

To maintain the dominance of the exploiters, a special coercive apparatus was created - the state.

The considered theories make it possible to distinguish two variants of the emergence of the state: initial and derivative.

Initial- this is the gradual creation in tribal communities of people of a special institution that forms an integral part of it and at the same time stands out from society due to its special influence on society.

This group of theories of state formation includes the view that was dominant in the Middle Ages about the establishment of God state and was considered as given to people by God (A. Augustine, F. Aquinas).

Later a theory appears personal character. Some representatives of this approach considered man to be evil by nature, constantly striving to win living space for himself at the expense of others, and in order to limit detailed behavior, the state was necessary as a restraining force (T. Hobbes). Other philosophers (J.J. Rousseau) thought the opposite kind person, striving for universal equality, in connection with which they entered into an agreement among themselves for the common benefit.

Among some modern theorists it has become widespread oligarchic theory of state formation (the power of the few). It is based on the heterogeneity of people, their different personal qualities and abilities, etc., which leads to the formation of an elite of society that rises above society and arrogates power to itself. From the standpoint of oligarchic theory, the emergence of a state occurs in three ways:

Military- during constant predatory raids and protection from other tribes, communities, capturing large booty during military operations, like the Mongols or Franks;

Aristocratic– the power of the nobility as in Ancient Rome;

Plutocratic- in society there is a small group, a layer of rich people who appropriate power to themselves (plutocracy - the power of wealth).

Derivative– the emergence of a state is led by events that radically change the previous social structure and statehood.

TO similar option State formation includes:

» revolutionary transformations, as a result of which there is a complete break with the previous statehood (France - 1789, Russia - 1917, China - 1947).

» organizational changes: 1922 - USSR and its collapse, unification of Tanganyika and Zanzibar into Tanzania - 1964, unification of West and East Germany, etc.).

» collapse of colonies: After World War II, more than 100 new states emerged in this way. At the same time, the formation of the state proceeded or in peaceful way– as a result of a referendum, or as a result armed struggle the population of the colonies for their independence (Zimbabwe, Angola, Vietnam, etc.), or both were present.

Ways of the emergence of the state

In addition to theories of the origin of the state, there is also such a concept as the ways of their emergence: Asian and European.

For Asian the path is typical:

› emergence from the tribal nobility (transformation of the nobility). The leader and elders become the state itself when power structures appear, natural ways of emergence;

› economic basis - public and state property;

› political dominance is based not on wealth, but on position held;

› the bureaucratic apparatus was formed before the advent of private property, reserve funds with products required officials monitoring them;

For European The path is characterized by the following:

“The state arose before the emergence of classes.

» the violent path of transfer of power from the tribal nobility to the wealthy aristocracy;

» the basis of the state is private property;

» class differentiation based on position in relation to property;

» definition of political dominance through wealth;

» the administrative structure takes shape after the emergence of private property;

» the state separates from society, rises above it, and a contradictory political structure arises;

In the European path, there are several forms of the emergence of the state:

a) Athenian - a natural, non-violent path, divided into three stages (establishment of central government, the rise of the rich to power, division into classes)

b) Roman - separation of the clan nobility through violence, dividing society into six classes;

c) German - external violence.

IN quality of output we can say that in both models of the state - “Asian” and “European” there is a different combination of two the most important factors, expressing the fundamental nature of humanity: power and property (and property means both private and collective). The specific features of the process of state formation depend on the content of the subjects and the characteristics of the combination of these two factors in various conditions.

What is characteristic of the “Asian” model is that such a combination results in the phenomenon of “power - property” (i.e. power becomes the property of the one who possesses it). Here it is appropriate to speak figuratively about the following “formula” for the genesis of statehood: “I have power, which means I also have property (collective, first of all, and private”). In the “European” model, the formula is somewhat different: “I own property (primarily private property), which means I have (can or should have) power.”

Based on the above, we can list the general main reasons for the emergence of the state as a social institution.

The main reasons for the emergence of the state were the following:

1. need for improvement management of society, associated with its complication. The old clan-tribe management apparatus could not provide successful management of these processes; 2. the need to organize large public works(irrigated agriculture, construction, roads, defensive structures), uniting large masses of people for these purposes. 3. the need to suppress the resistance of the exploited, due to the division of society into rich and poor, slaves and free; 4. the need to maintain order in society for its stability and the functioning of social production; 5. the need to wage wars, both defensive and aggressive. The accumulation of social wealth that took place led to the fact that it became profitable to live by robbing neighbors, seizing valuables, livestock, slaves, imposing tribute on neighbors, enslaving them.

In most cases, the above reasons acted together, in various combinations. At the same time, in different conditions(historical, social, geographical, natural, demographic and others), various of these reasons could become the main, decisive ones.

The first states appeared in the southern regions of our planet, where there were the most favorable natural and geographical conditions for this. They originated around the same period, about five thousand years ago.

What is the reason for the emergence of a new type of social relations?

When and why the first states appeared, that is, their origin, is one of the controversial issues in science. According to the version of the famous German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the state arises in the process of increasing the role of property and the emergence of a class of wealthy people. They, in turn, need a special apparatus to protect their interests and maintain influence over their fellow tribesmen. Undoubtedly, this phenomenon took place, but it was not the only thing that contributed to the emergence of the state. There is also a theory according to which a new type of organization of society was a consequence of the need to control and distribute resources, a kind of supreme manager of economic objects, in order to effectively develop them; this method of organizing the state is most applicable to Ancient Egypt, where the irrigation system was the main economic object.

Criteria for their appearance

When and why did the first natural process arise, which occurred everywhere, but in different periods. In ancient times, the basis of life for all people was agriculture and cattle breeding. In order for it to develop successfully, appropriate natural and climatic conditions were necessary. Therefore, they settled mainly along the banks of large rivers, which made it possible to fully satisfy people's needs for this important resource. Special meaning had the location of the water source: the further south it is, the warmer the climate and, accordingly, the more favorable opportunities for agriculture. Here you can harvest not just once, as in most of the world, but several times a year. This gave the peoples living in these regions an undoubted advantage in developing methods of livelihood and obtaining surplus product.

The most ancient regions of state building

Mesopotamia, or Mesopotamia, is a very favorable region for agriculture, a mild, warm climate, excellent location and the presence of two large rivers in Western Asia - the Tigris and Euphrates - gave required amount water for the development of the irrigation system and irrigation method of land use. The people inhabiting these lands were less dependent on the vagaries of the weather than others, so they could receive stable and rich harvests. Approximately the same situation developed in the valley of the largest river in Africa - the Nile. But in order to build the complexes, it was necessary to establish teamwork a large number of people, otherwise it was simply impossible to create effective agriculture. This is how the first prototypes originated and this is where the first states appeared, but these, strictly speaking, were not yet completely state formations. These were their embryos, from which they subsequently formed

The vicissitudes of socio-economic and political components in ancient countries

The city-states emerging in these territories begin to control a strictly defined area. Relations between neighbors were always tense and often led to conflicts. Many independent associations were slowing down economic development This region and the stronger rulers realized this, so they gradually try to subordinate a large territory to their power, where they establish uniform orders. It is according to this scheme that two strong and large kingdoms appear in the Nile Valley - Northern, or Upper, Egypt and Southern, or Lower, Egypt. The rulers of both kingdoms had fairly strong power and an army. However, luck smiled on the king of Upper Egypt, in a fierce struggle he defeated his southern rival, and around 3118 he conquered the kingdom of Lower Egypt, and Mina became the first pharaoh of a united Egypt and the founder of the state, which is when and why the first states appeared.

Egypt - the first state

Now all the fruitful resources of the Nile were concentrated in the hands of one ruler, all conditions appeared for the development of a single state system irrigated agriculture, and now whoever controlled it had significant material resources. The fragmentation that was weakening the country was replaced by a strong, unified state, and the further development of Egypt perfectly demonstrates all the positive aspects of this process. Long years this country dominated the entire Middle East region. Another favorable region of the Earth, Mesopotamia, could not overcome centrifugal forces, the city-states that existed here were unable to unite under the rule of a single monarch. Therefore, constant conflicts destabilized the political and economic situation, which made it possible for Egypt to get ahead, and soon the Sumerian states fell into the sphere of influence of the Egyptian state, and then other powerful states in the region. But it is not possible to say which state appeared first with chronological accuracy, so Egypt is considered the first state on the planet.

Theories of the genesis of political entities

The most objective theory on the question of when and why the first states appeared is the one according to which a fairly stable social structure society, and the state that is formed as a result of these processes and phenomena is only a pattern designed to ensure the necessary stability of the entire social system. That's when and why the first states appeared. This path applies to everyone power relations in the history of mankind. But much more, it can also be a hostile environment, which contributes to the consolidation of society, strengthening the role of the individual, which is the ruler. Borrowings from surrounding more developed nations also play an important role. The religious and ideological component also contributes to this; it is enough to recall Muhammad, the founder of the new religion of Islam, and the importance it played in the formation. Therefore, the first states appeared as a result of a set of conditions, but the main criterion was still the level of economic development.

Summing up

The first states were mainly based on force; power always presupposes submission. And in conditions ancient world it was the only way to preserve vast territories, often inhabited by very different and dissimilar tribes. Therefore, many states arose as unique organizations for fruitful development, but did not interfere in local affairs, demanding only the fulfillment of certain duties and obedience. Often it was of a formal nature, because of this the first states were extremely unstable.

Today there are 257 countries in the world, 193 of which are members of the UN, while others have a certain status. Many of these countries became independent only recently, while others are just fighting for their right to be sovereign.
Historians are well aware of the dates of the founding of young states, and as for the first countries on planet Earth, their history is shrouded in the darkness of millennia, hidden under a layer of ancient dust.
There is a lot of controversy over the very methodology for determining the most ancient states. After all, every nation has its own myths and legends about the founding of their state. For example, the legendary foundation of one of the smallest modern states, San Marino, dates back to the beginning of the 4th century. According to legend, in 301, a member of one of the first Christian communities found refuge in the Apennines, on the top of Monte Titano. Thus, formally San Marino has been considered an independent state since September 3, 301. In fact, we can talk about some kind of independence of the founded settlement only from the 6th century, when Italy broke up into many dependent and independent territories.
According to Japanese myths, the Land of the Rising Sun was founded back in 660 BC. e., but the first state on Japanese territory, Yamato, arose during the Kofu period, which dates back to 250 - 538.
Ancient Greece It is considered one of the most ancient civilizations, the cradle of philosophy, culture, and science. But Greece became a truly independent country only in 1821 after it left the Ottoman Empire.
Therefore, in order to compile a correct rating, we took into account only those forms of organization of society that correspond to the modern characteristics of the state: sovereignty, own territory, State symbols, language and so on. In addition, only those states that are on the modern world map were taken into account.
So, the ranking of the most ancient states was 10 modern countries from three continents.

1. Elam, 3200 BC e. (Iran)

The modern state in southwest Asia - the Islamic Republic of Iran was founded on April 1, 1979 as a result of the Islamic Revolution. But the history of statehood in Iran is one of the oldest in the world. For centuries, this country played a key role in the East. The first state on the territory of Iran - Elam - arose in 3200 BC. e. The Persian Empire under Darius I extended from Greece and Libya to the Indus River. In the Middle Ages, Persia was a strong and influential state.

2. Egypt, 3000 BC e.

Egypt is the oldest state in the world, about whose history a lot has been preserved interesting information. It was in this mysterious and mysterious country of the pharaohs that many types and forms of art were born, which later developed in Asia and Europe. They served as the basis for ancient aesthetics - the starting point of all the arts of our time.
Egypt is the largest country in the Arab East, one of the centers of its political and cultural life, the “tourist Mecca” of the world. Egypt occupies a unique geographical position, located at the junction of three continents - Africa, Asia and Europe and the world's two largest civilizations - Christian and Islamic.
Egypt arose on the territory where one of the most powerful and mysterious civilizations once existed, the history of which dates back centuries and millennia. In 3000 BC. e. Pharaoh Mines united the Egyptian lands and created a state that Egyptologists today call the Early Kingdom.
Echoes of that era - Great Egyptian pyramids, mysterious Sphinxes and grandiose Temples of the Pharaohs.

3. Wanglang, 2897 BC e. (Vietnam)

Vietnam is a state in the South East Asia, located on the Indochina Peninsula. The name of the country consists of two words and is translated as “the country of the Vietnamese in the South.” The Viet civilization arose in the Red River basin. According to legend, the Viet were descended from a dragon and a fairy bird. The first state on the territory of Vietnam, Van Lang, appeared in 2897 BC. e. For some time, Vietnam was part of China. In the second half of the 19th century, Vietnam became colonially dependent on France. In the summer of 1954, Vietnam became an independent state.

4. Shang-Yin, 1600 BC e. (China)

China is a state in East Asia, the largest state in the world by population (over 1.3 billion); ranks third in the world in terms of territory, behind Russia and Canada.
Chinese civilization is one of the oldest in the world. According to Chinese scientists, its age may be five thousand years, while the available written sources cover a period of at least 3,500 years. The long-standing presence of administrative systems, which were improved by successive dynasties, created obvious advantages for the Chinese state, whose economy was based on developed agriculture, compared to its more backward nomadic and mountaineer neighbors. Chinese civilization was further strengthened by the introduction of Confucianism as a state ideology (1st century BC) and unified system letters (2nd century BC).
The Shang-Yin state, which existed from 1600 to 1027 BC on the territory of modern China, is the first state formation, the reality of whose existence is confirmed not only by archaeological finds, but also by narrative and epigraphic written sources.
In 221 BC. e. Emperor Qin Shi Huang united all Chinese lands and created the Qin Empire, the territory of which corresponds to modern China.

5. Kush, 1070 BC e. (Sudan)

The modern state of Sudan in northeast Africa is equal in area to the entire Western Europe, and its population is only 29.5 million people. The country is located in the middle reaches of the Nile River with surrounding plains, plateaus and the adjacent Red Sea coast.
Kush (Meroitic Kingdom) is an ancient kingdom that existed in the northern part of the territory of modern Sudan from 1070 to 350 BC. e. The existence of the kingdom of Kush is confirmed in the remains of temples, sculptures of gods and kings. There is evidence that writing, astronomy and medicine were already developed in Kush at that time.

6. Sri Lanka, 377 BC e.

Sri Lanka (“Blessed Land”) is a state in South Asia, on the island of the same name off the southeastern coast of Hindustan. The history of Sri Lanka begins with the Neolithic period when the first settlements were discovered in Sri Lanka. Written history begins with the arrival of the Aryans from India, who spread the rudiments of knowledge of metallurgy, navigation, and writing among the local population.
In 247 BC. e. Buddhism penetrated into Sri Lanka, which had a decisive influence on the formation of the country and its political system.
In 377 BC. A kingdom arose on the island with its capital in the ancient city of Anuradhapura.

7. Chin, 300 BC. e. (Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Republic of Korea)

Korea is a geographical territory that includes the Korean Peninsula and adjacent islands and is united by a common cultural and historical heritage. In the past there was a single state. In 1945, after the defeat of Japan in World War II, the territory of Korea, which was at that time a Japanese colony, was delimited into two zones of military responsibility: the Soviet one - north of the parallel of 38 ° N. w. and the American one to the south of it. Subsequently, in 1948, two states emerged on the territory of these zones: the Republic of Korea in the south and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north.
According to legend, the first Korean state was founded by the son of a bear woman and a celestial being, Tangun, in 2333 BC. e. Historians call the earliest stage of Korean history the period of the Ko Joseon state. Most modern historians agree that the date is 2333 BC. e. is greatly exaggerated, since it is not confirmed by any historical documents other than individual medieval Korean chronicles.
It is believed that at the dawn of its development, Ancient Joseon was a tribal union consisting of separately governed city-states, and it became a centralized state in 300 BC. e. Around the same time, the proto-state of Chin was formed in the south of the peninsula.

7. Iberia, 299 BC e. (Georgia)

Modern Georgia is considered a young independent state. But the history of the formation of Georgian statehood goes back to antiquity. Georgia is among the detection sites ancient monuments human civilization.
Historians believe that the first states on the territory of Georgia were formed back in the 3rd-2nd millennium BC. e. These were the Colchis kingdom, located on east coast Black Sea, and Iberia, modern eastern Georgia. In 299 BC. e. Pharnavaz came to power in Iberia. During the reign of Farnavaz and his immediate descendants, Iberia achieved great power and became a state with significant territories. In the 9th century, a new united state arose on the territory of Georgia, the ruler of which was a king from the Bagrationi dynasty.

8. Greater Armenia, 190 BC e. (Armenia)

The first mentions of Armenia are found in the cuneiform writings of the Persian king Darius I, who reigned in 522-486. BC e., also in Herodotus (5th century BC) and Xenophon (5th century BC). On the maps of the largest historians and geographers of antiquity, Armenia is marked along with Persia, Syria and other ancient states. After the collapse of the empire of Alexander the Great, the Armenian kingdoms arose: Greater Armenia, Lesser Armenia and Sophene.
Greater Armenia, a large state stretching from Palestine to the Caspian Sea, created in 190 BC. Historians call it the first state on the territory of the modern republic.

9. Yamato, 250 (Japan)

Japan is an island nation in East Asia located in the Pacific Ocean on the Japanese Archipelago, consisting of 6,852 islands. According to Japanese legend, in 660 BC. e. Jimmu founded the Land of the Rising Sun and became its first emperor.
The first written mentions of ancient Japan, as single state, contained in historical chronicles of the 1st century AD. e. Chinese Han Empire. In the 3rd century compendium of the Chinese Wei Empire, 30 Japanese countries are mentioned, among which Yamatai is the most powerful. Its ruler, Himiko, is reported to have maintained power using "charms."
From 250 - 538 , Kofun period, the Yamato state emerges. It is assumed that Yamato was a federation.
The Kofun period is so named because of the Kofun mound culture that was prevalent in Japan for five centuries. The photo shows the Daisenryo Mound, the tomb of Emperor Nintoku, early 5th century.

10. Great Bulgaria, 632 (Bulgaria)

Bulgaria is a state in South-Eastern Europe, in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The first state of the Bulgarians about which exact details have been preserved historical information, there was Great Bulgaria, a state that united the tribes of the Proto-Bulgarians and existed in the Black Sea and Azov steppes for only a few decades from 632 to 671. The capital of the state was the city of Phanagoria, and its founder and ruler was Khan Kubrat. This is where the history of Bulgaria as a state began.

The first states appeared about 6,000 years ago, but not all of them were able to survive to this day. Some have disappeared forever, others only have their names left, but there are also those that have retained their connection with the Ancient World.

Armenia

The history of Armenian statehood goes back about 2,500 years, although its origins should be sought even deeper - in the kingdom of Arme-Shubria (XII century BC), which, according to historian Boris Piotrovsky, at the turn of the 7th and 6th centuries BC. e. turned into a Scythian-Armenian association.
Ancient Armenia is a motley conglomerate of kingdoms and states that existed simultaneously or succeeded one another. Tabal, Melid, the Mush kingdom, the Hurrian, Luwian and Urartian states - the descendants of their inhabitants eventually merged with the Armenian people.

The term “Armenia” is first found in the Behistun Inscription (521 BC) of the king of Persia, Darius I, who so designated the Persian satrapy on the territory of the disappeared Urartu. Later, in the valley of the Araks River, the Ararat kingdom arose, which served as the basis for the formation of three others - Sophen, Lesser Armenia and Greater Armenia. From about the 3rd century BC. e. the center of political and cultural life of the Armenian people moves to the Ararat Valley.

Iran

The history of Iran is one of the most ancient and eventful. Based on written sources, scientists suggest that Iran is at least 5,000 years old. However, in Iranian history they include such a proto-state formation as Elam, located in the southwest of modern Iran and mentioned in the Bible.

The first most significant Iranian state was the Median kingdom, founded in the 7th century BC. e. During its heyday, the Median kingdom was significantly larger than the ethnographic region of modern Iran, Media. In the Avesta this region was called the “Country of the Aryans.”

The Iranian-speaking tribes of the Medes, according to one version, moved here from Central Asia, according to another - from the North Caucasus and gradually assimilated the local non-Aryan tribes. The Medes very quickly settled throughout western Iran and established control over it. Over time, having grown stronger, they were able to defeat the Assyrian Empire.
The beginnings of the Medes were continued by the Persian Empire, spreading its influence over vast territories from Greece to India.

China

According to Chinese scientists, Chinese civilization is about 5,000 years old. But written sources speak of a slightly younger age - 3600 years. This is the beginning of the Shang Dynasty. Then a system of administrative management was laid down, which was developed and improved by successive dynasties.
Chinese civilization developed in the basin of two large rivers - the Yellow River and the Yangtze, which determined its agricultural character. It was developed agriculture that distinguished China from its neighbors, who lived in less favorable steppe and mountainous regions.

The state of the Shang dynasty was quite active military policy, which allowed her to expand her territories to the limits that included the modern Chinese provinces of Henan and Shanxi.
By the 11th century BC, the Chinese were already using lunar calendar and invented the first examples of hieroglyphic writing. At the same time, a professional army was formed in China, using bronze weapons and war chariots.

Greece

Greece has every reason to be considered the cradle of European civilization. About 5,000 years ago, the Minoan culture arose on the island of Crete, which later spread to the mainland through the Greeks. It was on the island that the beginnings of statehood were indicated, in particular, the first writing appeared, and diplomatic and trade relations with the East emerged.

Appeared at the end of the 3rd millennium BC. e. Aegean civilization already fully demonstrates state formations. Thus, the first states in the basin Aegean Sea- in Crete and the Peloponnese they were built according to the type of eastern despotism with a developed bureaucratic apparatus. Ancient Greece grew rapidly and spread its influence to the Northern Black Sea region, Asia Minor and Southern Italy.
Ancient Greece is often called Hellas, but local residents extend the self-name to the modern state. It is important for them to emphasize the historical connection with that era and culture, which essentially shaped the entire European civilization.

Egypt

At the turn of the 4th-3rd millennium BC, several dozen cities of the upper and lower Nile were united under the rule of two rulers. From this moment the 5000-year history of Egypt begins.
Soon a war broke out between Upper and Lower Egypt, which resulted in the victory of the king of Upper Egypt. Under the rule of the pharaoh, a strong state is formed here, gradually spreading its influence to neighboring lands.
27-century dynastic period Ancient Egypt and there is the golden time of ancient Egyptian civilization. A clear administrative and management structure is being formed in the state, advanced technologies for that time are being developed, and art and architecture are rising to unattainable heights.
Over the past centuries, a lot has changed in Egypt - religion, language, culture. The Arab conquest of the country of the pharaohs radically turned the vector of development of the state. However, it is the ancient Egyptian heritage that is the hallmark of modern Egypt.

Japan

The first mention of Ancient Japan is contained in Chinese historical chronicles of the 1st century AD. e. In particular, it says that there were 100 small countries in the archipelago, 30 of which established relations with China.
The reign of the first Japanese Emperor Jimmu supposedly began in 660 BC. e. It was he who wanted to establish power over the entire archipelago. However, some historians consider Jimma a semi-legendary person.
Japan is a unique country, which, unlike Europe and the Middle East, has developed for many centuries without any serious social and political upheavals. This is largely due to its geographical isolation, which, in particular, protected Japan from the Mongol invasion.
If we take into account the dynastic continuity that has been uninterrupted for more than 2.5 thousand years and the absence dramatic changes borders of the country, Japan can be called a state with the most ancient origin.

To the question where did the first states on earth arise? given by the author Friend #1 the best answer is



There were continuous bloody wars between the states for the possession of fertile lands. Warriors in Sumer had a primitive bow, a spear with a copper tip, a short dagger and a copper cap (the weapons of the Egyptians were also primitive); there were no horses. With such imperfect weapons, it was dangerous to keep men in slavery, so the captives were killed, only captives and teenagers were spared their lives.

Answer from Summer[guru]
Urartu and Assyria - in the territory of modern Syria, Iraq and Turkey.

Answer from Sunnyboy[guru]
Sumerian, Egypt.

Answer from Yana yana[guru]
Sumer and Akkad. Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia. The ancient states of Sumer and Akkad The oldest indications of the existence of slave states on the territory of Mesopotamia date back to the beginning of the third millennium BC. e. Judging by the documents of this era, these were very small states, or rather, primary state formations, headed by kings. The principalities that lost their independence were ruled by the highest representatives of the slave-owning aristocracy, who bore the ancient semi-priestly title of tsatesi (epsi). Economic basis These ancient slaveholding states had a land fund of the country centralized in the hands of the state. Communal lands, cultivated by free peasants, were considered the property of the state, and their population was obliged to bear all kinds of duties, usually quite heavy, for the benefit of the latter. But along with this, the king had special land at his immediate disposal. The process of class stratification was also reflected in the forms of land ownership. State power often resorted to seizures of communal lands, some of which had previously become the property of the richest representatives of the community. Thus, along with large centralized royal land ownership and communal land use by peasants, private land ownership of the rich gradually arose. The landless poor, who were gradually turned into slaves, as well as prisoners of war enslaved, worked the lands that belonged to the king, temples and aristocratic slave owners. The main form of farming in this era was agriculture based on artificial irrigation. Therefore one of essential functions The most ancient slaveholding state had the function of organizing and maintaining an irrigation network. The rulers and kings of the most ancient, as well as the later states of Sumer and Akkad, everywhere in their inscriptions proudly speak of their concerns about expanding and maintaining the artificial irrigation network.
Already in the fourth millennium BC. e. on the territory of Sumer and Akkad arise ancient cities, which are the economic, political and cultural centers of individual small states. In the southernmost part of the country was the city of Eridu, located on the shores of the Persian Gulf. Large political significance had the city of Ur, which, judging by the results of recent excavations, was the center of a strong state. The religious and cultural center of all of Sumer was the city of Nippur with its common Sumerian sanctuary, the temple of the god Enlil. Among other cities of Sumer, Lagash (Shirpurla), which waged a constant struggle with the neighboring Umma, and the city of Uruk, where, according to legend, the ancient Sumerian hero Gilgamesh once ruled, were of great political importance.
The history of some of these ancient states is more or less known to us due to the fact that in the ruins of some cities (Ur) many monuments of material culture and art were found, and in the ruins of others (Lagash) many documents were found (some of which are stored in the Moscow Museum fine arts named after Pushkin).
In the III millennium BC. e. In the middle reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates, the slave state of Akkad arose. In the first quarter of the 3rd millennium BC. e. Akkad was led by Sargon I, who, relying on the broad masses of free people, united Sumer and Akkad. The unification contributed to changing the basis of the armed organization. Military power the new state was so great that the trading colonies of the Semites located in Asia Minor turned to Sargon for military assistance. The first documented military treaty of mutual assistance, concluded by “Sumer and Akkad” with the kings of the state of Elam, located in the southwestern part of present-day Iran, dates back to the reign of the grandson of Sargon I.

Answer from Ilnaz Galyavetdinov[newbie]
vbfgvb

Answer from Irina Shafeeva[newbie]
Thank you

Answer from Ilya Mokshanov[newbie]
Egypt Greece

Answer from Ђanyushka[newbie]
The world's oldest states arose in two southern countries in the valleys of deep rivers at approximately the same time (5 thousand years ago or slightly earlier):
1. Egypt is a country located on both banks of the Nile from the first cataract in the south to Mediterranean Sea in the north; Deserts stretch to the west and east of Egypt. The ancient Egyptians called their country Kemet (Black). This is how they distinguished the black fertile land in the Nile Valley from the “red” land, unsuitable for habitation in the desert. The name Egypt was given by the Greeks. Presumably it comes from one of the names of the ancient capital of the country - Khikupta (literally “Fortress of the spirit of Ptah” - the patron god of this city).
2. Sumer is an ancient country located in the Southern Mesopotamia, that is, along the banks of the Euphrates and Tigris in their lower reaches (the south of modern Iraq). The name of the country comes from the name of its oldest population - the Sumerians, known to scientists.
On its territory ancient states were small (for example, in the Nile Valley in the second half of 4 thousand BC, more than forty of them were formed). The center of each state was a fortified city, where there was a temple to the local patron god and the residence of the ruler. The latter was a military leader and also supervised irrigation work. It is known that in Sumer the rulers were also the main priests.
There were continuous bloody wars between the states for the possession of fertile lands. Warriors in Sumer had a primitive bow, a spear with a copper tip, a short dagger and a copper cap (the weapons of the Egyptians were also primitive); there were no horses. With such imperfect weapons, it was dangerous to keep men in slavery, so the captives were killed, only captives and teenagers were spared their lives.