AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Origin Stories of States
- States have origin stories that mix reality with idealization.
- These stories simplify complex transitions from no polity to a polity, often using "us vs. them" narratives.
The Role of Statehood
- One purpose of statehood is protecting recognized people from enslavement.
- States offer protection and taxation, often by the same people who previously engaged in enslavement.
Conversion and Pragmatism
- Rulers often convert to religions for pragmatic reasons, like gaining a written language or legitimacy with other states, not solely belief.
- Christianity offered rulers entry into an order where enslaving fellow Christians was prohibited, changing the political landscape.