AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
The Role of Surnames in State Control
Surnames were introduced by governments as a means to better inventory the population for taxing purposes. Before surnames, individuals were identified by only their first names in small communities. The implementation of surnames allowed states to create top-down categorization schemas for better control and taxation. This centralized control becomes challenging in decentralized units where people are identified individually without surnames, making it harder for governments to exert control.