Summary:
The book examines the origins and consequences of early state formation, challenging traditional narratives about the rise of civilization by highlighting the costs of sedentism, agriculture, and bureaucratic states. It explores the strategies of non-state peoples, the environmental impact of settled life, and the coercive aspects of state-making in ancient Mesopotamia and beyond.
Key points:
1. State as Domesticator: Scott believes early states domesticated plants, animals, and humans, leading to resource surplus but also exploitation.
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