About the very first state in the world. The most ancient states of the world

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 origin of the state, because 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 Islamic states(Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.) 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 the ideologists of the Catholic Church, Maristen, Mercier, and others.

All religions uphold the idea of ​​God's establishment 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 the patriarchal theory is considered to be the 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 the body: rulers - the brain, communications (mail, transport) and finance - the circulatory system that ensures the activity of the body, workers and peasants (producers) - the 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 subordinate 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 was 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) considered, on the contrary, a good person, striving for universal equality, and therefore 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.

This option for forming a state 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 most important factors that express the fundamental nature of humanity: power and property (and property means both private and collective). From the content of the subjects and the characteristics of the combination of these two factors in different conditions and depend specific features the process of state formation.

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. the need to improve the 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), and to unite 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 began to appear in Mesopotamia, Iran and in the 4th millennium BC. , which reigned before the development of silver and gold, was coming to an end in these territories, but continued to develop in other parts of the planet. However, even today in remote corners of our world you can find small settlements living in primitive communities.

What caused the emergence of the state? First of all, the main factor was climate. If a person is engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding in a relatively favorable conditions, in a warm climate and with sufficient water, food products gradually accumulated, which made it possible to engage in other activities with plenty of food.

With sufficient supplies of food, it was already possible to devote oneself to the craft, studying stone and metal objects, as well as dishes and jewelry. It was already possible to share your products with neighbors, who in return gave something of their own - food, for example.

The larger the village, the more important self-organization is, so almost everywhere there were some kind of leaders. As a rule, these were elderly people with accumulated experience and knowledge of rituals. If any conflicts, feuds or quarrels arose, they went straight to the elder, who, at first, had only authority, but no benefit from his position.

But with the increase in numbers, it was necessary not only to lead people, but also to plan. For example, it was required public Works on rivers, in forests. People needed to be set up and explained the prospects and benefits of joint efforts. And if everything worked out, then the surplus of the same grain was already public property in the form of a reserve in case of crop failure or for exchange with communities nearby.

The elders could not combine such multifaceted and labor-intensive work in organizing collective work with personal farming, so over time, leaders began to work for the common good, receiving part of the jointly produced products from the reserve.

Considering the strong family connection between residents of neighboring villages, some issues had to be resolved jointly. Communities elected their representatives, chief priests, to resolve such issues.

Gradually, first cemented by family ties, and later by neighbors, the settlements unite into urban formations, which will become the first city-states.

The nobility, which led the first prototypes of states, developed as a class gradually. First, other dwellings, special forms of life and luxury goods appeared. Over time, the gap between the leaders and fellow tribesmen increased, but was not significant or fundamental.

The strength of the first state formations was evidenced by the presence of monumental structures. This could only appear with the efforts of a large number of people organized by work. For example, these are temples, megaliths and pyramids in Ancient Egypt.

According to scientists, the first state formations, headed by leaders, existed from the 3rd millennium BC. and up to the early Middle Ages.

There are 256 countries in the world. There are countries that are still very young and have recently received their independence and country status. Other countries trace their history back more than one hundred years, and some states whose history is especially attractive and covered with centuries-old secrets that are only now being revealed to us.

The most ancient state in the world is considered to be Egypt, which arose 3500 BC. No state today can boast of such a diverse culture and leaving a rich heritage to its descendants. Magnificent statues, wall paintings, pyramids and palaces still amaze with their beauty and power, which the whole world admires. The cultural heritage of Ancient Egypt had and still has a great influence on the entire world civilization. After all, it was here that the calendar was created, the first paper and ink, soap and deodorant appeared, cement was invented, the first cosmetics and high-heeled shoes appeared. Many fashion designers use elements of ancient Egyptian fashion in their modern collections, and ancient art objects are copied by artists and sculptors to create their masterpieces.

Ancient Egypt, or as the Egyptians themselves called it Ta-kemet, which means “Black Land” or Ta-meri, that is, “Land of the Hoe,” was located in northeast Africa along the Nile River. The prosperity of ancient Egyptian civilization was mainly the skillful ability to adapt to natural conditions and proper organization of animal husbandry and agriculture. The annual floods of the Nile River fertilized the soil with fertile silt and made it possible to grow grain crops in excess, thereby developing and expanding many industries such as livestock farming and trade. Mining also gradually developed, bringing the state copper, lead, gold, semiprecious stones. Construction technology increased and developed, which made it possible to organize and create collective, large-scale construction of monumental structures.

The organizing force of Ancient Egypt was a well-developed administrative apparatus, consisting of pharaohs, officials, scribes and priests, who, according to the originally established cult tradition, were often deified and the orders and instructions they issued were carried out by ordinary people unquestioningly.

The ruling monarch of the country at the highest level of the social hierarchy was the pharaoh.

He owned all the lands and its resources. In addition, he was the main military leader and received all the most important state and court decisions countries. Below the pharaoh on the social ladder were officials and scribes.

The function of officials included managing the state treasury, exercising control over the regions of the country, collecting taxes and performing judicial functions. Scribes helped collect taxes, write laws, assessed the cost of land, and kept records of all the wealth of the pharaoh.

The priests managed temples and palaces, helped organize religious festivals, and were devoted advisers to the pharaoh. Below this ruling class were the dominant class: soldiers, artisans and peasants who made up the majority of the population. The entire economy of the country was strictly controlled and written and detailed records were kept of everything that happened within the country.

Over the course of almost four millennia, the ancient Egyptians created a high, complex and rich culture that had a huge impact on the entire cultural development of other countries. The cultural values ​​created by the Egyptians have entered the treasury of world culture and are still being studied, revealing more and more details and secrets to the world. ancient civilization Egypt.

Which country is the most ancient in the world? It is not so easy to answer this question, but we will still try to figure it out. So, this post is about which country existing today has the greatest right to be called the most ancient.

The simplest, but also the most formal way is to associate a country and state with a specific name and form of government. From this point of view, the oldest country will be the dwarf state of San Marino, located in Italy. It was founded more than 1,700 years ago - in 301 AD. e. And here modern Russia, USSR and Russian empire or Germany before the First World War, after the First World War and after the Second World War will be formally different countries, although, as we understand, there is quite clear historical and cultural continuity between them. It would also be strange to consider, for example, that after the great French revolution of the year one country (the Kingdom of France) disappeared somewhere and a new one (the French Republic) appeared in its place. Therefore, it seems more natural to use less formal criteria and consider that the country, its name, government structure may change, but at the same time traditions and culture must be preserved, and the majority of people must continue to consider themselves the same people, nation as before. In this case, Russia as a country will begin its history from the 8th-9th centuries, when it appeared Old Russian state, and France - from the end of the 5th century, when the former Roman province of Gaul was conquered by the Franks.

Which states appeared the very first? According to modern ideas, among the most ancient civilizations of the world, three can be distinguished - the Sumerian civilization on the territory of modern Iraq, the Ancient Egyptian civilization, and the Harappan civilization on the banks of the Indus. But have they survived to this day? Unfortunately no. The Sumerian state was conquered in ancient times, and traces of this people are lost in the weaves of history. Today it is difficult to even say whether the descendants of the Sumerians live today and among which peoples. In any case, the traditions, language, and culture of the Sumerians are familiar to us today only on the basis of archaeological research. The same fate befell the Harappan civilization.

fresco - an episode from the life of the ancient Egyptians

As for Ancient Egypt, traces of this civilization and people can still be traced to the present day. But Ancient Egypt can hardly be correlated with modern Egypt, and the reason for this is the following. Egypt was conquered many times, and if the country could somehow digest the first conquerors, then after Arab conquest continuity was lost. The newcomer Arab population mixed with the local one, but brought their own language, religion and culture, so the modern population of Egypt for the most part perceives themselves as Arabs, and not at all as descendants of the ancient Egyptians. Only a small part of the Egyptian population (Copts) partially retained adherence to pre-Arab traditions, mainly in the field of religion, but they also speak Arabic.

And the oldest existing civilization, which, on the one hand, arose quite a long time ago, and on the other, was able to safely survive all the cataclysms of history, is China. Having emerged more than 4 thousand years ago, China disintegrated and reunited many times, was conquered several times, but its huge population and rich culture led to the fact that all conquerors sooner or later became “sinicized.” So the Chinese to this day observe their centuries-old traditions, study ancient legends, and are proud of their thousands of years of history. And China can rightfully claim the title of the most ancient country peace.

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 darkness for thousands of years, 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 exist on modern map peace.
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 has played 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 - the most ancient state world, about the history of which 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 subsequently 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 two of the world's largest civilizations - Christian and Islamic.
Egypt arose in 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 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. Long-standing presence of systems administrative management, 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 neighbors and mountaineers. 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 state of Shang-Yin, which existed from 1600 to 1027 BC on the territory of modern China, is the first public education, 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 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 centralized state he became 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 one of the places where the most ancient monuments of human civilization were discovered.
Historians believe that the first states on the territory of Georgia were formed back in III-II thousand. BC e. These were the kingdom of Colchis, located on the eastern coast of the 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 from 522 to 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.
Great 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 country in East Asia located in Pacific Ocean in 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 a single state, are 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 accurate historical information has been preserved, 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.