Formation of states w/ the University of Auckland’s Quentin Atkinson: 10 December, 2025

We might think of statehood as a fairly recent, post- World War Two phenomenon, but the creation of states actually goes back to 5000 years ago. 

And instead of money, it was the taxation of grains that contributed to the creation of the first states. 

Producer Vihan spoke to the University of Auckland’s Professor of Psychology Quentin Atkinson on how the first states and their elites came to be.