"Sacred Foundations: The Religious & Medieval Roots of the European State". Prof Anna Grzymala-Busse

What led to state formation in Europe? Professor Anna Grzymała-Busse argues that rivalry & emulation of the Church enabled state-making! Medieval kings and popes were counterweights (unlike elsewhere in the world). Building on ecclesiastical innovations and competition, secular rulers collected taxes, improved record-keeping and cemented the rule of law. https://politicalscience.stanford.edu/people/anna-grzymala-busse https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691245072/sacred-foundations