The transition from primitive society to a modern state is a long and cheered history.

Difference of conditions under which they arose at different times and places gave rise to a variety of governmental organizations. The state did not have a continuous process of evolution and development.

It appeared in various forms and shapesthe Tribal State, Oriental Empire. Roman Empire, the Greek City States, the Feudal States and the Modem National States. These States differed vitally in their size, and characteristics and have given rise to dissimilar political institutions and ideas.

The evolution of the state extends over a long period in the history of human race. It has developed from a rudimentary form to the modern complex structure. The process of this evolution has not been uniform due to difference in the conditions under which the state developed at different places and times. It, therefore assumed different forms with a variety of governments. Its principal forms may be discussed as follows:

1. The Tribal State: The state could not be distinguished from the tribe at the earliest stage of its evolution. In the primitive age the rights of citizenship depended upon kinship. Allegiance was neither territorial nor personal. It was dependent upon blood relationship. 2. The Oriental Empire: The earlier states known to history first developed in the fertile valleys of the Ganges, the Nile, the Euphrates and

The Tigris where Nature was bountiful and primitive people could get food for themselves and fodder for their animals. Peru and Mexico were the seats of empires in the western hemisphere. The warm and fertile plains of those regions watered by great rivers were the seats of ancient civilizations and earlier states. Production in these regions was plentiful and required very little exertion.

Although these empires were separated by long distances yet they had certain common traits. All these regions had despotic monarchies. The people enjoyed no rights or liberty. They had two main duties, viz., submission to the authority of the king and the payment of taxes. In the words of Gettle, such "state represented to their peoples only as slave driver and the tax collector"

The kings combined in them both religious and political powers. The priestly class was very influential. Disobedience to the authority of the king was regarded not only a crime but also a sin. These early empires were loosely organized and their authority was mainly based on awe and despotism. These were merely taxcollecting and recruiting agencies.

As soon as the ruling dynasty became weak, powerful rivals would come into the field and thus the power would pass to a number of rulers and initiated the beginning of culture and civilization. In spite of these shortcomings, the early empires played a very useful role in the evolution of the state because they infused in the people a sense of obedience to authority.

1. The Oriental empire: The earlier states were established in the fertile valley of the Ganges, the Nile, the Euphrates, and the Tigris. Peru and Mexico were the states of empires in the western hemisphere. 2. The Greek City-States: Greece was especially fitted for political growth because of its geographical position and physical features. The mountains and the sea divided the country into a number of valleys and islands separated from one another. As a result of these physical features each of these units developed into self-governing and selfsufficient city, states. Various experiments in political institutions were made in these small states. These contributed a lot to political thought.

3. The Roman world empire: Rome began her career as a city state, very much like the city-states of Greece. It changed into a republic and soon after into a big empire. As an empire, it made a valuable contribution to political concepts especially the law. 4. The Feudal States: These were established after the downfall of the Roman Empire. These were not states in the real sense of the term inasmuch as the authority of the state was distributed in a hierarchical manner on the basis of the ownership of land.

5. The Nation-States: The growth of modern nation states is attributable directly to the growth of commercialism. The newly arising commercial and industrial classes played a vital role in the destruction of feudalism and the establishment of the nation-state. The feudal nobility was wiped out and the authority of the Pope was set aside.