Ancient China

It was in ancient China that the first state emerged, according to Fukuyama's history of political development. Originally a tribal society, small regional states emerged and entered into a long period of almost continuous warfare with one another. This warfare strengthened the political institutions of many of these smaller states, particularly the Qin, which eventually conquered all of China.

India

Like China, India was a tribal society that grew into a series of small states that were sometimes unified under an emperor. Unlike China, India had a strong Hindu religious tradition in place before the process of unification took place and thus developed a strong rule of law.

The Middle East

The Middle East, like India, was united socially by religion, in this case Islam. Under the Mamluks and later the Ottomans, an Islamic empire emerged that had closely intertwined religious and political authorities.

Europe

Europe...