In today's world, the existence of the state is taken for granted. We complain about its demands. We lament that it increasingly intrudes into matters that were once considered private. However, it is almost impossible for us to imagine life without it.

In the modern world, the worst fate that can befall a person is to be without a state. Old forms of social recognition have ceased to be absolutely necessary today. A person can live a somewhat complete life without family, without a permanent residence, without religious affiliation; but if they do not have a state, they are nothing. They have no rights, no security, and their opportunities for a creative personal journey will be negligible.

There is no salvation on earth outside the framework of an organized state. Since we cannot escape the state, it is important to understand it. One way to achieve this is to study its history - to examine how and when this specific form of organization emerged, what kind of needs it fulfilled, and on what principles it was based.

A study of the origins of the modern European state could possibly shed some light on the characteristics and problems of the state in our days. It may help us identify the differences among the various types of states and explain why some states have more streamlined and effective forms of organization than others.