Final answer:
The first real, enforced taxation in human society can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, China, Egypt, and India. Taxation was used to generate revenue for the government, build infrastructure, and maintain social order.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first real, enforced taxation in human society can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, China, Egypt, and India. These societies developed modes of governance that combined taxation and tribute with mechanisms of social control. Taxation was used to generate revenue for the government, build infrastructure, and maintain social order. For example, in ancient China during the Han Dynasty, farmers paid a portion of their crop as land tax, merchants paid taxes on sales, and artisans paid income tax.