Before money existed, “taxation” consisted of thugs taking peoples livestock. If people resisted, then there would be violent consequences. The thugs didn’t take everything, because then people would fight back, as they had nothing to lose.

Also if they took everything, then people would starve and would not be able to pay further “tax” in the future.

At some point the thugs came up with a better method of

taxation, the idea of religious sacrifice.

They convinced people that it was necessary to appease God, and he needed their animals as a sacrifice. The animals were sacrificed by the thugs (now known as priests) . But God (being not of this World) didn’t eat them, so the priests dined well.