The closest anarchism reference that I can recall that was applied to a large somewhat concentrated mass of people was after the Israelites fled Egypt. In the promised land they had judges who settled disputes among people, but that was the extent of a central government. They were not satisfied with that arrangement and demanded a king. Mankind seems to be a generally dissatisfied creature with whatever his current state is demanding to be controlled when he gets tired of anarchy and freedom when he gets fed up with oppression.