The 10 Greatest Countries in the History of the World
Yeah, we’re childish. But these are exactly the kinds of questions that pop into our head all the time — especially as Cathy is forcing us to watch Extra or somesuch.
So we decided to put this list together and welcome your input. Here are the ground rules:
1. By “countries,” we mean current countries based on current boundaries.
2. Any past accomplishments are credited to the current country; modern Iraq, for example, gets credit for Mesopotamia.
3. Seminal achievements score the biggest points; however, some points are deducted for long periods of backwardness.
4. For our descriptions, our own commentary is mixed with direct pulls from Wikipedia in most cases; we didn’t demarcate which was which so it would be easier to read. Just assume it’s all borrowed if you’d like.
OK, here we go — the Top 10, starting with the greatest country in the history of the world:
1. Italy. What can we say? Ancient Rome created what we now call “Western society” — including our laws, our culture and our religion. After Rome fell and Europe spent 1,000 years in darkness, Italy reclaimed it with the Renaissance. To create a civilization is achievement enough — but to save it 10 centuries later is truly remarkable.
2. United Kingdom. The dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, the United Kingdom is often credited with being the nation that “created the modern world”, by playing a leading role in developing Western ideas of property, capitalism, and parliamentary democracy as well as making significant contributions to literature, the arts, and science and technology. At its zenith, the British Empire stretched over one-quarter of the Earth’s surface and encompassed a third of its population.
3. United States. The U.S. is, by any measure, the wealthiest, most powerful and most influential country in the history of the world. Only its brief lifespan keeps it from topping the list. Buoyed by victories in World War I and World War II as the only major power not devastated, and especially after the collapse of the Soviet Union following the Cold War, the U.S. has emerged as the world’s sole superpower.
4. China. The once and future superpower. China was one of the earliest centers of human civilization. It has one of the world’s longest periods of mostly uninterrupted civilization and one of the world’s longest continuously used written language systems. Today, it is the likely successor to the United States as the most powerful country in the world.
5. Greece. Regarded as the cradle of western civilization and being the birthplace of modern democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, Western Literature, Political Science and drama, including both tragedy and comedy, Greece has a very long and remarkably rich history during which its culture has proven to be especially influential in Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East. Today, Greece is a developed nation, member of the European Union since 1981 and a member of the Eurozone since 2001.
6. Egypt. The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world’s great civilizations. A unified kingdom was founded circa 3200 BC by King Narmer, and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty, known as the Thirtieth Dynasty, fell to the Persians in 343 BC who dug the predecessor of the Suez canal and connected the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. Later, Egypt fell to the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Muslim Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the seventh century to the Egyptians, who gradually adopted both. Unfortunately, it’s been pretty much downhill since then.
7. Iraq. The Republic of Iraq sits on land that is historically known as Mesopotamia, which was home to some of the world’s first civilizations, including the Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian. These civilizations produced some of the first writing, science, mathematics, law and philosophy in the world, making the region the center of what is commonly called the “Cradle of Civilization”. Downhill since then.
8. India. The first known permanent settlements appeared over 9,000 years ago, and gradually developed into the Indus Valley Civilisation, a centre of important trade routes and vast empires. India has long played a major role in human history. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Ayyavazhi, and Sikhism — all have their origins in India.
9. Iran. Iran (formerly Persia) has been inhabited by human beings since pre-historic times, centuries before the earliest civilizations arose in nearby Mesopotamia. Following the Islamic conquest of Persia, the country was at the heart of the Islamic Golden Age, especially during the 9th to 11th centuries.
10. Chad.Michel Brunet’s 2002 discovery places the origins of humanity here, about six million years ago. Where in Africa life began remains a mystery — until Brunet, Kenya and Ethiopia were the best theories — but we’ll give Chad credit for being our best guess at the moment.
By our measure, Russia, Japan, France, Germany and a few others just missed out. OK — who did we miss?
Update: Check out our newest, in honor of Independence Day — “The 10 Best and Worst Days in the History of the United States.”
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I would like to point out that this is all in service of reinforcing a very specific, white, western idea of what is good. I can’t see how Israel, and other middle eastern countries don’t beat out Italy. Where do you think they got their ideas?
And last, Chad SHOULD be on the list, but as low as it is? Oh, yeah, humanity comes from here… but humanity isn’t as important as capitalism or industrial supremacy.
To the most recent poster:
Of the 10 countries, two are African (one black African) and two are Asian. Three are European, three are Middle Eastern, and one is North American.
If because I appreciate the achievements of Western civilization I am biased and racist as you seem to suggest, please provide me with your alternative list.
You could certainly argue (and I agree) that the agrarian, preliterate societies of pre-colonial Africa, for example, are morally equal to Western cultures. But the purpose of this list is to compare accomplishments — not lifestyles.
If you’ve got a better list, let’s see it. That’s the whole purpose of the exercise.
With only 105 years of being Australia, (The land was settled in 1788 but we only became the Commonwelath of Australia in 1901) I think Australia has made some major accomplishments. This doesn’t even include the 40 000 years of Aboriginal history. While I don’t think Australia makes the top 10, here’s why I believe it should be in the top 20!
1. The Bionic Ear - helping hundreds of thousands of people hear for the first time!.
2. South Australia was the first Government in the world to allow women the vote and to stand for elections. Australia also invented the secret ballot
3. Invented Torrens Title - First method of land registration
4. The aircraft Black box
5. While Alexander Fleming might have discovered penicillin, an Australian Howard Florey developed it into a usable medicine.
6. The stump-jump plow, latex gloves, 2-stroke lawn mower, the refrigerator, ultrasounds and Aspro - all Aussie’s
7. Had the world’s first codefied sport, Australian Rules Football.
8. Created the world’s first feature film, The Ned Kelly Gang
9. If you were a IVF baby, you’ve got Australia to thank, also thank us for the baby capsule.
10. The only country to compete in every modern summer olympics
11. World Series Cricket and racecams also invented in Australia.
This is just a short list and why we may not have the powerful and long history of other countries, we sure are making up for lost time!
With only 105 years of being Australia, (The land was settled in 1788 but we only became the Commonwelath of Australia in 1901) I think Australia has made some major accomplishments. This doesn’t even include the 40 000 years of Aboriginal history. While I don’t think Australia makes the top 10, here’s why I believe it should be in the top 20!
1. The Bionic Ear - helping hundreds of thousands of people hear for the first time!.
2. South Australia was the first Government in the world to allow women the vote and to stand for elections. Australia also invented the secret ballot
3. Invented Torrens Title - First method of land registration
4. The aircraft Black box
5. While Alexander Fleming might have discovered penicillin, an Australian Howard Florey developed it into a usable medicine.
6. The stump-jump plow, latex gloves, 2-stroke lawn mower, the refrigerator, ultrasounds and Aspro - all Aussie’s
7. Had the world’s first codefied sport, Australian Rules Football.
8. Created the world’s first feature film, The Ned Kelly Gang
9. If you were a IVF baby, you’ve got Australia to thank, also thank us for the baby capsule.
10. The only country to compete in every modern summer olympics
11. World Series Cricket and racecams also invented in Australia.
This is just a short list and why we may not have the powerful and long history of other countries, we sure are making up for lost time!
Althought I do not think that Canada deserve to be in the top 10, I do not like the way you make it sound so inferior. It is one of the few countries who haven’t lost a war (including two against the US… which one could argue they still belonged to the UK then, nevertheless). But what really fascinates me about Canada is that they are treated so well around the world. Americans will even put Canadian flags on the bags when they go hiking through Europe or go in the Caribeans. If they are so inferior, why do Americans want to be us in these circomstances?
Despite this, I do beleive Switzerland and Mongolia should have been somewhere on your list. Switzerland is currently rated the best place to live in right now and it has a rich past as well. Althought big wars were fought by other nations half of the soldier on both sides were Swiss Mercanaries. And for Mongolia, it owned at one point more land than what Julius Cesear, Napolean Bonaparte and Alexandre the Great had conquered combined, and they used primitive ways.
Since you were only using Wikepedia as your only source, I don’t deam it a worthy ressearched project (I won’t even let my students quote it on their papers for obvious reasons), but you did a good job to bring out pride in people’s nation and created some heated debate, in which case, I do applaud you for that. (Sorry for my bad english, I am a french-canadian)
-I agree with the people wondering why Russia and Germany are not on the list.
-Canada, no. I can’t believe you (well some of you) are trying to convince everyone you invented the telephone. Why does it matter? Even if you do get credit for that, that is one invention. One.
-I agree the UK should be the list but maybe not so far up.
-The US should be on the list too. Again, maybe not so far up but definately on the list. To have so much power in the little amount of time it has been around is astounding.
That’s all I have to say.
Hmmm…
1. We have lots of people saying there aren’t enough European countries on the list;
and
2. We have lots of other people saying the list is Euro-centric.
The list currently has three European countries:
1. Italy
2. U.K.
3. Greece
I still think those are the top three European countries based on total historical influence.
However, if I were going to do a Euro-only list, here would be my top 10:
1. Italy
2. U.K.
3. Greece
4. Spain
5. Russia
6. Turkey
7. France
8. Germany
9. Holland
10. Austria/Hungary (tie)
Emm … since when did the US win WW2 ? Talking about Iraq how many of you out there would actually like to live there … since we are talking about the current state of the countries !
If influence around the globe is a criteria to make this list, then India should be number one. They have more direct influence than any other nation on earth on the average western family. They are fast becoming a telemarketing superpower and can directly call into almost every western home on a daily basis. Of course I am only joking as there is no greater nation on earth than Australia.
In reply to Mathew Stibbe (You’ve rightly included the United Kingdom in your list, but of course it is made up of separate countries, a principality and some islands. So, I would vote for England (i.e. not Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales etc.)
The first half I agree, however Scotland should be voted well before England, we created the Television and fought many of your wars, and held out against the invading Romans, gave the world whiskey, shared our poetry with the world, invented most things blah blah blah,
Basically Scotland is better than England as is Ireland and Wales
WTF.. why is everybody talking sh*t about Canada we should be up there but were not saying anything about you so shove it up your a** Canada rules!
Germany and France just ain’t got it’s shit together.
What a stupid list! you Bush-heads!
The list is pretty well balanced. I suspect Mongolia was left off the list since while Khan did conquer so much territory, it did not last. Additionally, no real innovations came out of the Mongol Empire. Japan, has been secluded and not very influential for a long time as well. I do have to agree that Turkey as the decendant (?) Ottoman Empire should have made the list.
Surely all those posts for Canada were jokes, right? It may be a great place to live, but influential in history? I earned my History degree and while there have been some important people and inventions, it pales when compared to the development of capitalism, mass production, steam engine, codified tax structures, and philosophical developments of the countries on the list.
Thanks for the Forum.
May i remind that Japan, Korea and Philippines also counts too?
Reality check please?…
Canada RULES! ….and I’m an American
Wow, the first time I’ve ever been to this website and I get to read a cool list of countries and achievements and then read comments from a bunch of people arguing with each other.
I think I’ll join in the fray.
1st - “Countries” rarely invent / think / design anything - it’s individuals who have strived through education and hard work to create. Unless you believe in some sort of genetic superiority, it’s doubtful that any one race is more or less capable of invention than another. It has more to do with opportunity. And, each new generation builds on the accomplishments of past generations - regardless of where they are from.
2nd - To the Canadians. You are such wonderful people and have a beautiful country. No doubt it is a great place to live. Undoubtedly your fate is closely linked to that of the United States. Once you shared the longest unarmed border in the world. Why has that changed?
3rd - As an American, if I had my way, we would not be involved in so many conflicts around the world, but nor would we provide any sort of aide to other nations; not for natural disasters, not for genocide; not for famine or disease. We would not welcome anyone into our country for medical care or education and we would not go to your country either. You could live as you wished and we would live as we wished. We would not move to your countries and you would not be allowed to move to ours.
Lastly - to the poster who said America does not believe in global warming. First, like it or not, there is truly no consensus among climatologists as to whether this is a naturually occuring phenomonon or not. Regardless of what mass media may publish. Is the earth getting hotter - seems so. But why wait on America - go ahead, end all manufacturing, end all use of cars and fossil fuels. That should be enough to make a difference without America. The U.S. did not sign the Kyoto treaty b/c it would harm the American economy and jobs (the few manufacturing jobs we seem to have kept). So have a nice day and get off the internet, b/c it takes electricity to run…and that means fossil fuels … and that means global warming. Save the planet and sign off.
My mom thinks mexico rules but I think its an old barnyard and I’m Mexican
If nobody had left their country to go to America then the USA you see today would not exist. Credit to old Britannia for the empires achievements with both Canada and the USA!
This shabby piece of left wing dribble
somehow mannaged to leave out the most impotant country of all: AMERICA>
Oh say can you seee,
by the dawns early light
that freedom rings
into the night
im just kidding
I do not get how people are always brining up Hitler when talking about Germany. Hitler killed approximately 6 million people. Stalin on the other hand killed 60 million people. That is ten times as many. But you never hear people saying anything about that. Only Hitler, Hitler, Hitler.
Why is it that when ever people are talking about Germany they always bring up Hitler and how many people he killed? There are a couple of points I want to bring up. First, less than ten percent of Germany’s population was a member of the NSP (National Socialist Party) Also Hitler killed approximately 6 million people. Did you know that Joseph Stalin killed over 60 million people? That is more than ten times the amount. In my opinion Russia should never get on that list.
I’M FROM MONGOLIA. MY COUNTRY TOOK MORE THAN HALF DISCOVERED WORLD IN ITS TIME ABOUT 800 YEARS AGO BEFORE NORTH SOUTH AMERICA AUSTRALIA AND AFRICA (WAS MONKEYS PLACE)FOUND. ITS THE HISTORY IF U WANNA TALK. WE COLONIZED KOREA AND CHINA MORE THAN 200 YEARS, ARABIAN NATION 300 HUNDRED YEARS, RUSSIA 250 YEARS,INDIA MORE THAN 350 YEARS, SOUTHERN ASIAN COUNTRIES LIKE INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, VIETNAM ABOUT 100 YEARS. IN THAT TIME ALMIGTHY WESTERN PEOPLE MARRYING WITH THEIR SISTERS AND PEEING IN THEIR BED, THATS THE REAL HISTORY WE KNOW. PLUS EVEN BEFORE THAT TIME THE ROM WAS BEGGING THE PEACE FROM “KING ATTILLA” FROM MONGOLIA.
I think that the world sucks with humans who ruined it and made all of are good countries competetors and ruined our rescources
Come on, you can’t give the credit of an old country to a present one. That’s just not cool. Besides, your label is “The 10 Greatest Countries in the History [of] the World.” Not 10 greatest present countries. By the way, if you put Chad on that list you gotta be mental. There in a conflict that has killed millions of people, they’re poor as dirt, and I can’t think of anything that they’ve done sice the beginning of human life. You should make a list of the truly greatest countries in HISTORY. I’d start with Rome, then maybe Greece,
then probably Phoenicia.
P.S. Hey leave Bush alone, not the best prez, but better than Kerry.
Greece should be number 1. Starting Western Civilization which blossomed into the U.S. and U.K. and all of the rest of Europe.
Italy copied pretty much everything they did.
Germany definatly should be on there. How could you not put Germany on there if they were the ones to start WWI and WWII?????
Japan has got to be on there. They have such a heavy influence on the world esspecially in Technology. And right now its the most succsessful country in Asia.
Israel has to be on the list i mean come on they are the center of world conflict!
oh yea and…..
Get Chad off the List!!!!!!!
I think the greatest country on earth should be the long lost civilization of the Jesuit reductions, in a time of great colonial savage and disgusting empires, fanaticism worst than today.. and greed thats saw no end, in the middle of the jungle, a group of no more than 300 priests managed to create a society of 300000 guarani, who were the first fully literate society in human history, a work day of 6 hours, which included the production of the most complex of clocks, and musical devices, they made a land worth nothing worth 13million gold pesos when they were finally kicked out, they lasted 150 years before they were finally destroyed and dispersed, think about it, no society since then has been so equanimous, or so industrious, and more so, so respectful of the natives. Now that, is a golden realm to me.
You said you would credit any past accomplishments to the current country ecnompassing the area. The Indus Valley Civilization is located in current day Pakistan, not India.
The rank should be based on the contributions to the world in human’s history:
1. United Kindom
2. China
3. Greece/Egypt/Iran/Iraq
4. USA
5. Italy
6. India
One correction to the comment from a Mogolian I’d like to make is:
Attlia Han is not a Mogolian, he belongs to another group which had been harassing China for years. Later Emperor Han Wu (the real name is Liu Che) defeated them by using several battles and drove them far way. They escaped to Europe later on and settled down in today’s Hungary area.
But Mogolian made nothing to Human Being’s civilizatin.
i think if your talking about the influence on human history, germany must be included, after all not all influence has to be good to create change and it was their internal politics that made europe implode, giving rise to american power, which only began to be exercised during wwII, i think the list should be
1) europe (which i hope will soon combine, we are brothers with shared history and culture anyway i think its time to take the next step, and anyone who for a second believes that europe isn’t no 1 think of any list of sceintists artist, writers, conquerers, anything you like we are unsurrpassed.)
2) china
3)islamic world. (to think of this culture being hemmed in by borders is stupid, even in pre- islamic times the various empires of the near east covered the same area.)
4)india
(all others either irrelevant or so based on one of the above cultures as to make it hard to see them on thier own terms.
this is why the uk should be number one on the list.
writers: Shelly, Colderidge, Byron, Shakespere, Austin, Bronte (sisters)Blake, Milton, Eliot, Woolf, Laurence, Wordsworth, Marlow, Conan- Doyle, C. S Lewis, Tolkien, Orwell, Chaucer, Steveson, Defoe, Dickens,Bunyan, Mary Shelly, Trollope, H.G Wells, Lewis Caroll, Donne, Dryden, Conrad, Wilkie Collins, De Quincey,Forester (Both), Huxley, Hardy, Keats, Kipling, Edward Lear, Somerset Maugham, Terry Pratchet, J. K Rowling, Tennyson, Waugh, Robert Burns, Dylan Thomas, Rould Dahl, Thomas Moore, i could go on. this is just one list you could pick any area. Science, Newton, Darwin, Faraday, Boyle, Dalton, Watt, Maxwell, Davey(Basically just read any history of modern science and you will understand)Philosophy; Russell, Hume, Paigne, Adams. Music: Beatles, Stones, Zepplyn,Queen, Sex Pistols, Kinks, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Elgar. Leaders: Churchill, Nelson, Wellington, Victoria, Elizibeth I, Wallace, The Bruce. This could be done in any area. Our language is the most spoken, we created the modern rule of law, the jury system, parlimentary democracy (all of which are now used globally). Founded cities from one corner of the globe to the other, colonized every continent, out of which arose new great nations. Shaped the borders of a large percentage of the nations on earth. Fought in every significant war for the last 400 hundred years ( and usually won). We were the first industrialized nation on earth and were (some say) the creators of the modern world.Played a major role in the development of the modern economic system. All this and we consitently managed to beat the french since 1066. I am sure every person reading this can think of another influence Britian has had on the world and another influencial Briton. Not Bad for a small island off the coast off europe.
Great List, Seriously no joke!!!
But some are close mostly the top three so heres what I think, Just my opinion.
1. Republic of Italy/Roman Empire
the first success and influence of mand kind (World Wide), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland/British Empire, The second greatest influence of mandkind, and built off of the Roman Empire and first overseas success world wide (not first ever), “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!”(Sorry I am American had to show some respect and pride for my country, and have some fun, no hard feelings “I HOPE”) The third and current greatest influence of man and womankind (first to free womans rights) and built on the Great Roman Empire AND British Empire. Now my reason for putting the USA with the Romans and British is not because I am American, but because of its success in such a short time of
existence.
Plus, Each of these three have done a great deal for the world in all areas of humanity at some point in time, FOR THERE TIME PERIOD. i.e. Computers (USA), Military (British, USA, and Romans), Land conquest (British and Romans), etc.
4. People’s Republic of China
5. Republic of Greece
6. Republic of Egypt
7. Republic of Iraq/Mesopotamia
8. Republic of India
9. Republic of Iran/Persia
10. Republic of Chad
USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
HAHA - Just having some fun go ahead put your countries favorit chant!
Ok Guys Now What the F*CK! Here!
This is suppose to be a list/talk about the top ten nations of all-time.
NOT!… I REPEAT…. NOT! A USA BASHING POST!!! YES I AM AMERICAN WOOPDY DOO!!! SO THE F*CK WHAT! I CAME HERE TO LEARN AND TALK ABOUT THE TOP TEN NATIONS OF ALL TIME. NOT TALK SHIT ABOUT MY COUNTRY!!! YA WE FUCK UP EVERY NOW AN THEN AN BIG TOO! BUT, THINK OF THIS. WHAT WOULD THE WORLD BE LIKE IF THE USA NEVER EXISTED AT ALL!
WHAT HAPPENS IN WWI, WWII, YA OK IRAQ NEVER HAPPENS. OH! BY THE WAY I DECIDE NOT TO JOIN THE MILITARY CUZ OF THAT. SINCE I AM AGINST THE WAR. OH! AND I WAS TO YOUNG TO VOTE SO SORRY BUT I CAN’T HELP THE PRESIDENT BUSH PROBLEM. I HATE!! HIM TOO!!!!!!!!
SO BEFORE YOU TALK SHIT THINK OF WHAT YOUR LIFE, BETTER YET, WHAT THE WORLD WOULD BE LIKE IF THE USA EVER EXISTED AT ALL!!
NOW STOP TALKI?NG SH*T AND LETS TALK ABOUT THE GREATEST NATIONS EVER (BESIDES THE USA)!!!
interesting list and i’m sure it was great to make it.
The thing is that our minds are all made up by the countries we best know like USA, UK, Italy… but there is many and more history they aren’t telling mist of you at school.
Even if you look at the western world you can’t have UK in that list for what they’ve accomplished world wide wihtout mentioning Portugal. It wasn’t Spain who started or “found” the world, it was Portugal. The postuguese were the first to go to Africa, America and Australia and the first to reach Asia by sea. Even Colombo was portuguese, Fernão Magalhaes was portuguese. if we talk about influence you have to list the portguese. The globalization started with Portugal, and that’s beeing influent. Of course cars and airplanes are good, but when talking about influente countries that isn’t exactly what matters.
i know it’s not your fault they don’t teach you this at school, i didn’t too. But I majored in history and my final work was based on the 15/16 century, that’s when i learnt all of this.
Portugal comes first then Spain, Netherlands and UK. Why do you think Portuguese is speak in every continent? and if we think they’re a very small nation that makes then even bigger.
PORTUGAL! i am portuguese but i live in america and i cant wait to move to portugal! it was one of the greatest influences of the world!! exploration, and colonization are just some of the many many things they have done for the world, and they deserve to be given credit for them. and also, cristiano ronaldo is portuguese… just saying he is the hottest guy on the earth!!! =]]
It should take into account
1. The changes it has brought to the world.
2. Cultural influences
3. Land and the number of people they ruled.
4. The impact on sciences and knowledge.
5. Miltary supremacy
6. Duration of rule.
Some of the list is fine. Considering recorded history all together, the list should be
1. United Kingdom
- Largest rule the world has ever seen.
- English is now the world language
- Greatest propellers of Chirstianity and western civilization
- Spread over 5 continents extensively in their glorious times over 100 years.
- Introduced to the world Cricket, Soccer and Tennis.
- Imperialism and Industrialization together ruled the world for long.
- Wonderful civilization after renaissance times in Europe after 15th century.
- Introduced modern democracy.
- The birth of capitalism and the estate.
- One of the first countries to give equal importance to women.
- The United State’s Americans are primarily British in origin and some still retain their roots.
- They introduced guns, marching lines of gunmen, diplomatic land grabbing, use of allies extensively, long-bow men, tankers and grenades in warfare.
2. Italy
- The Romans
- First preachers of Christianity
- Warfare aquired art, thanks to them
- Scientific endeavor in war
- Pursuit of religion and first strong political establishments
- First senate
- The greatest military force for a long time
- Art, Literature and Architecture remains surrounded to Roman styles.
- Used their own number system.
- Currently it is working out means of income lacking human resources primarily.
- Mussolini’s loss in the second world war brought Italy to an all-time low.
3. India
- The land with origins of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism
- Currently the largest democracy in the world.
- The inventors of zero, number system(mistakenly attributed to Arab traders for some time), pi, plastic surgery, brain surgery, cotton, first scripted language(and a 100 more later), astronomy and drainage system(Harappa)
- Strong powerful kings with different cultural settings including the first naval fleets of the world, elephants in war and games like Chess and Hockey.
- Vast natural resources, fertile lands and huge numbers of people.
- Trade connections in the world. First trade is also found in the Indus valley.
- The first civilizations to cross Stone age, Bronze age, Iron age and Medieval age - stop there(they still seem to linger there)!!
- First democratic rule is in the Harappan civilization.
- The first civilization to find a cure for small pox(the deadliest disease in the world). Traded gold, diamonds, spices, iron-ore, wheat and rice. Founded Ayurveda, Yoga and also wrote literary works and poetry comparable to the English and Greeks.
- In search of the rich Indians, the West Indies and America were found and the tribes there were mistakenly named after Indians.
4. Greeks
- Science and Philosophy before 10th century were dominantly Greek.
- New war techniques.
- Pushed Europe to unknown heights from the scientific development in medieval ages.
- Astronomy, Architecture, Mathematics, Medicine, Philosophy, Art, Warfare, Economics all have great impressions from the systematic development of the Greeks.
- Retained their culture over 2 milleniums.
- The source to all European languages in one way or the other.
- Under Alexander, the Great; they are the first Europeans to conquer Persia and venture as far as the Ganges. The empire stretched to it’s peak under him.
4. Persia
- They super fined the solar calendar. Refined calculation and navigation beyond no other.
- The symbols of trade.
- Islam is found in it’s later stages.
- Their art, architecture and lifestyle is still evident over central asia and northern India but their religion nearly vanished.
- One of the greatest civilization in terms of consolidating agriculture, religion, war and trade on even terms unlike no other.(NO, unlike in 300, They weren’t barbarians)
- Ruled by famous kings like Saladin, Darius, Xerxes etc., the empire ruled greater areas and people than most European civilizations then did.
5. France
- The true bringers of revolution and renaissance.
- Free thinking started with the French.
- The land of modernism in art and medicine.
- Stretched over a great region of the world, French ruled over all continents.
- They were the mainstays in most of the crusades.
- Although, they match the British to a great extent, they surely lacked the impact the British innovators and empire created on the world.
- The world sure loves their wine, language and food.
- They sure had great kings including Napolean Bonaparte, Louis XIV etc and more importantly great thinkers and artisans to revolutionize eras.
6. China
- One of the wealthiest nations ever.
- Practiced their own language, medicine and forms of warfare.
- Preserved their culture over 3000 years which is a record.
- Chinese influence can be seen over Asia-Pacific very clearly.
- Abundant in natural resources and population, their richness was dependent only on consolidation like no other. A highly self-dependent economy.
- If you consider Mongols, Chinese may not accept them as brothers but they are genetically brothers, they had the greatest stretching civilization and it was a Mongol(son of the commander of Artilla) that disposed the last Roman.
- Their invenntions include silk, gun powder, new kinds of bows, umbrellas etc. They were innovators of lifestyle.
- The country now stands as possibly the next super power after USA. Under communism it is the largest country by population. Mandarin is the largest spoken language in the world.
7. Spain
- They brought disease to the Americas. They ruled south and north americas almost dictatorially with little or no competition.
- Spanish is one of the fastest spreading languages in the world today.
- They are mostly traders, sailors and depended on agriculture under different regimes but are now self-sufficient.
- Their greatness in history should be solely attributed to the land area they ruled and were the envy of most european countries and feared by the great british at times.
- They do not hold great significance now, but their influence on the Americas & Pacific belt got them the number 7 position.
8. Germany
- The land of barbarians as it was, Germany along with the Scandinavians took its time to enter the medieval ages but then on they threatened every nation of the world.
- Formed mainly of Barbarian tribes from Eurasia, Germans lacked proper civilization and most importantly, they lacked a ruler or kingdom until the Huns almost destroyed them.
- The Germans are the most influential in the 20th century while the second world war is almost attributed completely to Adolf Hitler, the dictator of Germany.
- Their inventions in warfare including the submarines, warships, plane attacks and biological warfare.
- They killed more people in war than any others.
- They were leaders in industrialization, science, politics and imperialism.
- They are currently leaders in automobile industry, fibers, defense armory and technology.
9. Russia
- After 19th century, no other country has a greater political and economic impact than Russia.
- Envied by every European country, they brought communist ideas to the fore and had the fastest industrialization era ever.
- Their leadership in energy produce, military and space matches the likes of USA.
- Although, it went of similar lines of USA when it was USSR, it failed to stay united and therefore lost its power.
- During cold war times, Russia at many times held more power than USA and European union combined just by its benevolence to other states and lack of outside enemies.
- With their impact, many nations in the world took Socialism and Communism causing two world groups.
- They stopped Adolf Hitler into controlling the world.
- Had every first space innovation except the man on moon mission.
- They are the first to bring strikes, revolutions as a legal right of people.
- Most of us know what Russia is!!
10. USA
- No other country has had a greater impact on a world all together than this one country.
- The first country capable of destroying the world all together.
- Militarly unsurpassable by any other country ever.
- Economically stronger than the Eurpean union combined.
- Is envied and influences every country on the planet today, extensively.
- Trade is in Dollar. The currency of the world is dollar.
- They are politically influenced by the English and settled in USA properly just about 200 years ago.
- They only have a modern age and post-modern age.
- They are most industrialized and innovating.
- Everyone knows, so remain silent.
The other great cultures that are not listed are Turkey, Egypt, Japan, Arabia, Holland, Mongolia, Hungary, Portugal, Mexico, Israel, . They might be given 11 - 20 respectively.
I have taken into account the ages from 2000 BC to Present. which means a total of 4000+ years.
As of right now im not sure, but Peru has a rich history, look at Macchu Picchu. Probably the greatest sight in the history of the world. They also have IMO the best foods in the world. and from what i’ve heard, the incan empire was just amazing and full of history. BTW im american, but after I went to Peru I was completely amazed at everything, I mean everything. and thats coming from someone that travels around the world as much as I can
i think you should seperate modern history & ancient history.you cann't compare america to greece or china,or chad!because america does not have a long history.
& i think there is no reason to put iraq & india upper than iran,even putting china,greece,italy & egypt upper than iran is a little hard,why?iran or persia was:1,the biggest united empire ever(landmass)
2,first creators of human rights(for ex there were no slaves in construction of perspolis)
3,connector of western cultures & easterns
4,many great kings
5,greatest poets(like khayyam)
& more
I agree with the first five countries completely. However i do believe that perhaps a few other countrys should have replaced some of the bottom five.
for example:
Russia
France
Germany
spain
Japan
These are all great candidates that could have made the list. Each greatly influenced our society and shaped history.
In regard for canada, i love you guys but you have not made a big enough world influence to make the top ten.
In my oppinion i would agree that china, engand or UK, and the U.S. are three of best and most important countries to the world.
I am speaking on behalf of Spain
Iraq? this is a joke??
Whoa whoa, England/UK has done sooo much, industrial revolution. And it was the UK who invented the TV as well as every single kind of Engine the world has know look it up. Fact and england was a protastant state we didnt do the inquisition stuff. learn you're history like seriously.
why isnt spain and france on this list maybe even saudi arabia where islam was born, Japan
This was a very interesting post.
I think every country has it’s own history and every country is great. India is one of greatest as it has á own history and many more things.
No, blame Canada,
Blame Canada,
With all their beady little eyes,
And flapping heads so full of lies,
Blame Canada,
Blame Canada,