I mean, take USA for example, is it even the same country after each amendment? After a Civil War? Civil Rights Movement? Landmark Court Rullings?
One could argue that Modern America began in 1965, with the passing of the Civil Rights Act. Or in 2001 when the Patriot Act was passed. Or in 2009 with Citizens United Court Ruling. Or in January 2017 when… you know. Or in January 2025.
When did the country really start?
Well yeah. Egypt is still called egypt but its not run by pharoahs. Iraq is not sumer.
iirc, in Political Theory or International Relations they have more precise definitions of what makes up a “nation” vs a “country”… I did a quick search tho and can’t find a good summary.
Turkey is a good candidate. Göbekli Tepe was settled some 10,000+ years ago.
It’s really funny everything from language, main demographic, culture, and dominant religion changed multiple times over just few thousand years.
The only thing that stayed remotely consistent is “ah yes we also have a bunch of cats running around for some reason.”
This is kind of a hilarious post from a US perspective. Legitimate question from the perspective of some European countries, hilariously naive trying to apply it to the US.
OP using your logic I define a country as a name, a collection of people and a consistent government.
If you are really going to list every amendment and significant court case as the start of a new government than it would be fair to say no government in the world is older than 10 years.
I mean, take USA for example, is it even the same country after each amendment? After a Civil War? Civil Rights Movement? Landmark Court Rullings?
Yes, I’d say it’s very much the same country after any of those.
When did the country really start?
Somewhere between the country declaring itself as such (or declaring independence) and being recognised by others.
Supposedly Australian aboriginal groups have lived in the same region for 40k+ years.
They have regional consistency, genetic continuity over which culture gradually evolved each generation.
Does that count?
Same with indigenous people on turtle island (north america).
I’d argue that it doesnt really count since the concept of ‘country’ though is more colonial in its origins so realistically, a ‘country’ wouldn’t exist until after colonization in these areas.
Nations might’ve existed with different groups/tribes/villages sharing a culture, but the concepts of clear-cut borders, strict land ownership, and nationalism (which to me are a requirement for the concept of a “country”) are significantly different in many indigenous cultures as compared to colonial states. Maybe with the exception of some Latin American empires? Though I don’t know enough about those empires to be confident in that.
Isnt there evidence the First Nations came from Indonesia? Or Polynesia?
That’s a nice situation: you see, the answer is completely unimportant and affects nothing. So you can use whatever answer fits your set of arbitrary criteria. You want to show that the country is old? Use the first mention of the name. Very industrious? Use factories per mountain formula, etc…
Really relies on what you define as a “country”, and how those definitions might have changed across time, or might not even have existed at all.
The US is probably one of the easiest ones.Enter Europe:
Has the German Reich been a country?
Then what about the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, which today is undoubtetly a country but has also been a part of the German Reich, following its king?Similar for other claims of age.
We have e.g. 3 “oldest” cities in my country, each relying on a slightly different definition of “city”.Even more far fetched: Italian fascism considered itself the continuation of the Roman Empire (the middle ages did not count, somehow). Does it mean that they were 2000 years old for a bit? But then, nowadays Italy consider itself the descendant of fascism (with a tinge of shame) but not of the Roman Empire. Can we pick and choose our lineage?
China consider itself ti have been a consistent country since (handwave) basically forever. Is that enough?
The Reepublic of San Marino has been independent for a very long time, possibly since 301 ce, that would make it a 1700 years old country that never changed its form of government.
Iran and Egypt
These are actually really interesting examples.
Take Iran:
On the one hand the area where it is located has had organized societies occupying it for an insanely long time.
This would make it one of the oldest countries by this definition.On the other hand: when asked the question if the current Iran was the same country as back in the 1970’s, I would certainly say: “No.”
Occupied area and even some of the people might still be the same, but the cultural, societal and governmental characteristics have changed too radically to still be considered the same.
So, by this definition, Iran would be one of the youngest countries.I think that uncertainty is what OP was getting at:
How much change do we allow to still consider a country the same as at a previous time in history?
Apparently the Isle of Man’s parliament is around 1000 years old, but it’s not a country
I think you need to define a country. My perception would be a place when a civilisation consisting of more than 3 regional groups to share the same common rules, and it clear boundaries and a name.
