The greatest country that ever existed

by **graeme89** on Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:21 pm

The USA's empire was built on hamburgers, the others on swords. So I suppose the USA wins.

by **freezie** on Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:24 pm

Tyr wrote:greatest country ever? Def america

America is not a country

But you mean Canada out of America right..Well then, yes I agree with you.

I can't vote, really, since I am too ignorant on this history subject. BUt the romans achieved a nice empire for a while..Although they didn't know how to make it last :roll:

by **radiojake** on Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:25 pm

and by what do you define 'the greatest' ?

In terms of living standards and the such, the US recently dropped to 12th, with Iceland and Norway being first and second, and Australia was third.

This poll is doing nothing but striking up a whole lot more patriotism out of the americans again.. which happens way too often as it is.

by **soundout9** on Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:26 pm

radiojake wrote:and by what do you define 'the greatest' ?

In terms of living standards and the such, the US recently dropped to 12th, with Iceland and Norway being first and second, and Australia was third.

This poll is doing nothing but striking up a whole lot more patriotism out of the americans again.. which happens way too often as it is.

Dont be hatin

by **demon7896** on Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:11 pm

USA!!!! USA!!!! USA!!!! This cracked me up, cause i saw all the other options from the ancient world, then i saw the 3 letter word...

by **muy_thaiguy** on Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:45 pm

by **Iliad** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:09 am

AS much I was tempted to Vote Russia or Soviet union I went for Ancient Greece

by **Haggis_McMutton** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 1:25 am

Don`t you love it how everyone that votes for the first 9 options posted the reasoning behind their vote and whether they think some other country/empire should be present on the list while a lot of people that vote for the USA just post "USA !!!!111!" or something along the lines. :lol:

Anyway, i know I`m biased but i went with feudal Japan. There something about it that i find fascinating(even though it wasn`t so great for the lower classes)

by **sangfroid** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:49 am

Haggis_McMutton wrote:Anyway, i know I`m biased but i went with feudal Japan. There something about it that i find fascinating(even though it wasn`t so great for the lower classes)

That's true of all of them. The underclass always gets the rum end of the deal no matter who's on top. Rome, Japan, China and yes folks... even the US of A!!

by **reverend_kyle** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:49 am

I voted USA as a joke. That option really pulled the steven colbert out of me.

by **Heimdall** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:29 am

USA! in the 1950s

Now? not so sure...

by **Iliad** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:05 am

I wonder how much do the 25 people know about the other options :roll:

or whether they even read them :roll:

Ancient greece had an absoluter amazing culture and influence. It stretched thorughout the known back then world and it's culture, it's myths is something which still shines today.

I don't think China is the greatest firstly because it was secluded from nearly all cultures and when it did come in contact with the Europeans they received a pounding. But china was extremely advanced in science. Who knows what would've happened if China was more expansiositic and what would've happened if China invaded Europe in the medieval times.

Rome is a great civilization yet it just conquered and copied other civilizations too much. But you have to give credit not only to the efficient and organized military but also to the administration and integration of other cultures

by **DAZMCFC** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 6:59 am

it`s all in the name Greatness Britain.

nowadays though i would say Australia is slightly ahead of Iceland and Norway, because the booze is cheaper. :lol:

by **comic boy** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 7:55 am

What Language are we all using here :lol:

by **kumanovac** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:20 am

Ancient Greece is was a small part of Ancient Macedonia in the time of Alexander The Great

by **Frigidus** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:56 pm

Iliad wrote:I wonder how much do the 25 people know about the other options or whether they even read them

Ancient greece had an absoluter amazing culture and influence. It stretched thorughout the known back then world and it's culture, it's myths is something which still shines today.

I don't think China is the greatest firstly because it was secluded from nearly all cultures and when it did come in contact with the Europeans they received a pounding. But china was extremely advanced in science. Who knows what would've happened if China was more expansiositic and what would've happened if China invaded Europe in the medieval times.

Rome is a great civilization yet it just conquered and copied other civilizations too much. But you have to give credit not only to the efficient and organized military but also to the administration and integration of other cultures

While many clearly don't (the guy who thought that Mesopotamia turned into Ancient Greece or something), I do. The competition for America comes mainly from Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, the Mongol Empire, and Colonial Britain. Greece and Rome deserve it because of their profound effect on modern Western culture and the other two had the military strength to make a relatively small country vast beyond anything that could have been anticipated. America, of course, is primarily a military power. It has contributed some things to Western culture, but compared to Rome and Greece next to nothing.

I ruled out the Mongols because they basically looted and pillaged and murdered all over Asia. Not very great in my opinion. The Greeks were never really unified when not fighting an outside threat, so they don't really count as a country (perhaps a nation). Not to mention that outside of cultural influences they don't have much going for them. Britain, when you think about it, just went out and took over a bunch of places who couldn't come close to matching their level of technology. The size of their empire was impressive, but that alone doesn't make them the greatest country ever.

That left we with America and Rome. That was tough for me, as I find the Roman Empire incredibly fascinating. Their empire stretched over the entire Mediterranean, and even after they fell they were revered by Western culture up until modern times (the Caesar roots as an obvious example, czar, kaiser, etc.). America, on the other hand, defied odds repeatedly, going from a rebellion that needed quashing to a legitimate world power in around 75 years. They are, at the moment, the unquestioned strongest country in the world, and have the capability to attack any corner of the world.

In the end I couldn't make up my mind. So, yes, I went for the "USA! USA!" factor.

by **Kane of Nod** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 1:37 pm

America! f*ck yeah!

by **muy_thaiguy** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 1:49 pm

Kane of Nod wrote:America! f*ck yeah!

Team America: World Police.

by **mybike_yourface** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 1:57 pm

there's no country like no country.

by **DaGip** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:07 pm

Notice that your wording for the title of this thread is in the past tense. Does that mean that the United States doesn't exist anymore?

by **Simonov** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:29 pm

DaGip wrote:Notice that your wording for the title of this thread is in the past tense. Does that mean that the United States doesn't exist anymore?

soon it won't :wink:

by **DaGip** on Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:37 pm

Simonov wrote:
DaGip wrote:Notice that your wording for the title of this thread is in the past tense. Does that mean that the United States doesn't exist anymore?
soon it won't

Yes. It probably already doesn't...

by **King James** on Sat May 10, 2008 3:39 pm

Great topic. I don't think U.S.A. currently makes anyone's list. But seen through its entirety, has any government allowed a greater degree of freedom for most of its citizen's, while expending blood and treasure to lead the post-WWII world, and therefor had greater positive impact than any other? I know I pull a 20-year period out of a history of more than 220 years, but I believe the point is valid.