The world is old. But when people started being people, they began hanging around in little groups. Then, those little groups started merging and getting bigger. Eventually, they became countries.
So. How do we determine the oldest countries in the world?
We know how old the Earth is. Right now, it is about 4.54 billion years. But how do you measure the age of a country? I mean, borders and governments change all the time.
Many historians have studied this. They always look at places with a documented history of government. They also look at large organized civilizations that have areas which are similar to the boundaries of present-day countries.
Those historians will probably never ever agree on a single “oldest country,” but each of the nations on this list is a strong contender.
Here are the top 10 oldest countries in the world.
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San Marino.
According to tradition, San Marino was founded on September 3, 301 C.E., by St. Marinus.
Japan.
The legendary Emperor Jimmu is believed to have founded Japan’s imperial dynasty in 660 B.C.E. That makes Japan the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world.
Historians place the nation’s founding somewhat later, around the mid-4th century C.E., though.
Mexico.
Present-day Mexico’s history can be traced back to 1200 B.C.E. with the founding of the Olmec civilization. The Olmecs lived along the Gulf of Mexico and southern Mexico and are famous for the huge basalt heads believed to represent Olmec rulers.
Greece.
Greece had its beginning around 1600 B.C.E.. It was the Mycenaean Civilization, and it consisted of multiple kingdoms, including Thebes and Athens, which are some of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
China.
Government in China dates back to at least 1600 B.C.E. with the founding of the Shang dynasty.
Iraq.
Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) is often called “the cradle of civilization.” That has to make Iraq pretty old. One estimate is 2334 B.C.E., the beginning of Sargon’s rule.
Armenia.
This country dates back maybe as far as 3500 B.C.E.
India.
The Indus Valley civilization, which thrived on the Indian subcontinent from 2500 B.C.E. )
Iran.
The ancient kingdom of Elam was founded in present-day Iran around 2600 B.C.E.
Egypt.
Egypt is the oldest country in the world if we accept its founding as 3150 B.C.E. That’s the estimated beginning of the reign of Narmer, the first king of the first dynasty of Egypt, and the end of the period considered predynastic or ancient Egypt.
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We’re all getting older, aren’t we?
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“History is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul.” — Lord Acton
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“Civilization begins with order, grows with liberty, and dies with chaos.” — Will Durant
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“Every country has its own truth, its own myths, its own heartbeat.” — Pico Iyer
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“Old places have soul.” — Sarah Anderson
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“In the end, we’re all just stories.” — Doctor Who
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