What country, present or past can match the greatness and might of The Grand American Republic?

Question

What nation can or has achieved in only 200 years what the wonderful United States of America has accomplished? Not even the British Empire (although they did the world a favor by spreading the English language) have lasted as long as we have! What nation state can stand up to the superior american military?

Answer 1

I nominate "FIZZ' for BEST ANSWER because it is historically correct. And he barely scratched the surface of the Roman Empire. No matter, he is right. Also, [e-mail] is well-read and educated and I never expected to hear Gibbons name here in immigration. Doesn't anyone read world civilizations histories? Our entire USA government is based upon the Roman's. I could go on and on because my better half is an expert at Roman History and has engrained it into my mind for the last 16 years, but if you research the Roman Empire thoroughly, there was very little that their civilization did not touch on and improve, right down to indoor plumbing, heating, clean city streets with sewer systems, the extraordinary aqueducts that mastered water hydraulics over many miles to erupt in glorious city fountains clean enough to drink from and a new art form that has never been duplicated, right up to the legendary Roman Roads, built to last forever, all leading into the city of Rome which unfortunately was their undoing after the government was corrupted and the mass invasions of the Barbarians led them right down their own paths to the Fall.
It lasted 2000 YEARS--not 200 and has never been out-done or duplicated since. They had the British Empire as a part of their captured countries and the Great Hadrian built his Roman villas and walls there and actually lived most of his entire life in the British Isles; his ruins are still in existence. They even had Africa. And when they overtook a country, they gave the people Roman citizenship which came with great benefits while still enabling them to retain all of their culture. They weren't like the Spaniards who screwed up the Aztecs totally for gold.
They had diplomacy, respect, a working government which they developed and even their bad sides were exciting and bizarre. Like The Vestal Virgins. Research them. If you were a condemned criminal on your way to be cruxified and crossed the path of a Vestal Virgin, she had the power to simply say, "Stop. No. Release him on my word" and that was that. They were a blow-out of greatness and might and to try and compare our homeland that's still in it's infancy to these bad-a$$es who invented the very things that our modern age uses everyday--like cement, that could harden under water, the list is too long. I'm in no way putting down our own great nation, we've achieved a place in history too.
But the world has never had a military without benefit of modern weapons, bombs, tools, computers, just a wall of marching gladiators going into hand war combat like the legions of the Roman Armies. They did not go into battle or wage war to lose. Period. They even staged battles and killings within their own ranks for public entertainment at the Colesium as a form of pride.
I'm serious here, now--I want you to really check out the Roman Empire and give credit where credit is due, and that HAS TO BE TO GIVE FIZZ "BEST ANSWER".
The others are great too and well noted, but his is the truth.
PS. Your question is the best question I've come across yet in the Immigration category since February, so kudos to you too for ingenuity. Excellent inquiry.

Answer 2

Italy - The Roman empire. First they conquered most of southern Europe by force and then when they converted to Christianity through religion.

The Roman Empire still exists today, the Pope is the equivalent to the old Roman Emperor and his influence now covers the world, Europe, Africa, The Americas. If there are Catholics in the American Military, then the Roman Empire has control over the them.

Secondly, the Roman Empire also influenced language - Have you ever learnt, Latin - if you did you will notice the similarities between Latin, Italian, Spanish, French and English.

This empire has been existence longer than 2000 years. Impressive eh? The American Republic still has some way to go.

Greatness and might - not just yet.

Answer 3

The ancient Persian and Roman Empires, the Greeks under Alexander the Great conquered more territory, spread more civilisation (such as it was) for a longer period of time than anything else. The famous historian Gibbon stated that if he had a choice, he would have liked to live in ancient Rome. The US republic didn't last long: after less than 200 years it degenerated into a democracy with socialism and eventual dictatorial communism: history repeats itself.

Answer 4

From scratch in 200 years, none.

However, I have no desire to see a military conflict erupt between China and the US, much less an actual firefight between the former Soviet Union and the US. These players have put a lot of resources into their military and have successfully spied on or obtained much of our secrets to make them dangerous. Obviously, Russia is in no position to pick up where the USSR left off, but China is still breathing quite well for a third world country.

When it comes to education level, we are not obtaining our potential and fall short in comparison (not a fan of public education).

BUT, when it comes to innovation and creativity, we have been a leader since we started. It's what gives us our edge in the world. It's almost like, no matter the situation, our creative edge and open exchange of ideas makes us more powerful and influential than any nation on earth. Gotta love the people of the USA.

Answer 5

The United States of America didn't just start from mere dirt and thin air; it's founding fathers came from wealthy and educated bloodlines and brought their ancestry with them emblazoned with new visions. And most were British and the British Empire didn't rule the world. True, their civilization is very, very ancient but what the previous person shared about the enormous contributions to all civilizations ruled by the mighty Roman Empire can't be overlooked in any way. We still operate our government from the Roman's--the Senate, Congress, jury of ones peers, our current American English language is derived heavily from Latin. It may have taken the Greeks and Romans longer than 200 years to peak and touch onto everything that lady mentioned from public baths, indoor heating, art, architecture, et al. but they were THE world power for far longer than 200 years before the fall. And the Roman Army earned the fear and terror felt in men's hearts long before a gun fired a bullet or atoms were split for atomic bombs. "his Champ" was too generous in complimenting your question in my opinion (although it is a whiff of fresh air here). When your question is truly examined it's actually answerable accurately because you approach it like we just landed here in northern America 200 years ago with all this modern technology and blew dust on every other country. I nominate her for best answer, not because you may agree but because she knows her subject well. Wish I stayed awake during my history classes; it does repeat itself you know.

Answer 6

China, who are almost as good as the US now - and will almost certainly overtake within 20 years, and have only had 50 years to turn from a nation of peasant farmers to a major industrial, nuclear and now space power.

Answer 7

An American, and a veteran, I'm not over-impressed with the empire. Nationalism is an ugly thing. It is worth noting that this country has in many ways self-destructed buy selling itself bit by bit to cooperate wealth and is now wholly beholden to it.

Huge swaths of our population live in abject poverty, our political system is as corrupt as they get (note-all then new Dems are also millionaires) and we're turning into a nation of religious fanatics and illiterates quite rapidly.

Assuming we're the best and doing nothing to back that up is why we're 75th in education, have one of the highest infant mortality rates in the western world, and people are left to suffer and die who work all their lives because they haven't the wealth to afford medical treatment.

I am most unimpressed by people who shout USA and think that means something.

Answer 8

The entire world owes their freedom to America and None what so ever.The British Empire was a Government by Divine rule(A king who assume his right to rule was given by God) . The American revolution gave rise to free rule and democracy in both Europe and France and eventually al of the free world.
Most people who would bury the USA(especially the cindys of the world) do not have any idea how close we came to having a world wide British Empire with few freedoms we enjoy today.
Neither do they realize how close to German colonization of the world we came and eventual death of most peoples not german.
They do not understand how close we all came to being wiped off the face of the planet before the USSR's demise.
They do not now realize the real purpose of the extremist religious idiots who would kill everyone not of their religions and would eventually anyway should they obtain enough weapons of nuclear capability.
The entire world owes the freedom they have now to America, and the freedom of future world populations are going to be decide by Americvcan influence now.

Answer 9

The USA is the best country to live in, raise a family and die in. For all the faults our government has, all the shortcomings, all the mistakes we've made, it is still better than any other country with their leaders, shortcomings and faults. There is still no other country I would rather call home. Go USA!!
YAY!!.. *\(^_^)/*

Answer 10

When the Grand American Republic becomes Imperial, then it's ceasing to be so grand. Beware!