Like a lot of "simple" questions in history, there's not a simple answer. But here goes! :)
The earliest civilizations that we know of were in Mesopotamia (the region now called Iraq is the core of this region)--and the earliest known city is Ur.
Other cultures with enough internal cohesion to be called "counries" evolved in other areas as well--Egypt, the Indus vally, China--and in the Americas, the Incas, Mayans, and Aztecs.
Obviously later cultures (e.g., Greece and Rome) were much more like what we think of as countries--but the first modern "nation-state"--the first fully organized nation with clear boundaries and a definable central government, etc.--was Spain. The critical step that brought this about was the ascendancy of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to the throne of a united Spain following the final expulsion of the Moors from spain. That event took place coincidentally in 1492--the year of columbus' voyage to the New World. Historians date the modern "nation" as we think of it from then.
2007-01-04 17:31:04
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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It is interesting when people answer questions without stating where they got their facts from (I assume they pulled them from the top of their heads?).
Answering your question is difficult because we're left to wonder what a "country" is. Do you mean the world's first "political" state-like entity? The first MODERN state? The world's first nation (cultural)-state? The world's first nation?
Because the answers for each of these things is different.
Egypt is probably the world's first "nation"-state, where people thought of themselves as being Egyptians instead of from tribes etc. But they weren't really the same type of state we think about today. We wouldn't call them a "country".
Probably our notion of a country started forming around the 15th and 16th centuries with people like Machievelli and Hobbes and others.
Still, most of Europe was ruled by Empires rather than "countries" until after the first World War when the empires began to break down. These things happen gradually so it's hard to say whether one "country" came before the other.
The first parliament was Iceland's Althing parliament, which was created and first met in the year 930 (About.com)
Meanwhile, the "oldest countries" in the world are:
San Marino (301 AD)
France (486 AD)
Bulgaria (632 AD)
Denmark (950 AD)
Portugal (1143 AD)
Andorra (1278 AD)
Switzerland (1291 AD)
Of the aforementioned sources, only the last set of facts is from somewhat questionable website. Otherwise, enjoy your newfound knowledge. Not sure if it's what you were looking for. As I said, it's all in the definition of "country".
2007-01-04 23:40:45
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answer #2
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answered by tedzsee 2
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The first civilizations were
Egypt, on the Nile river
The Indus river valley civilization
the Yang Xi river civilization
Mesopatamia, on the Indus river
Notice the common thread?
2007-01-04 23:17:28
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answer #3
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answered by bubbleblu602 2
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What do you mean? Is it the first country that became a nation or a first country with a king?
my guess it was mesopotamia...but then again i am guessing
2007-01-04 22:52:00
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answer #4
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answered by Suki_Sue_Curly_Q 4
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Ur, in what is now Iraq.
The biblical garden of Eden was supposed to be located there as well
2007-01-04 23:13:25
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answer #5
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answered by GG Alan Alda 4
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Ur, Mesopotania
Aranianas first civilization
2007-01-04 22:53:27
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answer #6
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answered by macj 1
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I knew Mesoptemia.
2007-01-05 01:51:21
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answer #7
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answered by W A S I F 3
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