What is the oldest current coutry?

[Lord Baal]

From the chair. The fattests states are in the south.

They're fattening themselves up so that a new Sherman's march, destroying much of their food supply, won't affect them as much. They'll have reserves, like a camel.

 

[rollo1066]

I'd say India and/or China. While governments have changed and both have been conquered and regained independence at least once, they are the oldest existing cultures which are a major influence in today's world. Probably it isn't by chance that the are also the two countrys with the highest populations.

 

[Ajidica]

I think with China, a couple of full on Civil Wars, numerous dynastic changes, being ruled by foreign Mongols, almost complete collapse, and then the Communists destroy any claim to 'continuousness'.
With regards to India, the thing is similar. They were never unified until the Mughals (and even then there were the Marathas in the south). For the longest time they were a bunch of feuding states with different religions a cultural affiliations.

 

[Tee Kay]

With regards to India, the thing is similar. They were never unified until the Mughals

They never managed to subdue the southernmost states, or Assam, not to mention the various European forts on the coast. And of course the Marathas, which by the way did not came from the extreme south but rather Maharashtra.