Which civs are bigger than ever?

[havuoksa]

This question just popped into my head and after a couple of minutes i have nothing more than the USA! Pretty amazing if from 200+ nations we can't get ten or twenty! To specify the topic, i mean what civs (and countries too) are at the height of their land area NOW? There is a big exception to the rule by the countries deriving from the imperialistic era, aka countries MADE by their, well previous "makers"! Examples, most South-American and African countries, Australia and Canada... So, those nations who have lived on the lands they live now the whole historic era and are so-called nation-states. Germany obviously is tiny compared what it was most of the time by German-speakers in Europe. France, Spain and especially the UK must have the biggest losses of area. Russia gets close if we don't count USSR's regime to include Poland, Czech etc, and perhaps we should. And can we say Italy represents Rome, really?

Hope this isn't too confusing, hope somebody will get what i try to say!

Oh yeah CHINA, obviously is the 2nd one to accompany USA!

 

[Matthew5117]

Nvm. I reread it, I don't understand it.

 

[helemaalnicks]

Oh yeah CHINA, obviously is the 2nd one to accompany USA!

still expanding though. Bought a LOT of land from mongolia couple of years ago.

 

[Stoney the I]

Russia ia the largest country in the world.
then China (actually canada is 2nd)
then USA....

 

[havuoksa]

You're right that Beyond the Sword isn't perhaps right, if you think about BTS-rules/tips/strategies-sense. But, there have been lots of general topics here too and this is the latest version that "everyone" is playing, right?

I didn't really think about the forum, I've just used to post everything here, the damage is done now... I promise to consider more next time!

Still, pretty striking to note that you could practically say ALL are smaller than they used to be!?

Stoney the I,
I meant which civs have LOST LEAST AREA from the height of their area...

 

[Stoney the I]

Ah my bad.

I guess i didnt get your original post either, like Matthew5117

Hmm, was India ever bigger then it is today? come to think of it, i dont know that much about India.

 

[havuoksa]

India lost Pakistan & Bangladesh, so "not even close" I'd say!

 

[henyo10]

I really don't get the topic. Which country is big now which didn't lose that much land of it's original land?

 

[havuoksa]

henyo10,
ONLY which countries are as large they EVER have been.

 

[helemaalnicks]

henyo10,
ONLY which countries are as large they EVER have been.

monty? mexico is still big, dunno if it still counts as aztecs though. IMO it does.

 

[Matthew5117]

So what your asking is what is the smallest difference of a ratio between a country's record high amount of land and the loss of land of that record high amount of land that has the most land?

Well, that's easy: Russia. No questions asked.

 

[havuoksa]

helemaalnicks,
i would count Mexico as number 3 (with USA&China), close enough!

Matthew5117,
Russia certainly gets very close, BUT, if you take USSR, not that close. Also, on 1700's Russia owned much of the Baltics and Poland, and on 1800's even my country Finland as an Autonomous Grand Duchy of Russia (they still needed passports etc). Close, but i wouldn't quite include Russia!

 

[PhroX]

I'm pretty sure China is far from it's peak size at the present. They controlled much more land in the past - I'd guess the peak was probably during Kublai's rule, but I wouldn't be certain.

 

[Matthew5117]

Wow... I was wrong totally. Forgot of all that belonging to Russia's history...

Canada, now that I know for sure. Canada's bigger than USA no doubt. Plus, it hasn't lost any land (this time I know).

 

[helemaalnicks]

if only denmark was a civ . Still in top 5 on land area i believe.

 

[Ramesses]

if only denmark was a civ . Still in top 5 on land area i believe.

They're the Canadians of Europe.

 

[say1988]

China has lost about a quarter of its territory since the height of the Qing dynasty, I believe. Mongolia, Korea and some other border areas.

The US has lost several pieces of territory (i.e. the Philippines), maybe like 5%.

Mexico lost a significant amount of territory to the US and in Central America, welll over half I believe.

India is considerably smaller than the Mughal Empire or the total of British India.

 

[Ai Shizuka]

And can we say Italy represents Rome, really?

No. Rome is represented by the modern western world as we know it today. Yes, USA included. Not as a "physical" country, of course, but the roots of any western culture are Roman.

Modern Italy is a renaissance creature and is not at its height. We had Lybia (the only worthwhile colony), Eritrea and Somalia (useless pile of sand and stones) in our limited colonial stage.
Later Istria (endless debate about this 100% italian region, lost to the communist block past WWII), part of Dalmatia and some greek islands.

EDIT: not considering the idiotic invasion of Greece and Albania in WWII.

 

[havuoksa]

You're totally right about Mexico. And if the 5% of land area loss is enough to counts USA out too, and China isn't as big as it was by Qin-dynasty, we come to a round ZERO! Zero countries are at the peak of their area!?

I'm not that sure about China though, they might have had Korea, but were they then as far south as they are now...

 

[Ai Shizuka]

Well, pretty much every former-colonial country is at its area-peak.
African countries, Australia, South America, etc.