S.Peelman said:
Over 2000 years in fact. The Empire from 27 BC to 1453 AD. If you include the Republic and the Kingdom before the Empire (which you should, they're basically the same), it existed from 753 BC to 1453 AD. They were the most powerful nation in the world about half of that time. Arguably no other country ever has been this succesful. But anyway, China could be it though. Spanning several dynasties and political forms they're basically ancient too, about as old now as the Romans were when they finally fell. So all they have to do is indeed to endure a little longer. Cranking up welfare and social conditions should be their number 1 goal. Their stellar economic growth in the last decade seems pretty amazing, but in reality they are still many sea-miles behind the West (meaning Western Europe, USA and other affiliates). They're aren't even in the same ballpark yet. I reckon it won't happen anytime soon, if ever, but if they keep up the growth in economy while improving their welfare and social services, they could truly become a Super Power. No need for anything drastic in this day and age, they already have more than enough (military) power to be able to prevent outside medling, but the 'tradional' conquering of lands wouldn't do anymore good. It's all about wealth. |
Emirate/Caliphate Cordoba and the Franks probably outshined Constantinople in power and importance to Europe from the 700's into the the 12th century; a lot of history books seem to completely/conveniently forget the existence of entire Iberian peninsula, Middle East, and Africa until the crusades; which is kind of weird because most of the most educated Europeans of the second half of the first millenium were educated in the Caliphates and Emirates; especially in Cordoba, which had the largest library in history during the Golden Age.
Then I would say it was the Anjevin French and German Empire that were most powerful and influential - although, these forces did consider themselves to be the holders of the Roman throne until Voltaire or Gibbon, and certainly by Napoleon.
I like to think that the Gothic Empire under Theodoric (Essentially all of the Western Roman Empire, including the Ostrogothic Kingdom, the Visigoths, and loosely the Vandal Kingdom) was also more powerful than the Byzantines, although I can't prove it - it is just that I love this time period in history best, the time of the best legends of Europe =)
I describe myself as a little dose of toxic masculinity.
