I mean, take USA for example, is it even the same country after each amendment? After a Civil War? Civil Rights Movement? Landmark Court Rullings?

One could argue that Modern America began in 1965, with the passing of the Civil Rights Act. Or in 2001 when the Patriot Act was passed. Or in 2009 with Citizens United Court Ruling. Or in January 2017 when… you know. Or in January 2025.

When did the country really start?

  • webghost0101@sopuli.xyz
    602·
    2 days ago

    Supposedly Australian aboriginal groups have lived in the same region for 40k+ years.

    They have regional consistency, genetic continuity over which culture gradually evolved each generation.

    Does that count?

    • trashcroissant@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      61·
      2 days ago

      Same with indigenous people on turtle island (north america).

      I’d argue that it doesnt really count since the concept of ‘country’ though is more colonial in its origins so realistically, a ‘country’ wouldn’t exist until after colonization in these areas.

      Nations might’ve existed with different groups/tribes/villages sharing a culture, but the concepts of clear-cut borders, strict land ownership, and nationalism (which to me are a requirement for the concept of a “country”) are significantly different in many indigenous cultures as compared to colonial states. Maybe with the exception of some Latin American empires? Though I don’t know enough about those empires to be confident in that.

      • pulsewidth@lemmy.world
        2·
        17 hours ago

        South east Asia via land bridges during ice ages is the current dominant theory I believe. Indonesia wouldn’t be accurate, more like Papua New Guinea - but both of those countries are far newer than when the original Aboriginal’s descendants crossed. Genetically they’re closest to PNG AFAIK.

        As an aside, Dingoes (genetically distinct from dogs, Canus familiaris) came over much more recently, also believed to be during a land bridge during an ice age ~3,500 years ago from south east Asia - specifically PNG also. They’re most closely related to New Guinean Singing Dogs and share the same taxonomic rank under ‘Canus lupus dingo’.