ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Nutty Productions What Were The Shortest-Lived Countries in History?
Today, there are 195 countries officially recognized around the world. While it might seem like the world map is set in stone, it has actually changed a lot over time and will continue to do so. In the past 40 years, the United Nations has recognized 34 new countries, with South Sudan being the newest. However, some countries have appeared and disappeared so quickly that many people barely noticed. Let’s explore some of these short-lived countries and understand what makes a country a country.
At first glance, defining a country might seem simple—borders, people, and a government. But it’s more complex than that. There are two main theories that help us understand what makes a country a country.
This theory suggests that a country is recognized as such if another sovereign country acknowledges it. Today, this often happens through the United Nations, which was established after World War II in 1945. However, things can get tricky. For instance, Northern Cyprus was declared a country by Turkey in 1974, but no other nation besides Turkey recognizes it as a sovereign state.
According to this theory, a country needs recognition from other sovereign countries to be considered a country. It also needs to meet certain criteria: a defined territory, a government, a permanent population, and the ability to engage in foreign relations. Northern Cyprus and Palestine meet these criteria, but their recognition is still debated.
Let’s take a look at a few countries that didn’t last long and see how they fit into this complex picture.
Yemen, a country facing severe challenges today, was once divided into North Yemen and South Yemen. South Yemen gained independence in 1967 with support from the Soviet Union. In 1990, the two regions unified, but tensions remained. On May 21, 1994, South Yemen declared itself the Democratic Republic of Yemen. However, it was never recognized and was quickly overtaken by North Yemeni forces after just over a month.
The region of Caucasia, located east of Turkey and north of Iran, includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. In April 1918, these countries briefly united to form Transcaucasia. However, just a month later, Georgia declared independence, followed by Azerbaijan and Armenia, ending Transcaucasia’s short existence.
The Sultanate of Zanzibar existed from 1856 to 1963. It became a British protectorate and gained independence in 1963. However, just a month later, the Sultan was overthrown in the Zanzibar Revolution, leading to the creation of the People’s Republic of Zanzibar. This new republic soon merged with Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, now known as Tanzania.
Located between Norway and Iceland, the Faroe Islands held an independence referendum in 1946. The vote was narrowly in favor of independence, but complications led to new elections where the majority chose to remain part of Denmark.
Understanding what makes a country a country can be tricky, especially for those that exist only briefly. If you could create your own country, what would you name it? Share your thoughts, and stay tuned for more fascinating history!
Imagine you have the opportunity to create your own country. Think about the name, flag, government structure, and what makes it unique. Write a short description of your country and present it to the class. Consider how your country fits into the constitutive and declarative theories of statehood.
Using a world map, locate and mark the countries mentioned in the article that had short existences. Research their geographical locations and discuss how their geography might have influenced their brief histories. Share your findings with your classmates.
Divide into two groups and debate which theory of statehood is more important: the constitutive theory (recognition by other countries) or the declarative theory (meeting certain criteria). Prepare arguments and examples from the article to support your position.
Create a timeline that includes the short-lived countries discussed in the article. Include key events that led to their formation and dissolution. Use visuals and brief descriptions to make your timeline engaging and informative.
Research a modern example of a region or territory that is seeking recognition as an independent country. Compare its situation to the short-lived countries in the article. Present your findings to the class, highlighting similarities and differences.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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There are 195 officially recognized countries in the world today. While the world map may seem set in stone now, it has undergone many changes throughout human history and will continue to change in the future. In the last 40 years alone, the United Nations has recognized 34 new countries, the newest being South Sudan. However, there are some countries that have come and gone before the rest of the world could even blink an eye. Welcome back to Nutty History! Let’s dive into some geopolitics, draw up some borders, and take a look at some of the shortest-lived countries in history. Viewer discretion is advised for this video, as some content may be sensitive.
Now, before we start, it’s useful to understand what exactly makes a country a country. It may seem like a straightforward definition—borders, people, and politicians—but it’s actually more complicated than that. There are two theories that help us define whether a country is indeed a country.
The first is called the Constitutive Theory, which states that a country is recognized as such if another sovereign country acknowledges it. Today, this recognition is often gained through the United Nations, which was formed after World War II in 1945. If we look back further, things can get complicated. For example, Northern Cyprus was declared a country by Turkey after an invasion in 1974, but it is not recognized as a sovereign state by any other nation besides Turkey.
The second theory is the Declarative Theory, which states that recognition by another sovereign country is necessary for a country to be considered a country. This theory provides criteria for statehood: a defined territory, a government, a permanent population, and the capacity to enter into foreign relations. Northern Cyprus and Palestine meet these criteria, but their recognition is still contentious.
Now, let’s look at some of the shortest-lived countries and see where they fit into this complex picture.
Yemen is one of the most devastated countries in the world, facing severe humanitarian crises. Yemen was once two countries: South Yemen and North Yemen. South Yemen became independent in 1967 after a revolution supported by the Soviet Union. In 1990, North and South Yemen were unified, but this unification was fragile. Amidst ongoing conflict, on May 21, 1994, almost all of what was formerly South Yemen declared itself the Democratic Republic of Yemen. However, this republic was never recognized and was toppled by North Yemeni forces after just over a month.
Caucasia is a region east of Turkey and north of Iran, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. In April 1918, these countries briefly united to form the nation of Transcaucasia. However, just one month later, Georgia declared its independence, leading Azerbaijan and Armenia to follow suit. The brief existence of Transcaucasia ended almost as quickly as it began.
The Sultanate of Zanzibar existed from 1856 to 1963. It became a British protectorate and was granted independence in 1963. However, just a month later, the Sultan was overthrown in the Zanzibar Revolution, leading to the establishment of the People’s Republic of Zanzibar, which merged with Tanganyika to become the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, later known as Tanzania.
Lastly, the Faroe Islands, located between Norway and Iceland, held an independent referendum in 1946. The vote was narrowly in favor of independence, but complications arose, leading to new elections where the majority voted to remain part of Denmark.
What makes a country a country can be a difficult concept to grasp, especially for those that exist for only a brief time. If you were to declare your own country, what would you call it? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more Nutty History!
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any potentially sensitive or offensive content.
Countries – Distinct territorial bodies or political entities; nations with their own governments and borders. – Canada and Mexico are countries that share a border with the United States.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Learning about the history of ancient civilizations helps us understand how modern societies developed.
Territory – An area of land under the jurisdiction of a ruler or state. – The Louisiana Purchase significantly expanded the territory of the United States in the 19th century.
Government – The governing body of a nation, state, or community. – The government of France is a republic, with a president as the head of state.
Population – The number of people living in a particular area, country, or region. – The population of India is over a billion, making it one of the most populous countries in the world.
Recognition – Official acceptance or acknowledgment of a state or government. – The recognition of a new country by the United Nations is an important step in its acceptance on the global stage.
Independence – The state of being free from outside control; self-governance. – India gained independence from British rule in 1947.
Region – An area, especially part of a country or the world, having definable characteristics but not always fixed boundaries. – The Amazon rainforest is a vast region known for its biodiversity.
Sovereignty – Supreme power or authority, especially regarding a state’s control over its own territory. – Sovereignty allows a nation to govern itself without interference from outside forces.
Borders – Lines separating two political or geographical areas, especially countries. – The borders between European countries have become easier to cross due to the Schengen Agreement.
