The question of the "first country in the world" depends on the criteria used. There's no single definitive answer. Different criteria yield different results, such as the oldest continuously inhabited area, the oldest continuously existing state, or the first to achieve a particular milestone.
Defining "First"
Defining "first" requires clarity on the metric being considered. Several possibilities exist:
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Oldest continuously inhabited territory: This approach focuses on human settlement history. While pinpointing the absolute first settlement is impossible, various archaeological findings suggest ancient civilizations in Africa. Some might argue for a nation within modern-day South Africa, where the first Homo sapiens lived, as a contender (reddit.com/r/geography).
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Oldest continuously existing state: This considers the uninterrupted existence of a political entity. By this definition, Egypt is often cited as the oldest country in the world. Its continuous civilization, dating back to the reign of Narmer around 3150 B.C.E., establishes a long-standing claim (history.howstuffworks.com, uk.style.yahoo.com). The estimated beginning of Narmer's reign marks the end of the predynastic period and the beginning of the first dynasty of Egypt.
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First to achieve specific milestones: Numerous countries claim "first" based on different achievements. For instance:
- Bangladesh was the first to ban thin plastic bags (unep.org).
- Scotland was the first to provide free period products (bbc.com).
- Jordan was the first to receive WHO verification for eliminating leprosy (who.int).
- Ecuador was the first to recognize the Rights of Nature in its constitution (ijc.org).
These examples highlight that the meaning of "first" is highly context-dependent.
Conclusion
Therefore, while Egypt is frequently identified as the oldest country based on continuous civilization and statehood, the title of "first country" lacks a universally agreed-upon answer. The definition of "first" needs to be specified before a definitive response can be provided.
