Why are countries in Europe relatively small compared to countries in the rest of the world.

Question

Kind of a showerthought, at the same time. I honestly have no idea.

In: Other

Answer 1

Until relatively recently, national boundaries reflected tribal boundaries. Empires — Roman, British, Soviet, Prussian/German, etc. — tended to ignore tribal nations or nation-states and instead imposed new boundaries that reflected the realpolitik and/or administrative needs of the empire.

That’s why, for example, Yugoslavia fell apart into half a dozen nations (or aspiring nations) after Tito’s death. Ditto, the Soviet Union. Ditto, India/Pakistan/Bangladesh. Ditto, Afghanistan, which was stitched together by Britain from three tribal territories whose tribes couldn’t stand one another.