I don't think the politics defines it
it's far more of a cultural and historical thing.

you didn't answer my other point though. In the past vast areas have been under the control of a single government, the British Empire, the Roman Empire etc. They weren't countries where they?

it's essentially the same thing. Just because there is an organisation where they can be represented now doesn't make it more official.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 9 Nov 2010, 9:53, 1 reply, 15 years ago)

But they were
At least, that's how we translate them. When the British empire, all the pieces of land in your power, stoped being countries and became Britain. Same with the Romans, which didn't have countries in their empire, had provincies. When the Spanish empire, all of it was Spain, with several provincies too.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Tue 9 Nov 2010, 9:57, Reply)

I don't agree with that
they were still countries

clearly our definitions of country are different (yours is wrong) so I should stop trying to argue this and do some work!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 9 Nov 2010, 9:59, Reply)

Hahaha
Oh, well, as far as Spain and Roman, I'm sure we didn't have countries, we had provincies. I'm not sure about the British, so I'll let you have that one right.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Tue 9 Nov 2010, 10:03, Reply)