Which country has the most interesting history?

[LostInAnomie]

Poll question: Which country has the most interesting history?

[mtowngman]

1. Russia got my vote

I'm hooked on reading about the Romanov dynasty.

[Rowdyboy]

2. I'm sure if I knew more about Chinese or Japanese history, I would vote

differently. However, of the European countries whose history I know pretty well, Russia is hands above everyone else. A fascinating culture that could have taken so many different turns has history been only slightly different.

[Arugula Latte]

3. I can't decide.

I personally am most interested in British history, but I can't objectively say that it is more or less interesting than, say, Chinese history.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

4. Seeing's how they've been doing

"history" since history was there to be done, I nominate . . .

Iraq.

The first great state-group on earth, most lately shat upon as the least great state-group on earth.

In between is Egypt, the Hittites, the Israelites, the Minoans, the Mycennaeans, the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, the European Religious Idiots, the Arabian Religious Idiots and Us.

The absence of highway markers isn't the absence of history.

As a boy, I wanted to be an archaeologist, while the other boys wanted to be policemen. I yearned to see the reconstruction of Babylon. Then we started the war. Now the Ishtar Gate is covered with "Semper Fe" and other foolishness. And yeah, I know how to spell "Semper Fi." That's a sign of the ignoraance of the desecration.

No Gilgamesh? No Thomas Jefferson.

[tjwmason]

8. Seconded.

Law Code of Hammurabi - Abraham - even the Garden of Eden - earliest zigurat (basis for the Tower of Babel?) - earliest cities - hanging garden of Babylon - the Abbasid Caliphate - need one say more?

[Hardrada]

5. Germany

naturlich!! Where is Dirk these days?

[DanCa]

6. Britainia if you include folklore as history

[tjwmason]

7. Folklore????

You mean that there are folk who don't believe that we were founded by Albion the Giant????

I'm shocked.

[Clintmax]

9. Other: Italy

Rome's history alone is amazing!

[WCGreen]

10. Agreed....

[chknltl]

11. All of them and....

For me history and prehistory knows no boundaries, it can be sooo fascinating to some but not others. For instance how many African countries have been mentioned? Uninteresting history here? Hardly.
From those early footsteps of "Lucy" to the struggles of Nelson Mandella, (sp?), Africa is rich with history. I confess to "cherry picking" my favorite slices of history worldwide but I can think of no single country which holds a title of "most" interesting imo.

That said. One VERY interesting yet VERY obscure tale is about the explorations of Kamchatka by Stepan P. Krasheninnikov between 1735-1741. He was picked by Peter the Great to go on the Vitas Bering expedition. He basically walked alone across unexplored Siberia to Kamchatka only to be turned away by Bering in favor of a more scholarly naturalist, (J. Stellar I believe). Stranded in Kamchatka 18 year old Stepan "went native" but kept detailed records of everything he witnessed.

I have often felt this true tale worthy of a Hollywood Movie...think Robinson Crusoe meets Dances With Wolves, but based on the actual journal of an actual adventurer.