Contemporary-ism is one of the most severe cognitive blind-spots. We have a tendency to see the past from today's perspective -- today's borders, norms, regimes, languages, ethnicities.
Nearly all of the countries today didn't exist 200 years ago, not to mention 600 years ago. Even the ones that share the same names had different ethnicities, regimes, languages, cultures, religions. They were hardly the same people. What was "Germany" or "Poland" 200 years ago?
Look at Lithuania in 1400 . One of the greatest kingdoms of Europe for centuries. Today most people look at Lithuania as a tiny , former soviet country (Sorry Lithanians, I don't , but it's true).
Contemporary-ism is one of the most severe cognitive blind-spots. We have a tendency to see the past from today's perspective -- today's borders, norms, regimes, languages, ethnicities.
Nearly all of the countries today didn't exist 200 years ago, not to mention 600 years ago. Even the ones that share the same names had different ethnicities, regimes, languages, cultures, religions. They were hardly the same people. What was "Germany" or "Poland" 200 years ago?
Look at Lithuania in 1400 . One of the greatest kingdoms of Europe for centuries. Today most people look at Lithuania as a tiny , former soviet country (Sorry Lithanians, I don't , but it's true).
What will people think of the UK in 100 years?
https://www.oldmapsonline.org/en/history/rulers#position=3.7...