4 ms·

That's why Germany, Switzerland, Italy and all the other countries that didn't have any significant share in colonization did just as well anyway. And Portugal

by dep_b 10y ago

That's why Germany, Switzerland, Italy and all the other countries that didn't have any significant share in colonization did just as well anyway. And Portugal is almost a failed state while they did have huge colonies.

mafribe 10y ago
I'd venture a different theory: Germany and Italy were not unified and pacified states at the time (and Switzerland is tiny and doesn't have a coast). In contrast, the European empire builders, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, and the UK were unified, pacified, reasonably large/wealthy and sea-faring.
- icebraining 10y ago
  reasonably large/wealthy Portugal is small and was quite poor until the colonization started. It did have quite a large maritime coast and tradition, though.
- dep_b 10y ago
  The Netherlands are tiny and a very young country at that time surrounded by much stronger neighbors. With a good fleet defensible though since a lot of parts can be flooded to prevent invasion.
TelmoMenezes 10y ago
> Portugal is almost a failed state ??? Portugal might be struggling economically (as most of Southern Europe is), but it is by no stretch of the imagination a failed state: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Fragile_States_Index https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Fragile_S...
- dep_b 10y ago
  The average income in Portugal is almost half of what people earn in neighboring Spain and still there's a ton of people without a job. It's not a failed state but it's more like Greece than Spain for sure.
  - TelmoMenezes 10y ago
    You can't just take one statistic amongst many and make overarching statements like this. Average brute salary is lower in Portugal (but not half, and then the tax systems are different). Portugal is a smaller market and the cost of living is also lower. Unemployment is much higher in Spain. The reality on the ground is that both societies are quite similar. I don't know much about Greece -- except that it's the cradle of western civilisation. When did we start being so nasty to each other?

by dep_b 10y ago

mafribe 10y ago

I'd venture a different theory: Germany and Italy were not unified and pacified states at the time (and Switzerland is tiny and doesn't have a coast). In contrast, the European empire builders, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, and the UK were unified, pacified, reasonably large/wealthy and sea-faring.

icebraining 10y ago
reasonably large/wealthy Portugal is small and was quite poor until the colonization started. It did have quite a large maritime coast and tradition, though.
dep_b 10y ago
The Netherlands are tiny and a very young country at that time surrounded by much stronger neighbors. With a good fleet defensible though since a lot of parts can be flooded to prevent invasion.

TelmoMenezes 10y ago

> Portugal is almost a failed state ??? Portugal might be struggling economically (as most of Southern Europe is), but it is by no stretch of the imagination a failed state: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Fragile_States_Index https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Fragile_S...

dep_b 10y ago
The average income in Portugal is almost half of what people earn in neighboring Spain and still there's a ton of people without a job. It's not a failed state but it's more like Greece than Spain for sure.
- TelmoMenezes 10y ago
  You can't just take one statistic amongst many and make overarching statements like this. Average brute salary is lower in Portugal (but not half, and then the tax systems are different). Portugal is a smaller market and the cost of living is also lower. Unemployment is much higher in Spain. The reality on the ground is that both societies are quite similar. I don't know much about Greece -- except that it's the cradle of western civilisation. When did we start being so nasty to each other?