What Is Difference Between Country and Empire?

[GenghisKhan44]

First of all a "country" is a rural area. The term you are looking for is a "state". A state is a collection of people with a common government of some kind. All empires are and were states; not all states are empires.

As others have said, correctly, an empire is a state where the rulers have taken control - through conquest - of multiple states, and usually several ethnicities and cultures as well. No empire truly exists without a show of imperial force. Otherwise it is a federation or confederation of states which are working together - as once the United States saw itself.

Other terms:
A "kingdom" is a state ruled by some variety of monarch either an absolute monarch - a monarch who holds virtually all ruling power - or a feudal monarch who indirectly rules through their lesser nobility (i.e, vassals).
A "republic" is a state ruled according to a rule of law, often a constitution in modern times, and through a democratic or semi-democratic government.
A "democracy" is, to quote E.B. White, "the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time". That is, rule by the majority.
"Aristocracy" is rule by the rich.
"Oligarchy" is rule by a few.
An "aristocratic oligarchic democracy" is not an oxymoron; in that case the first two words become adjectives of the third. i.e, rule by the majority of the few, rich, and powerful.

[Ysh]

First of all a "country" is a rural area. The term you are looking for is a "state". A state is a collection of people with a common government of some kind. All empires are and were states; not all states are empires.

country - noun:
1. a state or nation

Literal first definition. Maybe we do speak different dialect of English?

As others have said, correctly, an empire is a state where the rulers have taken control - through conquest - of multiple states, and usually several ethnicities and cultures as well. No empire truly exists without a show of imperial force. Otherwise it is a federation or confederation of states which are working together - as once the United States saw itself.

It must be military conquest exclusive? Cultural or economic conquest is not suitable?

Other terms:
A "kingdom" is a state ruled by some variety of monarch either an absolute monarch - a monarch who holds virtually all ruling power - or a feudal monarch who indirectly rules through their lesser nobility (i.e, vassals).
A "republic" is a state ruled according to a rule of law, often a constitution in modern times, and through a democratic or semi-democratic government.
A "democracy" is, to quote E.B. White, "the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time". That is, rule by the majority.
"Aristocracy" is rule by the rich.
"Oligarchy" is rule by a few.
An "aristocratic oligarchic democracy" is not an oxymoron; in that case the first two words become adjectives of the third. i.e, rule by the majority of the few, rich, and powerful.

I think maybe useful, thank you.

[Ysh]

It doesn't necessarily need to be taken by force.

Other people in thread are disagree to this one it seem. Who is correct?

[shubla]

Country is place like France, Brazil, Australia.
But good example for empire was British empire. Kind of like a country that has control over some other countries as well.

[Ysh]

Kind of like a country that has control over some other countries as well.

If I have control over country, I think it is part of my country.

[shubla]

Kind of like a country that has control over some other countries as well.

If I have control over country, I think it is part of my country.

You clearly didn't get the point.

This is empire.


This is country.

Difference is obivous.
You are either dumb, retarded or both if you dont recognize difference.

[dageir]

I do not think there is a formal definition of "empire".
For instance the "Holy" "Roman" "Empire" was neither holy, Roman or and empire, but was
by name.

The wikipedia states: An empire is defined as "an aggregate of nations or people ruled over by an emperor or other powerful sovereign or government, usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, as the former British Empire, French Empire, Russian Empire, Byzantine Empire or Roman Empire."[1] An empire can be made solely of contiguous territories such as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, or of territories far remote from the homeland, such as a colonial empire.

What about Russia today? Is she an empire or a country? Is there a British empire today? Is the USA an empire?
There is no clear cut definition of empire. The word is used in propaganda either to project greatness or hostility.

[Ysh]

Kind of like a country that has control over some other countries as well.

If I have control over country, I think it is part of my country.

You clearly didn't get the point.

This is empire.


This is country.

Difference is obivous.
You are either dumb, retarded or both if you dont recognize difference.

Clearly difference is not obvious if I ask question. Further, I do not ask for example, I ask for definition. Final, I think this flames is not necessary as we all are friends on forum here.

What about two example is making one empire and one country? Is it because controls lots of land? Russia and China are controlled much land but I think are not empire. Is it controls noncontinuous lands? United States has Alaska and Hawaii in not connected to the main body and this is not consider empire. What is feature that will distinguish?

I do not think there is a formal definition of "empire".
For instance the "Holy" "Roman" "Empire" was neither holy, Roman or and empire, but was
by name.

The wikipedia states: An empire is defined as "an aggregate of nations or people ruled over by an emperor or other powerful sovereign or government, usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, as the former British Empire, French Empire, Russian Empire, Byzantine Empire or Roman Empire."[1] An empire can be made solely of contiguous territories such as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, or of territories far remote from the homeland, such as a colonial empire.

What about Russia today? Is she an empire or a country? Is there a British empire today? Is the USA an empire?
There is no clear cut definition of empire. The word is used in propaganda either to project greatness or hostility.

I am think maybe you are right. Definition of empire does maybe depending on context or other nebulous thing like ''feeling'' and not suitable for defined as strict sets of points. It will definite explain the lack of agreeing of the postings here.

[MagicManICT]

Funny thing about English... sometimes a correct definition isn't really the correct term. Take, for example, Black's Law Dictionary. This is the definitive tool for how words are used in a court of Law in the US. Many terms that have more than one meaning only have one very specific meaning in the courtroom and is defined in this text. We really should push to fix this as it just makes English harder to understand.

Ok, I'll step off my soapbox now.

It doesn't necessarily need to be taken by force.

Other people in thread are disagree to this one it seem. Who is correct?

When I posted that, I was referring more to military might, but as GK pointed out, yeah, economic, cultural, and other forms can be just as effective at merging two different groups together into a single state or even an empire. In some cases, yeah, I suppose you could wield economic might to bankrupt a country and effectively take it over. We're just used to seeing military conquest as the form of imperial expansion, be it forming the empire by conquering or ceding territories because of aggression put down (Puerto Rico via Spanish-American War if I recall right).

I do not think there is a formal definition of "empire".
For instance the "Holy" "Roman" "Empire" was neither holy, Roman or and empire, but was
by name.

Well, it was given this name because it was given the power, albeit shortly, to elect the popes so they'd have political power over the Roman Empire, who at that point had as much political power as the Caesars. They were an Empire as they had an elected Emperor voted for by the member nation's monarchy if I recall right.

The wikipedia states: [....]

What about Russia today? Is she an empire or a country? Is there a British empire today? Is the USA an empire?
There is no clear cut definition of empire. The word is used in propaganda either to project greatness or hostility.

Lots of people call Russia and US imperial expansionists. I don't disagree. The US controls about a dozen territories that could legally become states but either are blocked by congress or choose not to (namely Puerto Rico). The US more or less economical controls a large part of the western hemisphere (and for the most part, is the only reason China is an economic power... along with Western Europe, too). I shouldn't fail to mention that the US has gained all their land via conquest over indigent peoples and other nations--not counting that which was already colonized by the British, French, and Dutch.

Oh, and there's a good one for "economic" conquest... the Louisiana Purchase. France (Napoleon) sold it to the US to raise war funds.

I think there comes a point where a conquered people become a part of the conquering state culturally and economically. Does anyone outside of Germany think of the member kingdoms anymore as different cultures? What about the UK? Spain?

[Ysh]

It doesn't necessarily need to be taken by force.

Other people in thread are disagree to this one it seem. Who is correct?

When I posted that, I was referring more to military might, but as GK pointed out, yeah, economic, cultural, and other forms can be just as effective at merging two different groups together into a single state or even an empire. In some cases, yeah, I suppose you could wield economic might to bankrupt a country and effectively take it over. We're just used to seeing military conquest as the form of imperial expansion, be it forming the empire by conquering or ceding territories because of aggression put down (Puerto Rico via Spanish-American War if I recall right).

So for example:

An example of peaceful expansion would be the US purchasing the Louisiana territory from France. The nation who owned it sold it and a nation expanded.

I think argument could be make that United States American perform economic conquest of this Louisiana territory. Is this making United States American an empire?

Even if it is case that military conquest is exclusive for decided if empire, is there time limit onto this one? Obvious at some point no country was controlled by country. When this country is forming early it needs to conquer these land by use force and establish itself government. For some old state this is maybe thousand of year ago, but would that not make them empire?

Is empire status transitive? Area of New England in United States America certain to have some native populations lived there when England comes. England forms empire by conquer these native peoples to take land, but then Americans become own country. Is American still empire by virtue of old land being empire designation?

What role does revolution come for this one at all? If United States America goes to build colony on moon and now moon colony revolts, is this moon colony now an empire? Moon nation did conquer lands controlled by other country, but those lands were not considered empire before revolution.