When you get some knowledge of history, i.e. beyond using links, then maybe you could try to educate someone. Personally, I don't need in your help, because my knowledge doesn't rely on Web surfing. As I already told you, right now I don't have access to wikipedia, but it neither increases nor reduces my ability to know history of your country better than yourself.

>Edward I would sugest that u read the link I sent you there is also alot more info on that, that is just to state that world prominence keeps changing, people say that China will be the next one.
>if u want to talk about facts from existing countries Portugal was the 1st global empire to exist and also the longer one. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Empire
>is always nice to educate soem one in world history. ;)
>
>>It had nothing to do with America except to give you an idea that Americans may also have some knowledge about other countries and world history.
>>Just to finish with historical part of the thread: Portugal got prominent (not dominant) in 15th century because its wealth brought by African, and later Indian trade, was not disturbed by real dominant powers. France and England were busy fighting each other, and Spain didn't exist yet. When Spain power got consolidated, Portugal quickly lost firstly prominence and then independence.
>>In 13-14 century Portugal was neither prominent not dominant. It was a distant corner of Europe, quite barbaric for contemporary owners of universal truth.
>>
>>>No I just went to look for it after your statment to try to find information in English, that you could understand, Just to point out I like America and I like Americans, I have alot of friends that are Americans, but also I see that alot of americans thinks they are the owner of the universal truth and that they are better then all the others, and that is the kind of position that then gives all Americans a bad name.
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>>>>I don't have access to wikipedia, so you got to post it here if you want to prove that your knowledge about Portugal history is better than mine. Please, note that I don't even suggest to go for world history.
>>>>
>>>>>Edward in some point ur right, I was counting 1400 and 1500 year and said 13 and 14 Century.
>>>>>Portugal, but looks like the world history isn't ur strong point, after some search I found this that can help you world history knowledge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal_in_the_Age_of_Discovery
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>>>>>>Portugal got prominent in 15-16 century. It didn't rule seas but was the first to start African slave trade.
>>>>>>It's a bit strange that you don't know what your own country did in 13-14 centuries.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>John in the 13th and 14th century it was Portugal and also spain. the Portuguese was the 1st ones to rule the seas, there are countries with more then 1 thousand years of history isn't to be a litle (not to say alot) bragging to state that a country that has less then 400 years of existence to be the great country of all times.
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>>>>>>>>>Don't you realize how insufferable it is to the rest of the world when Americans go around declaring themselves the best country? It would be hard enough to take even if they agreed with that opinion. And according to surveys I have seen recently they emphatically do not agree. The U.S. is viewed as a greater threat to world peace than Al Qaeda.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Sure I do. But, I am merely stating a fact. By any measure, the US is the greatest country in the history of the world. If you disagree, tell me which country is greater. I'm not bragging, just stating a fact. Additionally, it's not like you or I had anything to do with it, so I'm not being egocentric, I'm just stating the obvious. If that bothers people, so be it. I feel blessed to have been born here.