Rise of Great Nations

Yesterday marked the screening of the last episodes of 2 shows, 隔世追凶 and 大国崛起 （rise of great nations). The first show is really for pure entertainment (drama serial, what to expect), but the "rise of great nations" is a really well documented show. In fact, this is one of my favourite shows this year!

The show gave a detailed documentation of the history of 9 different nations, Spain, Portugal, Holland, England, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, USA over the last 500 years, on why they rose up to become great powers, and why some of them fell in the end. This is a brief summary on the events they gave:

Spain, Portugal: The first nations in Europe where a group of people, let by a monarch, became united and as one. The monarch funded explorers to seek new lands and trade in a systmatic manner, thus enabling them to trade and become powerful.

Holland: A nation where people are driven materially. They elect a king with limited powers, but is able to protect their interests where profits are concerned. The first bank and modern banking system can be found in holland.

England: First country to undergo the first industrial revolution, due to the respect of ideas and enabling of patent rights. Individuals like Isaac Newton and Shakespeare helped shape the ideas. It has good and stable government under Queen Elizabeth 1 and Queen Victoria.

France: Have a group of strong intellectuals shaping the thoughts of people, enabling them to set up the first democracy in Europe. Had strong leadership in the reign of Louis XIV, and later Napoleon

Germany: Emphasized Education, thus helping them to groom a large group of scientists to speed up industrial revolution. Prussia united smaller states to come together Generally aggressive in policy, under the governance of Bismarck and later Hitler. But after pre-WWII, was able to admit their mistakes and move on.

Japan : Able to humbly learn from the west and industralize and develop. under leadership of emperor during meiji restoration. A powerful country who improvises and moves on.

Russia: a huge country with lots of resources. Peter the Great humbly led a proud people to modernization. This was followed by Catherine the great. During communism days, stalin led in greatest state planned industrialsation.

USA: a nation that has plentiful resources, with people united, and respect intellectual rights. The use of electricity and rise of inventors led to the 2nd industrial revolution and the invention of computers led to the 3rd industrial revolution

History will truly become a great teacher to the future generations!