The argument that a nation’s greatness is measured by the achievements of its rulers, artists, or scientists is certainly plausible, particularly given the current economic status of the United States. However, I believe that this criterion is flawed when applied to all countries across time and history. It is evident that some civilizations, such as ancient China, Italy, or India, have flourished in ways that surpass that of nations such as those of the United States

Despite the fact that the United States of America is one of the most technologically advanced nations of the world, it is also a country that has only recently come of age, and there is still much work to be done. While the United States has accomplished many scientific and literary feats, and while some leaders in the scientific world have made invaluable contributions, such as Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein, the nation is not so wealthy as to be able to provide its citizens with a particularly good quality of life

As the United States has not existed for very long, it is difficult to make comparisons with other nations. However, one aspect that can be considered is the relationship between the nation’s wealth and its quality of life. As the United States is a young nation, it is still relatively poor, and therefore its people must do work in order to earn their living. While this is certainly true, it does not mean that a country’s wealth directly affects its citizens’ quality of life. While a country such as China may be wealthy, its citizens still must work in order to earn their living. Perhaps, if China had been established centuries earlier, it would have allowed its citizens to lead more comfortable lives. This may seem strange, but consider that at the time China was just beginning its civilization, it was surrounded by hostile nations, such as Iran and Nepal, which prevented it from expanding beyond its borders. By establishing its borders through conquest, China was forced to build an army to defend itself. The citizens had to labor to build these armies, and in time, China became a powerful nation, and its citizens enjoyed a high standard of living. However, as China’s rulers came to power, they decided that they could use their armies to conquer other nations and increase their empires, and this ended their period of prosperity. While China’s rulers were great artists, they neglected the welfare of their citizens, leading to their downfall

Other nations, such as Japan, Italy, and France, were much wealthier than the United States when they began their civilizations. These nations not only had extensive armies, but they also had vast land holdings, and their citizens were able to relax, enjoying the fruits of their labor. However, like China, these nations also experienced periods of prosperity that ended with periods of turmoil. For example, during the Middle Ages, the papacy was the most powerful institution in Europe, and it used its vast wealth to amass vast armies of soldiers, which successfully defended the papacy’s land holdings and its borders from invading nations. However, when the popes eventually began to reign through the will of the popes, instead of through the divine right of the popes, the people began to rise up against them. The popes responded by sending their armies into rebellion, and the peasants slaughtered the popes, turning their backs on the papacy. The popes, realizing that they had lost the support of their subjects, removed themselves from power, and their homelands descended into chaos and warfare. While it is true that these nations had great scientists, artists, and rulers, their achievements did not contribute to the longevity of these nations

The United States has much work left to do before it can be considered one of the great nations of the world. However, while other nations have not necessarily achieved greatness, they have certainly achieved greatness in their own way. It is up to the people of the United States to decide whether or not they wish to follow in the footsteps of those other nations, and to decide what type of future they wish for themselves.