Ancient Egypt has a recorded history dating back more than 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest continuous civilizations in the world.
China has a rich history spanning thousands of years, with evidence of early civilization and dynastic rule dating back to around 2100 BCE.
Iran, known as Persia in ancient times, has a history that goes back over 2,500 years, with the Achaemenid Empire being one of its notable ancient civilizations.
Japan has a recorded history dating back to around the 6th century CE, with early evidence of human habitation dating even further back.
Greece is often regarded as the cradle of Western civilization, with its ancient history dating back to the 8th century BCE and the rise of city-states such as Athens and Sparta.
Ethiopia claims to have the longest continuous history as an independent country in Africa, with records of its existence dating back over 2,000 years.
San Marino is one of the oldest republics in the world, founded in 301 CE. It has maintained its independence and self-governance for over 1,700 years.