napoleonteh1st

What is the most influential nation ever. Consider how their cultures affect life today.

okamido

I believe that it is a trifecta of Rome-China-Great Britain.

Heidi XX

For the older countries,I agree with okamido! Rome-China-GB.
For a young country,I would say germany had alot of influentail and cultures affects .

Lucius

What is meant by "nation?" Agriculture is, I think, still the largest sector of the global economy(if that's what's meant by "influential"). It started out in the area now occupied by several Middle Eastern nations.

Richard Stanbery

As Christianity took over even the Roman Empire, and that influence stayed up till present day in Europe and European colonies that became nations, I would say that Isreal is the most influencial nation/ culture ever.

Edgewaters

Well, Christianity - the New Testament, at least - is about one-third Greek, one-third Roman, and one-third Jewish.

DIVUS IVLIVS

In this day and age the US.

Aspartam

In the past.
The Roman Empire as the ground of European culture and the model for the post-ancient national states of West Europe.
The Byzantine Empire as the main source of Eastern Orthodoxy.
Arabs (and Turkic people later) as the sowers of Islam.
Spain (and Portugal) as the source of Catholicism and as the empires that formed the face of Latin America.
Russia as the state that developed the great territories in Northeast Eurasia and that exerted its influence in Caucasus and Central Asia
Great Britain (no comments)

Today
The USA, (no comments, too)
Only the USA due to the modern technology (IT and media, transport) has the opportunities for the worldwide influence. The preceding sources of influence (GB included) had geographical limits.

As of Germany, I agree, it is a great source of ideas: Reformation, Marxism… Yes, Germany is the influential country.

As of China, I doubt its consequence. Yes, it was mighty state, but it was regional leader, not worldwide. Culture?.. The culture influence to Japan… Remaking of Buddhism? Confucianism?.. But this ideology has not real influence abroad China… Technologies?.. Most of them were developed later irrespective of China. And really China never had overpowering superiority in technologies…
I think, in comparison with China Byzantine and Russia had more influence; though they (Byzantine and Russia) have not the leadership in the spreading of influence.

Son of Cathal

The US. Their culture permeates everything.

pinguin

Just a single country: Greece. We can trace most of the modern culture straight to it.