--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2000 11:10:30 -0400 (EDT)
From: Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: List of countries <fwd>
Sender: Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]>



Here's how I would handle the historical aspect of this listing, and the
conundrums of defining a country.

First, I would decide on my own definition of what constitutes a
"country".  The two concepts I know of are "nation" and "sovereign state".
The first can encompass a larger number of entitities, including colonies
and protectorates and autonomous areas, than can the latter.  Since either
could be valid but yield different results, a decision should be made by
the one who wants the list compiled.

Second, a method of compiling the lists could be to use world atlases from
various periods of time.  For recent past times, not only the CIA World
Factbook, but the lists of member states published by the United Nations
can help for the period from 1945.  The Europa Year Book is another tool,
that goes back, I think, farther than 1945.  Old Times Atlases of the
World, historical atlases, and other tools could provide interesting
comparisons.  The atlases would be essential for non-sovereign
entitities.  Members of the Universal Postal Union presents another
method.

___________________________
Ken Grabach                           <[log in to unmask]>
Maps Librarian                         Phone: 513-529-1726
Miami University Libraries
Oxford, Ohio  45056  USA


On Tue, 26 Sep 2000, Johnnie Sutherland wrote:

> --- Begin Forwarded Message ---
> Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2000 09:20:38 -0400
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: List of countries
> Sender: [log in to unmask]
>
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
>      I received this question from another librarian, and do not know of
> such a list.  Does anyone know of anything that might be helpful?  Given
> the difficulty of distinguishing between a "country," and a colony or
> protectorate, I imagine that constructing a list of countries going back
> 100 years is not as simple as one might think:
>
>      "A colleague would like to know all countries of the world going back
> 100 years.  Is there a source you would refer to for this type of
> information?  For a current list of countries, I use the CIA World
> Factbook.  But, how do you trace countries who have had name changes?"
>
> David Allen
> Map Librarian
> SUNY Stony Brook
>
>
> --- End Forwarded Message ---
>

--- End Forwarded Message ---