tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12353544.post113375292205043762..comments2023-09-21T17:07:23.544+08:00Comments on Dreams of Infinity: EvrpaThe Arbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818073032756425686noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12353544.post-1133949610743169722005-12-07T18:00:00.000+08:002005-12-07T18:00:00.000+08:00It's what happens when you have a confederacy rath...It's what happens when you have a confederacy rather than a nation-state or autarchy. To this day, cars bear the 'CH', and URLs the '.ch' suffix, of Switzerland - Confœderatio Helvetica.<BR/><BR/>The Swiss canton system (final unification in 1848 after 500 years!) is totally different from the enforced unity of Germany (by Bismarck finally, 1740s to 1871) and Italy (1815-1871, believe it or not, by Cavour of Sardinia). They obviously had much more time to work things out...~autolycushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05607285136512398286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12353544.post-1133924543993611202005-12-07T11:02:00.000+08:002005-12-07T11:02:00.000+08:00Aha. Interesting. But why did the Swiss have such ...Aha. Interesting. But why did the Swiss have such an inclination, instead of going the traditional path of kingdoms of the time?The Arbiterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04818073032756425686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12353544.post-1133873611252454652005-12-06T20:53:00.000+08:002005-12-06T20:53:00.000+08:00Remember that the Swiss created and enforced their...Remember that the Swiss created and enforced their neutral position by force of arms. The largest standing army of its time in Europe was used in the ultimate powerplay: we will be your arbiters, judges, mercenary captains, and bankers for the rest of history. And that has lasted almost 700 years. The unification of the Swiss cantons is a far far older event than the unification of Italy.Trebuchethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09985664863838276012noreply@blogger.com