Virginia Lou
Virginia Lou asked
What has been going on in Great Britain for the last 1500+ years? That is, how can such a small country accomplish so much as it has over the centuries?
For example:

1. The "Dark Ages," after the fall of Rome, may not have affected Britain as much as other places; culture, architecture, religion etc. all seem to have just continued on.
2. The Industrial Revolution, which changed the world completely, began there - small island nation.
3. As much as we may not want imperialism in modern times, still the British Empire was a huge accomplishment for a tiny country.
4. Britain stopped Germany in WWII, huge upset, no one believed they could do it. (Exception, FDR - gave them all the matériel he could.) But even the US ambassador said England was a goner, and the US should save its resources and prepare for Nazi invasion.
5. Literature, culture, Shakespeare and the rest, British contribution remarkable.
So amazing for such a small country, how do they do it?