Extinct Countries
This is a list of countries that I've visited.
Extinct countries can disappear from history and the world political map for many reasons. Most commonly these nations are absorbed into other countries either politically (such as a referendum) or militarily through warfare and then annexation.
Sometimes it works the other way round where an existing country splits into two or more new states, causing the original country to become extinct. And example of this would be Czechoslovakia which split into Czech Republic (Czechia) and Slovakia in 1993.
Internal conflicts such as civil wars can sometimes fragment a country, leading to the creation of new, independent states from the territory of the former nation. The classic modern-day example of this is when Yugoslavia split into Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia. Yugoslavia is now extinct.
Economic collapse can destabilise a country to the point where it can no longer function independently, sometimes resulting in its absorption by a more stable neighbour. Environmental catastrophes, such as population decline - caused by factors such as emigration, low birth rates, or disease - and natural disasters or climate change, can make also make a country's land uninhabitable, leading to depopulation and the eventual loss of the country's status. An example of this would be Easter Island (Rapa Nui) which has been absorbed into Chile.
Historically, colonization has been a factor in causing countries to become extinct. Foreign powers have used economic superiority and incentives, along with the use of their military and religious zealots to take power in a territory or region and then created their own states in place.
Lastly, the loss of international recognition and legitimacy can render a country extinct. Without recognition by the global community, a country may lose its status as an independent entity.
Extinct Countries I have Visited
In this branch of my exploration, I'm visiting countries that have become extinct over time.
Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia began to break apart in 1991 with declarations of independence by Slovenia and Croatia. The remaining republics, Serbia and Montenegro, formed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992. But the country finally became extinct as a political entity in 2003 when the FRY was renamed "Serbia and Montenegro".
I first travelled through Yugoslavia in 1980 when taking a bus from London to Athens. And, yes, that was as arduous as it sounds!
Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
Before annexation in 1888 by Chile, Rapa Nui was a sovereign island inhabited by the Polynesian Rapa Nui people. How much consent was given by the Rapa Nui people is up for debate. But what is for sure is that the country had become depopulated through ecological impact of man on the island, through disease spread via European contact and slave raids.
I finally got to visit Rapa Nui in 2024 on my way to the start of my Point Nemo expedition. I'd wanted to visit ever since seeing pictures of the Moai statues in my schoolbooks back in the 1970s.
The Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire was a powerful Islamic state that ruled territories across Europe, Asia, and Africa from the early 14th century until the early 20th century. Founded by Turkic warriors around 1300, it became a major global power after capturing Constantinople in 1453, before eventually collapsing in the aftermath of the First World War.
The center of the Ottoman Empire was Istanbul (formerly Constantinople) in modern-day Turkey. Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the city served as the empire's primary political and administrative capital from the conquest in 1453 until the empire's collapse in 1922 Istanbul.
Kingdom of England
This is an easy one, since I was born in England.
Up until 1707, England was an independent country which became extinct when the United Kingdom (UK) was formed in 1707 with the unification of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland.This was a political unification, established under the Acts of Union, which were passed by both the English and Scottish parliaments.
Kingdom of Scotland
As for the Kingdom of England, the Scottish Kingdom became extinct in 1707. The capital at the time of unification was Edinburgh, where I studied for my Masters of Engineering degree.
As recent as 2014, the Scottish parliament held a referendum on independence which resulted in 55.3% of voters replying "no".
Wales
Wales became extinct in 1283 when it was absorbed into the Kingdom of England by conquest. King Edward I of England defeated Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last Prince of Wales. Legal annexation was completed through the Laws in Wales Acts of 1535 and 1542.
Principality of Marrakesh
The Principality of Marrakesh was a semi-independent Berber state that emerged during the decline of Morocco’s Marinid dynasty. From the mid-14th century, the Hintata emirs controlled Marrakesh and parts of the surrounding High Atlas region, gradually becoming independent of the sultans in Fez. Although their territory diminished over time, they successfully defended the city against a Portuguese attack in 1515. The principality ended around 1525–1526, when Marrakesh was conquered by the rising Saadian dynasty and incorporated into a reunified Moroccan state.
I first visited Marrakesh as a student in 1982 and hated it. We were hasled from start to finish and left the country pretty quickly. My second visit was in 2018 on my way to climb Mount Toubkal (at 4,167m it is the highest peak in the Atlas Mountains and North Africa) during the winter season. My impressions of the city totally changed and it is now much more pleasant for visitors.