The World's First Constitution

Published: Oct. 8, 2024, 12:30 a.m.

The world's oldest oldest continuously surviving constitution, was adopted in the tiny country of San Marino on 8th October, 1600.\n\nThis was a good 187 years before the United States adopted its own constitution and, during his presidency, Abraham Lincoln frequently held San Marino up as the model of a government founded on republican principles. Such ongoing praise eventually earnt the US president honorary San Marino citizenship!\n\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain what an "Extraordinarium" is;\xa0 discuss why most of the rest of the world had to wait almost two hundred years before they had their own constitutional moment; and reveal that the world's first parliament was created by vikings\u2026\n\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022\xa0\u2018The Constitution of San Marino-Oldest and Active written Constitution of the World\u2019 (FYI, 2021): https://vocal.media/fyi/the-constitution-of-san-marino-oldest-and-active-written-constitution-of-the-world\xa0\n\u2022 \u2018San Marino is founded by Saint Marinus\u2019 (The Centre of the Rule of Law, 2021): https://www.thecenterforruleoflaw.org/rule-of-law-blog/september-3-301-san-marino-one-of-the-smallest-nations-in-the-world-and-the-worlds-oldest-republic-still-in-existence-is-founded-by-saint-marinus-or-maybe-its-one-of-the-newest-nations-at-just-48-years-old-wait-what\xa0\n\u2022 \u2018Why is San Marino a country? - History of San Marino in 12 Minutes\u2019 (Knowledgia, 2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXxIV1IRMR4 \n\n\nThis episode first premiered in 2023, for members of \U0001f334CLUB RETROSPECTORS\U0001f334 - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 100 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!\n\xa0\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/retrospectors\n\xa0\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.\n\n\n\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices