How Vatican City Became the Smallest Country in the World
Vatican City is officially the smallest country in the world. Situated in the middle of Rome as an enclave, it is only about 20% of the size of Central Park in Manhattan, New York City. Its population is about 1,000, only made up of the Pope, Bishops, and Clergies that run the theocratic country of the Vatican. It is also the only monarchy in the world that elects its monarch (aka. the pope). Despite its size, its influence on the world is quite large, considering the large Catholic population in Europe, Asia, and South America, as well as other continents.
The existence of such a country is bizarre, considering its unique position and size. How did Vatican City become the smallest, yet one of the most influential countries in the world?
Origin
Vatican City can trace its origin back to 533 AD when the Byzantine Empire established the Duchy of Rome when the Empire restored its old Roman territories under Emperor Justinian. Even prior to the founding of the Duchy, the Catholic Church amassed a massive amount of wealth from donations, holding large political and economic influence in Rome. After Western Roman Empire fell to the Germanic tribes, the papal authority began expanding its…
