Lesser known facts about this inhumane punishment
Irish culture has been largely influenced by the Celtic tribes who reached the island nation around the 6th century BCE. They have also been influenced by Anglo-Norman, Viking, English, and Irish Traveler culture. Due to large-scale emigration from Ireland, Irish culture has a wide reach in the world, and festivals such as Saint Patrick's Day and Halloween are celebrated around the world in large part thanks to their Irish roots.
Turkey is home to a unique intersection of culture, as it bridges Asia with Europe. Its popular cuisine is largely influenced by its Ottoman heritage, which itself is influenced by Greek, Persian, Balkan, and Arabic cuisine. When it comes to entertainment, Turkish television series have seen significant growth since the 2000s, becoming one of the country's most well-known economic and cultural exports.
The third-most culturally influential country in the world, Italy has contributed greatly to literature, art, fashion, cinema, and especially the food scene.
South Africa is the third-largest economy in Africa, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to see its impressive terrain, wildlife, and cultural diversity.
One of the most ethnically and religiously diverse countries in the world, India is known for its historical architectural treasures, including the Taj Mahal. But modern India has also made its fair share of cultural contributions. Just look at Bollywood, which makes more feature-length films than any other film industry in the world.
Famous around the world for its flamenco music, wine, tapas, and fantastic beaches, Spain is a powerful cultural influence, in terms of language, literature, music, and cinema.
One of the top economic powers in the world, China holds considerable cultural influence over the world, both through its ancient civilization and its modern status. On top of that, Chinese cuisine finds its place in restaurants and kitchens around the world.
Australia has made considerable contributions to literature and the arts. The country also has a significant share of Hollywood actors, with Margot Robbie, Chris Hemsworth, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, and Hugh Jackman being some of the most notable ones.
Often associated with scenic landscapes, Switzerland is home to some of the top luxury watchmakers in the world, making the nation famous for luxury and quality. Some of their top brands include Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Chopard.
Undoubtedly one of the most culturally prominent countries, Canada has been popularized in showbiz through Canadian celebrities like Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling, Justin Bieber, Keanu Reeves, and Rachel McAdams, among many other prominent names.
The UAE is the most culturally significant country in the Middle East. Known for its nightlife and sky-high skyscrapers like the Burj Khalifa, its emirate, Dubai, attracts millions of tourists every year.
One of the most culturally important countries in the world when it comes to soccer, its national team has a global fan base. Brazil is also famous for its music, with genres like samba, bossa nova, forró, and funk. In terms of cuisine, its feijoada can be found in Brazilian restaurants around the world.
South Korea is as culturally influential as it is technologically advanced. Its greatest cultural influence is arguably its K-pop, with bands like Blackpink and BTS topping global charts. The country also dominates in electronics, with companies like Samsung.
This Scandinavian nation has made many contributions to the mainstream global pop culture, with popular artists like Robyn and Tove Lo more recently. Oh, and ABBA, of course! Sweden also influences global cuisines, with its iconic meatballs and cinnamon buns.
The Netherlands is another Northwestern European nation with cultural influence. From painters like Vincent van Gogh to famous cheeses such as Gouda and Edam, the Netherlands has a presence in most countries.
You can't think of Mexico without picturing its rich, colorful culture. Influenced by Spain and its ancient Aztec and Maya civilizations, Mexican cuisine is now popular across the globe. Just think of tacos, enchiladas, and burritos!
The birthplace of democracy, Greece is arguably the most culturally influential country in the world, owing to its ancient empire. When it comes to literature, they gave the world classics like Plato's 'Republic' and Homer's 'Iliad.' Oh, and let's not forget the food!
Known for its strong Viking heritage, Norway is another Scandinavian nation that has contributed to arts and literature. For instance, Edvard Munch's 'The Scream' painting is a global icon in the arts.
Known the entire world over for being one of the happiest countries on the planet, this is largely thanks to Denmark's socio-economic management. The Scandinavian country is also highly entrepreneurial, with several world-renowned companies operating across the globe. On top of that, the capital, Copenhagen, has become a popular fashion and culinary destination in recent years.
With its natural splendor, the country has been highly popularized for being the backdrop to 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' movies. The nation is also famous for its wine, thanks to different wine regions and subregions with differing climatic conditions.
The city-state has become popular across the world for its futuristic multicultural society. As one of the cultural drivers of robotics, there are over 327,000 industrial robots in Singapore's workforce. The country is also known for its driverless taxi systems, patrolling police bots, and smart-homes infrastructure.
Belgium is known for its chocolates, waffles, and fries, as well as its comic strip tradition, including 'Tintin' and 'The Smurfs.' Its literary and artistic influence comprises works by the likes of Paul de Man and René Magritte, among others.
Portugal has influenced the world via literature through poets like Luís de Camões and writers like José Saramago. The Portuguese national soccer team also has a global fan base. Other cultural elements of the country that have left an impression on the world include its fado music and exquisite cuisine.
With its natural wonders and amazing beaches, Thailand has been attracting tourists for years. Bangkok, its capital, is one of the most visited places in the world. Plus, Thai cuisine is integral to food scenes across the world!
While it's small in size, Austria has an enormous tradition of being a cultural center. Vienna, the nation's capital, became Europe's center for classical music. Famous composers such as Franz Schubert and Johann Strauss were born in Vienna, and both Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart spent much of their lives in there.
The most culturally influential country in Asia, Japan has influenced the world with its video games, anime, cuisine, and martial arts. On top of that, terms, such as origami, tsunami, and karaoke have been added to several different languages.
Germany isn't only the richest economy in Europe, it's also one of the most important countries in terms of cultural influence. In music alone, Germany has produced legendary classical composers like Ludwig van Beethoven. With figures like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the country is equally inspiring when it comes to literature.
With a constant stream of American TV shows, films, and music, the US is the most culturally influential country in the world.
Sources: (U.S. News & World Report) (Insider Monkey)
See also: The most unpopular countries in the world — can you guess America's position?
From William Shakespeare to Jane Austen, playwrights, poets, and authors are among the UK's most prominent cultural figures. The island nation has also made notable contributions to music, cinema, art, architecture, and television.
France is known for its art, literature, fashion, cuisine, and architecture, so it's no wonder it has had a lasting impact on global culture. Plus, it has contributed significantly to the development of these fields.
Intrigued? From India to Denmark, click on to see if your country is a cultural influencer around the world.
The 30 countries with the most cultural influence
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The world is made up of nearly 200 countries, which all come with their own unique cultures. However, if the traditions and norms of a country are considered "cool" in another country, it's said to have cultural influence. Countries that command cultural influence are often synonymous with leading the way in areas like food, lifestyle, and/or fashion. Their music, television shows, and movies are also absorbed by other cultures, becoming part of a wider global conversation.
Intrigued? From India to Denmark, click on to see if your country is a cultural influencer around the world.