OK LH, Gee, I wanted to argue! You're no fun. England was small in native land mass but HUGE in population and had a campaign of shipping off the surplus around the world, in effect claiming musch more land and enhancing their power. Likewise Spain acquired S. America and MADE a surplus population. The Inquisition was doing a nice job on the home front. Really, though, Spain's real power was in gold and loot from the New World. It was too vulnerable and it couldn't last. Those that you mention all had some aspect that enlarged their presence in the world and Israel has a big buddy in the US (and most likely in those nukes, too!). You might argue that Father Yahweh watches over them. I believe that. Some of Israel's saves have been no less than miraculous. I mean, if the terrorist can go running at you wearing his bomb belt shouting "Allah Akbar" I'm sure the Israelis who believe have a similar prayer on their lips to their God. But then, that may be a topic for another thread!