Countries became countries when groups of people started living together in one place and decided to make their own rules, choose leaders, and protect their land. Long ago, there were no countries—only tribes or small groups. As time passed, these groups grew bigger and started building towns and cities. They made their own governments and sometimes had to fight or make agreements to control their land. When their land had clear borders and a government, it became a country. That’s how the countries we know today were formed.