Most major technologies were created by a combination of efforts based
in many countries, although some countries were often more prominent
than others in certain fields.

France has a long and impressive history in the development of
technology, extending over several centuries. As in the rest of
Europe, this trend came to an end in France during the World Wars,
when Europeans decided to spend a century fighting and killing each
other instead of advancing society. Since that time, no country in
Europe, including France, has made much of a difference. It's a
tremendously huge loss, and one that most people don't seem to be
aware of.

The United States wasn't a player until fairly recently (slightly over
a century), but it was unaffected by the world wars, and now has a
leadership position that isn't likely to be challenged by Europeans
any time soon. It doesn't help that the world wars produced an
impressive brain drain, mainly from Europe to the United States.

It doesn't make sense for any country to "claim" anything, although
that doesn't stop them from doing so.

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