At the height of the Roman Empire, its rule extended over vast territories - their total area was about 6.51 million square kilometers. However, in the list of the largest empires in history, the Roman Empire ranks only nineteenth.
What do you think, which one is the first?
The largest empire in the world in history
Mongolian
294 (21.8 % )
Russian
213 (15.8 % )
Spanish
48 (3.6 % )
British
562 (41.6 % )
Mongolian
118 (8.7 % )
Turkic Khaganate
18 (1.3 % )
Japanese
5 (0.4 % )
Arab Caliphate
18 (1.3 % )
Macedonian
74 (5.5 % )
Now we find out the correct answer...
Millennia of human existence have passed under the sign of wars and expansions. Great states arose, grew and collapsed, which changed (and some continue to change) the face of the modern world.
An empire is the most powerful type of state, where various countries and peoples are united under the rule of a single monarch (emperor). Let's look at the ten largest empires that have ever appeared on the world stage. Oddly enough, in our list you will not find either the Roman, or the Ottoman, or even the empire of Alexander the Great - history has seen more.
10. Arab Caliphate
Population: -
State area: - 6.7
Capital: 630-656 Medina / 656 - 661 Mecca / 661 - 754 Damascus / 754 - 762 Al-Kufa / 762 - 836 Baghdad / 836 - 892 Samarra / 892 - 1258 Baghdad
Beginning of rule: 632
Fall of an Empire: 1258
The existence of this empire marked the so-called. “The Golden Era of Islam” - the period from the 7th to the 13th centuries AD. e. The caliphate was founded immediately after the death of the creator of the Muslim faith, Muhammad in 632, and the Medina community founded by the prophet became its core. Centuries of Arab conquests increased the area of the empire to 13 million square meters. km, covering territories in all three parts of the Old World. By the middle of the 13th century, the Caliphate, torn apart by internal conflicts, was so weakened that it was easily captured first by the Mongols and then by the Ottomans, the founders of another great Central Asian empire.
9. Japanese Empire
Population: 97,770,000
State area: 7.4 million km2
Capital: Tokyo
Beginning of rule: 1868
Fall of the Empire: 1947
Japan is the only empire on the modern political map. Now this status is rather formal, but 70 years ago it was Tokyo that was the main center of imperialism in Asia. Japan, an ally of the Third Reich and fascist Italy, then tried to establish control over the western coast of the Pacific Ocean, sharing a vast front with the Americans. This time marked the peak of the territorial scope of the empire, which controlled almost the entire maritime space and 7.4 million square meters. km of land from Sakhalin to New Guinea.
8. Portuguese Empire
Population: 50 million (480 BC) / 35 million (330 BC)
State area: - 10.4 million km2
Capital: Coimbra, Lisbon
Since the 16th century, the Portuguese have been looking for ways to break Spanish isolation on the Iberian Peninsula. In 1497, they discovered a sea route to India, which marked the beginning of the expansion of the Portuguese colonial empire. Three years earlier, the Treaty of Tordesillas was concluded between the “sworn neighbors,” which actually divided the then-known world between the two countries, on unfavorable terms for the Portuguese. But this did not stop them from collecting more than 10 million square meters. km of land, most of which was occupied by Brazil. The handover of Macau to the Chinese in 1999 ended Portugal's colonial history.
7. Turkic Khaganate
Area - 13 million km2
one of the largest ancient states in Asia in the history of mankind, created by a tribal union of Turks (Turkuts) led by rulers from the Ashina clan. During the period of greatest expansion (end of the 6th century) it controlled the territories of China (Manchuria), Mongolia, Altai, East Turkestan, West Turkestan (Central Asia), Kazakhstan and the North Caucasus. In addition, the tributaries of the Kaganate were Sasanian Iran, the Chinese states of Northern Zhou, Northern Qi from 576, and from the same year the Turkic Kaganate seized the Northern Caucasus and Crimea from Byzantium.
6. French Empire
Population: -
State area: 13.5 million square meters. km
Capital: Paris
Beginning of rule: 1546
Fall of the Empire: 1940
France became the third European power (after Spain and Portugal) to become interested in the overseas territories. Since 1546, the time of the founding of New France (now Quebec, Canada), the formation of Francophonie in the world began. Having lost the American confrontation with the Anglo-Saxons, and also inspired by the conquests of Napoleon, the French occupied almost all of West Africa. In the middle of the twentieth century, the area of the empire reached 13.5 million square meters. km, more than 110 million people lived in it. By 1962, most of the French colonies had become independent states.
Chinese Empire
5. Chinese Empire (Qing Empire)
Population: 383,100,000 people
State area: 14.7 million km2
Capital: Mukden (1636–1644), Beijing (1644–1912)
Beginning of rule: 1616
Fall of the Empire: 1912
The most ancient empire of Asia, the cradle of oriental culture. The first Chinese dynasties ruled from the 2nd millennium BC. e., but a unified empire was created only in 221 BC. e. During the reign of the Qing, the last monarchical dynasty of the Celestial Empire, the empire occupied a record area of 14.7 million square meters. km. This is 1.5 times more than the modern Chinese state, mainly due to Mongolia, now independent. In 1911, the Xinhai Revolution broke out, putting an end to the monarchical system in China, turning the empire into a republic.
4. Spanish Empire
Population: 60 million
State area: 20,000,000 km2
Capital: Toledo (1492-1561) / Madrid (1561-1601) / Valladolid (1601-1606) / Madrid (1606-1898)
Fall of the Empire: 1898
The period of world domination of Spain began with the voyages of Columbus, which opened new horizons for Catholic missionary work and territorial expansion. In the 16th century, almost the entire Western Hemisphere was “at the feet” of the Spanish king with his “invincible armada.” It was at this time that Spain was called “the country where the sun never sets,” because its possessions covered a seventh of the land (about 20 million sq. km) and almost half of the sea routes in all corners of the planet. The greatest empires of the Incas and Aztecs fell to the conquistadors, and in their place a predominantly Spanish-speaking Latin America was formed.
3. Russian Empire
Population: 60 million
Population: 181.5 million (1916)
State area: 23,700,000 km2
Capital: St. Petersburg, Moscow
Fall of the Empire: 1917
The largest continental monarchy in human history. Its roots reach back to the times of the Moscow principality, then the kingdom. In 1721, Peter I proclaimed the imperial status of Russia, which owned vast territories from Finland to Chukotka. At the end of the 19th century, the state reached its geographical apogee: 24.5 million square meters. km, about 130 million inhabitants, over 100 ethnic groups and nationalities. Russian possessions at one time included the lands of Alaska (before its sale by the Americans in 1867), as well as part of California.
2. Mongol Empire
Population: more than 110,000,000 people (1279)
State area: 38,000,000 sq. km. (1279)
Capital: Karakorum, Khanbalik
Beginning of rule: 1206
Fall of the Empire: 1368
The greatest empire of all times and peoples, whose raison d'être was one thing - war. The Great Mongolian State was formed in 1206 under the leadership of Genghis Khan, expanding over several decades to 38 million square meters. km, from the Baltic Sea to Vietnam, killing every tenth inhabitant of the Earth. By the end of the 13th century, its Uluses covered a quarter of the land and a third of the planet's population, which then numbered almost half a billion people. The ethnopolitical framework of modern Eurasia was formed on the fragments of the empire.
1. British Empire
Population: 458,000,000 people (approximately 24% of the world's population in 1922)
State area: 42.75 km2 (1922)
Capital: London
Beginning of rule: 1497
Fall of the Empire: 1949 (1997)
The British Empire is the largest state that has ever existed in the history of mankind, with colonies on all inhabited continents.
Over the 400 years of its formation, it withstood competition for world domination with other “colonial titans”: France, Holland, Spain, Portugal. During its heyday, London controlled a quarter of the world's landmass (over 34 million sq. km) on all inhabited continents, as well as vast expanses of ocean. Formally, it still exists in the form of the Commonwealth, and countries such as Canada and Australia actually remain subject to the British crown.
The international status of the English language is the main legacy of Pax Britannica.
Something else interesting for you from history: remember, or for example. Here you go. maybe you didn't know that there was
The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy was made -
Abstracts were prepared based on materials from the German magazine "Illustrierte Wissenschaft".
From the school history course we know about the emergence of the first states on earth with their unique way of life, culture and art. The distant and largely mysterious life of people of past times excited and awakened imagination. And, probably, for many it would be interesting to see maps of the greatest empires of antiquity, placed side by side. Such a comparison makes it possible to feel the size of the once gigantic state formations and the place they occupied on Earth and in the history of mankind.
Egypt. The empire reached its greatest size in 1450 BC. e.
Greece. The dark areas on the map indicate the lands where Greek culture flourished.
Persia. The territory of the empire in 500 BC. e.
India. The country's territory reached its largest size in 250 BC. e.
China occupied such territory in 221 BC. e.
The Roman Empire at its peak - the beginning of the 2nd century AD.
Byzantium in its heyday - VI century.
Arab Caliphate. It reached its greatest size in 632 AD. e. A118 years later, the area of the Caliphate was significantly reduced (dark shading).
The state is an ancient social entity and means a territory occupied by a settled population subject to the same authority. Ancient thinkers already thought about the essence of government. For example, the Greek philosopher Aristotle saw in the state the final natural form of community life, important for man, who by his nature is a “political being.” Moreover, he considered the state “an environment for a completely happy life.”
In the Middle Ages and later, the concept of “state” began to include contractual principles between a person and the supreme power. In the state of nature, a person lacks not rights, the English thinkers of the 17th century John Milton and John Locke believed, but their security, which he finds in a state established by agreement precisely for this purpose.
A true son of the age of enlightenment, Jean-Jacques Rousseau saw the meaning of the formation of a state in respecting the interests of each of its citizens. People need it in order to “find a form of union that would protect and ensure the personality and property of each member of society so that each, connecting with others, would obey only himself and remain as free as before.” “Freedom is not alienable” is the main position of Rousseau.
Even 8-9 thousand years ago, people began to switch to a sedentary lifestyle. Agriculture and the first domestic animals appeared. The so-called Neolithic revolution took place, which brought people to new living conditions. Agriculture could already provide people with sufficient food, so hunting and gathering receded into the background. There was a division of labor between members of the same group, with leaders who governed communities of people. Over time, the need for public buildings arose, and the construction of palaces, temples, and fortresses began. Writing and the beginnings of arithmetic, astronomy and medicine appeared.
Rivers played a huge role in the formation of early civilizations. A river is not only a waterway, but also a stable harvest; it is no coincidence that it was in those distant times that people began to build canals and dams. But since the scattered tribes could not afford large reclamation buildings, groups of farmers united. The first state formations arose in Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates, where a flourishing culture developed.
Modern archaeologists and historians identify several conditions that give the right to call ancient communities of people a state. The first of them is no less than five thousand people who worship the same gods. Power is equipped with an apparatus of officials, and writing is indispensable, existing in any form. Large buildings - palaces and temples - are also an obligatory attribute of statehood. The population is divided into specialties so that everyone can no longer do everything for themselves and their families. So, along with priests and soldiers, artists, philosophers, builders, blacksmiths, weavers, potters, reapers, merchants and so on appeared.
The ancient empires that played their role in human history had all of the above conditions. But in addition, they were characterized by long-term political stability and well-established communications to the most remote outskirts, without which it is impossible to manage vast territories. All great empires had large armies: the passion for conquest was almost manic. And the rulers of such states sometimes achieved impressive successes, subjugating vast lands on which giant empires arose. But time passed, and the giant left the historical stage.
First Empire
Egypt. 3000-30 BC
This empire lasted three millennia - longer than any other. The state arose, according to the latest data, more than 3000 years BC, and when the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt took place (2686-2181), the so-called Old Kingdom was formed. The entire life of the country was connected with the Nile River, with its fertile valley and delta near the Mediterranean Sea. Egypt was ruled by a pharaoh (the word means food warehouse), governors and officials were in place, and in general social life in the country was quite developed (see “Science and Life” No. 1, 1997 - “The Stone Age is not over yet” - and No. 5, 1997 - “Ancient Egypt. Pyramid of Power”). The elite of society included officers, scribes, land surveyors and local priests. The pharaoh was considered a living deity, and performed all the most important sacrifices himself.
The Egyptians fanatically believed in the afterlife; cultural objects and majestic buildings - pyramids and temples - were dedicated to it. The walls of the burial chambers, covered with hieroglyphs, told more about the life of the ancient state than other archaeological finds.
The history of Egypt falls into two periods. The first - from the foundation until 332 BC, when the country was conquered by Alexander the Great. And the second period is the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty - the descendants of one of the generals Alexander the Great. In 30 BC, Egypt was conquered by a younger and more powerful empire - the Roman Empire.
Cradle of Western Culture
Greece. 700-146 BC
People settled the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula tens of thousands of years ago. But only from the 7th century BC can we talk about Greece as a large, culturally homogeneous entity, although with reservations: the country was a union of city-states that united during times of external threat, such as, for example, to repel Persian aggression.
Culture, religion and, above all, language were the framework within which the history of this country took place. In 510 BC, most cities were freed from the autocracy of the kings. Democracy soon began to rule in Athens, but only male citizens had the right to vote.
The polity, culture and science of Greece became a model and an inexhaustible source of wisdom for almost all later states of Europe. Already Greek scientists wondered about life and the Universe. It was in Greece that the foundations of such sciences as medicine, mathematics, astronomy and philosophy were laid. Greek culture ceased to develop when the Romans conquered the country. The decisive battle took place in 146 BC near the city of Corinth, when the troops of the Greek Achaean League were defeated.
The Dominion of the "King of Kings"
Persia. 600-331 BC
In the 7th century BC, the nomadic tribes of the Iranian Highlands rebelled against Assyrian rule. The winners founded the state of Media, which later, together with Babylonia and other neighboring countries, became a world power. By the end of the 6th century BC, it, led by Cyrus II and then his successors belonging to the Achaemenid dynasty, continued its conquests. In the west, the lands of the empire faced the Aegean Sea, in the east its border ran along the Indus River, in the south, in Africa, its possessions reached the first rapids of the Nile. (Most of Greece was occupied during the Greco-Persian War by the troops of the Persian king Xerxes in 480 BC.)
The monarch was called the "King of Kings", he stood at the head of the army and was the supreme judge. The domains were divided into 20 satrapies, where the king's viceroy ruled in his name. The subjects spoke four languages: Old Persian, Babylonian, Elamite and Aramaic.
In 331 BC, Alexander the Great defeated the hordes of Darius II, the last of the Achaemenid dynasty. Thus ended the history of this great empire.
Peace and love - for everyone
India. 322-185 BC
The legends dedicated to the history of India and its rulers are very fragmentary. Little information dates back to the time when the founder of the religious teaching, Buddha (566-486 BC), the first real person in the history of India, lived.
In the first half of the 1st millennium BC, many small states arose in the northeastern part of India. One of them - Magadha - rose to prominence thanks to successful wars of conquest. King Ashoka, who belonged to the Maurya dynasty, expanded his possessions so much that they occupied almost all of present-day India, Pakistan and part of Afghanistan. Administrative officials and a strong army obeyed the king. At first, Ashoka was known as a cruel commander, but, becoming a follower of the Buddha, he preached peace, love and tolerance and received the nickname “The Convert.” This king built hospitals, fought deforestation, and pursued a soft policy towards his people. His decrees that have reached us, carved on rocks and columns, are the oldest, accurately dated epigraphic monuments of India, telling about government, social relations, religion and culture.
Even before his rise, Ashoka divided the population into four castes. The first two were privileged - priests and warriors. The invasion of the Bactrian Greeks and internal strife in the country led to the collapse of the empire.
The beginning of more than two thousand years of history
China. 221-210 BC
During the period called Zhanyu in the history of China, many years of struggle waged by many small kingdoms brought victory to the kingdom of Qin. It united the conquered lands and in 221 BC formed the first Chinese empire led by Qin Shi Huang. The emperor carried out reforms that strengthened the young state. The country was divided into districts, military garrisons were established to maintain order and tranquility, a network of roads and canals was built, equal education was introduced for officials, and a single monetary system operated throughout the kingdom. The monarch established an order in which people were obliged to work where the interests and needs of the state required it. Even such a curious law was introduced: all carts must have an equal distance between the wheels so that they move along the same tracks. During the same reign, the Great Wall of China was created: it connected separate sections of defensive structures built earlier by the northern kingdoms.
In 210, Qing Shi Huang died. But subsequent dynasties left intact the foundations for building an empire laid by its founder. In any case, the last dynasty of Chinese emperors ceased to exist at the beginning of this century, and the borders of the state remain practically unchanged to this day.
An army that maintains order
Rome. 509 BC - 330 AD
In 509 BC, the Romans expelled the Etruscan king Tarquin the Proud from Rome. Rome became a republic. By 264 BC, her troops captured the entire Apennine Peninsula. After this, expansion began in all directions of the world, and by 117 AD the state stretched its borders from west to east - from the Atlantic Ocean to the Caspian Sea, and from south to north - from the rapids of the Nile and the coast of all of North Africa to the borders with Scotland and along the lower reaches of the Danube.
For 500 years, Rome was governed by two annually elected consuls and a senate, which was in charge of state property and finances, foreign policy, military affairs and religion.
In 30 BC, Rome became an empire led by Caesar, and essentially a monarch. The first Caesar was Augustus. A large and well-trained army participated in the construction of a huge network of roads, their total length being more than 80,000 kilometers. Excellent roads made the army very mobile and allowed it to quickly reach the most remote corners of the empire. The proconsuls appointed by Rome in the provinces - governors and officials loyal to Caesar - also helped keep the country from collapse. This was facilitated by the settlements of soldiers who had served in the conquered lands.
The Roman state, unlike many other giants of the past, fully corresponded to the concept of “empire”. It also became a model for future contenders for world domination. European countries inherited a lot from the culture of Rome, as well as the principles of building parliaments and political parties.
Uprisings of peasants, slaves and urban plebs, and the increasing pressure of Germanic and other barbarian tribes from the north forced Emperor Constantine I to move the capital of the state to the city of Byzantium, later called Constantinople. This happened in 330 AD. After Constantine, the Roman Empire was actually divided into two - Western and Eastern, ruled by two emperors.
Christianity is the stronghold of the empire
Byzantium. 330-1453 AD
Byzantium arose from the eastern remnants of the Roman Empire. The capital became Constantinople, founded by Emperor Constantine I in 324-330 on the site of the Byzantine colony (hence the name of the state). From that moment on, the isolation of Byzantium in the bowels of the Roman Empire began. The Christian religion played a major role in the life of this state, becoming the ideological foundation of the empire and the stronghold of Orthodoxy.
Byzantium existed for more than a thousand years. It reached its political and military power during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, in the 6th century AD. It was then that, having a strong army, Byzantium conquered the western and southern lands of the former Roman Empire. But within these limits the empire did not last long. In 1204, Constantinople fell to the attacks of the crusaders, which never rose again, and in 1453 the capital of Byzantium was captured by the Ottoman Turks.
In the name of Allah
Arab Caliphate. 600-1258 AD
The sermons of the Prophet Muhammad laid the foundation for the religious and political movement in Western Arabia. Called "Islam", it contributed to the creation of a centralized state in Arabia. However, soon as a result of successful conquests, a vast Muslim empire was born - the Caliphate. The presented map shows the greatest scope of the conquests of the Arabs, who fought under the green banner of Islam. In the East, the Caliphate included the western part of India. The Arab world has left indelible marks on human history, in literature, mathematics and astronomy.
From the beginning of the 9th century, the Caliphate gradually began to fall apart - the weakness of economic ties, the vastness of the territories subjugated by the Arabs, which had their own culture and traditions, did not contribute to unity. In 1258, the Mongols conquered Baghdad and the Caliphate broke up into several Arab states.
03.05.2013
A hundred years ago, countries strived to become the most powerful and developed powers in the world, capturing more and more territories and spreading their influence. This is the top 10 most great empires world in history. They are considered the most important and longest lasting, they were powerful and played an important role in history. The Russian Empire and even the great Macedonian Empire created by Alexander the Great did not make it into the top 10, but it was the first European empire that advanced to Asia and defeated the Persian Empire, and perhaps one of the most powerful in the ancient world. But it is believed that these 10 great empires were more important in history, made a greater contribution.
Mayan Empire (c.2000 BC-1540 AD)
This empire is distinguished by its longevity, its cycle lasted almost 3500 years! This is twice the life of the Roman Empire. So far, scientists know very little about the first 3,000 years, as well as about the mysterious pyramid-like structures scattered throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. Well, is it worth mentioning the famous doomsday calendar?
French Empire (1534-1962)
Second largest in history great empire- French colonial empire, occupied 4.9 million square miles and covered almost 1/10 of the total area of the Earth. Her influence made French one of the most widely spoken languages at that time, bringing fashion to French architecture, culture, cuisine, etc. to all corners of the globe. However, she gradually lost influence, and two world wars completely deprived her of her last strength.
Spanish Empire (1492-1976)
One of the first large empires that seized territories in Europe, America, Africa, Asia and Oceania, creating colonies. For hundreds of years it remained one of the most important political and economic forces in the world. The main contribution to history is undoubtedly the discovery of the New World in 1492 and the spread of Christianity in the Western world.
Qing Dynasty (1644-1912)
The last ruling dynasty of China in its imperial past. It was founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro in the territory of modern Manchuria in 1644, quickly grew and developed and eventually covered all the territories of modern China, Mongolia and even parts of Siberia by the 18th century. The empire covered an area of more than 5,700,000 square miles. The dynasty was overthrown during the Xinhai Revolution.
Umayyad Caliphate (661-750)
One of the fastest growing great empires in history, whose life, however, was just as short. It was founded by one of the four caliphates - the Umayyad Caliphate, after the death of the Prophet Muhammad and served to spread Islam throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Sweeping away everything in its path, Islam seized power in the region and retains it to this day.
Achaemenid Empire (c. 550-330 BC)
Most often it is called the Medo-Persian Empire. Stretching from the Indus Valley of modern Pakistan to Libya and the Balkans, this empire is the largest Asian empire in ancient history. The founder was Cyrus the Great, best known today as an enemy of the Greek city-states during the Greco-Persian Wars, who was killed by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC. After his death, the empire split into two large parts and several independent territories. The model of state and bureaucracy invented in this empire still works today.
Great Ottoman Empire (1299-1922)
Became one of the largest and longest-lived great empires of the world in history. At its height (under the rule of Suleiman the Magnificent) in the 16th century, it stretched from the southern borders of the Holy Roman Empire to the Persian Gulf, and from the Caspian Sea to Algeria, effectively holding control over much of southeastern Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. . At the beginning of the 17th century, the empire included no fewer than 32 provinces, along with numerous vassal states. Unfortunately, ethnic and religious tensions and competition from other powers led to a gradual disintegration in the 19th century.
Mongol Empire (1206-1368)
Despite the fact that the empire lasted only 162 years, the pace at which it grew is frightening. Under the leadership of Genghis Khan (1163-1227), the entire territory from Eastern Europe to the Sea of Japan was captured. At its peak, it covered an area of 9,000,000 square miles. Perhaps the empire would have been able to capture Japan if the ships had not been destroyed by the tsunamis of 1274 and 1281. By the mid-14th century, the empire began to gradually disintegrate due to internal conflicts and eventually split into several states.
British Empire (1603 to 1997)
Despite its short life span of only 400 years, the British Empire (essentially several British Isles) managed to become the largest in history. At its peak in 1922, the empire dominated almost 500 million people (1/5 of the world's population at that time) and covered more than 13 million square meters. miles (1/4 of the Earth's area)! That empire had colonies on all continents of the world. Alas, everything must come to an end. After two world wars, Britain was financially devastated and, after the loss of India in 1947, gradually began to lose influence and colonies.
Greater Roman Empire (27 BC to 1453)
Founded in 27 BC. Octavian Augustus it existed for 1500 years! And it was eventually overthrown by the Turks under the leadership of Mehmed II, who destroyed Constantinople in 1453. For 117 AD. heyday came great empire. At this time she was the most powerful on earth, although not the largest in history. The population was 56.8 million people, the territory under its rule was 2,750,000 km². The influence on modern Western culture, language, literature, and science is difficult to assess because it is incredibly large.
In our world, nothing lasts forever: after birth and blossoming, decline inevitably follows. This rule also applies to states. Over the thousands of years of history, hundreds of states have been created and collapsed. Let's find out which of them existed on Earth the longest, until they disintegrated for one reason or another. Perhaps some of them did not amaze the world with their grandeur and brilliance, but they were strong with their centuries-old history.
Portuguese Colonial Empire
560 years (1415 -1975)
The prerequisites for the creation of the Portuguese Colonial Empire appeared simultaneously with the beginning of the Great Geographical Discoveries. By 1415, Portuguese sailors, of course, had not yet reached the shores of America, but were already actively exploring the African continent, beginning the search for a short sea route to India. The Portuguese declared open lands their property, erecting forts and fortresses everywhere.
At its height, the Portuguese Colonial Empire had fortifications in West Africa, East and South Asia, India and the Americas. The Portuguese Empire became the first state in history to unite territories on four continents under its flag. Thanks to the trade in spices and jewelry, the Portuguese treasury was bursting with gold and silver, which allowed the state to exist for such a long time.
The Napoleonic wars, internal contradictions and external enemies nevertheless undermined the power of the state, and by the beginning of the 20th century there was no trace left of the former greatness of the Portuguese Colonial Empire. The empire officially ceased to exist in 1975, when democracy was established in the metropolis.
624 years (1299 AD -1923 AD)
The state, founded by Turkic tribes in 1299, reached its peak in the 17th century. The huge multinational Ottoman Empire stretched from the borders of Austria to the Caspian Sea, owning territories in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Wars with the Russian Empire, loss in the First World War, internal contradictions and constant Christian uprisings undermined the strength of the Ottoman Empire. In 1923, the monarchy was abolished, and in its place the Turkish Republic was created.
Khmer Empire
629 years (802 AD -1431 AD)
Not every person has heard of the existence of the Khmer Empire, which is one of the oldest government entities in history. The Khmer Empire was formed as a result of the unification of the Khmer tribes who lived in the 8th century AD. on the territory of Indochina. At the time of its greatest power, the Khmer Empire included the territories of Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. But its rulers did not calculate the gigantic costs of building temples and palaces, which gradually depleted the treasury. The weakened state in the first half of the 15th century was finally finished off by the invasion of Thai tribes.
Kanem
676 years (700 AD -1376 AD)
Despite the fact that individual African tribes do not pose a threat, when united, they can create a strong and warlike state. This is exactly how the Kanem Empire was formed, located for almost 700 years in the territory of modern Libya, Nigeria and Chad.
Kanema Territory | commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kanem-Bornu.svg The cause of the fall of a strong empire was internal strife after the death of the last emperor, who had no heirs. Taking advantage of this, various tribes located on the borders invaded the empire from different sides, hastening its fall. The surviving indigenous people were forced to leave the cities and return to a nomadic lifestyle.
Holy Roman Empire
844 years (962 AD – 1806 AD)
The Holy Roman Empire is not the same Roman Empire, whose iron legions captured almost the entire world known to ancient Europe. The Holy Roman Empire was not even located in Italy, but on the territory of modern Germany, Austria, Holland, the Czech Republic and part of Italy. The unification of the lands took place in 962, and the new Empire was intended to become a continuation of the Western Roman Empire. European order and discipline allowed this state to exist for eight and a half centuries, until the complex system of government, degraded, weakened the central power, which led to the decline and collapse of the Holy Roman Empire.
Kingdom of Silla
992 years (57 BC – 935 AD)
At the end of the first century BC. On the Korean Peninsula, three kingdoms desperately fought for a place in the sun, one of which - Silla - managed to defeat its enemies, annexed their lands and founded a powerful dynasty that lasted almost a thousand years, which ingloriously disappeared in the fires of the civil war.
994 years (980 AD -1974 AD)
We often think that before the arrival of European colonialists, Africa was a completely wild area inhabited by primitive tribes. But on the African continent there was a place for an empire that existed for almost a thousand years! Founded in 802 by united Ethiopian tribes, the empire did not last 6 years before its millennium, collapsing as a result of a coup d'etat.
1100 years (697 AD - 1797 AD)
The Most Serene Republic of Venice with its capital Venice was founded in 697 thanks to the forced unification of communities against the troops of the Lombards - Germanic tribes that settled in the upper reaches of Italy during the Great Migration. The extremely favorable geographical position at the intersection of most trade routes immediately made the Republic one of the richest and most influential states in Europe. However, the discovery of America and the sea route to India was the beginning of the end for this state. The volume of goods entering Europe through Venice decreased - traders began to prefer more convenient and safe sea routes. The Republic of Venice finally ceased to exist in 1797, when Venice was occupied by the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte without resistance.
Papal States
1118 years (752 AD – 1870 AD)
Papal States | Wikipedia After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the influence of Christianity in Europe grew increasingly stronger: influential people adopted Christianity, entire lands were given to churches, and donations were made. The day was not far off when the Catholic Church would gain political power in Europe: this happened in 752, when the Frankish king Pepin the Short gave the pope a large region in the center of the Apennine Peninsula. Since then, the power of the popes has fluctuated depending on the place of religion in European society: from absolute power in the Middle Ages, to a gradual loss of influence closer to the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1870, the lands of the Papal States came under Italian control, and the Catholic Church was left with only the Vatican City, a city-state in Rome.
Kingdom of Kush
about 1200 years (9th century BC – 350 AD)
The Kingdom of Kush has always been in the shadow of another state - Egypt, which at all times attracted the attention of historians and chroniclers. Located in the northern part of modern Sudan, the state of Kush posed a serious danger to its neighbors, and during its heyday it controlled almost the entire territory of Egypt. We do not know the detailed history of the kingdom of Kush, but the chronicles note that in 350 Kush was conquered by the kingdom of Aksum.
Roman Empire
1480 years (27 BC – 1453 AD)
Rome is an eternal place on seven hills! At least, that’s what the inhabitants of the Western Roman Empire thought: it seemed that the eternal city would never fall to the onslaught of enemies. But times have changed: 500 years after the civil war and the founding of the empire, Rome was conquered by invading Germanic tribes, marking the fall of the western part of the empire. However, the Eastern Roman Empire, often called Byzantium, continued to exist until 1453, when Constantinople fell to the Turks.
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Seizing power must be the dream of at least half of aspiring supervillains. However, some more benevolent (questionably) people try to do this the old-fashioned way: exploration, colonization, conquest, and sometimes (okay - occasionally) even mutually beneficial policies.
Although no one had yet been able to openly seize power (shadow communities don't count), the age of empires was certainly not boring, and impressive progress was made as recently as the late 1900s.
Let's start all the way from 500 BC and go through it chronologically to the present. Here are 25 of the greatest and most powerful empires in human history!
25. Achaemenid Power - around 500 BC.
As the 18th largest empire in history, the Achaemenid Power (also called the first Persian Empire) is already impressive. At the peak of its rise around 550 BC. they occupied an area of 31.6 million km², including the vast majority of the countries of the Middle East and regions of Russia.
Even more impressively, under Cyrus II the Great, the empire had a comprehensive social infrastructure, including roads and a postal service, that other empires would later strive to surpass.
24. Macedonian Empire - around 323 BC
Under Alexander the Great, the Macedonian Empire destroyed the Achaemenid Empire and built the final Hellenistic state, giving rise to ancient Greek civilization, the philosophical contributions of Aristotle, and probably orgies.
At its peak, the Macedonian Empire occupied almost 3.5% of the entire world, making it the 21st largest empire in history (and second largest after the Persian conquest).
23. Mauryan Empire - around 250 BC
After the death of Alexander the Great, all of India and much of the surrounding territory was conquered by the Mauryan Empire, resulting in the first (and largest) Indian Empire.
At its height, under a benevolent and diplomatic ruler known as Ashok the Great, the Mauryan Empire covered an area of almost 5 million km², making it the 23rd largest empire in history.
22. Xiongnu Empire - around 209 BC
During the period IV-III centuries. BC, what eventually became China consisted of several warring states. As a result, the nomadic Xiongnu armies launched raids into the northern territories.
At its height, the Xiongnu Empire occupied more than 6% of the entire world's territory, becoming the 10th largest empire in human history.
They were so irresistible that it took years of negotiations, arranged marriages, and concessions by the Han Dynasty to keep them from being conquered.
21. Western Han Dynasty - around 50 BC
Speaking of the Han dynasties, the Western Han dynasty reached its peak about a century later. Although they never reached the level of development of the Xiongnu Empire, they still managed to occupy an area of 6 million km² with over 57 million people, becoming the 17th largest empire in human history. To achieve this, they successfully pushed the Xiongnu north while aggressively expanding south into what is now Vietnam and the Korean Peninsula.
The Western Han Dynasty included the major diplomatic achievements of Zhang Qian, who established contacts with states as far west as the Roman Empire and established the famous Silk Road trade route.
20. Eastern Han Dynasty - around 100 AD
During its nearly 200-year existence, the Eastern Han dynasty experienced a succession of different rulers, revolts, instability, and economic crisis. Despite these factors, the Eastern Han Dynasty was the 12th largest empire in history. It was larger in area than its pre-Christian counterpart, covering almost 500 km² more - a total of 4.36% of the entire world.
19. Roman Empire - around 117 AD
Due to the huge number of references that the Roman Empire receives, the average person mistakenly considers it the largest in history.
Indeed, at its peak in 117 AD. it was the most extensive and social structure in Western civilization, but even then the Romans occupied a total of only 5 million km² of land, making them the 24th largest empire in history.
In this case, it is not a question of quantity, but of quality, since the influence of the Roman Empire affected almost every aspect of Western civilization.
18. Turkic Khaganate - around 557 AD
The Turkic Khaganate consisted of what is now north-central China. The rulers of the Khaganate were descended from the Ashina clan, another nomadic tribe of unknown origin from the northern part of Inner Asia.
Like the Xiongnu almost six centuries earlier, they expanded to rule vast areas of Central Asia, including the lucrative trade along the Silk Road.
By 557 AD they became the 15th largest empire in history, controlling 4.03% of the entire world's territory (much more than the Roman Empire's 3.36%).
17. Righteous Caliphate - around 655 AD
The Righteous Caliphate was the first Islamic caliphate in the earliest period of Islam. It was founded immediately after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 AD to manage the affairs of the Islamic community.
Having subjugated or allied with various Arab tribes, the caliphate embarked on a conquest that led to the dominance of Egypt, Syria, and the entire Persian Empire. At its best period in 655 AD. The Righteous Caliphate was the 14th largest empire, covering 6.4 million km² of territory in the Middle East.
16. Umayyad Caliphate - around 720 AD
The second of the four major caliphates after the death of Muhammad, the Umayyad Caliphate arose after the first Muslim Civil War in 661 CE. In addition to dominating the entire Middle East, the Umayyad Caliphate continued to expand towards North Africa and parts of Southern Europe.
With a complex social structure consisting of 29% of the world's total population (62 million people) and 7.45% of the world's total land area, the Umayyad Caliphate became the 8th largest empire in modern history and the largest empire in the world that only existed until 720 year AD
15. Abbasid Caliphate - around 750 AD
30 years after the heyday of the Umayyad Caliphate, as a result of the uprising and disobedience of the descendants of the youngest uncle of Muhammad to the Umayyads, the Abassid Caliphate came to power.
They claimed that their lineage was closer to the Prophet Muhammad, so they were his true heirs. After successfully seizing power in 750 AD. they began a "golden era" that lasted almost 400 years and included a strong alliance with China.
Although their empire was no larger than the Umayyad Caliphate, it lasted for a long period, successfully controlling 11.1 million km², making them the 7th largest empire in human history until its capture by Genghis Khan in 1206.
14. Tibetan Empire - around 800 AD
The Tibetan Empire occupied more than 3% of the entire world's territory by 800. At the same time, a comparatively gigantic and prosperous Arab Empire flourished from the West. On the other hand, the Tang Dynasty, having become a stable and united force that established diplomatic relations with the Arabs, made the Tibetan Empire one of the first in history to be between two strong states.
Thanks to diplomacy and impressive military power, the Tibetan Empire lasted for more than 200 years. Ironically, the growing influence of Buddhist teachings ultimately triggered a civil war that split the empire.
13. Tang Dynasty - around 820 AD
The Tang Dynasty ushered in what is considered a golden period of multicultural culture in Chinese civilization. Two of China's most famous poets, Li Bai and Du Fu, belonged to this period, and the invention of woodblock printing contributed to the development of artistic culture among the growing population of China and throughout Asia.
While less significant than other Chinese dynasties from a historical perspective, the Tang Dynasty lasted for almost three centuries (618 to 907 AD), inhabiting 3.6% of the total world area and ranking as the 20th largest empire in the world. history of mankind.
12. Mongol Empire - around 1270
Although many people know about it, few people really understand how huge Genghis Khan's empire really was. At its best, the Mongol Empire controlled a whopping 24 million square kilometers of territory.
For comparison, this is more than 4 times the size of the Roman Empire and just under 3 times the size of the modern United States, making the Mongol Empire the 2nd largest empire in human history.
11. Golden Horde - around 1310
Genghis Khan was not stupid, and knew that without his leadership the empire was unlikely to be able to maintain its size. Thus, he divided the empire into regions, giving control of each to each of his sons to preserve his legacy.
Due to the sheer size and power of the original empire, even its individual domains were impressively powerful. In the next generation after the Mongol Empire reached its peak, it became an independent entity.
Even on its own, by 1310 it was the 16th largest empire in history and controlled a still impressive 4.03% of the world (about a quarter of the Mongol Empire's land).
10. Yuan Dynasty - around 1310
From the northern Chinese territories, previously controlled by the Mongol Empire, Genghis Khan's grandson led his troops to conquer the rest of China and found the Yuan Dynasty.
By 1310, it had become the largest fragment of the previous Mongol Empire and the 9th largest empire in human history, with 11 million km² of land in its possession. Unfortunately, uprisings in the mid-14th century led to the final overthrow of the Yuan in 1368, making the dynasty the shortest-lived in Chinese history.
9. Ming Dynasty (Great Ming Empire) - around 1450
The Ming Dynasty was formed after the fall of the Yuan Dynasty. Unable to expand north due to the presence of the powerful Mongols, the Ming Dynasty still occupied a respectable 4.36% of the world's land area and is the 13th largest empire in history.
It is perhaps best known for building China's first navy, which enabled maritime expeditions and stimulated successful regional maritime trade.
8. Ottoman Empire - circa 1683
When Istanbul was Constantinople, it was the capital of the Ottoman Empire (also called the Turkish Empire). Although historically it was quite small (5.2 million km², making it the 22nd largest empire in existence), it was otherwise successful and long-lived.
Beginning just before 1300, the Ottoman Empire was able to secure its place between the eastern and western worlds for more than six centuries. After defeat in World War I, the empire was destroyed, resulting in the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1922.
7. Qing Dynasty - circa 1790
The Qing Dynasty became the last imperial dynasty of China. This huge empire became the 4th largest empire in the entire history of mankind and occupied almost 10% of the entire globe, including the territory of Korea and Taiwan, with a population of more than 400 million people.
Almost three centuries passed before local uprisings forced the last emperor to abdicate, forming the Republic of China in 1912.
6. Spanish Empire - circa 1810
Not wanting to be outdone by the last Chinese dynasty, the Spanish Empire was formed in 1492 and became only the second global empire in world history. With an area of 15.3 million km² of land under its control, it was the 5th largest in history.
Through numerous maritime conquests, they controlled a huge percentage of territory in both North and South America, as well as virtually all of the Caribbean, parts of Africa, Europe, the South Pacific, and even some cities along the coast of the Middle East.
5. Portuguese Colonial Empire - circa 1820
Also known as the Portuguese Overseas Territories, the Portuguese Colonial Empire became the first global empire in history.
However, it never achieved the same massive dominance as the Spanish Empire. With 3.69% of the Earth's territory under its control, it is the 19th largest empire in history.
However, it is the longest-lived modern European colonial empire, lasting six centuries and just shy of the new millennium (the Portuguese Empire officially ceased to exist on December 20, 1999).
4. Brazilian Empire - circa 1889
Originally part of the Portuguese Empire, the Brazilian Empire declared its independence in 1822. After several years of instability, a period of calm emerged in 1843, which allowed the Brazilian Empire to gain stability until conflicts arose with Great Britain and Uruguay.
After successfully resolving these conflicts, the Brazilian Empire began a "golden age" and quickly became known throughout the world as a progressive and modern nation.
By the 1880s, the empire represented most of South America, covering an area of 8.5 million km², making it the 11th largest empire in human history.
3. Russian Empire - circa 1895
The Russian Empire was a powerful state that existed (officially) from 1721 until its overthrow in 1917 by revolution. The empire expanded from the beginning, transforming Russia from a primarily agricultural state into a more modern one.
At its height in 1895, the population of the Russian Empire grew from 15.5 million to 170 million people living in an area of almost 23.3 million km². With the addition of the Baltic states, Poland, Finland and more significant Asian territories to its territory, the Russian Empire became the 3rd largest in the history of mankind.
2. Second French Colonial Empire - circa 1920
Competing with Spain, Portugal, the United Provinces and (later) Britain, the Second French Colonial Empire began in 1830 with the conquest of Algeria. They colonized a large percentage of Africa and took over the Middle East, Southeast Asia, New Caledonia and a tiny part of South America.
This made the empire at its height the 6th largest in history, as its population accounted for 5% of the entire world population, and it lived on 7.7% of the Earth's territory.
1. British Empire - circa 1920
This may or may not come as a shock to you, but in the competition to conquer the world, no empire has been more dominant than the British. Covering an area of 35.5 million km², the British Empire was easily the largest in human history (30% larger than the Mongol Empire).
For more than a century, Britain was the world's premier superpower and controlled 23% of the world's population. As a result of massive expansion throughout the world, their cultural and linguistic heritage can be found in almost every advanced culture on Earth.
Most consider the official handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997 to be the official end of the British Empire. Although if you look at the world stage, the UK still controls the largest part of the world... they just do it very smartly and more progressively. Perhaps this is world domination... just done well.
