Incredible Facts

Throughout the history of mankind, we have seen how empires are born and go into oblivion, over decades, centuries and even millennia. If it is true that history repeats itself, then perhaps we can learn from the mistakes and better understand the accomplishments of the world's most enduring empires.

Empire is a difficult word to define. Although this term is very often thrown around, it is nevertheless often used in the wrong context and distorts the political location of the country. The simplest definition describes a political unit that exercises control over another political body. Basically, these are countries or groups of people that control the political decisions of a less powerful unit.

The term "hegemony" is often used along with empire, but they have significant differences, as well as the obvious differences between the concepts of "leader" and "hooligan". The hegemony works as an agreed set of international rules, while the empire produces and implements those same rules. Hegemony is the dominance of one group over other groups, however, requiring the consent of the majority in order for that ruling group to remain in power.

Which empires have lasted the longest in history, and what can we learn from them? Below, we look at these kingdoms of the past, how they formed, and the factors that ultimately led to their downfall.

10. Portuguese Empire

The Portuguese Empire is remembered for having one of the strongest navies the world has ever seen. A lesser known fact is that until 1999 she did not “leave” the face of the earth. The kingdom lasted for 584 years. It was the first global empire in history, operating across four continents, and began in 1415 when the Portuguese captured the North African Muslim city of Cueta. Expansion continued as they moved into Africa, India, Asia and America.

After World War II, decolonization efforts intensified in many areas, with many European countries "withdrawing" from their colonies around the world. It wasn't until 1999 that this happened to Portugal, when it finally gave up Macau in China, signaling the "end" of the empire.

The Portuguese empire was able to expand so much because of its excellent weapons, naval superiority, and the ability to quickly build ports for the trade in sugar, slaves and gold. She also had enough strength to conquer new nations and gain lands. But, as is the case with most empires throughout history, conquered areas eventually sought to reclaim their lands.

The Portuguese empire collapsed for several reasons, including international pressure and economic tensions.

9. Ottoman Empire

At the height of its power, the Ottoman Empire spanned three continents, encompassing a wide range of cultures, religions and languages. Despite these differences, the empire was able to flourish for 623 years, from 1299 to 1922.

The Ottoman Empire got its start as a small Turkish state after the weakened Byzantine Empire left the region. Osman I pushed the boundaries of his empire outward, relying on strong judicial, educational and military systems, as well as a unique method of transferring power. The empire continued to expand and eventually conquered Constantinople in 1453 and spread its influence deep into Europe and North Africa. The civil wars of the early 1900s immediately following World War I, as well as the Arab Revolt, signaled the beginning of the end. At the end of World War I, the Treaty of Sèvres divided most of the Ottoman Empire. The final point was the Turkish War of Independence, which resulted in the fall of Constantinople in 1922.

Inflation, competition and unemployment are cited as key factors in the demise of the Ottoman Empire. Each part of this massive empire was culturally and economically diverse, and their inhabitants ultimately wanted to break free.

8. Khmer Empire

Little is known about the Khmer Empire, however, its capital city of Angkor was said to be very impressive thanks in large part to Angkor Wat, one of the world's largest religious monuments built at the zenith of its power. The Khmer Empire began its existence in 802 AD, when Jayavarman II was proclaimed king of the region that currently belongs to the territory of Cambodia. 630 years later, in 1432, the empire came to an end.

Some of what we know about this empire comes from stone frescoes found in the region, and some information comes from the Chinese diplomat Zhou Daguan, who traveled to Angkor in 1296 and published a book about his experiences. Almost all the time of the existence of the empire, it tried to capture more and more new territories. Angkor was the main home of the nobility in the second period of the empire. As Khmer power began to wane, neighboring civilizations began to fight for control of Angkor.

There are many theories as to why the empire collapsed. Some believe that the king converted to Buddhism, which led to the loss of workers, the degeneration of the water system, and, ultimately, very poor crops. Others claim that the Thai kingdom of Sukhothai conquered Angkor in the 1400s. Another theory suggests that the last straw was the transfer of power to the city of Oudong (Oudong), while Angkor remained abandoned.

7. Ethiopian Empire

Considering the time of the Ethiopian Empire, we know surprisingly little about it. Ethiopia and Liberia were the only African countries that managed to resist the European "scramble for Africa". The long existence of the empire began in 1270, when the Solomonid dynasty overthrew the Zagwe dynasty, declaring that it was they who owned the rights to this land, as King Solomon had bequeathed. Since then, the dynasty has subsequently evolved into an empire by bringing together new civilizations under its dominion.

All this continued until 1895, when Italy declared war on the empire, and then the problems began. In 1935, Benito Mussolini ordered his soldiers to invade Ethiopia, resulting in a war raging there for seven months, resulting in Italy being declared the winner of the war. From 1936 to 1941, the Italians ruled the country.

The Ethiopian empire did not greatly expand its borders and did not exhaust its resources, as we saw in previous examples. Rather, Ethiopia's resources have become more powerful, in particular, we are talking about huge coffee plantations. Civil wars contributed to the weakening of the empire, however, at the head of everything, nevertheless, was the desire of Italy to expand, which led to the fall of Ethiopia.

6. Kanem Empire

We know very little about the Kanem empire and how its people lived, most of our knowledge comes from a text document discovered in 1851 called Girgam. Over time, Islam became their main religion, however, it is believed that the introduction of religion could cause internal struggles in the early years of the empire. The Kanem Empire was established around the year 700 and lasted until 1376. It was located in what is now Chad, Libya and part of Nigeria.

According to the document found, the Zaghawa people founded their capital in 700 in the city of Nzhime (N "jimi). The history of the empire is divided between two dynasties - Duguwa and Sayfawa (was the driving force that brought Islam). Its expansion continues and during the period when the king declared holy war, or jihad, on all the surrounding tribes.

The military system designed to facilitate jihad was based on state principles of hereditary nobility, in which the soldiers received part of the lands they conquered, while the lands were listed as theirs for many years to come, even their sons could dispose of them. Such a system led to the outbreak of civil war, which weakened the empire and made it vulnerable to attack from outside enemies. Bulala's invaders were able to quickly seize control of the capital and eventually take control of the empire in 1376.

The lesson of the Kanem empire shows how wrong decisions provoke internal conflict, as a result of which once powerful people become defenseless. This development is repeated throughout history.

5. Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire was seen as the revival of the Western Roman Empire, and it was also seen as a political counterweight to the Roman Catholic Church. Its name, however, comes from the fact that the emperor was chosen by the electors, but he was crowned by the pope in Rome. The empire lasted from 962 to 1806 and occupied a fairly vast territory, which is now Central Europe, first of all, it is most of Germany.

The empire began when Otto I was proclaimed King of Germany, however, he later became known as the first Holy Roman Emperor. The empire consisted of 300 different territories, however, after the Thirty Years' War in 1648, it was fragmented, thus the seeds of independence were planted.

In 1792 there was an uprising in France. By 1806, Napoleon Bonaparte forced the last Holy Roman Emperor, Franz II, to abdicate, after which the empire was renamed the Confederation of the Rhine. Like the Ottoman and Portuguese empires, the Holy Roman Empire was made up of various ethnic groups and smaller kingdoms. Ultimately, these kingdoms' desire for independence led to the collapse of the empire.

4. Silla Empire

Little is known of the beginnings of the Silla empire, however, by the sixth century it was a highly sophisticated society based on descent, in which lineage dictated everything from the clothes that a person could wear to the work that a person was allowed to do. . While this system helped the empire initially acquire large amounts of land, it was also what ultimately led to its decline.

The Silla Empire was born in 57 BC. and occupied the territory that currently belongs to North and South Korea. Kin Park Hyokgeose was the first ruler of the empire. During his reign, the empire constantly expanded, conquering more and more kingdoms on the Korean peninsula. Eventually, a monarchy was formed. The Chinese Tang Dynasty and the Silla Empire were at war in the seventh century, however, the dynasty was defeated.

A century of civil war among high-ranking families, as well as among conquered kingdoms, made the empire doomed. Eventually, in 935 AD, the empire ceased to exist and became part of the new state of Goryeo, which was at war with in the 7th century. Historians are not aware of the exact circumstances that led to the demise of the Silla Empire, however, the general view is that neighboring countries were unhappy with the empire's continued expansion through the Korean Peninsula. Numerous theories agree that the lesser kingdoms struck in order to gain sovereignty.

3. Republic of Venice

The pride of the Venetian Republic was its massive navy, which allowed it to quickly prove its power throughout Europe and the Mediterranean, conquering such important historical cities as Cyprus and Crete. The Venetian Republic lasted an amazing 1100 years, from 697 to 1797. It all started when the Western Roman Empire fought Italy and when the Venetians declared Paolo Lucio Anafesto their duke. The empire went through several significant changes, however, it gradually expanded to become what is now known as the Venetian Republic, at odds with the Turks and the Ottoman Empire, among others.

A large number of wars significantly weakened the defensive forces of the empire. The city of Piedmont soon submitted to France, and Napoleon Bonaparte seized part of the empire. When Napoleon issued an ultimatum, Doge Ludovico Manin surrendered in 1797, and Napoleon took control of Venice.

The Republic of Venice is a classic example of how an empire that spans vast distances is unable to defend its capital. Unlike other empires, it was not civil wars that killed it, but wars with neighbors. The once invincible once invincible Venetian navy, highly valued, has spread out too far and is unable to defend its own empire.

2. Kush Empire

The Kush Empire existed from about 1070 BC. before 350 AD and occupied the territory that currently belongs to the Republic of Sudan. Throughout its long history, very little information has survived about the political structure of the region, however, there is evidence of monarchies in the last years of existence. However, the Kush Empire ruled several small countries in the region, while managing to maintain power. The empire's economy was heavily dependent on the trade in iron and gold.

Some evidence suggests that the empire was under attack from the desert tribes, while other scholars believe that overdependence on iron led to deforestation, causing people to "disperse".

Other empires fell because they exploited their own people or neighboring countries, however, the deforestation theory suggests that the Kush empire fell because it destroyed its own lands. Both the rise and fall of an empire were fatally linked to the same industry.

1. Eastern Roman Empire

The Roman Empire is not just one of the most famous in history, it is also the longest lasting empire. She went through several eras, but, in fact, lasted from 27 BC. before 1453 AD - a total of 1480 years. The republics that preceded it were destroyed by civil wars, and Julius Caesar became a dictator. The empire expanded into present-day Italy and much of the Mediterranean region. The empire was powerful, but the emperor Diocletian in the third century “introduced” a key factor that ensured the long-term success and prosperity of the empire. He determined that two emperors could govern, thus easing the stress of capturing large amounts of territory. Thus, the foundations were laid for the possibility of the existence of the Eastern and Western Roman Empires.

The Western Roman Empire dissolved in 476 when German troops rebelled and deposed Romulus Augustus from the imperial throne. The Eastern Roman Empire continued to prosper after 476, becoming better known as the Byzantine Empire.

Class conflicts led to the civil war of 1341-1347, which not only reduced the number of small states that were part of the Byzantine Empire, but also allowed the short-lived Serbian Empire to rule for a short period of time in some territories of the Byzantine Empire. Social upheaval and plague further weakened the kingdom. Combined with the growing unrest in the empire, plague and social unrest, it eventually fell when the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople in 1453.

Despite the strategy of the co-ruler Diocletian, which undoubtedly greatly increased the "lifespan" of the Roman Empire, it suffered the same fate as other empires, whose massive expansion eventually provoked various ethnic peoples to fight for sovereignty.

These empires lasted the longest in history, but each had its own weaknesses, be it the use of land or people, none of the empires was able to contain social unrest caused by class divisions, unemployment or lack of resources.

The development of world history was not linear. At each of its stages there were events and periods that can be called "critical points". They changed both geopolitics and the worldview of people.

1. Neolithic revolution (10 thousand years BC - 2 thousand BC)

The term "Neolithic Revolution" was introduced in 1949 by the English archaeologist Gordon Child. Child called its main content the transition from an appropriating economy (hunting, gathering, fishing) to a producing economy (agriculture and cattle breeding). According to archeology, the domestication of animals and plants occurred at different times independently in 7-8 regions. The earliest center of the Neolithic revolution is considered to be the Middle East, where domestication began no later than 10 thousand years BC.

2. Creation of the Mediterranean civilization (4 thousand BC)

The Mediterranean region was the hotbed of the emergence of the first civilizations. The emergence of the Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia is attributed to the 4th millennium BC. e. In the same 4th millennium BC. e. The Egyptian pharaohs consolidated the lands in the Nile Valley, and their civilization quickly expanded across the Fertile Crescent to the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and further across the Levant. This made Mediterranean countries such as Egypt, Syria and Lebanon part of the cradle of civilization.

3. Great migration of peoples (IV-VII centuries)

The Great Migration of Peoples was a turning point in history, which determined the transition from antiquity to the Middle Ages. Scientists still argue about the causes of the Great Migration, but its consequences turned out to be global.

Numerous Germanic (Franks, Lombards, Saxons, Vandals, Goths) and Sarmatian (Alans) tribes moved to the territory of the weakening Roman Empire. The Slavs reached the coast of the Mediterranean and the Baltic, settled part of the Peloponnese and Asia Minor. The Turks reached Central Europe, the Arabs began aggressive campaigns, during which they conquered the entire Middle East to the Indus, North Africa and Spain.

4. Fall of the Roman Empire (5th century)

Two powerful blows - in 410 by the Visigoths and in 476 by the Germans - crushed the seemingly eternal Roman Empire. This jeopardized the achievements of ancient European civilization. The crisis of Ancient Rome did not come suddenly, but for a long time matured from within. The military and political decline of the empire, which began in the 3rd century, gradually led to the weakening of centralized power: it could no longer manage the expanded and multinational empire. The ancient state was replaced by feudal Europe with its new organizing center - the "Holy Roman Empire". Europe for several centuries plunged into the abyss of confusion and discord.

5. Schism of the church (1054)

In 1054 there was a final split of the Christian Church into East and West. Its reason was the desire of Pope Leo IX to receive territories that were subject to Patriarch Michael Cerularius. The dispute resulted in mutual church curses (anathemas) and public accusations of heresy. The western church was called the Roman Catholic (Roman world church), and the eastern one was called the Orthodox. The path to the Schism was long (almost six centuries) and began with the so-called Akakievsky schism of 484.

6. Little Ice Age (1312-1791)

The beginning of the Little Ice Age, which began in 1312, led to a whole ecological catastrophe. According to experts, during the period from 1315 to 1317, almost a quarter of the population died out due to the Great Famine in Europe. Hunger was a constant companion of people throughout the Little Ice Age. In the period from 1371 to 1791, there were 111 famine years in France alone. In 1601 alone, half a million people died of starvation in Russia due to crop failures.

However, the Little Ice Age gave the world not only famine and high mortality. It also became one of the reasons for the birth of capitalism. Coal became the source of energy. For its extraction and transportation, workshops with hired workers began to be organized, which was a harbinger of the scientific and technological revolution and the birth of a new formation of social organization - capitalism. Some researchers (Margaret Anderson) also associate the settlement of America with the consequences of the Little Ice Age - people went for a better life from "forsaken by God" Europe.

7. The era of the great geographical discoveries (XV-XVII centuries)

The era of the great geographical discoveries radically expanded the ecumene of mankind. In addition, it created an opportunity for the leading European powers to make the most of their overseas colonies, exploiting their human and natural resources and extracting fabulous profits from this. Some scholars also directly link the triumph of capitalism to transatlantic trade, which gave rise to commercial and financial capital.

8. Reformation (XVI-XVII centuries)

The beginning of the Reformation is considered to be the speech of Martin Luther, doctor of theology at the University of Wittenberg: on October 31, 1517, he nailed his “95 theses” to the doors of the Wittenberg Castle Church. In them, he spoke out against the existing abuses of the Catholic Church, in particular against the sale of indulgences.
The reformation process gave rise to many so-called Protestant wars, which seriously affected the political structure of Europe. Historians consider the signing of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 to be the end of the Reformation.

9. Great French Revolution (1789-1799)

The French Revolution that broke out in 1789 not only turned France from a monarchy into a republic, but also summed up the collapse of the old European order. Its slogan: "Freedom, equality, fraternity" excited the minds of the revolutionaries for a long time. The French Revolution not only laid the foundations for the democratization of European society - it appeared as a cruel machine of senseless terror, the victims of which were about 2 million people.

10. Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815)

The irrepressible imperial ambitions of Napoleon plunged Europe into chaos for 15 years. It all started with the invasion of French troops in Italy, and ended with an inglorious defeat in Russia. Being a talented commander, Napoleon, nevertheless, did not shun threats and intrigues, by which he subdued Spain and Holland to his influence, and also convinced Prussia to join the alliance, but then unceremoniously betrayed her interests.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the Kingdom of Italy, the Grand Duchy of Warsaw and a number of other small territorial entities appeared on the map. In the final plans of the commander was the division of Europe between two emperors - himself and Alexander I, as well as the overthrow of Britain. But the inconsistent Napoleon himself changed his plans. The defeat in 1812 from Russia led to the collapse of Napoleonic plans in the rest of Europe. The Treaty of Paris (1814) returned France to its former borders of 1792.

11. Industrial Revolution (XVII-XIX centuries)

The industrial revolution in Europe and the USA made it possible to move from an agrarian society to an industrial one in just 3-5 generations. The invention of the steam engine in England in the second half of the 17th century is considered to be the conditional beginning of this process. Over time, steam engines began to be used in production, and then as a driving mechanism for locomotives and steamships.
The main achievements of the era of the Industrial Revolution can be considered the mechanization of labor, the invention of the first conveyors, machine tools, and the telegraph. The advent of the railroads was a huge step.

The Second World War was fought on the territory of 40 countries, and 72 states took part in it. According to some estimates, 65 million people died in it. The war markedly weakened Europe's position in global politics and economics and led to the creation of a bipolar system in world geopolitics. Some countries during the war were able to achieve independence: Ethiopia, Iceland, Syria, Lebanon, Vietnam, Indonesia. In the countries of Eastern Europe, occupied by Soviet troops, socialist regimes were established. World War II also led to the creation of the UN.

14. Scientific and technological revolution (mid. XX century)

The scientific and technological revolution, the onset of which is usually attributed to the middle of the last century, made it possible to automate production, entrusting the control and management of production processes to electronics. The role of information has seriously increased, which also allows us to talk about the information revolution. With the advent of rocket and space technology, human exploration of near-Earth space began.

Empire- when one person (monarch) has power over a vast territory inhabited by numerous peoples of different nationalities. This ranking is based on the influence, longevity and power of various empires. The list is based on the assumption that an empire should, most of the time, be ruled by an emperor or king, this excludes the modern so-called empires of the United States and the Soviet Union. Below is a ranking of the ten greatest empires in the world.

At the height of its power (XVI-XVII), the Ottoman Empire was located on three continents at once, controlling most of Southeast Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. It consisted of 29 provinces and numerous vassal states, some of which were later absorbed into the empire. The Ottoman Empire has been at the center of interaction between the Eastern and Western worlds for six centuries. In 1922, the Ottoman Empire ceased to exist.

The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four Islamic Caliphates (system of government) established after the death of Muhammad. The empire under the rule of the Umayyad dynasty covered more than five million square kilometers, making it one of the largest in the world, as well as the largest Arab-Muslim empire ever established in history.

Persian Empire (Achaemenid)

The Persian Empire basically unified all of Central Asia, which consisted of many different cultures, kingdoms, empires and tribes. It was the largest empire in ancient history. At the peak of its power, the empire covered about 8 million square kilometers.

The Byzantine or Eastern Roman Empire was part of the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages. The permanent capital and civilizational center of the Byzantine Empire was Constantinople. During its existence (more than a thousand years), the empire remained one of the most powerful economic, cultural and military forces in Europe despite setbacks and loss of territory, especially during the Roman-Persian and Byzantine-Arab wars. The Empire received a mortal blow in 1204 on the Fourth Crusade.

The Han Dynasty is considered a golden age in Chinese history in terms of scientific advancement, technological progress, economic, cultural and political stability. Even to this day, most Chinese call themselves the Han people. Today, the Han people are considered the largest ethnic group in the world. The dynasty ruled China for nearly 400 years.

The British Empire covered more than 13 million square kilometers, which is about a quarter of the earth's landmass of our planet. The population of the empire was approximately 480 million people (approximately one-fourth of humanity). The British Empire is by far one of the most powerful empires that has ever existed in human history.

In the Middle Ages, the Holy Roman Empire was considered the "superpower" of its time. It consisted of eastern France, all of Germany, northern Italy, and part of western Poland. It was officially dissolved on August 6, 1806, after which there appeared: Switzerland, Holland, the Austrian Empire, Belgium, the Prussian Empire, the Principalities of Liechtenstein, the Confederation of the Rhine and the first French Empire.

The Russian Empire existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution in 1917. She was the heir to the kingdom of Russia, and the forerunner of the Soviet Union. The Russian Empire was the third largest of the ever-existing states, second only to the British and Mongolian empires.

It all started when Temujin (later known as Genghis Khan, considered one of the most brutal rulers in history) vowed in his youth to bring the world to its knees. The Mongol Empire was the largest adjacent empire in human history. The capital of the state was the city of Karakorum. The Mongols were fearless and ruthless warriors, but they had little experience in managing such a vast territory, which caused the Mongol Empire to quickly fall.

Ancient Rome made a great contribution to the development of law, art, literature, architecture, technology, religion and language in the Western world. In fact, many historians consider the Roman Empire to be the "ideal empire" because it was powerful, fair, long-lived, large, well-defended, and economically advanced. The calculation showed that from its foundation to the fall, a whopping 2214 years passed. It follows from this that the Roman Empire is the greatest empire of the ancient world.

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Millennia of human existence 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 take a look at the ten biggest empires that have ever appeared on the world stage. Oddly enough, but in this list you will not find either the Roman, or the Ottoman, or even the empire of Alexander the Great - history has seen more.

Japanese Empire

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. At this time, the peak of the territorial scope of the empire came, which controlled almost the entire maritime space and 7.4 million square meters. km of land from Sakhalin to New Guinea.

Population: 97,770,000

State area: 7.4 million km2

Capital: Tokyo

Beginning of reign: 1868

Fall of an empire: 1947

Persian Empire

One of the oldest empires, the foundation of which dates back to the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. Persian tribes conquered the territories of all the earlier empires of the Middle East: Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes. During the reign of the Achaemenid dynasty (VI-IV centuries BC), the possessions of the Persians occupied almost 8 million square meters. km, which is almost 2 times the area of ​​the empire of Julius Gaius Caesar. The majesty of the ancestors of modern Iranians passed to Alexander the Great, who captured most of the state. After the Macedonian invasion, the Persian Empire appeared several times more on the map of the ancient world, until its final defeat by the Arab conquerors in the 7th century AD. e.

State area: -

Capital: Persepolis

Beginning of dominion: 530 BC

Fall of the empire: 334 BC uh

Portuguese Empire

Since the 16th century, the Portuguese have been looking for ways to break through the Spanish isolation in the Iberian Peninsula. In 1497, they opened a sea route to India, which marked the beginning of the growth of the Portuguese colonial empire. Three years earlier, the Tordesillas Treaty was concluded between the "sworn neighbors", which actually divided the world known at that time between the two countries, on unfavorable last conditions 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.

Population: 50 million (480 BC) / 35 million (330 BC)

State area: -

Capital: Coimbra, Lisbon

Arab Empire

The existence of this empire marked the so-called. "The golden era of Islam" - the period from the 7th to the 13th century AD. e. The caliphate was founded immediately after the death of the founder 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 Persian empire.

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 domination: 632 g

Fall of the empire: 1258

French Empire

France became the third European power (after Spain and Portugal) to become interested in overseas territories. Starting from 1546 - the time of the founding of New France (now Quebec, Canada) - the formation of Francophonie in the world begins. Having lost the American opposition to 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.

State area: 13.5 million square meters km

Capital: Paris

Beginning of reign: 1546

Fall of an empire: 1940

Chinese Empire

The most ancient empire of Asia, the cradle of oriental culture. The first Chinese dynasties ruled from the 2nd millennium BC. e., but a single empire was created only in 221 BC. e. During the reign of 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 that of the modern Chinese state, mainly due to Mongolia, now independent. In 1911, the Xinhai Revolution broke out, putting an end to the monarchy in China, turning the empire into a republic.

Population: 383,100,000

State area: 14.7 million km2

Capital: Mukden (1636-1644), Beijing (1644-1912)

Beginning of reign: 1616

Fall of the empire: 1912

Spanish Empire

The period of Spain's world domination began with the voyages of Columbus, who opened up 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 the seventh part 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 Hispanic Latin America was formed.

Population: 60 million

Capital: Toledo (1492-1561) / Madrid (1561-1601) / Valladolid (1601-1606) / Madrid (1606-1898)

Fall of the empire: 1898

Russian empire

The largest continental monarchy in human history. Its roots reach 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. At one time, Russian possessions were the lands of Alaska (until it was sold by the Americans in 1867), as well as part of California.

Population: 60 million

Population: 181.5 million (1916)

State area: 20,000,000 km2

Capital: St. Petersburg, Moscow

Fall of the empire: 1917

British Empire

For 400 years of its formation, it has withstood the competition for world domination with other "colonial titans": France, Holland, Spain, Portugal. During its heyday, London controlled a quarter of the world's land (over 34 million square kilometers) on all inhabited continents, as well as vast expanses of the ocean. Formally, it still exists in the form of the Commonwealth, while countries such as Canada and Australia actually remain subject to the British crown.

Population: 458,000,000 (approximately 24% of the world's population in 1922)

State area: 34,650,407 km2 (1922)

Capital London

Beginning of reign: 1497

Empire Fall: 1949 (1997)

Mongol Empire

The greatest empire of all times and peoples, whose meaning of existence was one - war. The great Mongolian state was formed in 1206 under the leadership of Genghis Khan, having grown over several decades to 38 million square meters. km, from the Baltic Sea to Vietnam, and at the same time 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 world's population, which then numbered almost half a billion people. The ethno-political framework of modern Eurasia was formed on the fragments of the empire.

Population: more than 110,000,000 people (1279)

State area: 38,000,000 km2 (1279)

Capital: Karakorum, Khanbalik

Beginning of reign: 1206

Fall of the empire: 1368

Millennia of human existence 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 take a look at the ten biggest empires that have ever appeared on the world stage. Oddly enough, but in this list you will not find either the Roman, or the Ottoman, or even the empire of Alexander the Great - history has seen more.

Japanese Empire

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. At this time, the peak of the territorial scope of the empire came, which controlled almost the entire maritime space and 7.4 million square meters. km of land from Sakhalin to New Guinea.
Population: 97,770,000 State area: 7.4 million km2 Capital: Tokyo Start of reign: 1868 Fall of empire: 1947

Persian Empire

One of the oldest empires, the foundation of which dates back to the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. Persian tribes conquered the territories of all the earlier empires of the Middle East: Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes. During the reign of the Achaemenid dynasty (VI-IV centuries BC), the possessions of the Persians occupied almost 8 million square meters. km, which is almost 2 times the area of ​​the empire of Julius Gaius Caesar. The majesty of the ancestors of modern Iranians passed to Alexander the Great, who captured most of the state. After the Macedonian invasion, the Persian Empire appeared several times more on the map of the ancient world, until its final defeat by the Arab conquerors in the 7th century AD. e.
Population: 50 million (480 BC) / 35 million (330 BC) State area: - Capital: Persepolis Beginning of rule: 530 BC Fall of the empire: 334 BC uh

Portuguese Empire

Since the 16th century, the Portuguese have been looking for ways to break through the Spanish isolation in the Iberian Peninsula. In 1497, they opened a sea route to India, which marked the beginning of the growth of the Portuguese colonial empire. Three years earlier, the Tordesillas Treaty was concluded between the "sworn neighbors", which actually divided the world known at that time between the two countries, on unfavorable last conditions 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.
Population: 50 million (480 BC) / 35 million (330 BC) State area: - Capital: Coimbra, Lisbon Beginning of rule: July 26, 1139 Fall Empire: October 5, 1910

Arab Empire

The existence of this empire marked the so-called. The "golden era of Islam" - the period from the 7th to the 13th century AD. e. The caliphate was founded immediately after the death of the founder 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 Persian empire.
Capital: 630-656 Medina / 656 - 661 Mecca / 661 - 754 Damascus / 754 - 762 Al-Kufa / 762 - 836 Baghdad / 836 - 892 Samarra / 892 - 1258 Baghdad

French Empire

France became the third European power (after Spain and Portugal) to become interested in overseas territories. Starting from 1546 - the time of the founding of New France (now Quebec, Canada) - the formation of Francophonie in the world begins. Having lost the American opposition to 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.
State area: 13.5 million square meters km Capital: Paris Start of reign: 1546 Fall of empire: 1940

Chinese Empire

The most ancient empire of Asia, the cradle of oriental culture. The first Chinese dynasties ruled from the 2nd millennium BC. e., but a single empire was created only in 221 BC. e. During the reign of Qing - the last monarchical dynasty of the Middle Kingdom - the empire occupied a record area of ​​14.7 million square meters. km. This is 1.5 times more than that of the modern Chinese state, mainly due to Mongolia, now independent. In 1911, the Xinhai Revolution broke out, putting an end to the monarchy in China, turning the empire into a republic.
Population: 383,100,000 State area: 14.7 million km2 Capital: Mukden (1636–1644), Beijing (1644–1912) Beginning of power: 1616 Fall of the empire: 1912

Spanish Empire

The period of Spain's world domination began with the voyages of Columbus, who opened up 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 the seventh part 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 Hispanic Latin America was formed.
Population: 60 million State area: 20,000,000 km2 Capital: Toledo (1492-1561) / Madrid (1561-1601) / Valladolid (1601-1606) / Madrid (1606-1898) Beginning of rule: April 17, 1492 Fall of the empire : 1898

Russian empire

The largest continental monarchy in human history. Its roots reach 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. At one time, Russian possessions were the lands of Alaska (until it was sold by the Americans in 1867), as well as part of California.
Population: 60 million Population: 181.5 million (1916) State area: 20,000,000 km2 Capital: St. Petersburg, Moscow Beginning of rule: October 22, 1721 Fall of the empire: 1917

British Empire

For 400 years of its formation, it has withstood the competition for world domination with other "colonial titans": France, Holland, Spain, Portugal. During its heyday, London controlled a quarter of the world's land (over 34 million square kilometers) on all inhabited continents, as well as vast expanses of the ocean. Formally, it still exists in the form of the Commonwealth, while countries such as Canada and Australia actually remain subject to the British crown.
Population: 458,000,000 (approximately 24% of the world's population in 1922) State area: 34,650,407 km2 (1922) Capital: London Start of reign: 1497 Fall of the empire: 1949 (1997)

Mongol Empire

The greatest empire of all times and peoples, whose meaning of existence was one - war. The great Mongolian state was formed in 1206 under the leadership of Genghis Khan, having grown over several decades to 38 million square meters. km, from the Baltic Sea to Vietnam, and at the same time 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 world's population, which then numbered almost half a billion people. The ethno-political framework of modern Eurasia was formed on the fragments of the empire.
Population: more than 110,000,000 people (1279) State area: 38,000,000 sq. km. (1279) Capital: Karakorum, Khanbalik Start of reign: 1206 Fall of the empire: 1368