Top 10 Biggest Empires in the known History of Earth

This week, we bring you a special post reaching the history of world and discussing the Top 10 biggest empires in the known history of Earth!

When we talk about an empire we allude to a monarch, the emperor, or an oligarchy consolidating a group of states under his or her or their rule. For you to have an empire you must have political and military control over over different communities with different cultures and ethnicities.

Next there is a list of biggest empires the world as seen. Longevity and extent was taken into account:

No.1

Roman Empire

Roman Empire Map:117 AD

It came to be formed by most of the western Europe. In each conquered territory, the Roman Empire imposed the Roman Lifestyle. The principal territories conquered were Britannia (England and Wales), Hispania (Spain), Gallia (France), Achaea (Greece), Judea (The Middle East) and part of North Africa. After defeating Carthaginians in the public wars in 146 BCE, the Romans started to expand through the Mediterranean and then through western Europe. By 150 AD Rome was capital of the biggest empire in Europe. The reasons why Roman Empire collapsed are still a source of constant debate.

No.2

Mongol Empire

Map of Mongol Empire: 1259 AD

Genghis Khan is known as one of the most successful military leader in history. He united many Mongolian tribes and formed Mongol Empire. Mongols conquered the famous Baghdad city in just 8 hours. Genghis Khan along with his Mongolian troops conquered half of the Asia. His successors conquered China and the Middle East. At one time it was the most feared empire in the world. It is said when they conquered Baghdad they burnt all of there scientific knowledge which could have modernized the world ages ago!

No.3

Russian Empire

Russian Empire: 1866 AD

Along with the British and Mongol empire, Russian Empire was one one of the biggest empire in the world history and held third largest population after China's Qing Dynasty and the British Empire at that time. It was forged in 1717 AD; in 1866 the extension of Russian Empire reached North America crossing Asia. the empire ended because of Russian evolution in 1917, which means it was predecessor of Soviet Union.

No.4

Holy Roman Empire

Imperial Flag

Proclaimed as Western Roman Empire. Its domains consisted of eastern France, Germany, Western Poland and Northern Italy. Existed form 962 AD and fell in 1806 during the Napoleonic wars (1803 - 1815) after Napoleon I defeated Francis II. From the dissolution of the empire several nations (and three empires) were formed: Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Principality of Liechtenstein, Confederation of Rhine, The Austrian Empire, The Prussian Empire and the French Empire.

No.5

British Empire

British Empire during World War I

The British Empire came to control over the quarter of earth's land area and a quarter of earth's entire population. The British Empire was considered the strongest empire during its reign, it made most of Africa its colonies, and also South-East Asia. During 20th Century it gave all of its colonies independence including Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh and New Zealand.

The sentence: "The Empire on which the sun never sets" was used mainly for Spanish Empire and British Empire.

No.6

Han Dynasty

Han Dynasty Map: 25 - 220 AD

Started after a brief Civil War in 206 BCE and it ended in 220 AD. Confucianism was at center of government's ideals (actually it was established as the official state ideology), intellectual and artistic life flourished and technological advances also marked this period in Chinese history. The Han Dynasty expanded into Southern China, North Vietnam and Korea. Also trade routes through Central Asia and India was created. During this period there was a process of "Defeudalization" which regarded many social changes, for example the nobility was stripped of their status and wealth.

The Han Dynasty is seen as golden period in Chinese history and the term "Han people" comes from this era, as opposed to "Ch'in people" which is the English term derived from previous dynasty: Qin Dynasty.

No.7

Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire Map: 527 - 1360 AD

The surviving part of Roman Empire in middle ages. It lasted over a thousand years after western part of Roman Empire collapsed in 476 AD. The Ottoman Empire attacked Constantinople in 1453 and Byzantine Empire tumbled. During its lifetime the empire generated an important tradition of art and literature among many other influences for today's culture.

No.8

Archaemenid Empire (Persian Empire)

Map of Archaemenid Empire

Cyrus "The Great" created Persian Empire (550 - 330 BCE) unifying entirely of Central Asia. It was the largest empire in ancient history. It is said that around 480 BC 44% population of the world lived in Persian Empire.

Cyrus' tomb in Iran Bares the inscription: 

"O man, whoever thou art, from wheresoever thou cometh, for I know you shall come, I am Cyrus, Who founded the empire of the Persians. Grudge me not, therefore, this little earth that covers my body."

No.9

Umayyad Caliphate

There were four Islamic caliphate and this was second.In charge of the Umayyad dynasty from Mecca, this empire covered approximately fifteen million square kilometers (The biggest up to this point in universal history). It was established after the death of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in 632 AD.

No.10

Ottoman Empire

Related: List of Ottoman Emperors

Ottoman Empire during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent.

It is said that it was Islamic successor of Byzantine Empire. In its apogee (between 16th and 17th Century) during the reign of Suleiman "the Magnificent", the Ottoman Empire extended through three continents: Southeastern Europe, Western Asia and North Africa controlling most of these territories along with twenty-nine provinces and many other vassal states. After World War I the Ottoman Empire collapsed and it was declared as a Democratic state: Turkey by Kemal Mustafa Pasha or Kemal Attaturk (Father of Turks). The Ottoman Empire was at its greatest after they conquered Constantinople in 1453, the capital of Byzantine Empire in the reign of Sultan mehmat Khan "The Fateh" (The Conqueror).

During the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottomans conquered Hungry.