In shortNumber 1 in our ranking is The Roman Empire, followed by The British Empire and The Mongol Empire.
The most important empires in history aren’t only the largest: how long they lasted and what they left behind in languages, laws, religions and borders also count. With those criteria we ranked ten powers from four continents.
Which would you put at the top? Vote below or add the one we missed.
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1. The Roman Empire
27 BC–AD 476 in the West · Until 1453 in the East
Its law, its Latin and its cities underpin much of Europe. Its eastern half, Byzantium, survived for almost another thousand years.
2. The British Empire
17th–20th centuries
It was the largest empire in history, with territories on every continent. It spread English, parliamentary government and sports such as football around the world.
3. The Mongol Empire
From 1206 · Founded by Genghis Khan
It is the largest contiguous land empire that has ever existed, stretching from Korea to Eastern Europe. It linked Asia and Europe in an unprecedented trade network.
4. The Spanish Empire
16th–19th centuries
The first truly global empire, the empire 'on which the sun never set'. Today hundreds of millions of people speak Spanish because of it.
5. The Han dynasty of China
206 BC–AD 220
It consolidated China's unity and its model of the state, and opened the Silk Road. China's majority ethnic group is still called Han after this dynasty.
6. The Ottoman Empire
c. 1299–1922
It conquered Constantinople in 1453 and dominated the eastern Mediterranean for centuries. Its fall after World War I drew the map of today's Middle East.
7. The Achaemenid Persian Empire
550–330 BC · Founded by Cyrus the Great
It was the largest empire of its time and stood out for an administration that respected the customs of conquered peoples. Its road and postal network was admired throughout antiquity.
8. The empire of Alexander the Great
336–323 BC
In little more than a decade, Alexander led his army from Greece to India. His legacy was the spread of Greek culture across the Middle East.
9. The Russian Empire
1721–1917
It stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Its territory is the basis of today's Russia, the largest country in the world.
10. The Inca Empire
15th century–1533
It was the largest empire of pre-Columbian America, spanning the Andes. It was run without alphabetic writing, using a road network and knotted-cord quipus to record data.
Frequently asked questions
What was the largest empire in history?
The British Empire, by total area. The largest contiguous empire was the Mongol Empire.
Why is Rome number one if it wasn't the largest?
Because this ranking also weighs duration and legacy. Rome's law, Latin and organisation are still present across much of the world.
Would you change the order?
Tell us what's missing, what shouldn't be here or what you'd put at number 1.