The 5 largest empires from history
Throughout history, empires have exerted their influence for better and worse. But which are the world’s largest empires?
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Roman, Persian, British, Mongol… The history of the world has been shaped by empires, which have collectively influenced the social, political and economic lives of billions of people.
Often characterised by tyranny, violence and oppression, empires have a controversial place in history, giving rise to such notable figures as Genghis Khan, Caesar Augustus and Cyrus the Great.
Due to their dominance, the eventual decline and fall of an empire often marks a seismic shift in the global power balance. But which were the largest empires in history?
Determining the scale of an empire
There are different methods to define the largest empires, meaning that not all sources agree on which tops the list. The main ways empire size is measured are by land mass, population and length of rule.
If we use land mass as the measure, then heading the list would be the British Empire, which, at its height in 1920, extended across 26.35% of the world. Meanwhile, ranking empires by the length of rule would put the Roman Empire in the number one spot.
However, for our list, we’ve gone with the size of the population who lived under the empire at the height of its rule. With this measure, one caveat is the size of the world’s total population at the time of the empire’s rule. So, we’ve included the population share by percentage to give you an idea of each empire’s relative dominance.
1. Persian Empire (550 BC–330 BC)
Originating in ancient Iran and established by Cyrus the Great, this empire is also known as the Achaemenid Empire. One of the first global superpowers, the empire covered areas of Central Asia, the Mediterranean and North Africa, as well as Macedonia and ancient Thrace (which today includes Bulgaria as well as parts of Greece and Turkey). At its peak in 480 BC, around 44% of the world’s total population lived under its rule.
2. Mongol Empire (1206-1368)
Founded by Genghis Khan in what is modern-day Mongolia, the Mongol Empire’s reach was great, extending to parts of Eastern Europe, India, the Arctic, the Iranian Plateau and the Carpathian Mountains. In fact, if measuring empire size by contiguous land mass, it would take the top spot in the list, covering nine million square miles. At its peak in 1290, its rule extended to 31% of the population.
3. Roman Empire (625 BC-AD 476)
Even though it’s often referred to in the singular, the Roman Empire really comprises three distinct periods:
- The Period of Kings
- Republican Rome
- Imperial Rome
Its rule extended across parts of Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. Founded by Caesar Augustus, the empire’s influence can still be found today in areas including art, technology and law. At its peak in the year 150 AD, the empire ruled 30% of the world’s population.
4. Mughal Empire (1526–1857)
Founded by Babur, ruler of Fergana (a principality in Uzbekistan) the Mughal Empire extended across large parts of South Asia. The empire’s reach included northern Afghanistan, modern-day Bangladesh and the Indian state of Assam until it was dissolved by the British Raj. At its peak in 1700, the empire’s rule extended to 24% of the world’s population.
5. British Empire (1707-1981)
If all the measures are taken into account, the British Empire could be called the largest in history. The country’s rise to becoming a global power started in the late 16th century, with the empire reaching a peak in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1920, a total of 412 million people lived under its control, equal to 23% of the world's population at the time.
Empire vs. dynasty
For the purposes of this list, we’ve drawn a distinction between empires and dynasties. However, for comparison, here are where some of the great dynasties would fit:
- Qing Dynasty (1644–1911): At its peak in 1760-1800, the Qing Dynasty covered 37% of the world’s population.
- Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127): At its greatest extent in 1111, the Northern Song Dynasty covered 32% of the population.
- Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-9 AD; 25-220 AD): At its height in the year 1 AD, the Western Han Dynasty covered 32% of the population.
