The Biggest Empires in Human History

#7 The Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty was a golden age in Chinese history. The Han Dynasty was founded in 206 BC, and it ruled for over 400 years. During this time, China expanded its territory, developed a strong central government, and made significant advances in agriculture, technology, and the arts.

#6 The Persian Empire

The Persian Empire was one of the largest and most powerful empires in ancient history. At its peak, it covered an area of over 3 million square miles, stretching from Egypt to India. The empire was founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC, and it was ruled by a succession of strong and capable leaders.

#5 The Qing Dynasty

The Qing Dynasty was the fifth-largest empire in history, covering 14.28% of the worlds land area at its peak in the 18th century. It was the last imperial dynasty of China, and it ruled for over 200 years. The Qing Dynasty was founded by the Manchus, who were a nomadic people from Manchuria.

#4 The Spanish Empire

The Spanish Empire was the fourth-largest empire in history, covering 15.78% of the worlds land area at its peak in the 16th century. It was also a very wealthy empire, thanks to its colonies in the Americas. The Spanish Empire was founded by Christopher Columbus, who was an Italian explorer who discovered the Americas for Spain.

#3 The Russian Empire

The Russian Empire was the third-largest empire in history, covering 16.92% of the worlds land area at its peak in the 19th century. It was also a very long-lived empire, lasting for over 300 years. The Russian Empire was founded by Ivan the Great, who was a powerful ruler who expanded the empires territory.

#2 The Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire was the second-largest empire in history, covering 17.81% of the worlds land area at its peak in the 13th century. It was also a very short-lived empire, lasting only about 100 years. The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan, who was a brilliant military leader and strategist.

#1 The British Empire

The British Empire was the largest empire in history, covering 26.35% of the worlds land area at its peak in 1920. It was also the most populous empire, with 412 million people living under its control. The British Empire ruled for over 200 years, from the early 17th century to the mid-20th century.