The largest states of antiquity by territory. Empire is what form of state? The Greatest Empires in the World

The British Empire is the largest ever existing state in the history of mankind with colonies on all inhabited continents. The empire reached its largest area in the mid-30s of the 20th century, when the lands of the United Kingdom extended to 34,650,407 km² (including 8 million km² of uninhabited land), which is about 22% of the earth's land. The total population of the empire was approximately 480 million people (about one-fourth of humanity). It is the legacy of Pax Britannica that explains the role of English as the most common language in the world in the fields of transport and trade.

2. Mongol Empire (38.0 million km²)
The highest flourishing - 1270-1368.

Mongol Empire (Mong. Mongolyn ezent guren; Middle Mong. ᠶᠡᠺᠡ ᠮᠣᠨᠭᠣᠯ ᠤᠯᠤᠰ, Yeke Mongγol ulus - the Great Mongol state, Mong. Their Mongol ulus) - a state that emerged in the 13th century as a result of the conquests of Genghis Khan and his successors and included the most the largest contiguous territory in world history from the Danube to the Sea of ​​Japan and from Novgorod to Southeast Asia (an area of ​​approximately 38,000,000 square kilometers). Karakorum became the capital of the state.

In its heyday it included vast territories of Central Asia, Southern Siberia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, China and Tibet. In the second half of the 13th century, the empire began to disintegrate into uluses, headed by Genghisides. The largest fragments of Great Mongolia were the Yuan Empire, the Ulus of Jochi (Golden Horde), the state of the Khulaguids and the Chagatai ulus. The Great Khan Khubilai, who accepted (1271) the title of Emperor Yuan and moved the capital to Khanbalik, claimed supremacy over all the uluses. By the beginning of the XIV century, the formal unity of the empire was restored in the form of a federation of virtually independent states.

In the last quarter of the 14th century, the Mongol Empire ceased to exist.

3. Russian Empire (22.8 million km²)
Highest heyday - 1866

The Russian Empire (Russian doref. Russian Empire; also the All-Russian Empire, the Russian State or Russia) is a state that existed from October 22 (2) November 1721 until the February Revolution and the proclamation of the republic in 1917 by the Provisional Government.

The empire was proclaimed on October 22 (2) November 1721 following the results of the Northern War, when, at the request of the senators, the Russian Tsar Peter I the Great assumed the titles of Emperor of All Russia and Father of the Fatherland.

The capital of the Russian Empire from 1721 to 1728 and from 1730 to 1917 was St. Petersburg, and in 1728-1730 Moscow.

The Russian Empire was the third largest state that ever existed (after the British and Mongol empires) - it stretched to the Arctic Ocean in the north and the Black Sea in the south, to the Baltic Sea in the west and the Pacific Ocean in the east. The head of the empire, the All-Russian Emperor, had unlimited, absolute power until 1905.

On September 1 (14), 1917, Alexander Kerensky proclaimed the country a republic (although this issue was within the competence of the Constituent Assembly; on January 5 (18), 1918, the Constituent Assembly also declared Russia a republic). However, the legislative body of the empire - the State Duma - was dissolved only on October 6 (19), 1917.

Geographical position of the Russian Empire: 35°38’17" - 77°36'40" north latitude and 17°38' east longitude - 169°44' west longitude. The territory of the Russian Empire by the end of the 19th century - 21.8 million km² (that is, 1/6 of the land) - it ranked second (and third ever) in the world, after the British Empire. The article does not take into account the territory of Alaska, which was part of it from 1744 to 1867 and occupied an area of ​​1,717,854 km².

The regional reform of Peter I for the first time divides Russia into provinces, streamlining administration, supplying the army with food and recruits from the field, and improving tax collection. Initially, the country is divided into 8 provinces, headed by governors, endowed with judicial and administrative power.

The provincial reform of Catherine II divides the empire into 50 provinces, divided into counties (about 500 in total). To help the governors, state and judicial chambers, other state and social institutions have been created. The governors were subordinate to the senate. At the head of the county is a police captain (elected by the county noble assembly).

By 1914, the empire is divided into 78 provinces, 21 regions and 2 independent districts, where 931 cities are located. Russia includes the following territories of modern states: all CIS countries (excluding the Kaliningrad region and the southern part of the Sakhalin region of the Russian Federation; Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Chernivtsi regions of Ukraine); eastern and central Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Lithuania (without the Memel region), several Turkish and Chinese regions. Part of the provinces and regions was united into a general government (Kiev, Caucasian, Siberian, Turkestan, East Siberian, Amur, Moscow). The Bukhara and Khiva khanates were official vassals, the Uryankhai region is a protectorate. For 123 years (from 1744 to 1867), Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, as well as part of the Pacific coast of the USA and Canada, also belonged to the Russian Empire.

According to the 1897 general census, the population was 129.2 million people. The distribution of the population by territories was as follows: European Russia - 94,244.1 thousand people, Poland - 9456.1 thousand people, Caucasus - 9354.8 thousand people, Siberia - 5784.5 thousand people, Middle Asia - 7747.1 thousand people, Finland - 2555.5 thousand people.

4. Soviet Union (22.4 million km²)
Highest heyday - 1945-1990

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, also the USSR, the Soviet Union is a state that existed from 1922 to 1991 on the territory of Eastern Europe, Northern, parts of Central and East Asia. The USSR occupied almost 1/6 of the inhabited land of the Earth; At the time of its collapse, it was the largest country in the world by area. It was formed on the territory that by 1917 was occupied by the Russian Empire without Finland, part of the Polish kingdom and some other territories.

According to the Constitution of 1977, the USSR was proclaimed a single allied multinational socialist state.

After the Second World War, the USSR had land borders with Afghanistan, Hungary, Iran, China, North Korea (since September 9, 1948), Mongolia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Finland, Czechoslovakia and sea borders with the USA, Sweden and Japan.

The USSR was created on December 30, 1922 by merging the RSFSR, the Ukrainian SSR, the Byelorussian SSR and the Transcaucasian SFSR into one state association with a uniform government, capital in Moscow, executive and judicial authorities, legislative and legal systems. In 1941, the USSR entered the Second World War, and after it, along with the United States, it was a superpower. The Soviet Union dominated the world socialist system and was also a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

The collapse of the USSR was characterized by a sharp confrontation between representatives of the central union authorities and the newly elected local authorities (Supreme Councils, presidents of the union republics). In 1989-1990, a "parade of sovereignties" began. On March 17, 1991, an All-Union referendum on the preservation of the USSR was held in 9 of the 15 republics of the USSR, in which more than two-thirds of the citizens who voted voted for the preservation of the renewed union. But after the August putsch and the events that followed it, the preservation of the USSR as a state entity became virtually impossible, which was stated in the Agreement on the Creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States, signed on December 8, 1991. The USSR officially ceased to exist on December 26, 1991. At the end of 1991, the Russian Federation was recognized as the successor state of the USSR in international legal relations and took its place in the UN Security Council.

5. Spanish Empire (20.0 million km²)
The highest flowering - 1790

The Spanish Empire (Spanish: Imperio Español) is the totality of territories and colonies that were under the direct control of Spain in Europe, America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. The Spanish Empire, at the height of its power, was one of the largest empires in world history. Its creation is associated with the beginning of the Age of Discovery, during which it became one of the first colonial empires. The Spanish Empire existed from the 15th century until (in the case of African possessions) the end of the 20th century. The Spanish territories united in the late 1480s with the union of the Catholic kings: the King of Aragon and the Queen of Castile. Despite the fact that the monarchs continued to rule their own lands, their foreign policy was common. In 1492 they captured Granada and completed the Reconquista in the Iberian Peninsula against the Moors. The entry of Granada into the Kingdom of Castile completed the unification of the Spanish lands, despite the fact that Spain was still divided into two kingdoms. In the same year, Christopher Columbus made the first Spanish exploratory expedition to the west across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the New World to Europeans and establishing the first Spanish overseas colonies there. From that moment on, the Western Hemisphere became the main target of Spanish exploration and colonization.

In the 16th century, the Spaniards created settlements on the islands of the Caribbean, and the conquistadors destroyed such state formations as the Aztec and Inca empires on the mainland, respectively, of North and South America, taking advantage of the contradictions between the local peoples and applying higher military technologies. Subsequent expeditions expanded the empire from present-day Canada to the southern tip of South America, including the Falkland or Malvinas Islands. In 1519, the first circumnavigation of the world began, begun by Ferdinand Magellan in 1519 and completed by Juan Sebastian Elcano in 1522, aimed at achieving what Columbus had failed to achieve, namely the western route to Asia, and as a result included the Far East in the Spanish sphere of influence. . Colonies were established in Guam, the Philippines, and nearby islands. During its Siglo de Oro, the Spanish Empire included the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, a large part of Italy, lands in Germany and France, colonies in Africa, Asia and Oceania, as well as large territories in North and South America. In the 17th century, Spain controlled an empire of such magnitude, and its parts were so far removed from each other, which no one could achieve before.

In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, expeditions were undertaken in search of Terra Australis, during which a number of archipelagos and islands in the South Pacific were discovered, including the Pitcairn Islands, the Marquesas Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, which were declared the property of the Spanish crown, but were not successfully colonized by it. Many of Spain's European possessions were lost after the War of the Spanish Succession in 1713, but Spain retained its overseas territories. In 1741, an important victory over Britain at Cartagena (modern Colombia) extended Spanish hegemony in the Americas into the 19th century. In the late 18th century, Spanish expeditions in the Pacific Northwest reached the coasts of Canada and Alaska, establishing a settlement on Vancouver Island and discovering several archipelagos and glaciers.

The French occupation of Spain by the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1808 led to the fact that the Spanish colonies became cut off from the metropolis, and the subsequent independence movement in 1810-1825 led to the creation of a number of new independent Spanish-American republics in South and Central America. The remnants of the Spanish four-hundred-year-old empire, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Spanish East Indies, continued to be under Spanish control until the end of the 19th century, when most of these territories were annexed by the United States after the Spanish-American War. The remaining Pacific islands were sold to Germany in 1899.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Spain continued to hold only territories in Africa, Spanish Guinea, Spanish Sahara and Spanish Morocco. Spain left Morocco in 1956 and granted independence to Equatorial Guinea in 1968. When Spain left the Spanish Sahara in 1976, this colony was immediately annexed by Morocco and Mauritania, and then in 1980 completely by Morocco, although technically by UN decision this territory remains under control of the Spanish administration. To date, Spain has only the Canary Islands and two enclaves on the North African coast, Ceuta and Melilla, which are administratively parts of Spain.

6. Qing Dynasty (14.7 million km²)
The highest flowering - 1790

The Great Qing State (Daicing gurun.svg daiqing gurun, traditional Chinese 大清國, pall.: Da Qing guo) was a multinational empire created and ruled by the Manchus, which later included China. According to traditional Chinese historiography, the last dynasty of monarchical China. It was founded in 1616 by the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan in Manchuria, now called northeast China. In less than 30 years, all of China, part of Mongolia and part of Central Asia came under her rule.

Initially, the dynasty was called "Jin" (金 - gold), in traditional Chinese historiography "Hou Jin" (後金 - Later Jin), after the Jin Empire - the former state of the Jurchens, from whom the Manchus derived themselves. In 1636, the name was changed to "Qing" (清 - "pure"). In the first half of the XVIII century. The Qing government managed to establish an effective administration of the country, one of the results of which was that in this century the fastest population growth rates were observed in China. The Qing court pursued a policy of self-isolation, which eventually led to the fact that in the 19th century. China, which was part of the Qing Empire, was forcibly opened by the Western powers.

Subsequent cooperation with Western powers allowed the dynasty to avoid collapse during the Taiping Rebellion, to carry out relatively successful modernization, and so on. to exist until the beginning of the 20th century, but it also caused growing nationalist (anti-Manchurian) sentiments.

As a result of the Xinhai Revolution, which began in 1911, the Qing Empire was destroyed, the Republic of China was proclaimed - the national state of the Han. Empress Dowager Longyu abdicated on behalf of the then infant last emperor, Pu Yi, on February 12, 1912.

7. Russian kingdom (14.5 million km²)
The highest flowering - 1721

The Russian kingdom or in the Byzantine version the Russian kingdom is a Russian state that existed between 1547 and 1721. The name "Russian kingdom" was the official name of Russia in this historical period. Also official was the name рꙋсїѧ

In 1547, the Sovereign of All Russia and the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan IV the Terrible was crowned tsar and assumed the full title: “Great Sovereign, by the grace of God the Tsar and Grand Duke of All Russia, Vladimir, Moscow, Novgorod, Pskov, Ryazan, Tver, Yugorsk, Perm, Vyatsky, Bulgarian and others”, later, with the expansion of the borders of the Russian state, “the king of Kazan, the king of Astrakhan, the king of Siberia”, “and the ruler of the entire Northern country” was added to the title.

By title, the Russian kingdom was preceded by the Grand Duchy of Moscow, and the Russian Empire became its successor. In historiography, there is also a tradition of periodization of Russian history, according to which it is customary to talk about the emergence of a single and independent centralized Russian state during the reign of Ivan III the Great. The idea of ​​uniting the Russian lands (including those that ended up as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland after the Mongol invasion) and the restoration of the Old Russian state was traced throughout the existence of the Russian state and was inherited by the Russian Empire.

8. Yuan Dynasty (14.0 million km²)
The highest flourishing - 1310

Empire (in Chinese tradition - dynasty) Yuan (Ih Yuan Uls.PNG Mong. Ih Yuan Uls, Great Yuan State, Dai Ön Yeke Mongghul Ulus.PNG Dai Ön Yeke Mongghul Ulus; Chinese 元朝, pinyin: Yuáncháo; Vietnam. Nhà Nguyên (Nguyên triều), House (Dynasty) Nguyen) is a Mongolian state, the main part of whose territory was China (1271-1368). Founded by the grandson of Genghis Khan, the Mongol Khan Kublai Khan, who completed the conquest of China in 1279. The dynasty fell as a result of the Red Turban Rebellion of 1351-68. The official Chinese history of this dynasty is recorded during the subsequent Ming Dynasty and is called "Yuan shi".

9. Umayyad Caliphate (13.0 million km²)
The highest flourishing - 720-750.

The Umayyads (Arabic الأمويون‎‎) or Banu Umayya ‏(Arabic بنو أمية‎‎) is a dynasty of caliphs founded by Muawiyah in 661. The Umayyads of the Sufyanid and Marwanid branches ruled in the Damascus Caliphate until the middle VIII century. In 750, as a result of the uprising of Abu Muslim, their dynasty was overthrown by the Abbasids, and all the Umayyads were destroyed, except for the grandson of Caliph Hisham Abd ar-Rahman, who founded the dynasty in Spain (Caliphate of Cordoba). The ancestor of the dynasty was Omayya ibn Abdshams son of Abdshams ibn Abdmanaf and cousin of Abdulmuttalib. Abdshams and Hashim were twin brothers.

10. Second French colonial empire (13.0 million km²)
Highest heyday - 1938

The evolution of the French colonial empire (the year is indicated in the upper left corner):

The French colonial empire (fr. L'Empire colonial français) is the totality of France's colonial possessions between 1546-1962. Like the British Empire, France had colonial territories in all regions of the world, but its colonial policy differed significantly from that of the British. The remnants of the once vast colonial empire are the modern overseas departments of France (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, etc.) and a special sui generis territory (the island of New Caledonia). The modern legacy of the French colonial era is also the union of Francophone countries (La Francophonie).

The word "empire" has recently been on everyone's lips, it has even become fashionable. On it lies a reflection of former grandeur and luxury. What is an empire?

Is it promising?

Dictionaries and encyclopedias offer the basic meaning of the word "empire" (from the Latin word "imperium" - power), the meaning of which, if you do not go into boring details and do not resort to dry scientific vocabulary, is as follows. Firstly, an empire is a monarchy headed by an emperor or empress (Roman However, in order for a state to become an empire, it is not enough for its ruler to simply call himself an emperor. The existence of an empire presupposes the existence of sufficiently vast controlled territories and peoples, a strong centralized power or totalitarian).And if tomorrow Prince Hans-Adam II calls himself emperor, this will not change the essence of the state structure of Liechtenstein (whose population is less than forty thousand people), and it will not be possible to say that this small principality is an empire (as a form of state).

Not less important

Secondly, countries that have impressive colonial possessions are often called empires. In this case, the presence of the emperor is not necessary at all. For example, the English kings were never called emperors, but for almost five centuries they headed the British Empire, which included not only Great Britain, but also a large number of colonies and dominions. The great empires of the world forever imprinted their names in the tablets of history, but where did they end up?

Roman Empire (27 BC - 476)

Formally, the first emperor in the history of civilization is Gaius Julius Caesar (100 - 44 BC), who had previously been a consul, and then declared a dictator for life. Realizing the need for serious reforms, Caesar passed laws that changed the political system of Ancient Rome. The role of the National Assembly was lost, the Senate was replenished with supporters of Caesar, which granted Caesar the title of emperor with the right to transfer to his descendants. Caesar began to mint gold coins with his own image. His desire for unlimited power led to a conspiracy of senators (44 BC), organized by Mark Brutus and Gaius Cassius. In fact, the first emperor was Caesar's nephew - Octavian Augustus (63 BC - 14 AD). The title of emperor in those days denoted the supreme military leader who won significant victories. Formally, it still existed, and Augustus himself was called princeps (“first among equals”), but it was under Octavian that the republic acquired the features of a monarchy similar to eastern despotic states. In 284, Emperor Diocletian (245 - 313) initiated reforms that finally turned the former Roman Republic into an empire. From that time on, the emperor began to be called dominus - master. In 395, the state was divided into two parts - Eastern (capital - Constantinople) and Western (capital - Rome) - each of which was headed by its own emperor. Such was the will of Emperor Theodosius, who on the eve of his death divided the state between his sons. In the last period of its existence, the Western Empire was subjected to constant barbarian invasions, and in 476, the once powerful state will be finally defeated by the barbarian commander Odoacer (circa 431 - 496), who will rule only Italy, renouncing both the title of emperor and others. dominions of the Roman Empire. After the fall of Rome, great empires will rise one after another.

Byzantine Empire (IV - XV centuries)

The Byzantine Empire originates from the Eastern Roman Empire. When Odoacer overthrew the latter, he took from him the dignity of power and sent them to Constantinople. There is only one Sun on earth, and the emperor must also be alone - approximately the same importance was attached to this act. located at the junction of Europe, Asia and Africa, its borders stretched from the Euphrates to the Danube. Christianity, which in 381 became the state religion of the entire Roman Empire, played a major role in the strengthening of Byzantium. The Fathers of the Church asserted that thanks to faith, not only a person is saved, but society itself. Consequently, Byzantium is under the protection of the Lord and is obliged to lead other peoples to salvation. Secular and spiritual power must be united in the name of a common goal. The Byzantine Empire is the state in which the idea of ​​imperial power found its most mature form. God is the ruler of the entire Universe, and the emperor dominates the kingdom of the Earth. Therefore, the power of the emperor is protected by God and is sacred. The Byzantine emperor had practically unlimited power, he determined domestic and foreign policy, was the commander-in-chief of the army, the supreme judge and at the same time the legislator. The emperor of Byzantium is not only the head of state, but also the head of the Church, so he had to be an example of exemplary Christian piety. It is curious that the power of the emperor here was not hereditary from a legal point of view. The history of Byzantium knows examples when a person became its emperor not because of a crowned birth, but as a result of his real merits.

Ottoman (Ottoman) Empire (1299 - 1922)

Historians usually count its existence from 1299, when the Ottoman state arose in the north-west of Anatolia, founded by its first sultan Osman, the founder of a new dynasty. Soon, Osman will conquer the entire west of Asia Minor, which will become a powerful platform for the further expansion of the Turkic tribes. We can say that the Ottoman Empire is Türkiye during the period of the Sultanship. But strictly speaking, the empire was formed here only in the XV - XVI centuries, when the Turkish conquests in Europe, Asia and Africa became very significant. Its heyday coincided with the collapse of the Byzantine Empire. This, of course, is not accidental: if it has decreased somewhere, then it will certainly increase elsewhere, as the law of conservation of energy and power on the Eurasian continent says. In the spring of 1453, as a result of a long siege and bloody battles, the troops of the Ottoman Turks, led by Sultan Mehmed II, occupied Constantinople, the capital of Byzantium. This victory will lead to the fact that the Turks will secure a dominant position in the eastern Mediterranean for many years to come. Constantinople (Istanbul) will become the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire reached its highest point of influence and prosperity in the 16th century, during the reign of Suleiman I the Magnificent. By the beginning of the 17th century, the Ottoman state would become one of the most powerful in the world. The empire controlled almost all of Southeastern Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, it consisted of 32 provinces and many subordinate states. The collapse of the Ottoman Empire will occur as a result of the First World War. As allies of Germany, the Turks would be defeated, the sultanate would be abolished in 1922, and Turkey would become a republic in 1923.

British Empire (1497 - 1949)

The British Empire is the largest colonial state in the entire history of civilization. In the 30s of the twentieth century, the territory of the United Kingdom accounted for almost a quarter of the earth's land, and its population - a fourth of those living on the planet (it is no accident that English became the most authoritative language in the world). The European conquests of England began with the invasion of Ireland, and the intercontinental ones began with the capture of Newfoundland (1583), which became a springboard for expansion in North America. The success of British colonization was facilitated by the successful imperialist war that England waged with Spain, France, and Holland. At the very beginning of the 17th century, the penetration of Britain into India will begin, later England will take up Australia and New Zealand, North, Tropical and South Africa.

Britain and the colonies

After the First World War, the League of Nations will give the United Kingdom a mandate to govern some of the former colonies of the Ottoman and (including Iran and Palestine). However, the results of the Second World War significantly shifted the emphasis on the colonial issue. Britain, although it was among the winners, had to take a huge loan from the United States to avoid bankruptcy. The USSR and the USA - the largest players in the political arena - were opponents of colonization. In the meantime, liberation sentiments intensified in the colonies. In this situation, it was too difficult and expensive to maintain their colonial domination. Unlike Portugal and France, England did not do this and transferred power to local governments. To date, the UK continues to maintain dominance over 14 territories.

Russian Empire (1721 - 1917)

After the end of the Northern War, when new lands and access to the Baltic were secured, Tsar Peter I assumed the title of Emperor of All Russia at the request of the Senate, the highest body of state power established ten years earlier. In terms of its area, the Russian Empire became the third (after the British and Mongolian empires) of the ever-existing state formations. Before the appearance of the State Duma in 1905, the power of the Russian emperor was not limited by anything, except for Orthodox norms. Peter I, who strengthened in the country, divided Russia into eight provinces. During the time of Catherine II, there were 50 of them, and by 1917, as a result of territorial expansion, their number increased to 78. Russia is an empire, which included a number of modern sovereign states (Finland, Belarus, Ukraine, Transcaucasia and Central Asia). As a result of the February Revolution of 1917, the rule of the Romanov dynasty of Russian emperors ceased, and in September of the same year, Russia was proclaimed a republic.

Centrifugal tendencies are to blame

As you can see, all the great empires collapsed. The centripetal forces that create them sooner or later are replaced by centrifugal tendencies that lead these states, if not to complete collapse, then to disintegration.

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 the war raging there for seven months, with Italy 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 Njime (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 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 very complex society based on descent, in which lineage determined 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 stretches over 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 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.

In our world, nothing lasts forever: after birth and flourishing, sunset inevitably follows. This rule also applies to states. Hundreds of states have been created and collapsed over thousands of years of historical epoch. We will find out which of them existed on Earth for the longest time, until they fell apart for one reason or another. Perhaps some of them did not amaze the world with their grandeur and brilliance, but they were strong with their centuries-old history.

Portuguese Colonial Empire

560 years (1415 -1975)

The prerequisites for the creation of the Portuguese Colonial Empire appeared simultaneously with the beginning of the Great Geographical Discoveries. By 1415, the Portuguese navigators, of course, had not yet reached the shores of America, but they were already actively exploring the African continent, starting to search for a short sea route to India. The Portuguese declared open lands their property, erecting forts and fortresses everywhere.

By its heyday, the Portuguese Colonial Empire had fortifications in West Africa, East and South Asia, India and the Americas. The Portuguese Empire became the first state in history to unite territories on four continents under its flag. Thanks to the trade in spices and jewelry, the Portuguese treasury was bursting with gold and silver, which allowed the state to exist for such a long time.

Napoleonic wars, internal contradictions and external enemies nevertheless undermined the power of the state, and by the beginning of the 20th century there was no trace left of the former greatness of the Portuguese Colonial Empire. Officially, the empire ceased to exist in 1975, when democracy was established in the metropolis.

624 years (1299 AD -1923 AD)

The state, founded by Turkic tribes in 1299, reached its peak in the 17th century. The huge multinational Ottoman Empire stretched from the borders of Austria to the Caspian Sea, owning territories in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Wars with the Russian Empire, the loss in the First World War, internal contradictions and constant Christian uprisings undermined the strength of the Ottoman Empire. In 1923, the monarchy was abolished and the Republic of Turkey established in its place.

Khmer Empire

629 years (802 AD -1431 AD)

Not everyone has heard of the existence of the Khmer Empire, which is one of the oldest state entities in history. The Khmer Empire was formed as a result of the unification of the Khmer tribes living in the 8th century AD. in Indochina. During its highest power, the Khmer Empire included the territories of Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. But its rulers did not calculate the gigantic costs of building temples and palaces, which gradually devastated the treasury. The weakened state in the first half of the 15th century finally finished off the invasion of the Thai tribes that had begun.

Kanem

676 years (700 AD -1376 AD)

Despite the fact that individually African tribes do not pose a danger, united, they can create a strong and warlike state. This is how the Kanem Empire was formed, located for almost 700 years on the territory of modern Libya, Nigeria and Chad.

The reason for the fall of a strong empire was internal strife after the death of the last emperor, who had no heirs. Taking advantage of this, various tribes located on the borders invaded the empire from different sides, hastening its fall. The surviving indigenous people were forced to leave the cities and return to a nomadic way of life.

Holy Roman Empire

844 (962 AD - 1806 AD)

The Holy Roman Empire is not the same Roman Empire whose iron legions captured almost the entire world known to ancient Europe. The Holy Roman Empire was not even located in Italy, but on the territory of modern Germany, Austria, Holland, the Czech Republic and part of Italy. The unification of the lands took place in 962, and the new Empire was intended to be a continuation of the Western Roman Empire. The European order and discipline allowed this state to exist for eight and a half centuries, while the complex system of state administration, degraded, weakened the central authority, which led to the decline and collapse of the Holy Roman Empire.

Kingdom of Silla

992 (57 BC - 935 AD)

At the end of the first century BC. on the Korean Peninsula, three kingdoms fought desperately for a place under the sun, one of which - Silla - managed to defeat its enemies, annexed their lands and founded a powerful dynasty that lasted almost a thousand years, which ingloriously disappeared in the fires of civil war.

994 (980 AD -1974 AD)

We often think that before the arrival of European colonizers, Africa was a completely wild area inhabited by primitive tribes. But on the African continent, there was a place for an empire that existed for almost a thousand years! Founded in 802 by the united Ethiopian tribes, the empire did not “hold out” 6 years before its millennium, disintegrating as a result of a coup d'état.

1100 years (697 AD - 1797 AD)

The Most Serene Republic of Venice with its capital Venice was founded in 697 due to the forced unification of communities against the troops of the Lombards - Germanic tribes who settled in the upper reaches of Italy during the Great Migration of Nations. The extremely favorable geographical position at the crossroads of most trade routes immediately made the Republic one of the richest and most influential states in Europe. However, the discovery of America and the sea route to India was the beginning of the end for this state. The volume of goods entering Europe through Venice decreased - merchants began to prefer more convenient and safe sea routes. The Republic of Venice finally ceased to exist in 1797, when the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte occupied Venice without resistance.

papal states

1118 years (752 AD - 1870 AD)

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the influence of Christianity in Europe increased more and more: influential people adopted Christianity, whole lands were given to churches, donations were made. The day was not far off when the Catholic Church would have gained political power in Europe: this happened in 752, when the Frankish king Pepin the Short gave the pope a large area in the center of the Apennine Peninsula. Since then, the power of the popes has fluctuated depending on the place of religion in European society: from absolute power in the Middle Ages, to a gradual loss of influence closer to the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1870, the lands of the Papal States came under the control of Italy, and only the Vatican, a city-state in Rome, remained for the Catholic Church.

Kingdom of Kush

about 1200 years (9th century BC - 350 AD)

The Kingdom of Kush has always been in the shadow of another state - Egypt, which at all times has attracted the attention of historians and chroniclers. Located in the northern part of modern Sudan, the state of Kush posed a serious danger to its neighbors, and during its heyday controlled almost the entire territory of Egypt. We do not know the detailed history of the kingdom of Kush, but the chronicles note that in 350 Kush was conquered by the Aksumite kingdom.

The Roman Empire

1480 years (27 BC - 1453 AD)

Rome is an eternal place on seven hills! At least, that's what the inhabitants of the Western Roman Empire thought: it seemed that the eternal city would never fall before the onslaught of enemies. But times have changed: after the civil war and the founding of the empire, 500 years have passed, and Rome was conquered by the invading Germanic tribes, marking the fall of the western part of the empire. However, the Eastern Roman Empire, often referred to as Byzantium, continued to exist until 1453, when Constantinople fell under the pressure of the Turks.

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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 fact that an empire should, most of the time, be ruled by an emperor or a king, this excludes the modern so-called empires - 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 Karakoram. 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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