2.

British Empire

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The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other

territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom, that had originated with the overseas

colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At
its height it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global

power. By 1922, the British Empire held sway over a population of about 458 million people,
one-quarter of the world’s population at the time, and covered more than 13,000,000 square

miles (33,670,000 km2): approximately a quarter of the Earth’s total land area. As a result, its

political, linguistic and cultural legacy is widespread. At the peak of its power, it was often said
that “the sun never sets on the British Empire” because its span across the globe ensured that
the sun was always shining on at least one of its numerous territories.
• It was the largest empire by landmass covering 33.7 million km2 (1922)

• It was the largest empire by population.

• It had the second largest GDP size of $683.3 billion (in 1938) after the US in 1945
• It had the largest percent of world GDP 35.9% ($399 billion out of $1,111 billion in

1870)
• It had the largest military of all times.
• During the rule, people were quite unsatisfactory with the government and many
disputes arose therefore the empire was soon brought done like house of cards as soon as it

emerged, therefore although being largest, it is on second number.

 3. Mughal Empire (1526–1858)

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The Mughal Empire was an Islamic imperial power that ruled a large portion of Indian

subcontinent which began in 1526, invaded and ruled most of South Asia by the late 17th and

early 18th centuries, and ended in the mid-19th century.The Mughal Emperors were
descendants of the Timurids of Turkistan, and at the height of their power around 1700, they
controlled most of the Indian Subcontinent—extending from Bengal in the east to Balochistan
in the west, Kashmir in the north to the Kaveri basin in the south. Its population at that time
has been estimated as between 110 and 130 million, over a territory of over 4 million sq. km

(1.5 million sq. mi.). The “classic period” of the Empire started in 1556 with the accession of
Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar, better known as Akbar the Great. It ended with the death of
Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707, although the Empire continued for another 150 years.

• The Empire was marked by a highly centralized administration connecting the different
regions.
• All the significant monuments of the Mughals, their most visible legacy, date to this
period which was characterised by the expansion of Persian cultural influence in the Indian

subcontinent, with brilliant literary, artistic and architectural results. A major Mughal
 contribution to the Indian Subcontinent was their unique architecture. Many monuments were
built by the Muslim emperors, especially Shahjahan, during the Mughal era including the
UNESCO World Heritage Site Taj Mahal, which is known to be one of the finer examples of

Mughal architecture.

• The Indian economy remained as prosperous under the Mughals as it was, because of
the creation of a road system and a uniform currency, together with the unification of the
country. Manufactured goods and peasant-grown cash crops were sold throughout the world.
• n the Mughal Empire, the 16th and 17th centuries saw a synthesis of Muslim scientists
who are the pioneers of modern science.
• It remained strong for longest duration above other empires and 4th largest
population as compared to all other kingdoms – 175.0 million in 1700.
4. Mongol Empire (1206–1368)

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The Mongol Empire was an empire from the 13th and 14th century spanning from Eastern
Europe across Asia. It emerged from the unification of Mongol and Turkic tribes in modern day

Mongolia, and grew through invasions, after Genghis Khan had been proclaimed ruler of all
Mongols in 1206. At its greatest extent it stretched from the Danube to the Sea of Japan (or
East Sea) and from the Arctic to Camboja, covering over 24,000,000 km2 , 22% of the Earth’s
total land area, and held sway over a population of over 100 million people. It is often

identified as the “Mongol World Empire” because it spanned much of Eurasia. However, the
empire began to split following the succession war in 1260–1264. By 1294, he Mongol Empire
 had already fractured into four separate empires, each pursuing its own separate interests and
objectives.
• It is the largest contiguous empire in the history of the world, and the second
largest empire in history, after the British Empire.

• Under the Mongols new technologies, various commodities and ideologies were
disseminated and exchanged across Eurasia.
 5. Russian Empire (1721–1917)

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The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917.

It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia, and the predecessor of the Soviet Union. At
one point in 1866, it stretched from eastern Europe, across Asia, and into North America. At
the beginning of the 19th century, Russia was the largest country in the world, extending from
the Arctic Ocean to the north to the Black Sea on the south, from the Baltic Sea on the west to

the Pacific Ocean on the east.

• It was the second largest contiguous empire the world has ever seen, surpassed only
by the Mongol Empire, and the third largest empire the world has ever seen, surpassed only
by the British Empire and the Mongol Empire .
• The household servants or dependents attached to the personal service were merely
set free, while the landed peasants received their houses and orchards, and allotments of
arable land.
 6. Qing Dynasty (1890–1912)

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The Qing Dynasty was the last ruling dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 (with a

brief, abortive restoration in 1917). It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the
Republic of China. The dynasty was founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro in what is today
northeast China, (also known as Manchuria). Starting in 1644 it expanded into China proper

and its surrounding territories, establishing the Empire of the Great Qing. Complete
pacification of China was accomplished around 1683.The Qing Dynasty was overthrown
following the Xinhai Revolution, when the Empress Dowager Longyu abdicated on behalf of the
last emperor, Puyi, on February 12, 1912.

• During its reign the Qing Dynasty became highly integrated with Chinese culture.
• The dynasty reached its height in the 18th century, during which both territory and
population were increased.
• It covered an immense area of 14.7 million km2 (1790) making it the 5th largest
according to land mass.

• It had the 4th largest %age of world’s GDP i.e 32.9% ($228.6 billion out of $694.4
billion in 1820)
7. Umayyad Caliphate (661–750)

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A caliphate is the Islamic form of government representing the political unity and leadership of

the Muslim world. The Caliph’s position is based on the notion of a successor to Muhammad’s
political authority. According to Sunnis, a Caliph can be any pious Muslim who is elected by
the Muslims or their representatives; and according to Shia Islam, an Imam descended in a
line from the Ahl al-Bayt.

The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four Islamic caliphates established after the
death of Muhammad (PBUH). It was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty, whose name derives from
Umayya ibn Abd Shams, the great-grandfather of the first Umayyad caliph. Although the

Umayyad family originally came from the city of Mecca, Damascus was the capital of their
Caliphate. Eventually, it would cover more than five million square miles, making it the largest

empire the world had yet seen. The Umayyads established the largest Arab-Muslim state in
history. From the time of prophet Muhammad until 1924, successive and contemporary
caliphates were held by various dynasties, including the Rashidun Caliphate of the first four
 caliphs after Muhammad, the Umayyads based in Damascus and Córdoba, the Abbasids based
in Baghdad & later in Cairo, the Fatimids based in Cairo, and finally the Turkish Ottoman
Empire based in Istanbul.
• Ummayads had the best administration system the world had yet seen. To assist the

Caliph in administration there were six Boards at the Centre: Diwan al-Kharaj (the Board of
Revenue), Diwan al-Rasa’il (the Board of Correspondence), Diwan al-Khatam (the Board of

Signet), Diwan al-Barid (the Board of Posts), Diwan al-Qudat (Board of Justice) and Diwan al-
Jund (the Military Board).
• Fifth largest contiguous empire to ever exist.

• Modern Arab nationalism regards the period of the Umayyads as part of the Arab
Golden Age.
8. Roman Empire (27 BC–AD 476/1453)

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The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization,

characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and
around the Mediterranean. The Roman Republic, which preceded it, had been weakened and
subverted through several civil wars. Several events are commonly proposed to mark the
transition from Republic to Empire, including Julius Caesar’s appointment as perpetual dictator
(44 BC), the Battle of Actium (2 September 31 BC), and the Roman Senate’s granting to

Octavian the honorificAugustus (4 January 27 BC). Roman expansion began in the days of the
Republic, but reached its zenith under Emperor Trajan. At this territorial peak, the Roman
Empire controlled approximately 6.5 million km² of land surface. Because of the Empire’s vast
 extent and long endurance, Roman influence upon the language, religion, architecture,
philosophy, law, and government of nations around the world lasts to this day.
• The powers of an emperor existed, in theory at least, by virtue of his “tribunician
powers” and his “proconsular powers” In theory, the tribunician powers made the emperor’s

person and office sacrosanct, and gave the emperor authority over Rome’s civil government,

including the power to preside over and to control the Senate. The proconsular powers gave
him authority over the Roman army.
• Roman Empire achieved great territorial gains in both the East and the West. It had
one of the strongest armies recorded.
• The enduring Roman influence is reflected pervasively in contemporary language,
literature, legal codes, government, architecture, engineering, medicine, sports, arts, etc.
Much of it is so deeply inbedded that we barely notice our debt to ancient Rome. Consider

language, for example. Fewer and fewer people today claim to know Latin — and yet, go back
to the first sentence in this paragraph. If we removed all the words drawn directly from Latin,

that sentence would read; “The.”

9. Achaemenid Empire (550 BC–330 BC)

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The Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550–330 BC), also known as the Persian Empire, was the

successor state of the Median Empire, ruling over significant portions of what would become

Greater Iran. The Persian and the Median Empire taken together are also known as the Medo-
Persian Empire, which encompassed the combined territories of several earlier empires. The
empire was forged by Cyrus the Great, and spanned three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe.
At its greatest extent, the empire included the territories of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan,
parts of Central Asia, Asia Minor, Thrace and Macedonia, much of the Black Sea coastal

regions, Iraq, northern Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and all

significant population centers of ancient Egypt as far west as Libya. It is noted in western
history as the foe of the Greek city states during the Greco-Persian Wars, for emancipation of
slaves including the Jews from their Babylonian captivity, and for instituting the usage of
official languages throughout its territories. The Achaemenid Persian empire was invaded by

Alexander III of Macedon, after which it collapsed and disintegrated in 330 BC into what later
became the Ptolemaic Kingdom and Seleucid Empire, in addition to other minor territories

which gained independence after its collapse.

• It was the largest empire in ancient history. At the height of its power, the empire
encompassed approximately 8 million km2
• In universal history the role of the Persian empire founded by Cyrus the Great lies in
their very successful model for centralized administration and a government working to the

advantage and profit of all.

 10. Akkadian Empire (2300 BC–2200 BC)

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The Akkadian Empire (2334 BC to 2083 BC) was an empire centered in the city

of Akkad and its surrounding region (in Ancient Iraq). The Akkadian state was the
predecessor of the ethnic Akkadian states of Babylonia and Assyria; formed following centuries
of Akkadian cultural synergy with others, it reached the height of its power between the 24th

and 22nd centuries BC following the conquests of king Sargon of Akkad, and is sometimes
regarded as the first manifestation of an empire in history.
• It was the first empire to manifest on the earth.

• It reached record breaking size of its time and is considered the largest empire of dark

ancient era – 0.8 million km2 (2250 BC)

1. Ottoman Empire (1299–1923)

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The Ottoman Empire also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire. was an
Islamic empire that lasted from 1299 to November 1, July 24, 1923 It was succeeded by the
Republic of Turkey, which was officially proclaimed on October 29, 1923. At the height of its
power (16th–17th centuries), the empire spanned three continents, controlling much of
Western Asia, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, the Caucasus, and North Africa. The Ottoman

Empire contained 29 provinces and numerous vassal states, some of which were later
 absorbed into the empire, while others gained various types of autonomy during the course of
centuries.
• It existed at the globe for the longest period of time for 7 centuries.
• The Ottoman legal system accepted the religious law over its subjects. The Ottoman

Empire was always organized around a system of local jurisprudence.

• The Ottoman Empire was, in principle, tolerant towards Christians and Jews.
• Numerous traditions and cultural traits of this previous empire (in fields such as
architecture, cuisine, music, leisure and government) were adopted by the Ottomans, who
elaborated them into new forms and blended them with the characteristics of the ethnic and
religious groups living within the Ottoman territories, which resulted in a new and distinctively

Ottoman cultural identity.

• By developing commercial centres and routes, encouraging people to extend the area

of cultivated land in the country and international trade through its dominions, the state

performed basic economic functions in the Empire.

• The empire was at the centre of interactions between the Eastern and Western worlds
for seven centuries.

Info Courtesy: Wikipedia