Great and powerful empires of the world. The largest empire in the world in history

Incredible facts

Throughout human history, we have seen empires rise and fall 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 achievements of the world's most powerful and longest-lived empires.

Empire is compound word for determining. Although this term is thrown around very often, it is nevertheless often used in the wrong context and misrepresents 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 who control the political decisions of a smaller unit.

The term "hegemony" is often used along with empire, but there are significant differences between the two, just as there are obvious differences between the concepts of "leader" and "bully". Hegemony operates as an agreed upon set of international rules, while empire produces and implements those same rules. Hegemony represents the dominant influence of one group over other groups, however, it requires the consent of the majority in order for that leading group to remain in power.

Which empires in history lasted the longest, and what can we learn from them? Below we will look at these past kingdoms, 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 it did not “disappear” from the face of the earth until 1999. The kingdom lasted for 584 years. It was the first global empire in history, spanning four continents, and began in 1415 when the Portuguese captured a Muslim city North Africa Cueta. Expansion continued as they moved into Africa, India, Asia and the Americas.

After World War II, decolonization efforts intensified in many areas, causing many European countries to "embark" from their colonies around the world. This did not happen to Portugal until 1999, 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 superior weapons, naval superiority, and ability to quickly build ports to trade sugar, slaves, and gold. She also had enough strength to conquer new peoples and gain lands. But, as is the case with most empires throughout history, the conquered areas eventually sought to reclaim their lands back.

The Portuguese Empire collapsed for several reasons, including international pressure and economic tension.

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 that immediately followed 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 much of the Ottoman Empire. The final point was the Turkish War of Independence, as a result of which Constantinople fell 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 in 802 AD when Jayavarman II was proclaimed king of the region that is now Cambodia. 630 years later, in 1432, the empire came to an end.

Some of what we know about this empire comes from stone murals found in the region, and some information comes from Chinese diplomat Zhou Daguan, who traveled to Angkor in 1296 and published a book about his experiences. Almost the entire existence of the empire, it tried to capture more and more new territories. Angkor was the main home of the nobility during the second period of the empire. When the power of the Khmers began to weaken, 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, degeneration of the water system, and ultimately very poor harvests. 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, while Angkor remained abandoned.

7. Ethiopian Empire

Considering the duration 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 they owned the rights to this land, as King Solomon bequeathed. From then on, the dynasty subsequently grew into an empire by uniting new civilizations under its rule.

All this continued until 1895, when Italy declared war on the empire, and that’s when the problems began. In 1935, Benito Mussolini ordered his soldiers to invade Ethiopia and the war raged there for seven months, leading to Italy being declared the winner of the war. From 1936 to 1941, Italians ruled the country.

The Ethiopian Empire did not greatly expand its borders or 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, it was still Italy's desire 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, as expected, the introduction of religion could cause internal strife in the early years of the empire. The Kanem Empire was created around 700 and lasted until 1376. It was located in what is now Chad, Libya and part of Nigeria.

According to a document found, the Zaghawa people founded their capital in 700 in the city of N'jimi. The history of the empire is divided between two dynasties - Duguwa and Sayfawa (which was driving force which brought Islam). Its expansion continues during the period when the king declared a holy war, or jihad, on all surrounding tribes.

The military system designed to facilitate jihad was based on the state principles of hereditary nobility, in which soldiers received part of the lands they conquered, while the lands remained in their possession for many years, even their sons could dispose of them. This system led to a civil war that weakened the empire and left it vulnerable to attack by external enemies. The Bulala 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 poor decisions create internal conflict that leaves once powerful people defenseless. Similar developments are repeated throughout history.

5. Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire was seen as a revival of the Western Roman Empire, and it was also considered a political counterweight to the Roman Empire. catholic church. Its name, however, comes from the fact that the emperor was chosen by voters, 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, this is a large part 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, thereby planting the seeds of independence.

In 1792, there was an uprising in France. By 1806, Napoleon Bonaparte forced the last Holy Roman Emperor, Francis II, to abdicate, after which the empire was renamed the Confederation of the Rhine. Like the Ottoman and Portuguese Empires, the Holy Roman Empire consisted of various ethnic groups and smaller kingdoms. Ultimately, the desire of these kingdoms to gain independence led to the collapse of the empire.

4. Silla Empire

Little is known about the beginnings of the Silla Empire, but by the sixth century it was a highly complex society based on descent, in which lineage decided everything from the clothes a person could wear to the work activities he was allowed to do. . Although this system helped the empire initially acquire large amounts of land, it ultimately led to its demise.

The Silla Empire began in 57 BC. and occupied the territory that currently belongs to the Northern and South Korea. Kin Park Hyeokgeose was the first ruler of the empire. During his reign, the empire continually 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 the defeated kingdoms, left the empire doomed. Eventually, in 935 AD, the empire ceased to exist and became part of the new state of Goryeo, with which it fought a war in the 7th century. Historians do not know the exact circumstances that led to the collapse of the Silla Empire, however, common point point of view is that neighboring countries were unhappy with the continued expansion of the empire through the Korean Peninsula. Numerous theories agree that smaller kingdoms struck to gain sovereignty.

3. Venetian Republic

The pride of the Venetian Republic was its massive Navy, which allowed her to quickly prove her power throughout Europe and the Mediterranean, conquering such important historical cities as Cyprus and Crete. The Republic of Venice lasted an amazing 1,100 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 and became what is now known as the Republic of Venice, feuding 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 captured part of the empire. When Napoleon issued an ultimatum, Doge Ludovico Manin surrendered in 1797, and Napoleon began to rule Venice.

The Republic of Venice is classic example how an empire that extends over vast distances is unable to defend its capital. Unlike other empires, it was not civil wars that killed it, but wars with its neighbors. The highly prized Venetian navy, which was once invincible, spread over too long distances and found himself unable to defend his own empire.

2. Empire of Kush

The Kush Empire lasted from approximately 1070 BC. to 350 AD and occupied territory that currently belongs to the Republic of Sudan. Throughout its long history, very little information has survived about the political structure in the region, however, there is evidence of monarchies in last years existence. However, the Kush Empire ruled over several smaller countries in the region and managed to retain power. The empire's economy was heavily dependent on the trade in iron and gold.

Some evidence suggests that the empire was attacked by desert tribes, while others believe that over-reliance on iron led to deforestation, forcing the people to disperse.

Other empires fell because they exploited their own people or neighboring countries, however, the deforestation theory believes that the Kush Empire fell because it destroyed its own lands. Both the rise and fall of the empire turned out to be fatally connected with the same industry.

1. Eastern Roman Empire

The Roman Empire is not only one of the most famous in history, it is also the longest lasting empire. It went through several eras, but, in fact, lasted since 27 BC. to 1453 AD – a total of 1480 years. The republics that preceded it were destroyed by civil wars, and Julius Caesar became dictator. The empire expanded into territory modern Italy and most of the Mediterranean region. The Empire had great strength, but Emperor Diocletian in the third century “introduced” key factor, ensuring the long-term success and prosperity of the empire. He determined that two emperors could rule, thereby easing the stress of taking over 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 overthrew Romulus Augustus from the imperial throne. The Eastern Roman Empire continued to flourish after 476, becoming better known as the Byzantine Empire.

Class conflicts led to civil war 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 short period time to rule in some territories Byzantine Empire. Social upheaval and plague contributed to the further weakening of the kingdom. Combined with growing unrest in the empire, plague and social unrest, it eventually fell when the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople in 1453.

Despite the strategy of co-emperor 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 weak points, 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.

Over the past 3 thousand years, the Old World has seen the rise and fall of powerful empires, and their history and past glory could not but influence the culture of the countries and peoples that today occupy the spaces where they dominated. The ruins of large cities, majestic palaces and temples, remaining after the collapse of great civilizations - Persia and the Mediterranean - eloquently testify to the wealth, splendor and power of great empires. The remains of fortresses and roads, palaces and canals, codes of laws carved on rocks and written down on paper, and praises of triumphants tell how they achieved military power, with the help of which they subjugated more and more new territories and maintained control and administration over vast colonies. Ancient empires are significantly different from each other in terms of their existence, differ in size and cultural traditions, but they all have some common features.

What is an empire

Which ancient states can be called empires? Of course, not only the title of the ruler and the official, declared name of the country can serve as the basis for such a division. But still, let’s try to look deeper into the essence of things and understand how they differ from other states. And it doesn’t matter who is in power: the emperor, the senate, national assembly or religious figure. The main thing that distinguishes the empire is its supranational character. A republic, despotism, or kingdom become an empire only when they go beyond the state formation of any one people or tribe and unite many cultures and peoples at different stages of development.

Map of the Old World in the 1st century. BC.

It is no coincidence that their era began in the countries of the Old World at approximately the same time, and it is no coincidence that this time is usually called the era of axial civilizations.

It begins at the turn of the 2nd and 1st millennia BC. e. and covers the period before the start of the Great Migration, which put an end to the greatest of. Of course, this provision is quite conditional. The first empires arose earlier than this designated period of time, and some of them survived its end.

It is enough to give just two examples. Egypt of the era of the New Kingdom, i.e. the second half of the 2nd millennium BC. e., can rightfully open a long list greatest empires antiquities. It was during this period that the country of the pharaohs stepped over the boundaries of its national civilization. During this era, Nubia, the legendary “country of Punt” in the south, the flourishing cities and palaces of the Levant were conquered, and the nomadic tribes of the Libyan Desert were conquered and pacified. All these areas were not only forced to recognize, but were included in economic system, administrative structure the countries of the pharaohs experienced cultural influences from her. Later rulers of Nubia and even Ethiopia traced their ancestry back to the godlike rulers of the Nile.

The Byzantine Empire is a direct successor ancient Rome, which continued officially, and the people were called Romans, that is, Romans, retained the attributes of empire and multinational character until its death in the middle of the 15th century. And the Ottoman Empire that took its place, with all its dissimilarity from Rome and Byzantium, inherited and preserved many of their traditions and, first of all, remained faithful to the imperial idea for many centuries.

But still, we will dwell on the era when they were just emerging, gaining strength and were at the zenith of their strength.

During this period, i.e. in the 1st millennium BC. e., powerful empires stretched wide stripe along the latitude from the Strait of Gibraltar in the west to the shores of the Yellow Sea in the east. The strip along which the power of empires spread was limited from the north and south by natural barriers: deserts, forests, seas and mountains.

But not only these barriers caused their formation along this axis. This is where the Old World is: Cretan-Mycenaean, Egyptian, Sumerian, Indus, Chinese. They paved the way for future empires: they created a city network, built the first roads and paved the first sea ​​routes, which connected the cities together. created and improved writing, the administrative apparatus, and the army. They discovered new ways of accumulating wealth and improved old ones. It was in this zone that all the achievements of mankind were concentrated, necessary for the emergence of a full-fledged state, their successful growth and development.

In this series of predecessors and heirs stands the Phoenician colonies of the Mediterranean, on the foundation of which arose the Roman Empire, the powers of the Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes and Persians of the Middle East, the Buddhist empires of the Indo-Aryans of the Ganges Valley and the Kushans, the empires of China.

The New World later, but also went this way from the “classical” urban civilizations of Teotihuacan to the Aztec empire and from the ancient prosperous cultures of the Andean highlands.

Having rallied many tribes and peoples around themselves, they not only successfully applied all the achievements of past centuries, but also created many new things, which distinguishes them from earlier civilizations. Of course, the great empires of antiquity were very different from each other in terms of traditions, forms of expression of their imperial spirit, and destinies. But there is also something that allows you to put them side by side. It was this “something” that gave us the right to call them all in one word - empires. What is this?

Firstly, as already said, all empires- These are supranational entities. And for the effective management of vast spaces with different cultural traditions, religions and ways of life, appropriate institutions and means are needed. With all the variety of approaches to solving the problem of management, they were all based on the same principles: a rigid hierarchy, the inviolability of central authority and, of course, uninterrupted communication between the center and the periphery.

Secondly, it must effectively defend its extensive borders from external enemies, and moreover, in order to confirm its exclusive right to rule many peoples, it must constantly grow. That is why in all empires war and military affairs received exceptional development and occupied a significant place in everyday life and ideology. As it turns out, militarization has become weak point almost all empires: changes of rulers, rebellions and the fall of provinces rarely took place without the participation of the military, both in Rome, in the extreme west of the civilized world of the Old World, and in China, in its extreme east.

And thirdly, neither effective governance nor military power are capable of ensuring the stability of any empire without ideological support. It could be a new religion, a real or legendary historical tradition, or, finally, a certain unification of culture, allowing one to contrast oneself, one’s belonging to a civilized empire, with the surrounding barbarians. But the latter soon became the same.

Map of the Roman Empire

The British Empire is the largest state that has ever existed in the history of mankind with colonies on all inhabited continents. Largest area The empire reached in the mid-1930s, when the lands of the United Kingdom extended over 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 in English as the most common in the world in the fields of transport and trade.

2. Mongol Empire (38.0 million km²)
Highest flowering - 1270-1368.

Mongol Empire (Mongolian Mongolian ezent guren; Middle Mongolian ᠶᠡᠺᠡ ᠮᠣᠨᠭᠣᠯ ᠤᠯᠤᠰ, Yeke Mongγol ulus - Great Mongolian state, Mongolian Mongol ulus) - a state that emerged in the 13th century as a result of the conquests of Chinggis 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 South-East Asia(area approx. 38,000,000 square kilometers). Karakorum became the capital of the state.

During its heyday it included vast territories Central Asia, Southern Siberia, of Eastern Europe, Middle East, China and Tibet. In the second half of the 13th century, the empire began to disintegrate into uluses, headed by the Chingizids. The largest fragments of Great Mongolia were the Yuan Empire, the Ulus of Jochi (Golden Horde), the state of the Hulaguids and the Chagatai Ulus. The Great Khan Kublai, who assumed (1271) the title of Emperor Yuan and moved the capital to Khanbalyk, laid claim to supremacy over all uluses. By the beginning of the 14th 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 flowering - 1866

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

The Empire was proclaimed on October 22 (November 2, 1721) following the results of the Northern War, when, at the request of senators, Russian Tsar Peter I the Great accepted 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 ever to exist (after the British and Mongol Empires) - stretching to the Arctic Ocean in the north and the Black Sea in the south, to the Baltic Sea in the west and 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 fell within the competence of the Constituent Assembly; January 5 (18), 1918 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 at 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 provisions and recruits from the localities, and improving tax collection. Initially, the country is divided into 8 provinces headed by governors vested with judicial and administrative powers.

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

By 1914, the empire was divided into 78 provinces, 21 regions and 2 independent districts, where 931 cities were located. Russia includes the following territories of modern states: all CIS countries (without 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. Some provinces and regions were united into a governorate general (Kiev, Caucasus, Siberian, Turkestan, East Siberian, Amur, Moscow). The Bukhara and Khiva khanates were official vassals, the Uriankhai region is a protectorate. For 123 years (from 1744 to 1867), the Russian Empire also owned Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, as well as part of the Pacific coast of the United States and Canada.

According to the general census of 1897, the population was 129.2 million people. The distribution of the population by territory 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 peak - 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, and parts of Central and Eastern Asia. The USSR occupied almost 1/6 of the Earth's inhabited landmass; at the time of its collapse it was the largest country in the world by area. Formed on the territory that by 1917 was occupied by the Russian Empire without Finland, part Polish kingdom and some other territories.

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

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

The USSR was created on December 30, 1922 by uniting the RSFSR, Ukrainian SSR, Belarusian SSR and 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, 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 an acute confrontation between representatives of the central union government and the newly elected local authorities (Supreme Councils, presidents of the union republics). In 1989-1990, the “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 voting citizens were in favor of preserving the renewed union. But after August putsch and the events that followed, the preservation of the USSR as a state entity became virtually impossible, as 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 Russian Federation was recognized as a continuation state USSR in international legal relations and took his place on the UN Security Council.

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

The Spanish Empire (Spanish: Imperio Español) is a collection 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 era of great geographical discoveries, during which it became one of the first colonial empires. The Spanish Empire existed from the 15th century until (in the case of its African possessions) the end of the 20th century. Spanish territories united in the late 1480s with a union Catholic kings: King of Aragon and Queen of Castile. Despite the fact that the monarchs continued to rule each their own lands, they 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 launched the first Spanish exploratory expedition westward across the Atlantic Ocean, discovering the New World for Europeans and establishing Spain's first overseas colonies there. From this point 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 of North and South America, respectively, taking advantage of the contradictions between local peoples and using higher military technologies. Subsequent expeditions extended the empire's borders from modern Canada to the southern tip of South America, including the Falkland or Malvinas Islands. In 1519, the First Voyage around the World, begun by Ferdinand Magellan in 1519 and completed by Juan Sebastian Elcano in 1522, aimed to achieve what Columbus failed, namely the western route to Asia, and as a result included Spain in the sphere of influence Far East. Colonies were established in Guam, the Philippines and nearby islands. At the time of its Siglo de Oro, the Spanish Empire included the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, large parts of Italy, lands in Germany and France, colonies in Africa, Asia and Oceania, and large areas in the Americas. In the 17th century, Spain controlled an empire of such a scale, and its parts were so far removed from each other, which no one had achieved before.

IN late XVI - early XVII 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 Great Britain at Cartagena (modern Colombia) extended Spanish hegemony in the Americas into the 19th century. IN late XVIII centuries, Spanish expeditions in the northwest Pacific 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 Spain's colonies became cut off from the mother country, and the subsequent independence movement that began 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 four-hundred-year-old Spanish empire, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Spanish East Indies, continued to remain under Spanish control until the late 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 still 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 abandoned the Spanish Sahara in 1976, the colony was immediately annexed by Morocco and Mauritania, and then entirely by Morocco in 1980, although technically the territory remains under a UN decision. control of the Spanish administration. Today, 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)
Highest flowering - 1790

The Great Qing State (Daicing gurun.svg Daicing Gurun, Chinese tr. 大清國, pal.: 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 clan of Aishin Gyoro in the territory of Manchuria, currently called northeastern China. In less than 30 years, all of China, part of Mongolia and part of Central Asia came under her rule.

The dynasty was originally called "Jin" (金 - gold), in traditional Chinese historiography "Hou Jin" (後金 - Later Jin), according to the Jin Empire - former state the Jurchens, from whom the Manchus derived themselves. In 1636 the name was changed to "Qing" (清 - "pure"). In the first half of the 18th century. The Qing government managed to establish effective governance of the country, one of the results of which was that in this century the fastest rates of population growth were observed in China. The Qing court pursued a policy of self-isolation, which ultimately led to the fact that in the 19th century. China, part of the Qing Empire, was forcibly opened by Western powers.

Subsequent cooperation with Western powers allowed the dynasty to avoid collapse during the Taiping Rebellion, carry out relatively successful modernization, etc. to exist until the beginning of the 20th century, but it also served as the reason for growing nationalist (anti-Manchu) sentiments.

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

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

Russian kingdom or in the Byzantine version Russian kingdom - Russian state, which existed between 1547 and 1721. The name "Russian Kingdom" was the official name of Russia in this historical period. The official name was also рꙋсїѧ

In 1547, the Sovereign of All Rus' and Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan IV the Terrible was crowned Tsar and took the full title: “Great Sovereign, by the grace of God, Tsar and Grand Duke of All Rus', Vladimir, Moscow, Novgorod, Pskov, Ryazan, Tver, Yugorsk, Perm, Vyatsky, Bulgarian and others,” subsequently, with the expansion of the borders of the Russian state, the title was added “Tsar of Kazan, Tsar of Astrakhan, Tsar of Siberia,” “and ruler of all Northern countries.”

In terms of title, the Russian Kingdom was preceded by the Grand Duchy of Moscow, and its successor was the Russian Empire. 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 Russian lands (including those found after Mongol invasion as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland) and the restoration of the Old Russian state could be traced throughout the existence of the Russian state and was inherited by the Russian Empire.

8. Yuan Dynasty (14.0 million km²)
Highest flowering - 1310

Empire (in the Chinese tradition - dynasty) Yuan (Ikh Yuan ul.PNG Mong. Ikh Yuan Uls, Great Yuan State, Dai Ön Yeke Mongghul Ulus.PNG Dai Ön Yeke Mongghul Ulus; Chinese example: 元朝, pinyin: Yuáncháo; Vietnamese. Nhà Nguyên (Nguyên triều), House (Dynasty) of Nguyen) - Mongol state, the main part of whose territory was China (1271-1368). Founded by the grandson of Genghis Khan, Mongol Khan Kublai Kublai, 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 was recorded during the subsequent Ming Dynasty and is called "Yuan Shi".

9. Umayyad Caliphate (13.0 million km²)
Highest flowering - 720-750.

Omayyad (arab. الأمويوild) or Banu Umaya (arab. Lf.) - the Caliph dynasty, founded by Muavia in 661. Omeyayads of the Sufyanid and Marvanid branches ruled in the Damask Caliphate until the middle of the 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 the caliph Hisham Abd al-Rahman, who founded the dynasty in Spain (Cordoba Caliphate). 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 peak - 1938

Evolution of the French Colonial Empire (year is indicated in the upper left corner):

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

Created by a union of Turkic tribes and headed by rulers from the noble Ashinov family, this state was one of the largest in the history of medieval Asia. During the period of greatest expansion (at the end of the 6th century), the Kaganate controlled the territory of Mongolia, China, Altai, Central Asia, East Turkestan, the North Caucasus and Kazakhstan. In addition, such Chinese states as Northern Zhou and Northern Qi, Sasanian Iran, and from 576, Crimea, depended on the Turkic empire.

Created in the thirteenth century as a result of the aggressive policies of Genghis Khan and then his successors. It became the largest in world history, occupying the territory from Novgorod to Southeast Asia and from the Danube to the Sea of ​​Japan. The area of ​​the state was approximately 38 million km2. At the height of the Mongol Empire, it included vast areas of Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Southern Siberia, the Middle East, Tibet and China.

The first and oldest unified state of China, Qin, founded solid foundation for the subsequent Han Empire. She became one of the most powerful state entities Ancient world. For more than four centuries of its existence, the Han Empire represented an important era in the development of East Asia. To this day, the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom call themselves Han Chinese - an ethnic self-name that comes from the empire that has sunk into oblivion.

During the Chinese Ming era, a standing army was created and a navy was built. The total number of soldiers in the empire reached a million. Representatives of the Ming dynasty were the last rulers who belonged to ethnic Chinese. After their fall, the Manchu Qing dynasty came to power in the empire.

The state was formed on the territory of modern Iran and Iraq after the overthrow of the Arsacids, representatives of the Parthian dynasty. Power in the empire passed to the Sassanid Persians. Their empire existed from the 3rd to the 7th centuries. It reached its peak during the reign of Khosrow I Anushirvan, and during the reign of Khosrow II Parviz, the borders of the state expanded significantly. At that time, the Sassanid Empire included the lands of present-day Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Armenia, the eastern part of present-day Turkey, parts of modern India, Pakistan and Syria. In addition, the Sasanian state partially captured the Caucasus, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia, Egypt, the lands of modern Israel, and Jordan, expanding its borders, although not for long, almost to the limits of the ancient Achaemenid power. In the mid-seventh century, the Sasanian Empire was invaded and absorbed into the powerful Arab Caliphate.

A monarchical state proclaimed on January 3, 1868 and lasted until May 3, 1947. After the restoration of imperial rule in 1868, the new government of Japan began to modernize the country under the slogan “Rich country - strong army.” As a result of imperial policies, by 1942 Japan had become the largest maritime power on the planet. However, after the end of World War II, this empire ceased to exist.

After Portugal and Spain, France in the 15th-17th centuries. was the third European state to colonize overseas territories. The French were equally interested in the development of tropical and temperate latitudes. For example, after exploring the mouth of the St. Lawrence River in 1535, Jacques Cartier founded the colony of New France, which once occupied the central part of the North American continent. In the 18th century, that is, in its heyday, the French colonies occupied an area of ​​9 million km2.

As a result of Napoleon's occupation of Portugal, the royal family went to Brazil, the most important and largest of the Portuguese colonies. From that time on, the country began to be ruled by the Braganza dynasty. After Napoleon's troops left Portugal, Brazil became independent from the mother country, although it continued to remain under the rule of the royal family. Thus began the history of an empire that lasted more than seventy years and occupied a significant part of South America.

It was the largest continental monarchy. Thus, in 1914, the Russian Empire occupied a huge area (about 22 million km2). It was the third largest power that ever existed and stretched from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east, from the Arctic Ocean to the Black Sea in the south. The head of the empire, the tsar, had unlimited absolute power until 1905.

Her possessions were in Asia, Europe and Africa. Turkish army For a long time it was considered almost invincible. Power in the state belonged to the sultans, who owned countless treasures. The Ottoman dynasty ruled for more than six centuries, from 1299 to 1922, when the monarchy was overthrown. The area of ​​the Ottoman Empire at the time of its greatest prosperity reached 5,200,000 km2.

Abstracts were prepared based on materials from the German magazine "Illustrierte Wissenschaft".

From the school history course we know about the emergence of the first states on earth with their unique way of life, culture and art. The distant and largely mysterious life of people of past times excited and awakened imagination. And, probably, for many it would be interesting to see maps of the greatest empires of antiquity, placed side by side. Such a comparison makes it possible to feel the size of the once gigantic state formations and the place they occupied on Earth and in the history of mankind.

Egypt. Largest sizes the empire reached in 1450 BC. e.

Greece. The dark areas on the map indicate the lands where Greek culture flourished.

Persia. The territory of the empire in 500 BC. e.

India. The country's territory reached its largest size in 250 BC. e.

China occupied such territory in 221 BC. e.

The Roman Empire at its peak - the beginning of the 2nd century AD.

Byzantium in its heyday - VI century.

Arab Caliphate. It reached its greatest size in 632 AD. e. A118 years later, the area of ​​the Caliphate was significantly reduced (dark shading).

The state is an ancient social entity and means a territory occupied by a settled population subject to the same authority. Ancient thinkers already thought about the essence of government. For example, the Greek philosopher Aristotle saw in the state the final natural form of community life, important for man, who by nature is a “political being.” Moreover, he considered the state “an environment for a completely happy life.”

In the Middle Ages and later, the concept of “state” began to include contractual principles between a person and the supreme power. In the state of nature, a person lacks not rights, the English thinkers of the 17th century John Milton and John Locke believed, but their security, which he finds in a state established by agreement precisely for this purpose.

A true son of the age of enlightenment, Jean-Jacques Rousseau saw the meaning of the formation of a state in respecting the interests of each of its citizens. People need it in order to “find a form of union that would protect and ensure the personality and property of each member of society so that each, connecting with others, would obey only himself and would remain as free as before.” “Freedom is not alienable” is the main position of Rousseau.

Even 8-9 thousand years ago, people began to switch to a sedentary lifestyle. Agriculture and the first domestic animals appeared. The so-called Neolithic revolution took place, which brought people to new living conditions. Agriculture could already provide a person with sufficient food, so hunting and gathering receded into the background. There was a division of labor between members of the same group, with leaders who governed communities of people. Over time, the need for public buildings arose, and the construction of palaces, temples, and fortresses began. Writing and the beginnings of arithmetic, astronomy and medicine appeared.

Rivers played a huge role in the formation of early civilizations. A river is not only a waterway, but also a stable harvest; it is no coincidence that it was in those distant times that people began to build canals and dams. But since the scattered tribes could not afford large reclamation buildings, groups of farmers united. The first state formations arose in Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates, where a flourishing culture developed.

Modern archaeologists and historians identify several conditions that give the right to call ancient communities of people a state. The first of them is no less than five thousand people who worship the same gods. Power is equipped with an apparatus of officials, and writing is indispensable, existing in any form. Large buildings - palaces and temples - are also an obligatory attribute of statehood. The population is divided into specialties so that everyone can no longer do everything for themselves and their families. So, along with priests and soldiers, artists, philosophers, builders, blacksmiths, weavers, potters, reapers, merchants and so on appeared.

The ancient empires that played their role in human history had all of the above conditions. But in addition, they were characterized by long-term political stability and well-established communications to the most remote outskirts, without which it is impossible to manage vast territories. All great empires had large armies: the passion for conquest was almost manic. And the rulers of such states sometimes achieved impressive successes, subjugating vast lands on which giant empires arose. But time passed, and the giant left the historical stage.

First Empire

Egypt. 3000-30 BC

This empire lasted three millennia - longer than any other. The state arose, according to the latest data, more than 3000 years BC, and when the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt took place (2686-2181), the so-called Old Kingdom was formed. The entire life of the country was connected with the Nile River, with its fertile valley and delta near the Mediterranean Sea. Egypt was ruled by a pharaoh (the word means food warehouse), governors and officials were in place, and in general social life in the country was quite developed (see “Science and Life” No. 1, 1997 - “The Stone Age is not over yet” - and No. 5, 1997 - “Ancient Egypt. Pyramid of Power”). The elite of society included officers, scribes, land surveyors and local priests. The pharaoh was considered a living deity, and performed all the most important sacrifices himself.

The Egyptians fanatically believed in the afterlife; cultural objects and majestic buildings - pyramids and temples - were dedicated to it. The walls of the burial chambers, covered with hieroglyphs, told more about the life of the ancient state than other archaeological finds.

The history of Egypt falls into two periods. The first is from its foundation until 332 BC, when the country was conquered by Alexander the Great. And the second period is the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty - the descendants of one of the generals Alexander the Great. In 30 BC, Egypt was conquered by a younger and more powerful empire - the Roman Empire.

Cradle of Western Culture

Greece. 700-146 BC

People settled the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula tens of thousands of years ago. But only from the 7th century BC can we talk about Greece as a large, culturally homogeneous entity, although with reservations: the country was a union of city-states that united during times of external threat, such as, for example, to repel Persian aggression.

Culture, religion and, above all, language were the framework within which the history of this country took place. In 510 BC, most cities were freed from the autocracy of the kings. Athens was soon ruled by democracy, but only male citizens had the right to vote.

The polity, culture and science of Greece became a model and an inexhaustible source of wisdom for almost all later European states. Already Greek scientists wondered about life and the Universe. It was in Greece that the foundations of such sciences as medicine, mathematics, astronomy and philosophy were laid. Greek culture ceased to develop when the Romans conquered the country. The decisive battle took place in 146 BC near the city of Corinth, when the troops of the Greek Achaean League were defeated.

The Dominion of the "King of Kings"

Persia. 600-331 BC

In the 7th century BC, the nomadic tribes of the Iranian Highlands rebelled against Assyrian rule. The winners founded the state of Media, which later, together with Babylonia and other neighboring countries, became a world power. By the end of the 6th century BC, it, led by Cyrus II and then his successors belonging to the Achaemenid dynasty, continued its conquests. In the west, the lands of the empire faced the Aegean Sea, in the east its border ran along the Indus River, in the south, in Africa, its possessions reached the first rapids of the Nile. (Most of Greece was occupied during the Greco-Persian War by the troops of the Persian king Xerxes in 480 BC.)

The monarch was called the "King of Kings", he stood at the head of the army and was the supreme judge. The domains were divided into 20 satrapies, where the king's viceroy ruled in his name. The subjects spoke four languages: Old Persian, Babylonian, Elamite and Aramaic.

In 331 BC, Alexander the Great defeated the hordes of Darius II, the last of the Achaemenid dynasty. Thus ended the history of this great empire.

Peace and love - for everyone

India. 322-185 BC

The legends dedicated to the history of India and its rulers are very fragmentary. Little information dates back to the time when the founder of the religious teaching, Buddha (566-486 BC), the first real person in the history of India, lived.

In the first half of the 1st millennium BC, many small states arose in the northeastern part of India. One of them - Magadha - rose to prominence thanks to successful wars of conquest. King Ashoka, who belonged to the Maurya dynasty, expanded his possessions so much that they occupied almost all of present-day India, Pakistan and part of Afghanistan. Administrative officials and a strong army obeyed the king. At first, Ashoka was known as a cruel commander, but, becoming a follower of the Buddha, he preached peace, love and tolerance and received the nickname “The Convert.” This king built hospitals, fought deforestation, and pursued a soft policy towards his people. His decrees that have reached us, carved on rocks and columns, are the oldest, accurately dated epigraphic monuments of India, telling about government, social relations, religion and culture.

Even before his rise, Ashoka divided the population into four castes. The first two were privileged - priests and warriors. The invasion of the Bactrian Greeks and internal strife in the country led to the collapse of the empire.

The beginning of more than two thousand years of history

China. 221-210 BC

During the period called Zhanyu in Chinese history, many years of struggle waged by many small kingdoms brought victory to the Qin kingdom. It united the conquered lands and in 221 BC formed the first Chinese empire led by Qin Shi Huang. The emperor carried out reforms that strengthened the young state. The country was divided into districts, military garrisons were established to maintain order and tranquility, a network of roads and canals was built, equal education was introduced for officials, and a single monetary system operated throughout the kingdom. The monarch established an order in which people were obliged to work where the interests and needs of the state required it. Even such a curious law was introduced: all carts must have an equal distance between the wheels so that they move along the same tracks. During the same reign, the Great Wall of China was created: it connected separate sections of defensive structures built earlier by the northern kingdoms.

In 210, Qing Shi Huang died. But subsequent dynasties left intact the foundations for building an empire laid by its founder. In any case, the last dynasty of Chinese emperors ceased to exist at the beginning of this century, and the borders of the state remain practically unchanged to this day.

An army that maintains order

Rome. 509 BC - 330 AD

In 509 BC, the Romans expelled the Etruscan king Tarquin the Proud from Rome. Rome became a republic. By 264 BC, her troops captured the entire Apennine Peninsula. After this, expansion began in all directions of the world, and by 117 AD the state stretched its borders from west to east - from the Atlantic Ocean to the Caspian Sea, and from south to north - from the rapids of the Nile and the coast of all of North Africa to the borders with Scotland and along the lower reaches of the Danube.

For 500 years, Rome was governed by two annually elected consuls and a senate, which was in charge of state property and finances, foreign policy, military affairs and religion.

In 30 BC, Rome became an empire led by Caesar, and essentially a monarch. The first Caesar was Augustus. A large and well-trained army participated in the construction of a huge network of roads, their total length being more than 80,000 kilometers. Excellent roads made the army very mobile and allowed it to quickly reach the most remote corners of the empire. The proconsuls appointed by Rome in the provinces - governors and officials loyal to Caesar - also helped keep the country from collapse. This was facilitated by the settlements of soldiers who had served in the conquered lands.

The Roman state, unlike many other giants of the past, fully corresponded to the concept of “empire”. It also became a model for future contenders for world domination. European countries inherited a lot from the culture of Rome, as well as the principles of building parliaments and political parties.

Uprisings of peasants, slaves and urban plebs, and the increasing pressure of Germanic and other barbarian tribes from the north forced Emperor Constantine I to move the capital of the state to the city of Byzantium, later called Constantinople. This happened in 330 AD. After Constantine, the Roman Empire was actually divided into two - Western and Eastern, ruled by two emperors.

Christianity is the stronghold of the empire

Byzantium. 330-1453 AD

Byzantium arose from the eastern remnants of the Roman Empire. The capital became Constantinople, founded by Emperor Constantine I in 324-330 on the site of the Byzantine colony (hence the name of the state). From that moment on, the isolation of Byzantium in the bowels of the Roman Empire began. The Christian religion played a major role in the life of this state, becoming the ideological foundation of the empire and the stronghold of Orthodoxy.

Byzantium existed for more than a thousand years. It reached its political and military power during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, in the 6th century AD. It was then that, having a strong army, Byzantium conquered the western and southern lands of the former Roman Empire. But within these limits the empire did not last long. In 1204, Constantinople fell to the attacks of the crusaders, which never rose again, and in 1453 the capital of Byzantium was captured by the Ottoman Turks.

In the name of Allah

Arab Caliphate. 600-1258 AD

The sermons of the Prophet Muhammad laid the foundation for the religious and political movement in Western Arabia. Called "Islam", it contributed to the creation of a centralized state in Arabia. However, soon as a result of successful conquests, a vast Muslim empire was born - the Caliphate. The presented map shows the greatest scope of the conquests of the Arabs, who fought under the green banner of Islam. In the East, the Caliphate included the western part of India. The Arab world has left indelible marks on human history, in literature, mathematics and astronomy.

From the beginning of the 9th century, the Caliphate gradually began to fall apart - the weakness of economic ties, the vastness of the territories subjugated by the Arabs, which had their own culture and traditions, did not contribute to unity. In 1258, the Mongols conquered Baghdad and the Caliphate broke up into several Arab states.