Top 10 Largest Empires to Ever Exist

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Human history is full of many glorious acts of courage, despicable treason, and virtually unnumbered wars. In short, these main ingredients have formed the greatest empires to ever exist in human history. Take a look below to find out more about the top 10 largest empire in history to ever exist and how they helped shape history.

#10: Portuguese Empire

The Portuguese Empire is one of the largest empire in history. In addition, it is one of the longest lived empires in history as well. It was the first empire to come out of the European Renaissance. The Portuguese Colonial Empire started with the capture of the Spanish city of Ceuta in 1415. It ended with it giving back Macau to China in 1999. In total the empire lasted nearly 600 years.

The Portuguese empire first started as a small kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula. During the time of the Portuguese Reconquista, King Afonso III of Portugal took back what is today modern Portugal from the Spanish Moors.^[1]New World Encyclopedia – Portuguese Empire This was the beginning of what was to become a great empire. Due to their previous history as well as their location at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula, surrounded by the Spanish Monarchy, the Portuguese Empire was well situated to form a large empire.

First, having kicked the Muslim powers out of Europe, Portugal felt it was their duty to continue destroying Islam throughout the world. Second, due to being a coastal nation, Portugal had a long and strong maritime tradition. As such, they used their maritime abilities to bypass the overland routes that other nationals already dominated in order to tap into Asia’s resources.

#9: Yuan Dynasty

The Yuan Dynasty was the natural evolution of the Mongol Empire in China. Though the Mongols had ruled China for many decades, in 1271, they renamed the empire the Yuan. Do so, the Mongols set up the new empire in the Chinese style. This included putting into effect a central Chinese style bureaucratic structure and tax system. Ironically, this resulted in the greatest amount of Chinese scientific, cultural, and economic influence that China had ever seen.^[2]Encyclopedia Britannica – Yuan dynasty

However, it could not last. While the Mongols did help bring a new Renaissance to China, the Mongols themselves, never truly integrated into Chinese society. In fact, they didn’t use local Chinese officials to help with the government. Instead, they used foreigners, like Marco Polo, to help run the government. The Chinese people did not like this, and eventually revolted. As such, the Yuan Dynasty history was short and it fell in 1368.

#8: Umayyad Caliphate

The Umayyad Caliphate became one of the largest empire in history. This Islamic Empire expanded from India to Spain. At its height it included over 4.3 million square miles of land territory. In addition, around 62 million people lived within its borders. At the time, this was about 29% of the whole world’s population.

However, the Umayyad Caliphate did not start this way. In fact, the Umayyad family originally started out as a merchant family located in Mecca. In fact, when Islam was first spreading in Saudi Arabia, they resisted it. However, by 627, they converted to Islam.^[3]Encyclopedia Britannica – Umayyad Dynasty The Umayyads quickly became important administrators in the new Islamic state under Muhammad and his successors. When civil war broke out in the new Islamic state a few generations after Muhammad’s death, the Umayyads were victorious. They then started the Umayyad Caliphate.

#7: Abbasid Caliphate

The Abbasid Caliphate was the third Islamic empire to come after the death of Muhammad. They took over after revolting against the Umayyad Caliphate and defeating them in 750. Unlike the Umayyad Caliphate, the Abbasid Caliphate did not focusing on expanding west into northern Africa and Europe. Rather, they focused on going east and moved their capital to modern day Baghdad. In addition, for the first time in the Islamic world, they did not associate being Muslim with being Arabic. As such, the biggest strength that united their empire was Islamic law and not nationality.

Between 750 and 833, the Abbasid Caliphate brought on the Golden Age of Islam. During this time, they ushered in prestige and power through arts, commerce, industry, and science.^[4]Encyclopedia Britannica – Abbāsid dynasty

#6: Second French Colonial Empire

After France lost the Napoleonic Wars, Britain gave back most the territory that it had won during the war. The Second French Colonial Empire was one of the largest empire in history. However, it did not truly begin until 1830. As this time, France invaded Algeria. Afterwards, under Napolean III, the Second French Colonial Empire saw its biggest increase in size with the Scramble for Africa. During this period, they took over most of Western, Central, and Northern Africa. By 1870, the Second French Colonial Empire had a land area of over 1 million square kilometers. In addition, more than 5 million people lived within its colonial borders.

After WWI, the Second French Colonial Empire gained Syria, Lebanon, Togo, and Cameroon. During this time, the empire enacted a policy of “civilizing” the people within its regions. This included promoting French culture, language, and Christianity on the colonial inhabitants. They helped incentivize this by giving suffrage and French citizenship to the people who adopted the Franco-Europeanization of their cultures.^[5]New World Encyclopedia – French Empire

The Second French Colonial Empire saw its fall after WWII and the establishment of the new French Constitution,

#5: Spanish Empire

The Spanish Empire was one of the largest empire in history. The rule of Spanish Empire and Spanish Royal Family began in the days of Christopher Columbus and lasted in some parts of the African continent until the end of the 20th century. From the late 15th to the early 19th centuries, Spain controlled a huge overseas territory in the New World and the Philippines. At the peak of its power it covered approximately 9.2% of the world’s surface area. In addition, between 1740 and 1790 the empire had an estimate of 68.2 million people within its borders. At the time, this was about 12% of the world’s total population. Due to the wide extent of its Empire, today Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world.^[6]New World Encyclopedia – Spanish Empire

#4: Qing Dynasty

The Qing Dynasty was the last ruling dynasty of the Chinese civilization. It ruled from 1644 to 1912 and succeeded the Ming Dynasty. After it fell, the Republic of China came to power. The Manchu clan Aisin Gioro from the modern northeast China or Manchuria was the dynasty’s founder. The Qing dynasty is the 4th largest empire in history. At its peak, it covered almost 10% of world’s land area.^[7]Encyclopedia Britannica – Qing dynasty

#3: Russian Empire

The Russian Empire was the 3rd largest empire in history. At its height, it covered 22.8 million square kilometers or about to 15.3% of the earth’s surface. In addition, in 1913, the empire had 176.4 million people. This was about 9% of the world’s population at the time.

Historically, Russia was the last monarchy in Europe, and before World War I one of the five great powers in the European region. Unfortunately for the monarchy, the Russian Empire met its end, after the bloody events of the Russian Revolution of 1917.^[8]The Atlantic – The Fall of the Russian Empire: The End of the Monarchy

#2: Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire was one of the largest empire in history. The Mongols rose up despite the odds and defeated enemies much more powerful than it, both in strength and numbers. At the peak of its power, it was the world’s largest contiguous land empire and struck fear in all its enemies. The Mongol warlord Temujin, who later took the title of Genghis Khan, founded the Mongol Empire in 1206 AD. The empire existed during the 13th and the 14th century. At its height it covered around 16% of the world land area, making it the second largest empire in history.^[9]PNAS – Pluvials, droughts, the Mongol Empire, and modern Mongolia

A defining moment in the history of the Mongol Empire was the assassination of the Mongolian ambassadors by the neighboring Khwarazmian Empire. The Great Khan took this as an insult and as a result laid waste to central Asia.

#1: British Empire

The British Empire is the largest empire in history. As such, it is one of the most important empires that the World has ever known. It played a major role in shaping the modern western world. The British institutions of representative democracy deeply inspired by the French Enlightenment philosophers such as Montesquieu. In addition, the British adopted the United States of America’s founding principles of liberalism, the rule of law, and civil rights, and spread them to the whole world.

The British Empire was able to grow because of its financial prowess and naval strength. The empire was massive and comprised of dominions, colonies, and protectorates. At its prime, it was the largest empire that the world had ever known. In addition, for over a century, it was the major global power. By 1913, the British Empire had over 412 million people within its borders. This was 23% of the global population at the time. By 1920, it covered 35,500,000 sq km or around 24% of the Earth’s total surface area.

The massive expansion of the British resulted in its political, legal, linguistic and cultural legacy to spread to every corner of the world. At the peak of its power, the British Empire was had the nickname “the empire on which the sun never sets”. This was because it was so big that somewhere in the Empire the sun was always shining.