From the Achaemenid to the British — the great powers that ruled the world.
550–330 BC
Persia/Middle East
5.5M km²
at peak
27 BC–476 AD
Europe & Mediterranean
5M km²
206 BC–220 AD
China
6M km²
322–185 BC
Indian subcontinent
336–323 BC
Greece to India
5.2M km²
1206–1368
Asia & Europe
24M km²
330–1453
Eastern Mediterranean
3.5M km²
1299–1922
Middle East, Europe, N.Africa
800–1806
Central Europe
1M km²
632–1258
Middle East to Spain
13M km²
1492–1976
Americas, Europe, Asia
20M km²
1526–1857
4M km²
1644–1912
China & surrounds
13.1M km²
1583–1997
Global
35.5M km²
1534–1980
Americas, Africa, Asia
13.5M km²
1721–1917
Europe & Asia
23.7M km²
1933–1945
Europe
1.1M km²
1776–present
Americas & Global influence
9.8M km²