The oldest known empire is the Akkadian Empire. But what are the most recent? Here’s a list of what I consider empires that lasted into at least the 20th Century.
- Russian Empire (1721-1917): The Russian Empire was the world’s third largest contiguous empire after the Mongol Empire and the British Empire, and spanned Eastern Europe, Northern Asia, and Central Asia. (replaced by Soviet “Empire”?)
- Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867-1918): This Central European empire was a multinational state that encompassed modern-day Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, and northern Italy.
- British Empire (1603-1921): At its peak, the British Empire was the largest empire in history and, for a short period, the largest contiguous empire. It spanned over 33 million square kilometers (13 million sq mi) at its peak and held sway over roughly a quarter of the world’s population.
- Ottoman Empire (1299-1922): One of the longest-lasting empires in history, the Ottomans ruled over vast swathes of territory in southeastern Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa.
- Empire of Japan (1868-1947): Lasting from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 to the aftermath of World War II in 1947. Through modernization and military expansion, it became a major world power. At its peak in 1942, it controlled Korea, huge chunks of China, and much of Southeast Asia.
- The Soviet Empire (1922-1991): Many consider the Soviet Union and its sphere of influence an empire. It arose from the Russian Revolution and inherited the Russian Empire under a new system. It even included China until the Sino-Soviet split of 1961. At its peak, it controlled the most land in history at 13.5 million square miles (or 35 million square kilometers).
- The American Empire (1776-present): The United States’ role as a potential empire is debatable. The US maintains a vast military presence around the world and exerts significant economic and cultural influence globally. However, its control is often indirect, through economic and cultural means rather than direct military rule.
P.S. Perhaps China is another, emerging, unofficial Empire?
P.P.S. Build your own $128 per day online Empire with this…Empire!
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