5 Great Empires That Ruled the World

According to SAEDNEWS, The Persian Empire was established during a unique time, when the most developed civilizations were already settled near the Middle East. The Persian Empire, which ruled much of the Middle East, governed the largest percentage of the global population more than any other empire. To answer the question of which empires were the most powerful throughout history.

Did you know which empires were the most powerful throughout history compared to others?

Persian Empire

The Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great around 550 BCE, was eventually overthrown by Alexander the Great. However, it left a lasting legacy in the development of future civilizations and empires. In fact, the Persian Empire was the first global empire and helped set standards that were seen in later empires.

Persian Empire

The Persian Empire was created during a unique time when the most established populations were living near the Middle East. The Persian Empire ruled much of the Middle East and governed 44% of the global population at its peak in 480 BCE, with 49.4 million people under its control. The empire stretched across areas of the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, India, Europe, and the Mediterranean.

Persian Empire

Such an enormous empire could only have been organized by a large army. During this time, the Babylonians, Egyptians, and Indians were also under Persian rule. The Persian Empire governed the Middle East for over two hundred years in an era of coordination and peace, a feat rarely repeated. The Persian Empire’s legacy included the creation of a vast road network, a postal system, a unified government language (Aramaic), autonomy for different tribes, and an effective bureaucracy. Zoroastrianism, with concepts like free will and Heaven and Hell, also influenced later religions and civilizations.

Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was the dominant power for a long time. It was one of the largest empires in history, and many features of the modern world stem from Roman influence. The Romans expanded their empire primarily through Greek-influenced culture, and their contributions to architecture, philosophy, and science continue to impact future generations. The Roman Empire also helped Christianity grow from a small sect to one of the world’s major religions.

Roman Empire

Roman law also influenced legal systems in the West, and modern democracies were inspired by Roman political systems.

Despite Greece being known as the birthplace of democracy, the Founding Fathers of the United States were influenced by the political models of Britain and Rome.

Roman Empire

They admired Rome’s mixed form of government, which combined elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy. The U.S. political system, with its separate branches of government, is closer to the Roman model. When Rome transitioned from a republic to an empire, the idea of Caesar’s greatness inspired future rulers. The Romans were hardworking people, united to defeat their enemies.

The Caliphate

The Arabic Empire, known as the Caliphate, was a political entity founded by the Prophet Muhammad and continued for centuries.

The Caliphate

While it became more Islamic over time, the Caliphate expanded as Islam spread worldwide, with empires ruled by Muslims, not necessarily Arabs.

The four Rashidun Caliphs ruled by consensus, and later, the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates took over. The Caliphate ultimately fell due to the Mongol invasion in 1258, and rival dynasties, especially the Turks and Persians, emerged as contenders for power.

Despite its fall, the Caliphate was impressive, with numerous military successes. It was remarkable that a tribal people with little organization managed to defeat the Byzantine Empire and destroy the Sassanid Empire, both of which had far more resources. The conquests of the Arabs showed that, at times, ideological zeal and conviction could overcome organizational weaknesses and technological deficiencies. Since the Arab Empire, like the Persian Empire, stretched across Africa, Europe, Central Asia, India, and China, it facilitated the exchange of goods and knowledge.

The Caliphate

The ultimate legacy of the Arab Empire is Islam, a religion followed by over a billion people worldwide today.

The Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire overcame enormous challenges and defeated enemies that were far stronger and more populous.

The Mongol Empire

It became the largest contiguous empire in history. Founded by Genghis Khan in 1206, the Mongol Empire grew by conquering parts of China and extended its reach into Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. However, Mongol ambassadors and diplomats were often killed by neighboring countries, sparking a cycle of revenge that led to the empire’s eventual decline.

Although there were only two million Mongols worldwide, they achieved significant victories in the Middle East, Russia, and China under Genghis Khan’s leadership. Despite their small population, they were able to be highly mobile, using horses and herds to carry out raids. During the Mongol conquests, millions of people were killed, but a brief period of peace and trade arose.

The Mongol Empire

However, in the long run, the Mongols showed they were inefficient at governing their empire, which eventually split into four Khanates and ultimately collapsed.

Britain

The British Empire was the most significant empire of modern history. The British representative democracy inspired Enlightenment philosophers like Montesquieu, who proposed modern state theories.

Britain

The British model emphasized liberalism, rule of law, civil rights, and free trade—values that evolved over time and helped spread the empire’s reach.

These characteristics also aided the expansion of Britain’s empire.

Britain