Top 10 World Empires

many empires have risen and fallen

many empires have risen and fallen through the ages of history welcome to

through the ages of history welcome to

through the ages of history welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 world

down our picks for the top 10 world

down our picks for the top 10 world empires number 10 the Mayan Empire

empires number 10 the Mayan Empire

empires number 10 the Mayan Empire surviving from roughly 2000 BC to the

surviving from roughly 2000 BC to the

surviving from roughly 2000 BC to the 1500s AD the Mayans are arguably one of

1500s AD the Mayans are arguably one of

1500s AD the Mayans are arguably one of the world’s longest-running empires

the world’s longest-running empires

the world’s longest-running empires extending through Mexico Guatemala

extending through Mexico Guatemala

extending through Mexico Guatemala Honduras El Salvador and Belize this may

Honduras El Salvador and Belize this may

Honduras El Salvador and Belize this may so American civilization was famous for

so American civilization was famous for

so American civilization was famous for its art and architecture advances in

its art and architecture advances in

its art and architecture advances in writing and mathematics the calendar and

writing and mathematics the calendar and

writing and mathematics the calendar and of course their end of the world

of course their end of the world

of course their end of the world prophecies so what was it that finally

prophecies so what was it that finally

prophecies so what was it that finally caused the downfall of this mysterious

caused the downfall of this mysterious

caused the downfall of this mysterious empire war with Spanish conquistadors

empire war with Spanish conquistadors

empire war with Spanish conquistadors number 9 the Ching dynasty in one last

number 9 the Ching dynasty in one last

number 9 the Ching dynasty in one last Imperial hurrah before China became a

Imperial hurrah before China became a

Imperial hurrah before China became a republic the Ching dynasty ruled a huge

republic the Ching dynasty ruled a huge

republic the Ching dynasty ruled a huge area that stretched from China into

area that stretched from China into

area that stretched from China into Russia governed by the foreign Manchu

Russia governed by the foreign Manchu

Russia governed by the foreign Manchu tribe China during this period was

tribe China during this period was

tribe China during this period was blessed with fortune and peace in part

blessed with fortune and peace in part

blessed with fortune and peace in part because of its impressive military

because of its impressive military

because of its impressive military strength however struggles against

strength however struggles against

strength however struggles against Western influence the opium wars and

Western influence the opium wars and

Western influence the opium wars and finally the shin-hye Revolution saw the

finally the shin-hye Revolution saw the

finally the shin-hye Revolution saw the Manchus overthrown and the Ching dynasty

Manchus overthrown and the Ching dynasty

Manchus overthrown and the Ching dynasty ended number 8 the Byzantine Empire in

ended number 8 the Byzantine Empire in

ended number 8 the Byzantine Empire in 395 ad the Roman Empire split while the

395 ad the Roman Empire split while the

395 ad the Roman Empire split while the western half officially fell in 476 ad

western half officially fell in 476 ad

western half officially fell in 476 ad the eastern half kept on truckin not

the eastern half kept on truckin not

the eastern half kept on truckin not only that the primarily greek-speaking

only that the primarily greek-speaking

only that the primarily greek-speaking Byzantine Empire thrived becoming one of

Byzantine Empire thrived becoming one of

Byzantine Empire thrived becoming one of Europe’s strongest forces economically

Europe’s strongest forces economically

Europe’s strongest forces economically culturally and militarily lasting over

culturally and militarily lasting over

culturally and militarily lasting over 1,000 years it was also one of history’s

1,000 years it was also one of history’s

1,000 years it was also one of history’s greatest Christian states again and

greatest Christian states again and

greatest Christian states again and again its borders were defended against

again its borders were defended against

again its borders were defended against Muslim invaders until in 1453 the

Muslim invaders until in 1453 the

Muslim invaders until in 1453 the capital of Constantinople fell number 7

capital of Constantinople fell number 7

capital of Constantinople fell number 7 the Achaemenid Empire

the Achaemenid Empire

the Achaemenid Empire some remember them from the film 300 but

some remember them from the film 300 but

some remember them from the film 300 but history tells a different tale

history tells a different tale

history tells a different tale better known as the Persian Empire this

better known as the Persian Empire this

better known as the Persian Empire this civilization was founded in the 6th

civilization was founded in the 6th

civilization was founded in the 6th century BC by Cyrus the Great

century BC by Cyrus the Great

century BC by Cyrus the Great aside from instituting a centralized

aside from instituting a centralized

aside from instituting a centralized administrative structure the Persians

administrative structure the Persians

administrative structure the Persians were fierce and feared warriors

were fierce and feared warriors

were fierce and feared warriors extending through Western and Central

extending through Western and Central

extending through Western and Central Asia the Achaemenids became the largest

Asia the Achaemenids became the largest

Asia the Achaemenids became the largest empire to that point with almost half

empire to that point with almost half

empire to that point with almost half the world’s population living under

the world’s population living under

the world’s population living under their banner number six the Egyptian

their banner number six the Egyptian

their banner number six the Egyptian Empire with Pharaohs ruling as both

Empire with Pharaohs ruling as both

Empire with Pharaohs ruling as both kings and gods the Egyptian Empire

kings and gods the Egyptian Empire

kings and gods the Egyptian Empire became one of the world’s most famous

became one of the world’s most famous

became one of the world’s most famous lasting from the 16th to the 11th

lasting from the 16th to the 11th

lasting from the 16th to the 11th century BC the New Kingdom of Egypt was

century BC the New Kingdom of Egypt was

century BC the New Kingdom of Egypt was the height of this civilizations power

the height of this civilizations power

the height of this civilizations power but it’s significance didn’t end there

but it’s significance didn’t end there

but it’s significance didn’t end there mummies pyramids hieroglyphics and

mummies pyramids hieroglyphics and

mummies pyramids hieroglyphics and papyrus are some of the famous heirlooms

papyrus are some of the famous heirlooms

papyrus are some of the famous heirlooms we’ve inherited from this rich culture

we’ve inherited from this rich culture

we’ve inherited from this rich culture while irrigation ships and even beer are

while irrigation ships and even beer are

while irrigation ships and even beer are also lasting gifts number 5 the Ottoman

also lasting gifts number 5 the Ottoman

also lasting gifts number 5 the Ottoman Empire though it lasted from $12.99

Empire though it lasted from $12.99

Empire though it lasted from $12.99 until after World War 1 the Ottoman

until after World War 1 the Ottoman

until after World War 1 the Ottoman Empire was at its height during the 16th

Empire was at its height during the 16th

Empire was at its height during the 16th century under Suleiman the Magnificent

century under Suleiman the Magnificent

century under Suleiman the Magnificent reaching from Southeast Europe to

reaching from Southeast Europe to

reaching from Southeast Europe to Western Asia and North Africa this

Western Asia and North Africa this

Western Asia and North Africa this strong Islamic state controlled trade

strong Islamic state controlled trade

strong Islamic state controlled trade through the region and while its

through the region and while its

through the region and while its multiculturalism is celebrated ethnic

multiculturalism is celebrated ethnic

multiculturalism is celebrated ethnic and religious tensions eventually tore

and religious tensions eventually tore

and religious tensions eventually tore the Turkish Empire apart from the inside

the Turkish Empire apart from the inside

the Turkish Empire apart from the inside while rival nations dismantled it from

while rival nations dismantled it from

while rival nations dismantled it from the outside number for the Macedonian

the outside number for the Macedonian

the outside number for the Macedonian Empire Alexander the Great is a famous

Empire Alexander the Great is a famous

Empire Alexander the Great is a famous Conqueror for a reason while he lived

Conqueror for a reason while he lived

Conqueror for a reason while he lived only until age 33 he amassed one of the

only until age 33 he amassed one of the

only until age 33 he amassed one of the world’s largest empires comprising the

world’s largest empires comprising the

world’s largest empires comprising the Persian Empire Egypt and much more from

Persian Empire Egypt and much more from

Persian Empire Egypt and much more from the tiny state of Macedon he took the

the tiny state of Macedon he took the

the tiny state of Macedon he took the throne at age 20 and continued

throne at age 20 and continued

throne at age 20 and continued overpowering enemies until he died

overpowering enemies until he died

overpowering enemies until he died undefeated however his premature death

undefeated however his premature death

undefeated however his premature death left his heirs fighting and the Empire

left his heirs fighting and the Empire

left his heirs fighting and the Empire he built soon collapsed number three the

he built soon collapsed number three the

he built soon collapsed number three the Mongol Empire

Mongol Empire

Mongol Empire this was the world’s largest contiguous

this was the world’s largest contiguous

this was the world’s largest contiguous Empire thanks to one of history’s most

Empire thanks to one of history’s most

Empire thanks to one of history’s most feared men Genghis Khan took power in

feared men Genghis Khan took power in

feared men Genghis Khan took power in 1206 and under his rule the Mongol and

1206 and under his rule the Mongol and

1206 and under his rule the Mongol and turkic tribes merged within a century

turkic tribes merged within a century

turkic tribes merged within a century his empires brutal tactics won them

his empires brutal tactics won them

his empires brutal tactics won them upwards of 12 million square miles of

upwards of 12 million square miles of

upwards of 12 million square miles of land Khan’s heirs continued this work

land Khan’s heirs continued this work

land Khan’s heirs continued this work after his death however the Empire’s

after his death however the Empire’s

after his death however the Empire’s sheer size worked against them without

sheer size worked against them without

sheer size worked against them without the unity of their people it disbanded

the unity of their people it disbanded

the unity of their people it disbanded number 2 the British Empire called the

number 2 the British Empire called the

number 2 the British Empire called the empire on which the Sun never sets this

empire on which the Sun never sets this

empire on which the Sun never sets this was the world largest empire at its peak

was the world largest empire at its peak

was the world largest empire at its peak and a primary global power controlling

and a primary global power controlling

and a primary global power controlling about one-fifth of the global population

about one-fifth of the global population

about one-fifth of the global population after building influence in the 16th

after building influence in the 16th

after building influence in the 16th century it peaked in 1922 however two

century it peaked in 1922 however two

century it peaked in 1922 however two world wars depleted its resources and

world wars depleted its resources and

world wars depleted its resources and the British Empire soon dissolved even

the British Empire soon dissolved even

the British Empire soon dissolved even so it’s legacy endures as English is now

so it’s legacy endures as English is now

so it’s legacy endures as English is now the world’s most widely spoken language

the world’s most widely spoken language

the world’s most widely spoken language number one the roman empire known for

number one the roman empire known for

number one the roman empire known for prosperity and peace this european

prosperity and peace this european

prosperity and peace this european civilization impacted art architecture

civilization impacted art architecture

civilization impacted art architecture language religion politics and more

language religion politics and more

language religion politics and more though it was officially founded by

though it was officially founded by

though it was officially founded by augustus in the 1st century bc perpetual

augustus in the 1st century bc perpetual

augustus in the 1st century bc perpetual dictator Julius Caesar greatly aided the

dictator Julius Caesar greatly aided the

dictator Julius Caesar greatly aided the transition from Republic to Empire but

transition from Republic to Empire but

transition from Republic to Empire but it’s staggering size eventually made the

it’s staggering size eventually made the

it’s staggering size eventually made the Empire weak against enemies and in 476

Empire weak against enemies and in 476

Empire weak against enemies and in 476 ad the western half collapsed while the

ad the western half collapsed while the

ad the western half collapsed while the eastern half lasted until the fall of

eastern half lasted until the fall of

eastern half lasted until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 do you agree with

Constantinople in 1453 do you agree with

Constantinople in 1453 do you agree with our list where do you think the American

our list where do you think the American

our list where do you think the American Empire stacks up next to these four more

Empire stacks up next to these four more

Empire stacks up next to these four more top tens like this one be sure to

top tens like this one be sure to

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