Download Historical Superpowers!

A Chronology
Elam, Akkad, Egypt, Hittites, Babylon, Assyria, Babylon, Median
Dynasty, Lydia, Achaemenid Persian Empire, Alexander's
Empire(lasted only 10 years but Hellenic successors were still
powerful for a few decades afterwards), Mauryan Indian Empire,
Carthage, Parthian Empire, Qin/Han Dynasty China, Rome, Sassanid
Persian Empire,Tang Dynasty China, Ummayad Dynasty Islamic
Caliphate, Abbasid Islamic Caliphate, Persian Intermezzo(Series of
Shortlived but powerful and prosperous Persian Dynasties), Seljuk
Empire(Also short lived but powerful), Ayubid Dynasty(Saladin's
Empire), Mongol Empire(Shortlived but extremely large), Mongol
Khanates(Empires of Persia and China with rulers who were fully or
partially descended from Mongols), Ming China, Spain, Ottoman
Empire, Safavid Persian Empire, Qing China, Mughal India, France,
Afsharid Persian Empire, Britain, France(Under Napoleon),
Britain(Victorian Era British Empire), Russian Empire, German
Empire(Pre WWI), United States(from early 1900's-Modern Day),
Japanese Empire, Soviet Union, Communist China
The Akkadian Empire (2334 BC to 2083
BC) was an empire centered in the city of
Akkad and its surrounding region (in Ancient
Iraq). The Akkadian state was the predecessor
of the ethnic Akkadian states of Babylonia and
Assyria; formed following centuries of
Akkadian cultural synergy with others, it
reached the height of its power between the 24th and
22nd centuries BC following the conquests of king
Sargon of Akkad, and is sometimes regarded as the first
manifestation of an empire in history.
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It was the first empire to manifest on the earth.
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It reached record breaking size of its time and is
considered the largest empire of dark ancient era –
0.8 million km2 (2250 BC)
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The Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550–330 BC), also known as the Persian Empire , was the successor
state of the Median Empire, ruling over significant portions of what would become Greater Iran.
The Persian and the Median Empire taken together are also known as the Medo-Persian Empire ,
which encompassed the combined territories of several earlier empires. The empire was forged by
Cyrus the Great, and spanned three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe. At its greatest extent, the
empire included the territories of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, parts of Central Asia, Asia Minor,
Thrace and Macedonia, much of the Black Sea coastal regions, Iraq, northern Saudi Arabia, Jordan,
Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and all significant population centers of ancient Egypt as far west
as Libya. It is noted in western history as the foe of the Greek city states during the Greco-Persian
Wars, for emancipation of slaves including the Jews from their Babylonian captivity, and for
instituting the usage of official languages throughout its territories. The Achaemenid Persian
empire was invaded by Alexander III of Macedon, after which it collapsed and disintegrated in 330
BC into what later became the Ptolemaic Kingdom and Seleucid Empire, in addition to other minor
territories which gained independence after its collapse.
It was the largest empire in ancient history. At the height of its power, the empire encompassed
approximately 8 million km2
In universal history the role of the Persian empire founded by Cyrus the Great lies in their very
successful model for centralized administration and a government working to the advantage and
profit of all.
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase
of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an
autocratic form of government and large territorial
holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean.
The Roman Republic, which preceded it, had been
weakened and subverted through several civil wars.
Several events are commonly proposed to mark the transition from Republic to Empire, including Julius
Caesar’s appointment as perpetual dictator (44 BC), the Battle of Actium (2 September 31 BC), and the
Roman Senate’s granting to Octavian the honorific Augustus (4 January 27 BC). Roman expansion began
in the days of the Republic, but reached its zenith under Emperor Trajan. At this territorial peak, the
Roman Empire controlled approximately 6.5 million km² of land surface. Because of the Empire’s vast
extent and long endurance, Roman influence upon the language, religion, architecture, philosophy, law,
and government of nations around the world lasts to this day.
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The powers of an emperor existed, in theory at least, by virtue of his “tribunician powers” and his
“proconsular powers” In theory, the tribunician powers made the emperor’s person and office
sacrosanct, and gave the emperor authority over Rome’s civil government, including the power to
preside over and to control the Senate. The proconsular powers gave him authority over the
Roman army.
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Roman Empire achieved great territorial gains in both the East and the West. It had one of the
strongest armies recorded.
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The enduring Roman influence is reflected pervasively in contemporary language, literature, legal
codes, government, architecture, engineering, medicine, sports, arts, etc. Much of it is so deeply
inbedded that we barely notice our debt to ancient Rome. Consider language, for example. Fewer
and fewer people today claim to know Latin — and yet, go back to the first sentence in this
paragraph. If we removed all the words drawn directly from Latin, that sentence would read;
“The.”
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A caliphate is the Islamic form of government representing the political unity and
leadership of the Muslim world. The Caliph’s position is based on the notion of a
successor to Muhammad’s political authority. According to Sunnis, a Caliph can be any
pious Muslim who is elected by the Muslims or their representatives; and according to
Shia Islam, an Imam descended in a line from the Ahl al-Bayt.
The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four Islamic caliphates established after
the death of Muhammad (PBUH). It was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty, whose name
derives from Umayya ibn Abd Shams, the great-grandfather of the first Umayyad
caliph. Although the Umayyad family originally came from the city of Mecca,
Damascus was the capital of their Caliphate. Eventually, it would cover more than five
million square miles, making it the largest empire the world had yet seen. The
Umayyads established the largest Arab-Muslim state in history. From the time of
prophet Muhammad until 1924, successive and contemporary caliphates were held by
various dynasties, including the Rashidun Caliphate of the first four caliphs after
Muhammad, the Umayyads based in Damascus and Córdoba, the Abbasids based in
Baghdad & later in Cairo, the Fatimids based in Cairo, and finally the Turkish Ottoman
Empire based in Istanbul.
Ummayads had the best administration system the world had yet seen. To assist the
Caliph in administration there were six Boards at the Centre: Diwan al-Kharaj (the
Board of Revenue), Diwan al-Rasa’il (the Board of Correspondence), Diwan al-Khatam
(the Board of Signet), Diwan al-Barid (the Board of Posts), Diwan al-Qudat (Board of
Justice) and Diwan al-Jund (the Military Board).
Fifth largest contiguous empire to ever exist.
Modern Arab nationalism regards the period of the Umayyads as part of the Arab
Golden Age.
The Qing Dynasty was the last ruling
dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912
(with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917).
It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and
followed by the Republic of China. The dynasty was founded by the Manchu
clan Aisin Gioro in what is today northeast China, (also known as Manchuria).
Starting in 1644 it expanded into China proper and its surrounding territories,
establishing the Empire of the Great Qing. Complete pacification of China was
accomplished around 1683.The Qing Dynasty was overthrown following the
Xinhai Revolution, when the Empress Dowager Longyu abdicated on behalf
of the last emperor, Puyi, on February 12, 1912.
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During its reign the Qing Dynasty became highly integrated with Chinese
culture.
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The dynasty reached its height in the 18th century, during which both
territory and population were increased.
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It covered an immense area of 14.7 million km2 (1790) making it the 5th
largest according to land mass.
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It had the 4th largest %age of world’s GDP i.e 32.9% ($228.6 billion out of
$694.4 billion in 1820)
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The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the
Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of
Russia, and the predecessor of the Soviet Union. At one point in
1866, it stretched from eastern Europe, across Asia, and into North
America. At the beginning of the 19th century, Russia was the
largest country in the world, extending from the Arctic Ocean to
the north to the Black Sea on the south, from the Baltic Sea on the
west to the Pacific Ocean on the east.
It was the second largest contiguous empire the world has ever
seen, surpassed only by the Mongol Empire, and the third largest
empire the world has ever seen, surpassed only by the British
Empire and the Mongol Empire .
The household servants or dependents attached to the personal
service were merely set free, while the landed peasants received
their houses and orchards, and allotments of arable land.
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The Mongol Empire was an empire from the 13th and 14th
century spanning from Eastern Europe across Asia. It emerged
from the unification of Mongol and Turkic tribes in modern day
Mongolia, and grew through invasions, after Genghis Khan had
been proclaimed ruler of all Mongols in 1206. At its greatest extent
it stretched from the Danube to the Sea of Japan (or East Sea) and
from the Arctic to Camboja, covering over 24,000,000 km2 , 22% of
the Earth’s total land area, and held sway over a population of
over 100 million people. It is often identified as the ” Mongol
World Empire ” because it spanned much of Eurasia. However,
the empire began to split following the succession war in 1260–
1264. By 1294, he Mongol Empire had already fractured into four
separate empires, each pursuing its own separate interests and
objectives.
It is the largest contiguous empire in the history of the world, and
the second largest empire in history, after the British Empire.
Under the Mongols new technologies, various commodities and
ideologies were disseminated and exchanged across Eurasia.
The Mughal Empire was an Islamic imperial
power that ruled a large portion of Indian
subcontinent which began in 1526, invaded and
ruled most of South Asia by the late 17th and early
18th centuries, and ended in the mid-19th century.The Mughal Emperors were descendants of the
Timurids of Turkistan, and at the height of their power around 1700, they controlled most of the Indian
Subcontinent—extending from Bengal in the east to Balochistan in the west, Kashmir in the north to the
Kaveri basin in the south. Its population at that time has been estimated as between 110 and 130 million,
over a territory of over 4 million sq. km (1.5 million sq. mi.). The “classic period” of the Empire started in
1556 with the accession of Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar, better known as Akbar the Great. It ended
with the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707, although the Empire continued for another 150 years.
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The Empire was marked by a highly centralized administration connecting the different regions.
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All the significant monuments of the Mughals, their most visible legacy, date to this period which
was characterised by the expansion of Persian cultural influence in the Indian subcontinent, with
brilliant literary, artistic and architectural results. A major Mughal contribution to the Indian
Subcontinent was their unique architecture. Many monuments were built by the Muslim emperors,
especially Shahjahan, during the Mughal era including the UNESCO World Heritage Site Taj
Mahal, which is known to be one of the finer examples of Mughal architecture.
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The Indian economy remained as prosperous under the Mughals as it was, because of the creation
of a road system and a uniform currency, together with the unification of the country.
Manufactured goods and peasant-grown cash crops were sold throughout the world.
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n the Mughal Empire, the 16th and 17th centuries saw a synthesis of Muslim scientists who are the
pioneers of modern science.
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It remained strong for longest duration above other empires and 4th largest population as
compared to all other kingdoms – 175.0 million in 1700.
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The British Empire comprised
the dominions, colonies,
protectorates, mandates, and
other territories ruled or
administered by the United
Kingdom, that had originated with
the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
At its height it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power.
By 1922, the British Empire held sway over a population of about 458 million people, one-quarter of the
world’s population at the time, and covered more than 13,000,000 square miles (33,670,000 km2):
approximately a quarter of the Earth’s total land area. As a result, its political, linguistic and cultural
legacy is widespread. At the peak of its power, it was often said that “the sun never sets on the British
Empire” because its span across the globe ensured that the sun was always shining on at least one of its
numerous territories.
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It was the largest empire by landmass covering 33.7 million km2 (1922)
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It was the largest empire by population.
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It had the second largest GDP size of $683.3 billion (in 1938) after the US in 1945
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It had the largest percent of world GDP 35.9% ($399 billion out of $1,111 billion in 1870)
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It had the largest military of all times.
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During the rule, people were quite unsatisfactory with the government and many disputes arose
therefore the empire was soon brought done like house of cards as soon as it emerged, therefore
although being largest, it is on second number.
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The Ottoman Empire also known by its
contemporaries as the Turkish Empire. was an Islamic
empire that lasted from 1299 to November 1, July 24,
1923 It was succeeded by the Republic of Turkey, which
was officially proclaimed on October 29, 1923. At the height
of its power (16th–17th centuries), the empire spanned three
continents, controlling much of Western Asia, Eastern and
Southeastern Europe, the Caucasus, and North Africa. The
Ottoman Empire contained 29 provinces and numerous vassal states, some of which were later
absorbed into the empire, while others gained various types of autonomy during the course of centuries.
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It existed at the globe for the longest period of time for 7 centuries.
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The Ottoman legal system accepted the religious law over its subjects. The Ottoman Empire was
always organized around a system of local jurisprudence.
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The Ottoman Empire was, in principle, tolerant towards Christians and Jews.
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Numerous traditions and cultural traits of this previous empire (in fields such as architecture,
cuisine, music, leisure and government) were adopted by the Ottomans, who elaborated them into
new forms and blended them with the characteristics of the ethnic and religious groups living
within the Ottoman territories, which resulted in a new and distinctively Ottoman cultural identity.
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By developing commercial centres and routes, encouraging people to extend the area of cultivated
land in the country and international trade through its dominions, the state performed basic
economic functions in the Empire.
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The empire was at the centre of interactions between the Eastern and Western worlds for seven
centuries.
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The Roman Empire had vast military power due to
advanced steel weaponry and innovative infantry
fighting tactics. It spread itself over much of the
European continent, including the present Spain,
Portugal, France, England and Italy. When Julius
Caesar came to power in 49 BC, Rome was the largest
city in the world with 1 million to 2 million people.
For some of its ancient history it had a republican
form of government. Rome spread Christianity and
also perfected the arch for building, the aqueduct for
sewage and water distribution. In addition, Rome
took great strides in the arts with painting and
sculptures.
The Mongol warriors of Genghis Khan conquered more
territory in less time than any other empire in history.
Their innovative cavalry strategy in the 1300s allowed
them to control an area from China to the Caucasus
Mountains in Europe for a brief period of time. On the
other hand, China is the oldest continuous civilization.
During the Han (200s BC - 200s AD) and Tang (600s 900s) dynasties, the empire was unified over present
China, Korea and some other lands that are currently
countries on China's northern and southern border.
During those dynasties, the country made great strides in
science and education such as inventing paper making,
the nautical steering rudder, gunpowder, fireworks and
national examinations.
Britain and Spain were the great seafaring powers
of human history. Britain's colonial empire was so
vast that the sun literally never set on its holdings.
The United Kingdom during the Victorian Era of
the 1800s had the most powerful sea fleet and was
able to dominate countries from Australia to
China to Africa to the Middle East. The Spanish
Empire during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries
was similarly vast and extended mostly in South
America. Spain used its army to dominate the
Native Americans there and virtually wipe out
the native population.
Beginning in the 20th century, the United States
became a global power due to its large land mass,
manufacturing prowess, natural resources, military
might and innovation. The United States helped to
turn the tide in both World War I and World War II in
favor of the Allies. The Soviet Union formed a
counterweight to the United States during the second
half of the twentieth century with similar advantages
of a large land mass, natural resources, superior
scientists and military might. However, the USSR's
stifling economy and government eventually led to
its demise.
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What Were the Ruling Powers of the World? |
eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_85263
58_were-ruling-powersworld.html#ixzz2QEsMop8Q
http://www.smashinglists.com/top-10greatest-empires-in-the-history-of-world/