Greatest Empires in History, the List

Throughout history, expanding territories and building empires have been the favorite pastimes of both sane and insane dreamers. Some of them were successful in achieving these goals, while most others failed miserably. Indeed, empires are rare commodities in world history. One thing to note about the great empires of yesteryears is that they usually lasted for a very long time, but often ended quite abruptly. In this article, I will offer my list of the greatest empires in history-their legacies and achievements. Which one is your favorite?

If greatness is measured by scale, the Mongol Empire would be the definite candidate for the title of the greatest empire. At its peak, the Mongols were the masters of Eurasia whose territories encompassed most of Asia (including China), the Middle East (Persia), and Eastern Europe (Russia). Unfortunately, the Mongol Empire was also the shortest lived. Although the Mongols were impressive conquerors, they weren't able administrators. There was no central authority as each territory was governed by a different khan who paid deference to the Great Khan, but was not in total submission. Additionally, the Mongolian brutal and genocidal tactics in conquest led to deep hatred of them among the locals. The Mongols were eventually driven back to where they originally came-the vast grasslands of Mongolia.

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If greatness is measured by legacy and influence, the Roman Empire would undoubtedly be considered as the greatest empire of all time. The Romans left an undeletable stamp on world history. Roman philosophy and laws (which were highly influenced by the Greeks) helped form the social thinking of western civilization. Contemporary culture, language, architecture, arts, and systems of government/governance are advanced versions of those of the Romans. Simply put, modern society would not be what it is today without the existence of the great Roman Empire.

The Napoleonic Empire is another one of history's greatest empires. Napoleon Bonaparte, the regime's absolute ruler, managed to achieve the near impossible which was to dominate Europe at the height of its power. At the time, Europe was the world's most influential continent enjoying some of the most powerful military might. The fact that Napoleon was able to keep such a monster in check for even a short period was an incredible feat--one that would only be equaled some 150 years later by Hitler's Third Reich.

Other notable empires in world history include the various dynastic installments of the Chinese Empire (which left strong legacies of culture and arts in many Asian countries) as well as British and French colonial empires (which left cultural and linguistic legacies in Africa, the two Americas, and Southeast Asia).