All empires rise and fall, which makes us all believe that, indeed, nothing lasts forever in this world. Have you ever been curious how an empire can get all-powerful and yet end up falling? Most of us surely wonder how an empire become so influential to the degree that it was able to thrive over the face of this earth for generations.
In this article, we’ll discuss the five most powerful empires the world has ever known. While this topic is always subjective, we think these empires deserve to be called the strongest, no matter the criteria.
1.The Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was an empire par excellence. The Romans displayed an unwavering ability to conquer and hold territories for hundreds of years. Take note that it was not accomplished by brute force alone. Once the region was conquered, people aspired to become Romans, which meant involving themselves in a sophisticated, urbane culture.
Some of the modern world’s most important features are credited to the Roman Empire, such as architecture, science, and philosophy. Roman Law also shaped the world’s subsequent legal systems, and Roman institutions have inspired the modern governance systems.
The Romans were a tenacious group of people. They were able to defeat their enemies and bounce back from numerous setbacks. They were militarily dominant for a few centuries, enabling Rome to rule over almost all other civilized peoples in the Near East and the Mediterranean, except the Persians. When the empire collapsed, it was due more to civil war and continued crisis rather than invasion by Germanic tribes. The empire began in 31 B.C. and lasted until 1453 C.E.
2.The (First) Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great founded the Achaemenid Persian Empire in 550 B.C.E. Although the empire came to an end at the hands of Alexander the Great in 330 B.C.E., it left a lasting legacy on future empires and world civilizations. The Persian Empire was credited as the first true empire that set the standard for succeeding ones.
The Persian Empire, which dominated nearly all of the Middle East, ruled over a large percentage of the world’s population. It had a population of more than 49 million people, which was 44% of the global population at the time. The Persian Empire was also the first to connect multiple world regions, including North Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, India, and the Mediterranean world. The empire ushered in an era of peace and harmony in the Middle East for 200 years, and its investments and legacy to the world include the use of a postal system, a network of roads, autonomy for various ethnicities, a single language called Imperial Aramaic, and a bureaucracy.
3.The Caliphate
The Arab Empire, or the Caliphate, was founded by Muhammad. At the time of his death, Muhammad was then succeeded by four Rightly-Guided Caliphs (successors) who were selected by consensus until 661 C.E. A few others also ruled until The Arab Empire ended around 900 C.E. After 900 C.E., the Caliphate began to crumble with the rise of rival dynasties.
The Arab Empire was known for its military successes. Their conquests are a good example of how a huge degree of zeal can sometimes make up for organizational and technological deficiencies, and Arab generals during this era deserve to be called one of the world’s greatest military geniuses. The Arab Empire connected the other centers of world civilization in Europe, Central Asia, Africa, India, and China. Their ultimate legacy includes Islam, goods, and great knowledge that gave rise to algebra.
4.The Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire defeated enemies much more populous and powerful, against all odds. Founded by the warlord Temujin, also known as Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire first grew in 1206 C.E. by picking out parts of China. It was the world’s largest land empire, and those who have a degree in history know how the Mongols struck terror into all their enemies.
There were only two million Mongols in the entire world, however, they managed to conquer most of Russia, China, and the Middle East under Genghis Khan’s descendants. Despite their small population, they were able to win battles against countless enemies because they could sustain themselves with horse blood. They also brought their herds with them wherever they went. In the long run, the Mongols were inefficient at administering their empire, which caused the empire to fall.
5.The British Empire
The British fundamentally made the modern world. British institutions inspired philosophers like Montesquieu to create theories of modern government that influenced other European states. The rule of law, liberalism, civil rights, and trade were inherited from the British. These characteristics enabled the British Empire to thrive and hold territories it controlled. Its example of financial prowess and money management, organizational feats, and naval strength was widely emulated. The British also rarely lost wars.
