“All Great Empires Die From Within”

Ancient empires are the basis for many anthropoloists, historians, archeologists, and the like, as understanding them helps us grasp a better view of our world history. Many of these empires contributed to society as we know it today, despite them starting and (usually) ending through violent means. Check out this list below to learn more about some of the most powerful empires in history, and what caused them to come crashing down.

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1. The Persian Empire

This Iranian empire lasted from 522 to 486 BCE, and spanned a total of 2.1 million square miles. It was founded by Cyrus the Great and was the largest empire at that point in history. It had approximately 17 to 35 million subjects, and 13 monarchs ruled during its duration. 

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2. The Han Dynasty

This Chinese imperial dynasty lasted from 202 BCE - 9 AD, and from 25-220 AD after a short interruption from the Xin dynasty. It was established by Liu Bang, whose success allowed the empire to have a geographical surface area of 2.3 million square miles during its first period, and 2.5 million square miles during its second.

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3. The Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was a powerhouse and one of the longest-living empires in history. The empire existed from 27 BCE - 395 AD as a unified nation, with the Eastern half of the empire existing until 1453 AD after it broke apart. The Roman Empire encompassed over 1.9 million square miles at its peak.

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4. The Akkadian Empire

Understood to be the world’s first known empire. The Akkadian Empire was founded by Sargon of Akkad around 2334 BCE. At its peak, it ruled over 310,000 square miles of land and incorporated parts of modern-day Iraq, Iran. Syria, Turkey, and Kuwait.

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5. The Russian Empire

The Russian Empire spanned most of northern Eurasia from 1721 to 1917, and was founded by Peter I. At its peak, it spanned almost 9 million square miles and had a total population of 161 million by 1910.

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6. Egypt’s Old Kingdom

Egypt is one of the few countries that made it into modern-day, but the Old Kingdom is the period that sticks out the most. Spanning from 2700-2200 BCE, Egypt’s Old Kingdom is responsible for the Great Pyramids and is considered one of the country's “golden ages.”

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7. The Mongol Empire

Known as the largest continuous empire in history, the Mongolian Empire stretched over 9.1 million square miles in the final year of its life. Created in 1206 by Genghis Khan, the nomadic empire lasted until 1294, and played a part in uniting several large geographic regions.

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8. The Spanish Empire

The Spanish Empire existed between 1492 and 1976. It’s one of the few empires whose influence reached across several continents, as it covered a total of 5.3 million square miles between the Americas, Oceania, and western Europe.

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9. The Qing Dynasty

Known as the last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing Dynasty existed from 1644 to 1912. At its peak, this dynasty covered 5.7 million square miles and had over 4 million people under its rule.

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10. The Ottoman Empire

Also known as the Turkish Empire, this empire controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from 1299 to 1924. It was founded by Osman I and reached over 2 million square miles of surface area at the height of its reign. 

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1. The Persian Empire’s Downfall

In 330 BCE, the Persian Empire fell to Alexander the Great and his invading Macedonians, effectively ending the empire’s reign. Before the Macedonian invasion, the empire struggled with internal decay, corrupt leadership, succession problems, heavy taxation, and a general breakdown of social order.

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2. The Han Dynasty's Downfall

After many internal conflicts in the latter half of the 100s BCE, it’s noted that palace eunuchs involved themselves with the dynasty’s court politics. This led to several violent power struggles, eventually causing the members of the military and aristocracy to divide the empire. The dynasty officially came to an end when Cao Pi usurped the throne from Emperor Xian.

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3. The Roman Empire’s Downfall

The Roman Empire fell due to many complex issues, but we’ll give you the Sparknotes version. Between being invaded by barbarian tribes, a plethora of economic issues, overexpansion, government corruption, and a weakening of the Roman legions, it’s no surprise that the great empire is only spoken about in the past tense.

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4. The Akkadian Empire’s Downfall

The Akkadian Empire likely fell around 200 years after its founding. After a shaky recentralization after Sharkalisharri’s reign ended, Shu-turul and Dudu ceded power to the Gutians, ultimately ushering in a “Dark Age.” 

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5. The Russian Empire’s Downfall

The Russian Empire fell due to widespread issues of poverty, food shortages, and government inefficiency. The impact of World War I cannot be understated, as an influx of Russian soldiers meant a net loss when it came to farm and factory work.

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6. The Downfall Of Egypt’s Old Kingdom

The Old Kingdom of Egypt slipped into the First Intermediate Period after the empire suffered severe environmental conditions, political decentralization, and the destabilizing reign of Pepi II. All of these issues led to social unrest, economic collapse, and famine, which led to over 100 years of turmoil and hardship.

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7. The Mongol Empire’s Downfall

The Mongol Empire fell due to internal conflicts about leadership and succession, which eventually led to the empire splitting into four separate countries. The empire also suffered failed military campaigns, the bubonic plague, environmental issues, and the overthrow of China’s Yuan Dynasty.

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8. The Spanish Empire’s Downfall

The Spanish Empire suffered several expensive conflicts during the 16th and 17th centuries, leading to ineffective governance, military overextension, and economic mismanagement. Furthermore, the empire relied too heavily on colonial silver, leading to inflation and debt.

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9. The Qing Dynasty’s Downfall

The Qing Dynasty struggled due to the Opium Wars, foreign influence, widespread corruption, economic crises, and large-scale internal revolts— such as the Taiping Rebellion. This eventually led to the Republican Revolution of 1911.

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10. The Ottoman Empire’s Downfall

The Ottoman Empire fell after it was defeated during World War I, but it also struggled with internal stagnation, economic problems, and the rise in nationalism for centuries prior. The empire was dissolved with the Treaty of Sèvres, resulting in the Republic of Turkey in 1922.

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