Empire

An empire is created when one country or group conquers and rules over many other lands and peoples. Throughout history, powerful empires have risen and fallen. Some of the biggest empires controlled millions of people across vast areas of land.

Great Empires of History

The Roman Empire was one of the most powerful empires ever. The Mongol Empire was the largest land empire in history. The British Empire was so big that people said "the sun never sets" on it. Other great empires include the Persian, Ottoman, and Chinese empires.

How Empires Worked

Empires usually grew through war and conquest. The ruling power often collected taxes from conquered peoples. Some empires allowed local customs and religions to continue. Others forced their own culture on everyone. Most empires eventually became too large to manage and fell apart.

Fun Facts

• The Mongol Empire was the largest connected land empire ever, covering about 24 million square kilometers.
• The British Empire at its peak controlled about one-quarter of the world's land.
• The Roman Empire lasted for about 500 years in the West and over 1,000 years in the East.

Did You Know?

The phrase "the sun never sets on the British Empire" meant that it was always daytime somewhere in the empire because it spanned the entire globe.