The British Empire was the largest in history, covering 24% of the world's land area by 1920.
The British Empire's global influence lasted nearly 100 years, peaking in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous empire, spanned from Japan to Eastern Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries.
Genghis Khan united the nomadic tribes of Mongolia to form the Mongol Empire.
The Russian Empire, at its peak, covered one-sixth of the Earth's landmass.
The Russian Empire's population in 1897 was 125.6 million, with significant diversity.
The Qing dynasty, the last imperial dynasty of China, ruled from 1644 to 1912.
The Qing dynasty laid the territorial foundation for modern China, being the largest in its history.
The Spanish Empire, active from 1492 to 1976, led to the European Age of Discovery and at its peak, the Empire controlled over 13 million square kilometers of land.