An empire is a political construct in which one state dominates over another state, or a series of states. At its heart, an empire is ruled by an emperor, even though many states in history without an emperor at their head are called "empires".
More about: EmpireDefinition
Timeline
-
2500 BCEFirst Dynasty of Lagash under King Eannutum is first empire in Mesopotamia.
-
2334 BCE - 2279 BCESargon of Akkad (the Great) reigns over Mesopotamia and thus creates the world's first empire.
-
1504 BCE - 1492 BCEEgyptian empire reaches greatest extent under Thutmose I.
-
1500 BCEEgyptian empire extends to the Euphrates.
-
1350 BCE - 1250 BCEThe Hittite Empire is at its peak.
-
1285 BCEPeak of Hittite power.
-
188 BCEMaximum extent of the Pergamon Empire after Apamea peace.
-
12 Jul 100 BCE - 15 Mar 44 BCELife of Gaius Julius Caesar, founder of the Roman Empire.
-
31 BCEGreece absorbed into Roman Empire.
-
60 CE - 61 CEBoudicca's Revolt in Britain.
-
83 CEBattle of Mons Graupius in Scotland.
-
200 CE - 1000 CETiwanaku Empire flourishes based around Lake Titicaca.
-
c. 500 CE - 1240 CEThe Ghana Empire dominates West Africa.
-
802 CE - 1431 CEKhmer Empire in South East Asia.
-
c. 1425 CE - 1532 CEThe Inca Empire flourishes in South America.