List of Famous Historical Empires: from Rome to Beijing

There have been many famous empires throughout human history, and some of them controlled significant parts of planet Earth.

Here is the list of some of the most well-known empires:

1. The Roman Empire, which at its height controlled much of Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa.

2. The British Empire, which was the largest and most powerful empire in history, and at its height controlled a quarter of the world's population and land area.

3. The Mongol Empire, which was the largest contiguous empire in history, and at its height controlled much of Asia and parts of Europe.

4. The Spanish Empire, which was one of the first global empires, and at its height controlled much of the Americas, as well as parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia.

5. The Qing Empire, which was the last imperial dynasty of China, and at its height controlled much of East Asia, including China, Mongolia, and parts of Central Asia.

6. The Ottoman Empire, which was a major world power for many centuries, and at its height controlled much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa.

7. The Soviet Union, which was a major world power in the 20th century, and at its height controlled much of Eastern Europe, as well as parts of Asia and the Middle East.