The Greatest Empires in the History of the World Quiz / Test | History

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This was by far the largest empire in history which was created because of its naval power. It was the first country in history to industrialize. The sun never set on what empire?

Answer: British

At its peak, the British Empire occupied 35.5 million sq. km (13.7 million sq. mi), about 26.35% of the world's land mass. The empire spanned across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania. The empire started to decline after WWII when many countries declared independence. The biggest of all was India, which became independent in 1947. Hong Kong, the last British territory, was handed over to China on 1 July 1997.

2. What empire occupied the largest contiguous land empire in history in the 13th and 14th century, stretching from East Asia to Central Europe?

Answer: Mongolian

The Mongolian Empire was started by its founder Genghis Khan (1162-1227), who united the nomadic tribes in the early 12th century. At its peak, the empire occupied 17.8% of the world's land mass, about 24 million sq. km (9.27 million sq. mi), from Asia to Persia and as far as Central Europe. The decline of the empire started after the death of Kublai Khan (1215-1294), grandson of Genghis Khan. It ended in 1367 after it was defeated by the Ming Dynasty.

3. What colonial empire became the first global empire in the world that existed from 1415 and ended in 1999 with handover of Macau to China?

Answer: Portuguese

The Portuguese Empire lasted for more than 600 years, starting with capture of Ceuta in 1415 and ended with the handover of Macau in 1999 to China. The second Portuguese colonial empire started with the colonization of Angola around 1482 to 1484 and Brazil in 1500.

At its peak, the empire occupied 4.1% of the world's landmass, 5.5 million sq. km (2.12 million sq. mi) in South America, Africa and Asia. The last territory Macau was handed over to the Chinese in 1999.

4. What colonial empire existed from the late 15th century to the early 19th century, occupying a large part of Central and South America?

Answer: Spanish

At its peak, the Spanish Empire occupied 10.2% of the world's land mass, 13.7 million sq. km (5.29 million sq. mi). It was the fifth largest empire in history by size. The empire started with the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in the 15th century. It became one of the most powerful empires in the 16th and 17th centuries, hitting its peak in the 18th century. The empire started to decline in the 19th century, when many countries, especially in the Americas, started to declare independence.

5. What colonial empire first started during the 16th century and existed until 1814? The second empire began in 1830 with the conquest of Algiers in North Africa.

Answer: French

The Second French Empire occupied 8.5% of the world's landmass, 11.5 million sq. km (4.44 million sq. mi), making it the sixth largest empire by size. The first empire collapsed during the Napoleonic Wars, when most of the territories were sold to finance the war or lost. The Second French Empire occupied mainly North and West Africa and Indo-China (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia). It started to decline after WWII, when all the countries claimed independence from France

6. What empire was created because of the brilliant conquests by its great ruler and ended very shortly after his death in 323 BC?

Answer: Macedonian

The Macedonian Empire occupied nearly 4% of the world's landmass, 5.2 million sq. km (2 million sq. mi). Alexander the Great (356-323 BC), invaded the Persian Empire in 334 BC in a campaign that lasted ten years, subsequently overthrowing King Darius III. In 326 BC, he invaded India but had to turn back to Babylon where he died at the age of 32 in 323 BC.

7. Which empire, that became a republic in 509 BC and started to expand rapidly shortly thereafter, ended in 476 AD when the Ostrogoths forced the co-emperor to abdicate?

Answer: Roman

At its peak, the Roman Empire occupied 3.7% of the world's landmass, 5 million sq. km (1.93 million sq. mi), occupying a large territory in Europe, North Africa and West Asia. The Western Roman Empire (509 BC-476 AD) ended in 476 AD when Flavius Odoacer (reign 431-493 AD) deposed the child emperor Romulus Augustus to become the King of Italy. The Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire collapsed after the fall of Constantinople (today Istanbul) to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD.

8. What empire, started in 1721, extended across Eurasia and North America to become the third largest empire by size, occupying nearly 17% of the world's landmass?

Answer: Russian

The Russian Empire started from 1721 after the end of the Great Northern War (1700-1721) against the Swedish Empire. In 1895, the empire reached its peak occupying nearly 17% of the world's landmass, 22.8 million sq. km (8.8 million sq. mi) to become the third largest by size after the British Empire and the Mongolian Empire. The decline of the empire was caused by the Russian Revolution in 1917 and the abdication of Czar Nicholas II.

9. What was the last imperial Chinese dynasty that occupied an even larger territory than present day China?

Answer: Qing

The Qing dynasty was established in 1636 by the Manchurian in north east China. The Qing overthrew the Ming dynasty in 1644, the last dynasty ruled by Han Chinese. In 1912, the Qing dynasty ended after the Xinhai Revolution and China became a republic. At its peak, it was the fourth largest empire by size covering almost 11% of the world's land mass, 14.7 million sq. km (5.7 million sq. mi). It occupied the whole of present-day mainland China, Hainan, Taiwan, Mongolia, Outer Manchuria and Outer Northwest China.

10. What empire was founded by Osman I in 1299 and further expanded with the conquest of the Byzantine Empire in 1453 by Mehmed the Conqueror?

Answer: Ottoman

In 1453, Ottoman ruler Mehmed the Conqueror (1432-1481) ended the Byzantine Empire, or the Eastern Roman Empire, by conquering Constantinople. Under Suleiman the Magnificent (1494-1566), the empire hit its height of power in the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1683, the empire occupied a land area of 5.2 million sq. km (2 million sq. mi). The empire declined rapidly after the First World War when it lost most of its territories.

Source: Author sw11

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The Greatest Empires in the History of the World Quiz

Throughout the course of history, there were great empires created by ambitious rulers. Here is a list of ten of the great empires in history.

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