Most Powerful Rulers In Every Century #history

[Pushpesharya]

Most Powerful Empire of Each Century (1st Century BCE – 18th Century CE)

Since battles in this era were mostly land-based, we'll focus on territory, military strength, economic power, and influence to determine the most powerful empire of each century.

1st Century BCE (100 BCE – 1 CE)

Winner: Roman Empire
✔ Peak Military Strength: 30+ legions (~300, 000 troops)
✔ Greatest Conquests: Gaul, Egypt, Spain, Anatolia, and parts of Britain
✔ Economic Strength: Controlled the Mediterranean trade routes
✔ Rival: Han Dynasty (China)

Why? Rome had the most disciplined military, world-class engineering, and controlled vast land and wealth.

1st Century CE (1–100 CE)

Winner: Han Dynasty (China)
✔ Peak Military Strength: ~600, 000 soldiers
✔ Greatest Conquests: Expanded into Korea, Central Asia, and Vietnam
✔ Economic Strength: Controlled Silk Road trade with Rome and Persia
✔ Rival: Roman Empire

Why? The Han matched Rome in strength, had a larger economy, and influenced Asia’s military and trade systems.

2nd Century (100–200 CE)

Winner: Roman Empire
✔ Peak Military Strength: 400, 000 soldiers
✔ Greatest Conquests: Maximum expansion under Emperor Trajan
✔ Economic Strength: The wealthiest empire in Europe & North Africa
✔ Rival: Parthian Empire (Persia)

Why? The Roman Empire dominated Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

3rd Century (200–300 CE)

Winner: Sassanian Empire (Persia)
✔ Peak Military Strength: 200, 000–250, 000 soldiers
✔ Greatest Conquests: Defeated Romans in multiple battles
✔ Economic Strength: Controlled Persian Gulf & Silk Road trade
✔ Rival: Late Roman Empire

Why? The Sassanian Empire nearly destroyed Rome, had a powerful heavy cavalry, and dominated Asia.

4th Century (300–400 CE)

Winner: Gupta Empire (India)
✔ Peak Military Strength: 500, 000 soldiers
✔ Greatest Conquests: Northern & Central India
✔ Economic Strength: The richest empire in the world (Golden Age of India)
✔ Rival: Byzantine Empire

Why? The Gupta Empire led Indian mathematics, science, and military and had a huge economy.

5th Century (400–500 CE)

Winner: Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire)
✔ Peak Military Strength: ~350, 000 soldiers
✔ Greatest Conquests: Defended the Roman legacy in the East
✔ Economic Strength: The richest empire in Europe
✔ Rival: Hunnic Empire (Attila the Hun)

Why? The Byzantines survived the fall of Rome and were militarily and economically powerful.

6th Century (500–600 CE)

Winner: Byzantine Empire
✔ Peak Military Strength: 350, 000 soldiers
✔ Greatest Conquests: Reclaimed Italy, Spain, and North Africa
✔ Economic Strength: Controlled Mediterranean trade
✔ Rival: Sassanian Empire

Why? Under Justinian the Great, the Byzantines reconquered the Roman West.

7th Century (600–700 CE)

Winner: Rashidun & Umayyad Caliphates (Islamic Empire)
✔ Peak Military Strength: ~200, 000 soldiers
✔ Greatest Conquests: Spain, North Africa, Persia, Central Asia
✔ Economic Strength: Controlled trade from India to Spain
✔ Rival: Byzantine Empire

Why? The Arab Muslims conquered Persia, North Africa, and Spain within 100 years.

8th Century (700–800 CE)

Winner: Abbasid Caliphate
✔ Peak Military Strength: ~300, 000 soldiers
✔ Greatest Conquests: The largest empire in the Middle East
✔ Economic Strength: Baghdad became the world’s wealthiest city
✔ Rival: Tang Dynasty (China)

Why? The Abbasids controlled Silk Road trade, science, and culture.

9th Century (800–900 CE)

Winner: Tang Dynasty (China)
✔ Peak Military Strength: 500, 000 soldiers
✔ Greatest Conquests: Expanded into Tibet, Central Asia, and Korea
✔ Economic Strength: Controlled the world’s wealthiest economy
✔ Rival: Abbasid Caliphate

Why? The Tang Dynasty had the largest army and economy in the world.

10th Century (900–1000 CE)

Winner: Byzantine Empire
✔ Peak Military Strength: 250, 000 soldiers
✔ Greatest Conquests: Defeated the Bulgars and expanded in the Balkans
✔ Economic Strength: Wealthiest in Europe
✔ Rival: Abbasid Caliphate

Why? Byzantium had the strongest economy and army in Europe.

11th Century (1000–1100 CE)

Winner: Seljuk Empire
✔ Peak Military Strength: 200, 000 soldiers
✔ Greatest Conquests: Defeated Byzantines at Manzikert (1071)
✔ Economic Strength: Controlled Silk Road trade
✔ Rival: Byzantine Empire

Why? The Seljuks weakened Byzantium and dominated West Asia.

12th Century (1100–1200 CE)

Winner: Song Dynasty (China)
✔ Peak Military Strength: 600, 000 soldiers
✔ Economic Strength: World’s largest GDP
✔ Rival: Abbasid Caliphate

Why? The Song Dynasty had the best economy and military technology.

13th Century (1200–1300 CE)

Winner: Mongol Empire
✔ Peak Military Strength: 150, 000 elite horse archers (but destroyed vast armies)
✔ Greatest Conquests: China, Russia, Middle East, Central Asia
✔ Economic Strength: Controlled entire Silk Road trade
✔ Rival: Mamluk Sultanate

Why? The Mongols created the largest land empire ever.

14th Century (1300–1400 CE)

Winner: Yuan Dynasty (Mongol China)

✔ Peak Military Strength: 600, 000 soldiers
✔ Economic Strength: Controlled world trade
✔ Rival: Delhi Sultanate

15th Century (1400–1500 CE)

Winner: Ming Dynasty (China)

✔ Peak Military Strength: 1, 000, 000 soldiers
✔ Economic Strength: World’s richest economy
✔ Rival: Ottoman Empire

16th Century (1500–1600 CE)

Winner: Ottoman Empire

✔ Peak Military Strength: 300, 000+ soldiers
✔ Economic Strength: Controlled Mediterranean & Silk Road trade
✔ Rival: Mughal Empire

17th Century (1600–1700 CE)

Winner: Mughal Empire

✔ Peak Military Strength: 300, 000 soldiers
✔ Economic Strength: World’s largest economy (~25% of global GDP)
✔ Rival: Ottoman Empire

18th Century (1700–1800 CE)

Winner: Qing Dynasty (China)

✔ Peak Military Strength: 800, 000+ soldiers
✔ Economic Strength: World’s richest country

Final Conclusion:

Most powerful land-based empire of all time: Mongol Empire (13th century)

Most economically powerful: Mughal & Qing Dynasties (17th–18th centuries)

[Leo_king]

India was the richest land till 18th century.
The name indua is new, current version of india is different but back then those kingdoms ruled the
World. Lot of people ask why indian ocean is named after india, sinply because of every traders wanted to cone to india

[ultraviolet]

Ivar the Boneless was a real person, he was definitely the most ruthless & cunning tactician that Scandinavia had to offer.

[LuisFigooooedit]

6 Turks in a list bro they dominaited the entire list

[SonofIndia]

India iran china left the chat
From India - samudragupta chandragupta II rajendra chola akbar
From iran - ardashir khusrow I
From china Han emperors taizong of Tang gaozu tang song emperor hongwu Ming yongle ming

[godphantom]

For 2nd century, I would say Han Wudi would get it instead of Aurelius. It’s really close, and both are great rulers, and they have really similar feats, but I would say Wudi would take the spot

[ifatpartha]

Why in the history there was no hindu king who recognized world wide like saladin or baldwin or Alexander

[cravingbook]

Mehmed may be that powerful but for 15th century the name should be Constantine XI for his bravery to get his crown and robe off and draw his sword instead of fleeing

[aq]

10th century is Abd ar Rahman III of Cordoba, cant be Otto. The Caliphate of Cordoba was the richest state in Europe during that period and Abd ar Rahman had an army of more than 50 thousand men at his disposal which was insane numbers for Europe during that time. Otto himself sent emisaries to his palace city of Madinah az Zahra.

[benjamincesarpangan]

Peter was great but he was magnificent

[UmaShankar-no]

Maurya empire laughing in Corner 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[CrevanFernandes]

12th century- Fredrick Barbarossa
10th century-Basil 2

[chhungpuii]

12 century I think saladin can't go alone like that he should go with Baldwin they both are strong saladin won cuz Baldwin die due to leprosy so I think it's 50% 50% also both of them don't want war they want peace

[dannyanglim]

OH IF WE ONLY TOLD THE REEEAAALL
Could you imagine?
Colonsay, Balnahard-UK
THERE'S ya proof.

[butiwasherfav]

Bro you even read about asia aryan history?🤡🇮🇷🇮🇳
Alp arsalan 🇮🇷🦁🌞

[rakshithshetty]

Bro If Our Great leader Chatrapati shivaji maharaj🇮🇳 were lived more know then Now in History Marata Empire were been the Strongest empire in 16th century and British dogs were never been Rulled in India.