The first empire in human history. Ten Greatest Empires in Human History

07.08.2013

The total area of ​​planet Earth is 510 million km2, and the area of ​​all continents is only 149 million km2 (30% of the total area). About 50% of this territory belongs to just ten countries, which will be discussed in our ranking - This is the top 10 largest countries in the world. By the way, there are a total of 206 countries on the planet, of which 194 are independent states.

10. Algeria

Territory: 2,381,740 km2 Population: 37 million people Capital: Algeria

Opens ten largest countries in the world the only representative of the African continent, Algerian People's Democratic Republic, or simply Algeria, is the northernmost and largest independent African state. Most of Algeria is covered by the Sahara Desert. The country's main source of income is the gas and oil industry. The country occupies one of the leading positions in the world in terms of oil and gas reserves. Despite this, more than 17% of the population lives below the poverty line. Although the country is not included in the top ten, . A familiar picture.

9. Kazakhstan

Territory: 2,724,900 km2 Population: 17 million people Capital: Astana

A post-Soviet country with a rich historical and cultural past, Kazakhstan is in 9th place. Like Russia, Kazakhstan is a Eurasian state, most of which is located in Asia. Like Algeria, Kazakhstan can be classified as a gas and oil magnate.

8. Argentina

Territory: 2,766,890 km2 Population: 41 million people Capital: Buenos Aires

One of two Latin American countries in our ranking- Argentina. The birthplace of the two past and present Maradona and Messi, named after precious metal- silver, which later turned out to be not much there. Interesting fact- in the capital of Argentina you can walk along the longest street in the world - the number of houses on the street exceeds 20,000.

7. India

Territory: 3,287,590 km2 Population: 1,223 million people Capital: New Delhi

One of the two world leaders in terms of population, India also has a huge area, more than 3 million, and the seventh the most big country peace. The country's economy is struggling to keep up with its excellent population and area figures. Potentially, the Indian economy is one of the leading economies of the world in the future. The birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism and, of course, tea.

6. Australia

Territory: 7,686,850 km2 Population: 23 million people Capital: Canberra

The only mainland country in the ranking is Australia, a continent in which everything is the other way around - in winter it is hot and summer, and in summer it is cold and winter. Despite the vast territories in Australia's possessions, not all of them are accessible to life. On the territory of Australia and in its coastal waters there are many unique and very large ones, but the population of the country, on the contrary, is not very numerous. Despite this, Australia's Human Development Index is second in the world, and its GDP is 12th. Interesting fact: use a search engine to ask “how do Australians see the world?” and you will be pleasantly surprised. Perhaps even something will turn inside you.

5. Brazil

Territory: 8,511,965 km2 Population: 197 million people Capital: Brasilia

The second and last Latin American country on this list largest countries- the largest state South America. The birthplace of carnivals in Rio de Janeiro and, of course, the most football country in the world. For any person interested in sports, Brazil is, first of all, the 5-time world champions in football and the homeland of Pele, the king of football. The capital of Brazil, the city of Brasilia, was built in just 3.5 years.

4. China

Territory: 9,640,821 km2 Population: 1,347 million people Capital: Beijing

Every sixth inhabitant of the planet is Chinese. In the course of history, the country's almost 1.5 billion population received the 4th largest state territory in the world (6% of the total land area on the planet). It’s difficult to talk about China, because it is the first in almost everything. Look at the country of origin of 10 household appliances in your home and you are guaranteed to find something from China. There is no need to talk about the achievements of Chinese athletes. USA on olympic games now there is someone to compete with.

3. USA

Territory: 9,826,675 km2 Population: 314 million people Capital: Washington

The United States of America, with , won in this ranking, largest countries an unusual bronze award. The most “democratic” country in the world, well, at least that’s what they say, has all the prerequisites for this: the first GDP indicator in the world, a huge territory in the center North America. It is washed on both sides by the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The country's population, as well as its area, is the third largest among all countries. One thing is bad - tornadoes and cyclones with frantic force and enviable regularity give the residents of the United States a beating.

2. Canada

Territory: 9,976,139 km2 Population: 34 million people Capital: Ottawa

The northern neighbor of the United States, which has surpassed its competitor in territory by only 3 France or Spain. But not the entire territory of Canada is as suitable for life, and the population of the country is ridiculous compared to the territory it occupies - only 34 million people, which is why the population density is one of the lowest in the world. Despite all this, Canada, with its ecology and nature, remains a “promised land” and a lifelong dream for many. Interesting fact: The northernmost settlement in the world is in Canada, and the length of its borders is a record. All this is thanks to the large population of the eastern part of the country.

1. Russia

Territory: 17,075,400 km2 Population: 143 million people Capital: Moscow

With a large gap from pursuers and competitors - Russian Federation the biggest country in the world. A Eurasian state, most of which is located in Asia and in lands unsuitable for human life. The richest country in the world in terms of reserves of raw materials and fuel resources. It is also the longest country in the world - when people go to bed in the European part of the country, in the other part they can already lazily stretch and wake up. The most “neighboring” country borders 18 countries.

The area of ​​our planet is about 510.073 million km². An area of ​​361.132 million km² is occupied by water, that is, 71.8% of the total area of ​​the planet. Land occupies 148.94 million km², that is, 29.2% of the planet's area. Almost half of the total landmass is occupied by the 12 largest countries in the world. In our rating, we will briefly talk about these countries, what area they occupy, and what role they play in the world. geographical map peace.

12

Twelfth place in the list of the largest countries in the world is occupied by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - the largest state on the Arabian Peninsula. This country covers an area of ​​2.218 million km², which is approximately 1.4% of all land on the planet. Administratively, it is divided into 13 provinces (103 districts). Saudi Arabia borders many countries: Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, United United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen. It is washed by the Persian Gulf in the northeast and the Red Sea in the west. The basis of the economy Saudi Arabia accounts for oil exports, since it has 25% of world reserves.

11

Democratic Republic of Congo is the second largest country African continent with a territory equal to approximately 2.345 million kilometers km², which is approximately 1.57% of all land on earth. In the southwest it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, bordered by Angola, Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia. The country is divided into 26 provinces. The country has the world's largest reserves of cobalt, germanium, tantalum, diamonds, Africa's largest reserves of uranium, tungsten, copper, zinc, tin, significant deposits of oil, coal, ores, iron, manganese, gold and silver. Large hydropower and forest resources.

10

The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria is the largest state on the African continent, with an area of ​​approximately 2.381 million km², which is approximately 1.59% of the total land area. Algeria borders Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya and Tunisia. About 80% of the country's territory is occupied by the Sahara Desert, which consists of separate sandy and rocky deserts. Algeria has such natural resources as ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, manganese and phosphorite. The basis of Algeria's economy is gas and oil. They provide 30% of GDP, 60% of state budget revenues and 95% of export earnings. Algeria ranks 8th in the world in gas reserves and 4th in the world in gas exports. Algeria ranks 15th in the world in oil reserves and 11th in its exports.

9

On the ninth line of the list of the largest countries is the Republic of Kazakhstan, a state located in Central Asia and in Eastern Europe. The country's territory covers an area of ​​about 2.725 million km², which is approximately 1.82% of the total land area on the planet. Kazakhstan is the largest country in the world without access to the World Ocean. It borders with the Russian Federation, China, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. It is washed by the waters of the Caspian and Aral seas. According to administrative-territorial criteria, it is divided into 14 regions. Kazakhstan ranks first in the world in proven reserves of zinc, tungsten and barite, second in silver, lead and chromite, third in copper and fluorite, fourth in molybdenum, sixth in gold.

8

The Argentine Republic is the second largest country in South America with an area of ​​about 2.767 million km², which is approximately 1.85% of the total land area of ​​our planet. It borders Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay. In the east it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Argentina is a federal republic divided into 23 provinces and 1 federal capital district. The country is distinguished by its reserves of uranium, manganese, copper ores, and beryllium; there are lead-zinc, tungsten and iron ores. Argentina is one of the top ten countries in the world in terms of uranium ore reserves.

7

The Republic of India is a state in South Asia with a territory of about 3.287 million km², which is approximately 2.2% of the total land area. India shares borders with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The country consists of 25 states and 7 union territories. The Indian subcontinent is home to many ancient civilizations and religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. India's major natural resources are arable land, bauxite, coal, diamonds, iron ore, limestone, manganese, gas, petroleum and titanium ores. The main exports are textiles, jewellery, engineering products and software. The main imports are oil, machinery, fertilizers and chemicals.

6

Australia is a country in Southern Hemisphere, covering the mainland of Australia, the island of Tasmania and several other islands of the Indian and Pacific oceans, for a total of about 7.692 million km² or 5.16% of the total land area. The country borders East Timor, Indonesia, Guinea, Vanuatu, Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Zealand. Australia consists of six states, three mainland territories and other smaller territories. Australia's natural resource potential is 20 times higher than the world average. The country ranks 1st in the world in reserves of bauxite, zirconium and uranium, 6th in coal reserves. It has significant reserves of manganese, gold, diamonds and minor deposits of oil and natural gas.

5

The Federative Republic of Brazil is the largest country in South America by area and occupies approximately 8.514 million km², which is about 5.71% of the total land area. It borders with all the countries of South America, except Chile and Ecuador: French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. From the east the coast is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Brazil also includes several archipelagos. Brazil is divided into 26 states and 1 federal district. More than 40 types of minerals are mined in Brazil. The most significant are iron and manganese ores. Brazil is a supplier of strategic raw materials: tungsten, niobium, zirconium, etc. The Amazon has significant reserves of gold.

4

The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world with approximately 9.519 million km² of land area, which is about 6.39% of the total land area on earth. The United States borders Canada and Mexico and also has a maritime border with Russia. They are washed by the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Administratively, the country is divided into 50 states and the District of Columbia; a number of island territories are also subordinate to the United States. The US Constitution is in force on the uninhabited Palmyra Atoll. The remaining territories have their own basic legislation. The largest of these territories is Puerto Rico. The US is the world's largest economy with many natural resources, including energy and raw materials.

3

The top three largest countries in the world are closed by the People's Republic of China with approximately 9.597 million km² or 6.44% of all land on the planet. China is largest country in terms of population (1.3 billion), and Chinese civilization is one of the oldest in the world. The country borders the DPRK, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Washed by the waters western seas Pacific Ocean. The People's Republic of China is divided into 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities and 2 special administrative regions. China is rich in fuel and raw materials. Great importance have reserves of oil, coal, metal ores and precious metals.

2

The second place is occupied by the Northern neighbor of the United States, Canada, with an area of ​​9.985 million km² or 6.7% of the total land area. The country has borders with the USA, Denmark (Greenland) and France (Saint Pierre and Miquelon). Canada's border with the United States is the longest shared border in the world. It is washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories. Canada is one of the richest and one of the ten most trading countries in the world. The country is a net energy exporter, with vast natural gas and oil deposits in Alberta and the Athabasca region, making Canada the world's second largest country in terms of oil reserves after Saudi Arabia.

1

The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world and, with its 17.152 million km² or about 11.5% of the planet's total land area, it is almost twice the size of Canada. It is divided into 87 administrative-territorial units, 46 of which are regions, 23 are republics, 9 are territories, 4 are federal cities, 4 are autonomous okrugs and 1 is an autonomous region. Russia borders on 18 countries: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Abkhazia, Georgia, South Ossetia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, North Korea. Russia has the world's largest proven natural gas reserves and is also its largest producer. The country is in the top three in terms of the volume of oil produced, and in terms of the volume of its exports it ranks second. Available large deposits coal, iron ore, nickel, tin, gold, diamonds, platinum, lead and zinc.

The history of mankind is a continuous struggle for territorial dominance. Great empires arose on political map world, then disappeared from it. Some of them were destined to leave an indelible mark behind them.

Persian Empire (Achaemenid Empire, 550 – 330 BC)

Cyrus II is considered the founder of the Persian Empire. He began his conquests in 550 BC. e. with the subjugation of Media, after which Armenia, Parthia, Cappadocia and the Lydian kingdom were conquered. Did not become an obstacle to the expansion of the empire of Cyrus and Babylon, whose powerful walls fell in 539 BC. e.

While conquering neighboring territories, the Persians tried not to destroy the conquered cities, but, if possible, to preserve them. Cyrus restored captured Jerusalem, like many Phoenician cities, facilitating the return of Jews from Babylonian captivity.

The Persian Empire under Cyrus extended its possessions from Central Asia to Aegean Sea. Only Egypt remained unconquered. The country of the pharaohs submitted to the heir of Cyrus, Cambyses II. However, the empire reached its peak under Darius I, who switched from conquests to domestic policy. In particular, the king divided the empire into 20 satrapies, which completely coincided with the territories of the captured states.
In 330 BC. e. The weakening Persian Empire fell under the onslaught of the troops of Alexander the Great.

Roman Empire (27 BC – 476)

Ancient Rome was the first state in which the ruler received the title of emperor. Beginning with Octavian Augustus, the 500-year history of the Roman Empire had a direct impact on European civilization and also left a cultural mark on the countries North Africa and the Middle East.
Uniqueness Ancient Rome in that he was the only state whose possessions included the entire Mediterranean coast.

At the height of the Roman Empire, its territories extended from the British Isles to the Persian Gulf. According to historians, by 117 the population of the empire reached 88 million people, which was approximately 25% of the total number of inhabitants of the planet.

Architecture, construction, art, law, economics, military affairs, the principles of government of Ancient Rome - this is what the foundation of the entire European civilization is based on. It was in imperial Rome that Christianity accepted the status of a state religion and began its spread throughout the world.

Byzantine Empire (395 – 1453)

The Byzantine Empire has no equal in the length of its history. Originating at the end of antiquity, it existed until the end of the European Middle Ages. For more than a thousand years, Byzantium was a kind of connecting link between the civilizations of the East and West, influencing both the states of Europe and Asia Minor.

But if Western European and Middle Eastern countries inherited the rich material culture of Byzantium, then the Old Russian state turned out to be the successor to its spirituality. Constantinople fell, but Orthodox world found its new capital in Moscow.

Located at the crossroads of trade routes, rich Byzantium was a coveted land for neighboring states. Having reached its maximum borders in the first centuries after the collapse of the Roman Empire, then it was forced to defend its possessions. In 1453, Byzantium could not resist a more powerful enemy - Ottoman Empire. With the capture of Constantinople, the road to Europe was open for the Turks.

Arab Caliphate (632-1258)

As a result of Muslim conquests in the 7th–9th centuries, the theocratic Islamic state of the Arab Caliphate arose in the entire Middle Eastern region, as well as in certain regions of Transcaucasia, Central Asia, North Africa and Spain. The period of the Caliphate went down in history as the “Golden Age of Islam”, as the time of the highest flowering of Islamic science and culture.
One of the caliphs of the Arab state, Umar I, purposefully secured the character of a militant church for the Caliphate, encouraging religious zeal in his subordinates and prohibiting them from owning land property in the conquered countries. Umar motivated this by the fact that “the interests of the landowner attract him more to peaceful activities than to war.”

In 1036, the invasion of the Seljuk Turks was disastrous for the Caliphate, but the defeat of the Islamic state was completed by the Mongols.

Caliph An-Nasir, wanting to expand his possessions, turned to Genghis Khan for help, and unknowingly opened the way for the destruction of the Muslim East by a Mongol horde of thousands.

Mongol Empire (1206–1368)

The Mongol Empire is the largest state formation in history by territory.

During the period of its power, towards the end of the 13th century, the empire extended from the Sea of ​​Japan to the banks of the Danube. The total area of ​​the Mongols' possessions reached 38 million square meters. km.

Given the enormous size of the empire, managing it from the capital, Karakorum, was almost impossible. It is no coincidence that after the death of Genghis Khan in 1227, the process of gradual division of the conquered territories into separate uluses began, the most significant of which became the Golden Horde.

The economic policy of the Mongols in the occupied lands was primitive: its essence boiled down to the imposition of tribute on the conquered peoples. Everything collected went to support the needs of a huge army, according to some sources, reaching half a million people. The Mongol cavalry was the most deadly weapon Chingizids, which not many armies managed to resist.
Inter-dynastic strife destroyed the empire - it was they who stopped the expansion of the Mongols to the West. This was soon followed by the loss of the conquered territories and the capture of Karakorum by Ming dynasty troops.

Holy Roman Empire (962-1806)

The Holy Roman Empire is an interstate entity that existed in Europe from 962 to 1806. The core of the empire was Germany, which was joined by the Czech Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, as well as some regions of France during the period of the highest prosperity of the state.
For almost the entire period of the empire's existence, its structure had the character of a theocratic feudal state, in which the emperors claimed supreme power in the Christian world. However, the struggle with the papal throne and the desire to possess Italy significantly weakened the central power of the empire.
In the 17th century, Austria and Prussia moved to leading positions in the Holy Roman Empire. But very soon the antagonism of two influential members of the empire, which resulted in a policy of conquest, threatened the integrity of their common home. The end of the empire in 1806 was marked by the strengthening France led by Napoleon.

Ottoman Empire (1299–1922)

In 1299, Osman I created a Turkic state in the Middle East, which was destined to exist for more than 600 years and radically influence the fate of the countries of the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. The fall of Constantinople in 1453 marked the date when the Ottoman Empire finally gained a foothold in Europe.

The period of the greatest power of the Ottoman Empire occurred in the 16th-17th centuries, but the state achieved its greatest conquests under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

The borders of the empire of Suleiman I extended from Eritrea in the south to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the north, from Algeria in the west to the Caspian Sea in the east.

The period from the end of the 16th century to the beginning of the 20th century was marked by bloody military conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and Russia. Territorial disputes between the two states mainly revolved around Crimea and Transcaucasia. The First put an end to them World War, as a result of which the Ottoman Empire, divided between the Entente countries, ceased to exist.

British Empire (1497–1949)

The British Empire is the largest colonial power both in terms of territory and population.

The empire reached its greatest scale by the 30s of the 20th century: the land area of ​​the United Kingdom, including its colonies, totaled 34 million 650 thousand square meters. km., which accounted for approximately 22% of the earth's land. The total population of the empire reached 480 million people - every fourth inhabitant of the Earth was a subject of the British Crown.

The success of British colonial policy was facilitated by many factors: a strong army and navy, developed industry, and the art of diplomacy. The expansion of the empire significantly influenced global geopolitics. First of all, this is the spread of British technology, trade, language, and forms of government throughout the world.
The decolonization of Britain occurred after the end of the Second World War. Although the country was among the victorious states, it found itself on the verge of bankruptcy. It was only thanks to an American loan of $3.5 billion that Great Britain was able to overcome the crisis, but at the same time lost world dominance and all its colonies.

Russian Empire (1721–1917)

The history of the Russian Empire dates back to October 22, 1721, after Peter I accepted the title of All-Russian Emperor. From that time until 1905, the monarch who became the head of the state was endowed with absolute power.

By area Russian empire second only to the Mongol and British empires - 21,799,825 sq. km, and was the second (after British) in terms of population - about 178 million people.

Constant expansion of territory – characteristic feature Russian Empire. But if the advance to the east was mostly peaceful, then in the west and south Russia had to prove its territorial claims through numerous wars - with Sweden, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Ottoman Empire, Persia, and the British Empire.

The growth of the Russian Empire has always been viewed with particular caution by the West. The negative perception of Russia was facilitated by the appearance of the so-called “Testament of Peter the Great,” a document fabricated in 1812 by French political circles. “The Russian state must establish power over all of Europe” is one of the key phrases of the Testament, which will haunt the minds of Europeans for a long time.

Created by a union of Turkic tribes and headed by rulers from the noble Ashinov family, this state was one of the largest in the history of medieval Asia. During the period of greatest expansion (at the end of the 6th century), the Kaganate controlled the territory of Mongolia, China, Altai, Central Asia, East Turkestan, the North Caucasus and Kazakhstan. In addition, such Chinese states as Northern Zhou and Northern Qi, Sassanian Iran, and, from 576, Crimea, depended on the Turkic empire.

Created in the thirteenth century as a result of the aggressive policies of Genghis Khan and then his successors. It became the largest in world history, occupying the territory from Novgorod to South- East Asia and from the Danube to the Sea of ​​Japan. The area of ​​the state was approximately 38 million km2. In its heyday Mongol Empire it included vast areas of Central Asia, of Eastern Europe, Southern Siberia, Middle East, Tibet and China.

China's first and oldest unified state, Qin, laid a solid foundation for the subsequent Han Empire. She became one of the most powerful state entities Ancient world. For more than four centuries of its existence, the Han Empire represented an important era in the development of East Asia. To this day, the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom call themselves Han Chinese - an ethnic self-name that comes from the empire that has sunk into oblivion.

During the Chinese Ming era, a standing army was created and a navy was built. The total number of soldiers in the empire reached a million. Representatives of the Ming dynasty were the last rulers who belonged to ethnic Chinese. After their fall, the Manchu Qing dynasty came to power in the empire.

The state was formed on the territory of modern Iran and Iraq after the overthrow of the Arsacids, representatives of the Parthian dynasty. Power in the empire passed to the Sassanid Persians. Their empire existed from the 3rd to the 7th centuries. It reached its peak during the reign of Khosrow I Anushirvan, and during the reign of Khosrow II Parviz, the borders of the state expanded significantly. At that time, the Sassanid Empire included the lands of present-day Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Armenia, the eastern part of present-day Turkey, parts of modern-day India, Pakistan and Syria. In addition, the Sasanian state partially captured the Caucasus, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia, Egypt, the lands of modern Israel, and Jordan, expanding its borders, although not for long, almost to the limits of the ancient Achaemenid power. In the mid-seventh century, the Sasanian Empire was invaded and absorbed into the powerful Arab Caliphate.

A monarchical state proclaimed on January 3, 1868 and lasted until May 3, 1947. After the restoration of imperial rule in 1868, the new government of Japan began to modernize the country under the slogan “Rich country - strong army.” As a result of imperial policies, by 1942 Japan had become the largest maritime power on the planet. However, after the end of World War II, this empire ceased to exist.

After Portugal and Spain, France in the 15th-17th centuries. was the third European state to colonize overseas territories. The French were equally interested in the development of tropical and temperate latitudes. For example, after exploring the mouth of the St. Lawrence River in 1535, Jacques Cartier founded a colony New France, which once occupied the central part of the North American continent. In the 18th century, that is, in its heyday, the French colonies occupied an area of ​​9 million km2.

As a result of Napoleon's occupation of Portugal, the royal family went to Brazil, the most important and largest of the Portuguese colonies. From that time on, the country began to be ruled by the Braganza dynasty. After Napoleon's troops left Portugal, Brazil became independent from the mother country, although it continued to be under the rule of royal family. Thus began the history of an empire that lasted more than seventy years and occupied a significant part of South America.

It was the largest continental monarchy. Thus, in 1914, the Russian Empire occupied a huge area (about 22 million km2). It was the third largest power that ever existed and extended from Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east, from the North Arctic Ocean to the Black Sea in the south. The head of the empire, the king, had unlimited absolute power before 1905

Her possessions were in Asia, Europe and Africa. Turkish army for a long time was considered almost invincible. Power in the state belonged to the sultans, who owned countless treasures. The Ottoman dynasty ruled for more than six centuries, from 1299 to 1922, when the monarchy was overthrown. The area of ​​the Ottoman Empire at the time of its greatest prosperity reached 5,200,000 km2.

In the last article we talked about, in this publication we will learn about the largest countries. The largest country by area is the Russian Federation, occupying 17,126,122 km?. The largest country by population is China, with 1,368,779,000 people. You can get more information on this issue below.

Largest country by:

Owners of wide open spaces

First, let's look at the TOP largest territories of countries and their occupied area:

1. Russia - 17,126,122 km?;
2. Canada - 9,976,140 km?;
3. China - 9,598,077 km?;
4. USA - 9,518,900 km?;
5. Brazil - 8,511,965 km?;
6. Australia - 7,686,850 km?;
7. India - 3,287,590 km?;
8. Argentina - 2,766,890 km?;
9. Kazakhstan - 2,724,902 km?;
10. The rest - 80,646,216 km?.

In the diagram below you can clearly see these indicators in percentage terms.

As we see, Russia occupies 11% of the planet’s land area, Canada – 7%, China – 6%. Thus, these three countries occupy about 24% of the world's land area. Now let's study the leading countries in more detail.

Russian Federation

The largest country by area is Russia, its area is 17,126,122 km?.

Russia is the largest country in terms of territory, with a federal structure. Until 2014, the territory of Russia was 17,125,187 km?, after Crimea was annexed in March 2014, the area of ​​the state increased to the present figure.

Due to such a huge territory, Russia borders on 18 countries, which is the highest number in the world.

Territory Russian state includes 85 federal subjects, of which:

• 46 regions;


• 22 republics;


• 9 edges;


• 4 autonomous okrugs;


• 3 federal cities;


• 1 autonomous region.

Russia occupies 1/8 of the land mass and is comparable not just to countries, but even to continents.

Canada

The second largest country in the world is Canada, its area is 9,984,670 km?.

Canada's territory is almost 2 times smaller than Russia's. Like Russia, Canada is a federal state.

Canada's territory includes:

• 10 provinces;


• 3 territories.

Canada is the largest state of the American islands, even surpassing its continental neighbor, the United States, in area.

China

The third largest territory on the planet belongs to China, which occupies 9,640,821 km?.

The area of ​​China is not too far from Canada when compared with Russia.

China includes:

• 22 provinces (some sources indicate 23 provinces, including Taiwan);


• 5 autonomous regions;


• 4 municipalities;


• 2 special administrative regions.

Despite its significant area, most of China's territory is occupied by mountains, about 67%.

"People's" countries

Let's look at the overall ranking of the most populated countries:

1. China – 1,368,779,000 people;
2. India – 1,261,779,000 people;
3. USA – 318,613,000 people;
4. Indonesia – 252,812,245 people;
5. Brazil – 203,260,131 people;
6. Pakistan – 187,878,027 people;
7. Nigeria – 178,516,904 people;
8. Bangladesh - 156,951,230 people;
9. Russia – 146,200,000 people;
10. The rest – 2,911,254,980 people.

As you can see from the table, the top three leading countries have a population equal to all those countries that are not included in the top nine. Now let's look at the top three in more detail.

China

The most populous country is China, which is home to about 1,368,779,000 people.

China's population increases by 12 million people every year. Starting in 1979, the state switched to a policy of limiting the birth rate, but having reached average levels, over time the birth rate gradually increases again from year to year.

India

The second most populous country is India, with 1,261,779,000 people living in the country.

Oddly enough, almost 70% of Indians live in rural areas. The state does not pursue any birth control policy. India's annual population growth is about 14 million people.

The top three countries in terms of population are the United States, with 320,194,478 people.

The US population growth per year is about 8 million people. A fairly significant portion of this number are migrants from other countries. It will be very difficult for the United States, just like other countries, to catch up with China and India in terms of population, and in the conditions modern life- unreal.