Former transcontinental empires

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), also known as the Soviet Union, was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until its dissolution in 1991. It was the world's third-most populous country, largest by area, and bordered twelve countries. A diverse multinational state, it was organized as a federal union of national republics, the largest and most populous being the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. In practice, its government and economy were highly centralized. As a one-party state governed by the Communist Party, it was the flagship communist state. Its capital and largest city was Moscow.

The Ottoman Empire, historically also known as the Turkish Empire, was a state that spanned much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th century to the early 20th century, centered in modern-day Turkey. It also controlled parts of southeastern Central Europe between the early 16th and early 18th centuries.

period of ancient Rome following the Republic

Roman Empire during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages

overseas possessions of England and later the United Kingdom (1607–1997)

The Russian Empire was the final period of the Russian monarchy, spanning most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about 22,800,000 km2 (8,800,000 sq mi), roughly one-sixth of the world's landmass, making it the third-largest empire in history, behind only the British and Mongol empires. It also colonized Alaska between 1799 and 1867. The empire's 1897 census, the only one it conducted, found a population of 125.6 million with considerable ethnic, linguistic, religious, and socioeconomic diversity.

13th- and 14th-century empire originating in Mongolia

third Islamic caliphate (750–1258)

Iranian (Persian) empire (550–330 BC)

colonial empire governed by Spain between 1492 and 1976

ancient Hellenic kingdom

independently administered western provinces of the Roman Empire

medieval state in Eurasia

second Islamic caliphate (661–750 CE)

global empire centered in Portugal (1415–1999)

empire of Napoleon I of France, from 1804 to 1815

Shia Islamic caliphate (909–1171)

set of territories that were under French rule primarily from the 17th century to the late 1960s

Central Asian Persianate Turco-Mongol empire (1370–1507)

Berber dynasty that once ruled over Al-Andalus and Maghreb

first caliphate established after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (632–661)

Kurdish dynasty from 1171 to 1341

state in Egypt, Hejaz and the Levant (1250–1517)

overseas territories controlled by the Dutch Republic and the Netherlands

historical empire that existed between 1501 and 1736

colonial policies undertaken by the Kingdom of Italy (1882-1946)

khaganate established by the Ashina clan of the Göktürks in medieval Inner Asia

1121–1269 Berber empire in North Africa and Iberia

1536–1953 colonies of Denmark–Norway and Denmark

overseas possessions of Belgium (1841–1962)

former Khaganate

Iran ruled by Afsharid dynasty (1736—1796)