The British Empire: A Quarter of the World

Genghis Khan united the warring nomadic tribes of the Mongolian steppe to forge the largest contiguous land empire in history, stretching from the Pacific to the Danube.

The Inca Empire, the largest in the Americas, stretched 4,000 kilometres along the Andes and governed 12 million people through an extraordinary system of roads, storehouses, and administrative centres.

The Kingdom of Kush ruled from the Nile's fourth cataract and at its height conquered Egypt itself, producing the 25th Pharaonic Dynasty.

At its zenith under Mansa Musa, the Mali Empire was the wealthiest kingdom on Earth, controlling the world's largest gold and salt trade.