What was History's Greatest Empire?

[Immoren]

Histories greatest empire has been Death who has participated in everything, and effectively controls the largest (in terms of most populous) empire to date.

Yet He still hasn't learned rules of the Bridge.

[Utceforp]

Histories greatest empire has been Death who has participated in everything, and effectively controls the largest (in terms of most populous) empire to date.

Death controls no territory and has no government, though.

[OMGeverynameistaken]

Histories greatest empire has been Death who has participated in everything, and effectively controls the largest (in terms of most populous) empire to date.

Yet He still hasn't learned rules of the Bridge.

And he can never remember how knights move in chess.

[Sebastianbourg]

The British Empire was the greatest empire in history in my opinion. It's a close call though.

[Sebastianbourg]

Histories greatest empire has been Death who has participated in everything, and effectively controls the largest (in terms of most populous) empire to date.

Death controls no territory and has no government, though.

Death is the liege of everything and everyone and whether we like it or not we are summoned to the liege's court to never return.

[Ruapekapeka]

American.

900 bases in 130 countries.

[United States Kingdom]

American.

900 bases in 130 countries.

"The sun never sets in the British Empire."

[Calimera II]

Greatest in what sense?

[British Prussia]

No love for the Chinese Empire?

[Bajacali]

Greatest in what sense?

This. "Greatest" is a really arbitrary term, as is "empire."
In terms of the most powerful, in terms of raw diplomatic and military influence and capacity to dictate the terms of world events, Britain, Brazil, Byzantium, Turkey, and the U.S. have all done fine jobs of just absolutely calling the shots in their respective spheres of influence during their zeniths.
Germany and the Mongols get honorable mentions for swiftest emergence.
China, Egypt, Britain, and the U.S. were probably the greatest patrons of knowledge.
Napoleon III's and Kim il-Sung's are the greatest to study, in terms of their sheer fascinating silliness.

[Conscentia]

Greatest in what sense?

This. "Greatest" is a really arbitrary term, as is "empire."
In terms of the most powerful, in terms of raw diplomatic and military influence and capacity to dictate the terms of world events, Britain, Brazil, Byzantium, Turkey, and the U.S. have all done fine jobs of just absolutely calling the shots in their respective spheres of influence during their zeniths.
Germany and the Mongols get honorable mentions for swiftest emergence.
China, Egypt, Britain, and the U.S. were probably the greatest patrons of knowledge.
Napoleon III's and Kim il-Sung's are the greatest to study, in terms of their sheer fascinating silliness.

Empire is not an arbitrary term. It's defined by an unequal relationship between polities in which a territory holds the sovereignty of subservient territories.

[Villa Mercedes]

The British Empire.. hell no.

[Bajacali]

This. "Greatest" is a really arbitrary term, as is "empire."
In terms of the most powerful, in terms of raw diplomatic and military influence and capacity to dictate the terms of world events, Britain, Brazil, Byzantium, Turkey, and the U.S. have all done fine jobs of just absolutely calling the shots in their respective spheres of influence during their zeniths.
Germany and the Mongols get honorable mentions for swiftest emergence.
China, Egypt, Britain, and the U.S. were probably the greatest patrons of knowledge.
Napoleon III's and Kim il-Sung's are the greatest to study, in terms of their sheer fascinating silliness.

Empire is not an arbitrary term. It's defined by an unequal relationship between polities in which a territory holds the sovereignty of subservient territories.

I've consulted the Emperor of Japan, Michael Dunkley, and David Petraeus, and we've come to the unanimous conclusion that what you've described is better described as a suzerain-puppet relationship.

[Conscentia]

Empire is not an arbitrary term. It's defined by an unequal relationship between polities in which a territory holds the sovereignty of subservient territories.

I've consulted the Emperor of Japan, Michael Dunkley, and David Petraeus, and we've come to the unanimous conclusion that what you've described is better described as a suzerain-puppet relationship.

Did you also consult Emperor Norton, and Mayor McCheese?

[Bajacali]

I've consulted the Emperor of Japan, Michael Dunkley, and David Petraeus, and we've come to the unanimous conclusion that what you've described is better described as a suzerain-puppet relationship.

Did you also consult Emperor Norton, and Mayor McCheese?

Norton I was there. Mayor McCheese had a press conference but his chief of staff phoned in.

[Prezelly]

Nobody conquers all of Asia, except the Mongols.
Militarily, the Mongols were the best, and that was like their thing. The Mongols didn't strive to last long, only to conquer, and that is what they did and why I consider them the greatest

[New Decius]

Most say that Rome was the greatest Empire.

[OMGeverynameistaken]

No love for the Chinese Empire?

The OP thinks that China wasn't a "real empire."

[Australian rePublic]

Why isn't Alexander the Great's Empire up there?

[OMGeverynameistaken]

Why isn't Alexander the Great's Empire up there?

OP is a dick to ancient empires.
[ding]

[Lalaki]

American.

900 bases in 130 countries.

Most of which (barring Cuba and the Middle East) are a part of historical friendships that the United States has built with the nations of Europe, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, etc. The governments there want us to stick around. While we can get the impression of hostility from people fighting in the comment sections of YouTube, America is very close friends with the countries I mention above. We have an agreement to defend numerous nations without their own armed forces as well.

The United States has made, and continues to make, many mistakes. But people also need to see the good. We need to be optimistic.

[Roski]

The Greatest Empire in History is the PC Master Race. Don't doubt it.

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--mVktjhlW--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/xnar63jtuf2kchlcfits.png

[Utceforp]

Why isn't Alexander the Great's Empire up there?

The Achaemenids are more deserving.

[Salus Maior]

Rome, nothing shaped the West, or the World, quite like it. It set a standard that everyone pursued.

And the Mongols? Pffft. I don't consider them much of an Empire. Sure, they loosely ruled a large amount of land and got a lot of tributary states, but they were poor administrators and their Empire was divided quickly. Rome was much more world-changing, and thus a better Empire. Mongols had a better army, though... and that's pretty much all their empire was...

My secondary choice for Greatest Empire would be China,for it's durability through the ages, but I don't know much about them.

[Gharnattah]

I would say either the The Umayyad Caliphate or the Spanish Empire