Rome, Mongolia, England,... are considered the top superpowers in history. Despite their power, most superpowers collapsed due to internal conflicts.

Although the world has had many great empires, the list of superpowers is usually much shorter. It is very difficult for a country to become a superpower and maintain its superpower status because it requires the ability to overwhelm all its rivals.

Below are the 5 greatest superpowers in history, according to the opinion of writer Akhilesh Pillalamarri in the US newspaper National Interest:

Roman Empire

PicturePainting “The Fall of Rome”. Author: Thomas Cole

The Roman Empire reached the height of its power in the 2nd century. By then, it was the dominant power in most of the ancient world. Although its power did not extend as far as India and China, the Roman Empire’s influence was unquestioned in the Middle East and Europe. It encompassed most of the major population centers and civilizations of antiquity, including Greece, Egypt, the Levant (including modern-day Syria and Iraq), Carthage, Asia Minor, and Italy.

The population of the Roman Empire at its peak was around 60 million, far exceeding that of its neighbors and accounting for a large proportion of the world's population at the time. The empire's large size meant that it did not need to trade much with the outside world except to purchase luxury goods (such as silk, spices, incense, etc.).

At that time, the Roman Empire had overwhelming military superiority over its neighbors, with the sole exception of the highly organized Persian Empire. However, Persia was no match for Rome in terms of power. While the Roman legions were capable of and did in fact ravage the Persian heartland, the Persian army had no chance of penetrating deep into Roman territory. The Roman legions were invincible in battle with their enemies. Rome eventually fell, but not because of external threats but because of constant civil war, economic depression, and over-reliance on mercenaries.

Mongol Empire

Portrait of Genghis Khan– the brilliant but extremely brutal leader of the Mongol Empire. Photo: fieldmuseum.org.

This was once the world’s largest empire in terms of land area. The rise of this empire is surprising because a group of Mongol tribes with a population of no more than a million people were able to conquer empires that were literally hundreds of times larger. The Mongols were able to do this thanks to their sharp tactics, mobility, and ability to integrate the technologies of the conquered peoples.

The chief Temujin united all the Mongol tribes in 1206 at the age of 50. He was then recognized as the universal ruler (Genghis Khan). After conquering northern China, he devastated Central Asia. Genghis Khan considered the killing of Mongol envoys in Central Asia an insult to him.

The conquest of Central Asia (1219-1221) and then Iran devastated the region and was one of the most brutal events in history. Perhaps 15-50 million people in the region (mostly Central Asians) died during this period.

Genghis Khan’s successors ruled an empire that went on to conquer most of Eurasia, including the entire Middle East, parts of Eastern Europe, China, and Russia. The Mongol Empire ushered in a brief period of peace and trade across much of the world. Ultimately, despite some setbacks in Japan and the Levant, the main threat to the Mongol Empire’s dominance was infighting within the Mongol ruling elite, which fragmented the empire into four smaller states, which in turn collapsed or were conquered. The legacy of the Mongol Empire lives on today, with 8% of the world’s men… descended from Genghis Khan!

British Empire

MapThe British Empire by Duke-Nidhoggr.

The British Empire grew out of the colonial and commercial activities of Great Britain in the 18th century. By the early 20th century, Britain had become the largest empire in human history, covering a quarter of the Earth’s surface. It was so large that the saying “the sun never sets on Britain” arose. At its peak, over a fifth of the world’s population lived in the empire.

Unlike previous great empires, the basis of Britain's power was its navy, which allowed it to project power far and wide. A strong navy allowed Britain to enforce freedom of navigation, combat slavery and piracy, and contribute to making the world a safer place.

Rather than trying to control vast inland territories for resources, the British Empire focused on trade and control of key shipping routes. Canals and straits such as Suez, Malacca, Aden, Hormuz, and Gibraltar - all of which were once British - made Britain very wealthy.

The British Empire was diverse and included territory on all continents of the world, with a diverse array of cultures. The British ruled over a large non-native British population, which allowed them to develop and refine their methods of governing many different areas, either directly or through local “soldiers.” British rule extended to places as diverse as India, Egypt, and Canada.

Soviet Union

Map of the Soviet UnionPhoto: LtAngemon.

Perhaps given its enormous size and vast resources, the Soviet Union was destined to become a superpower. The Soviet Union inherited most of the population and territory of the Russian Empire, which had expanded enormously through conquest. Even Hitler himself later realized that the Soviet Union’s enormous size made it a superpower that was difficult to defeat in war.

The vast landmass and rich resources of the Soviet Union enabled the Soviet Union to withstand and defeat invading armies. Already large and backed by nuclear weapons, the Soviet army became an “unstoppable” force in conventional warfare. The Soviet Union’s geographical advantage also made many Westerners fear that, according to the “heartland” geopolitical theory, whoever controlled the core of Eurasia would control Eurasia and then the world.

Soviet power continued to expand as they were increasingly concerned with security. Soviet military forces were constantly working to push their enemies as far away from their homeland as possible. As a result, Soviet troops were spread out in many parts of Eastern Europe and Northeast Asia.

USA

TankUS Army vehicles roll through the Egyptian desert in 2001. Photo: Reuters

The United States became the first truly global superpower after World War II. By the end of the war, the United States accounted for half of the world’s GDP – a proportion that no other country had achieved before or since. For four decades, the Soviet Union actively competed with the United States, but overall the United States always had the edge thanks to its economy, geography, and allies.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, militarily and technologically, the United States has enjoyed near-dominance in the air and at sea, as well as an advantage on land in a conventional war.

The United States combined many of the best features of previous superpowers. It controlled a territory as vast (continental in size) and rich in resources as the Soviet Union. It possessed a military that could inflict as much damage on its enemies as the Mongols had done. Like the Roman Empire, it had no military rival. And most importantly, it, like Britain, built its power on a resource that was not dependent on territory (i.e., trade), and like Britain, it possessed a superior navy that could access the world’s vital shipping lanes.

However, there is one thing that everyone should remember, including the greatest superpowers militarily and economically, and that is that at some point all superpowers decline, usually due to internal conflicts.

According to VOV