Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpha Fish
Russian empire obv, survived all the major wars and still going strong (sort of)
No offense but the Russian empire is a terrible candidate for the GOAT.
The Russian Empire existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom system of Russia, and the predecessor of the Soviet Union. Sure it was the second largest contiguous empire in world history, surpassed only by the Mongol Empire, and the third largest empire behind the British Empire and the Mongol Empire. At one point in 1866, it stretched from eastern Europe, across Asia, and into North America.
Pure size it was massive. This is the only GOAT worthy quality as it only excels in one other area compare to others like the Han Dynasty, Rome, Greece, the Persian Empire, Byzantine Empire, British Empire, Mongol Empire. It survived with out being total wiped out of existence. If it wasn't for the Mongols completely running over the area centuries before it probably wouldn't even evolved in it's past form.
Sure it had it's moments including the ability to fend off hostile invaders but but pails in comparison to an empire like Rome and the legacy it left the world.