Map of Asia in 1500

The Major Powers of 1500 CE

The Ming Dynasty

1375–1644 CE

The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of China ruled by the Han people, the majority ethnic group in China.

Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 4.34M km²

Khanate of Sibir

1429–1587 CE

The Khanate of Sibir was a Siberian Tatar state in western Siberia. It was founded at the end of the 15th century, following the break-up of the Golden Horde.

Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 2.82M km²

Grand Principality of Moscow

1294–1546 CE

The Grand Principality of Moscow, before 1389 the Principality of Moscow, also known by the exonym Muscovy, was a late medieval Russian monarchy. Its capital was the city of Moscow.

Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 2.14M km²

Timurid Empire

1375–1528 CE

The Timurid Empire was a late medieval Turco-Mongol, culturally Persianate, Muslim empire that dominated Greater Iran in the early 15th century, comprising modern-day Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, much of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and parts of contemporary Pakistan, North India, and Turkey. The empire had a syncretic culture and combined Turkic, Mongolic, and Persian influences, with the last members of the dynasty being regarded as "ideal Perso-Islamic rulers".

Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 1.95M km²

Kazakh Khanate

1468–1847 CE

The Kazakh Khanate, also known as the Kazakh Khanates or Qazaq Khanate was a nomadic state in Central Asia that existed from c. 1465 to the early 19th century.

Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 1.86M km²

Aq Qoyunlu

1407–1511 CE

The Aq Qoyunlu or the White Sheep Turkomans was a Turkoman, culturally Persianate, Sunni Muslim tribal confederation. Founded in the Diyarbakir region by Qara Yuluk Uthman Beg, they ruled parts of present-day eastern Turkey from 1378 to 1508, and in their last decades also ruled Armenia, Azerbaijan, much of Iran, Iraq, and Oman where the ruler of Hormuz recognised Aq Qoyunlu suzerainty.

Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 1.70M km²

Descriptions are the opening of each state's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).

States and empires in Asia in 1500 CE
#	State	Mapped area	Dates	Modern countries
1	Mongol Khanate	4.55M km²	1468–1635 CE	China, Russia, Mongolia
2	The Ming Dynasty	4.34M km²	1375–1644 CE	China, Hong Kong S.A.R., Macau S.A.R
3	Khanate of Sibir	2.82M km²	1429–1587 CE	Russia, Kazakhstan
4	Grand Principality of Moscow	2.14M km²	1294–1546 CE	Russia
5	Timurid Empire	1.95M km²	1375–1528 CE	Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and 1 more
6	Kazakh Khanate	1.86M km²	1468–1847 CE	Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
7	Aq Qoyunlu	1.70M km²	1407–1511 CE	Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Azerbaijan and 1 more
8	Tibet	1.55M km²	1363–1952 CE	China
9	Mamluk Sultanate	1.48M km²	1241–1518 CE	Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan and 4 more
10	Kalmar Union	1.29M km²	1402–1525 CE	Russia, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and 4 more
11	Moghulistan	1.08M km²	1463–1518 CE	China
12	House of Jagiellon	1.02M km²	1450–1571 CE	Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Lithuania
13	The Ottoman Empire	930,613 km²	1305–1923 CE	Turkey, Romania, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and 4 more
14	Nogai Horde	704,314 km²	1450–1563 CE	Russia, Kazakhstan
15	Golden Horde	550,524 km²	1294–1695 CE	Russia, Ukraine
16	Vassalage of Jaffna kingdom to Vijayanagara Empire	540,251 km²	1385–1501 CE	India, Sri Lanka
17	The Vijayanagara Empire	528,466 km²	1344–1571 CE	India
18	The Delhi Sultanate	441,658 km²	1210–1528 CE	India, Pakistan
19	Lodi Dynasty	441,658 km²	1453–1528 CE	India, Pakistan
20	Shaybanids	395,934 km²	1497–1511 CE	Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan
21	Ayutthaya Kingdom	393,651 km²	1352–1768 CE	Thailand, Myanmar
22	Tahirid Sultanate	377,950 km²	1459–1515 CE	Yemen
23	Lan Xang	375,471 km²	1363–1708 CE	Vietnam, Thailand, Laos
24	Sultanate of Bengal	331,911 km²	1344–1533 CE	India, Bangladesh
25	Warring States Japan	320,992 km²	1468–1601 CE	Japan
26	Eastern Chagatai Khanate	302,997 km²	1492–1511 CE	Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
27	The Khmer Empire	286,870 km²	800–1867 CE	Vietnam, Cambodia
28	Shan States	273,899 km²	1294–1563 CE	Myanmar
29	Joseon	232,368 km²	1395–1897 CE	South Korea, North Korea
30	Lê Dynasty	190,463 km²	1429–1571 CE	Vietnam
31	Ava Kingdom	173,693 km²	1375–1528 CE	Myanmar
32	Khanate of Kazan	170,172 km²	1440–1551 CE	Russia
33	Astrakhan Khanate	161,772 km²	1468–1768 CE	Russia
34	Kashmiri Sultanate	151,968 km²	1344–1587 CE	India
35	Crimean Khanate	136,570 km²	1450–1782 CE	Russia, Ukraine
36	Sind-Samma Dynasty	123,201 km²	1344–1525 CE	Pakistan
37	Bijapur Sultanate	118,784 km²	1492–1686 CE	India
38	Kapisa	116,849 km²	1475–1506 CE	Afghanistan
39	Majapahit	86,053 km²	1294–1518 CE	Indonesia
40	Berar Sultanate	80,056 km²	1492–1578 CE	India
41	Hanthawaddy Kingdom	78,206 km²	1294–1546 CE	Myanmar
42	Sultanate of Palembang	77,003 km²	1459–1821 CE	Indonesia
43	Ahmadnagar Sultanate	73,856 km²	1492–1652 CE	India
44	Bahrani Dynasty	69,706 km²	1260–1520 CE	Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain
45	Bidar Sultanate	63,693 km²	1492–1618 CE	India
46	Ceylon	62,329 km²	1236–1506 CE	Sri Lanka
47	Sunda Kingdom	54,103 km²	674–1578 CE	Indonesia
48	Lan Na Kingdom	52,549 km²	1294–1563 CE	Thailand
49	Sultanate of Brunei	50,132 km²	1363–2024 CE	Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei
50	Shirvan	47,520 km²	825–1539 CE	Azerbaijan
51	Samtskhe-Saatabago	42,721 km²	1468–1506 CE	Turkey
52	Teutonic Order	38,518 km²	1236–1525 CE	Russia, Poland
53	Beylik of Dulkadir	30,414 km²	1344–1515 CE	Turkey
54	Kingdom of Georgia	27,616 km²	1010–1802 CE	Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia
55	Ramadanid Emirate	24,477 km²	1385–1515 CE	Turkey
56	Pskov Republic	21,734 km²	1285–1511 CE	Russia
57	Prome Kingdom	18,965 km²	1482–1546 CE	Myanmar
58	Sultanate of Kedah	13,312 km²	1139–1910 CE	Malaysia
59	Jaffna kingdom	11,785 km²	1314–1594 CE	Sri Lanka
60	Chámpa	8,027 km²	207–1652 CE	Vietnam
61	Sultanate of Cirebon	7,967 km²	1482–1676 CE	Indonesia
62	Sultanate of Malacca	6,939 km²	1459–1861 CE	Singapore
63	Tondo	4,840 km²	1375–1571 CE	Philippines
64	Mahdids	4,396 km²	1169–1506 CE	Oman
65	Kathmandu	661 km²	1202–1761 CE	Nepal

State

Mapped area

Mongol Khanate

4.55M km²

The Ming Dynasty

4.34M km²

Khanate of Sibir

2.82M km²

Grand Principality of Moscow

2.14M km²

1.95M km²

1.86M km²

1.70M km²

1.55M km²

1.48M km²

1.29M km²

1.08M km²

1.02M km²

930,613 km²

704,314 km²

550,524 km²

Vassalage of Jaffna kingdom to Vijayanagara Empire

540,251 km²

The Vijayanagara Empire

528,466 km²

441,658 km²

441,658 km²

395,934 km²

393,651 km²

377,950 km²

375,471 km²

331,911 km²

320,992 km²

Eastern Chagatai Khanate

302,997 km²

286,870 km²

273,899 km²

232,368 km²

190,463 km²

173,693 km²

170,172 km²

161,772 km²

151,968 km²

136,570 km²

123,201 km²

118,784 km²

116,849 km²

86,053 km²

80,056 km²

78,206 km²

Sultanate of Palembang

77,003 km²

73,856 km²

69,706 km²

63,693 km²

62,329 km²

54,103 km²

52,549 km²

50,132 km²

47,520 km²

42,721 km²

38,518 km²

30,414 km²

27,616 km²

24,477 km²

21,734 km²

18,965 km²

13,312 km²

11,785 km²

8,027 km²

7,967 km²

6,939 km²

4,840 km²

4,396 km²

661 km²

1500 CE: Quick Answers

What empires and states existed in Asia in 1500 CE?

The atlas maps 65 states in Asia in 1500 CE. The largest by mapped territory were Mongol Khanate, The Ming Dynasty, Khanate of Sibir, Grand Principality of Moscow, Timurid Empire, Kazakh Khanate.

What was the largest empire in Asia in 1500 CE?

Mongol Khanate had the largest mapped territory among states present in Asia in 1500 CE, about 4.55M km², followed by The Ming Dynasty (4.34M km²). Areas are measured from the mapped borders and are approximate.

What did the map of Asia look like in 1500?

In 1500 CE the map of Asia was divided between 65 mapped states and empires. Mongol Khanate held the largest territory, followed by The Ming Dynasty. Their borders covered parts of 69 present-day countries.

How many states are shown on the map for 1500 CE?

65. The map shows the states recorded in the atlas's dated border dataset for that year; states and peoples absent from that dataset are not shown.