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History by Date · World · 1 CE

Map of the World in 1 AD (1 CE)

In 1 CE the atlas maps 45 states and empires across the world. The largest by mapped territory was The Han Dynasty, at about 4.47M km², followed by The Roman Empire. The map below is set to 1 CE; the table lists every state shown, with the modern countries its borders covered.

States Mapped
45
Largest
4.47M km²
The Han Dynasty
Modern Countries Covered
74
At least partly
Longest Established
1000 BCE – 1 CE
The Kingdom of Kush

Map of the World in 1 CE

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3000 BCEDrag timeline:1 CE2026 CE
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1 CE
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Borders are drawn for 1 CE. Drag the timeline to move to another year.

The Major Powers of 1 CE

The Han Dynasty

202 BCE – 237 CE

The Han dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China established by Liu Bang, and preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) and the interregnum known as the Chu–Han Contention (206–202 BC). It was succeeded by the Three Kingdoms period (220–280 AD) and also briefly interrupted by the Xin dynasty (9–23 AD) established by the usurping regent Wang Mang.

Mapped extent in 1 CE: 4.47M km²

The Roman Empire

31 BCE – 476 CE

The Roman Empire was a state that dominated the Mediterranean and much of Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa during the classical period. The Roman Republic had previously conquered most of these territories, which later came under permanent single-person rule following Octavian's rise to power and the establishment of the Augustan Principate in 27 BC.

Mapped extent in 1 CE: 3.55M km²

Parthian Empire

239 BCE – 237 CE

The Parthian Empire, also known as the Arsacid Empire, was a major Iranian political and cultural power centered in ancient Iran from 247 BC to 224 AD. Its latter name comes from its founder, Arsaces I, who led the Parni tribe in conquering the region of Parthia in Iran's northeast, then a satrapy (province) under Andragoras, who was rebelling against the Seleucid Empire.

Mapped extent in 1 CE: 2.70M km²

Xiongnu

208 BCE – 153 CE

The Xiongnu were a tribal confederation of nomadic peoples who, according to ancient Chinese sources, inhabited the eastern Eurasian Steppe from the 3rd century BC to the late 1st century AD. Modu Chanyu, the supreme leader after 209 BC, founded the Xiongnu Empire.

Mapped extent in 1 CE: 2.40M km²

Satavahana Dynasty

225 BCE – 223 CE

The Satavahanas, also referred to as the Andhras in the Puranas, were an ancient Indian dynasty. Most modern scholars believe that the Satavahana rule began in the late 2nd century BCE and lasted until the early 3rd century CE, although some assign the beginning of their rule to as early as the 3rd century BCE based on the Puranas, but uncorroborated by archaeological evidence.

Mapped extent in 1 CE: 890,001 km²

Indo-Scythians

144 BCE – 282 CE

The Indo-Scythians, also known as Indo-Sakas, were a group of nomadic people of Iranic Scythian origin who migrated from Central Asia southward into the present-day regions of Afghanistan, eastern Iran and the northwestern Indian subcontinent. The migrations persisted from the middle of the second century BCE to the fourth century CE.

Mapped extent in 1 CE: 832,001 km²

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

States and Empires in 1 CE

45 mapped, largest territory first. Dates are the span of each state's mapped borders.

States and empires in 1 CE
#StateMapped area
1The Han Dynasty4.47M km²
2The Roman Empire3.55M km²
3Parthian Empire2.70M km²
4Xiongnu2.40M km²
5Satavahana Dynasty890,001 km²
6Indo-Scythians832,001 km²
7Indo-Parthians487,414 km²
8Yuezhi458,075 km²
9The Kingdom of Kush336,379 km²
10Himyarite Kingdom334,765 km²
11Kingdom of Armenia217,689 km²
12Mauretania215,292 km²
13Mayan City-States198,040 km²
14Wusun194,516 km²
15Kingdom of Axum97,004 km²
16Goguryeo93,675 km²
17Thracian Kingdom90,345 km²
18Nabataeans90,058 km²
19Kingdom of Cappadocia86,769 km²
20Hadhramaut86,171 km²
21Kingdom of Pontus80,260 km²
22Indo-Greeks73,704 km²
23Anurādhapura73,532 km²
24Zapotec Civilization69,768 km²
25Great Yuan51,348 km²
26Kingdom of Osroene50,270 km²
27Caucasian Albania50,113 km²
28Mahan49,731 km²
29Caucasian Iberia35,868 km²
30Early Pandyas32,556 km²
31Dong-okjeo32,149 km²
32Judea31,921 km²
33Dongye29,016 km²
34Early Cholas28,856 km²
35Lazica28,525 km²
36Early Cheras25,181 km²
37Cimmerian Bosporus24,828 km²
38Greek City-States23,846 km²
39Kingdom of Sophene23,761 km²
40Jinhan23,506 km²
41Kingdom of Gordyene14,297 km²
42Kingdom of Adiabene13,758 km²
43Byeonhan13,603 km²
44Kingdom of Commagene9,646 km²
45Teotihuacan5,674 km²

1 CE by Region

1 CE: Quick Answers

What empires and states existed in 1 CE?
The atlas maps 45 states in 1 CE. The largest by mapped territory were The Han Dynasty, The Roman Empire, Parthian Empire, Xiongnu, Satavahana Dynasty, Indo-Scythians.
What was the largest empire in 1 CE?
The Han Dynasty had the largest mapped territory in 1 CE, about 4.47M km², followed by The Roman Empire (3.55M km²). Areas are measured from the mapped borders and are approximate.
What did the world map look like in 1 AD?
In 1 CE the map of the World was divided between 45 mapped states and empires. The Han Dynasty held the largest territory, followed by The Roman Empire. Their borders covered parts of 74 present-day countries.
How many states are shown on the map for 1 CE?
45. 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.