Map of the World in 1850
In 1850 CE the atlas maps 145 states and empires across the world. The largest by mapped territory was The Russian Empire, at about 21.04M km², followed by The Qing Dynasty. The map below is set to 1850 CE; the table lists every state shown, with the modern countries its borders covered.
- States Mapped
- 145
- Largest
- 21.04M km²
- Modern Countries Covered
- 169
- Longest Established
- 755–1850 CE
Map of the World in 1850 CE
Borders are drawn for 1850 CE. Drag the timeline to move to another year.
The Major Powers of 1850 CE
The Russian Empire
1721–1916 CEThe Russian Empire was an empire that extended across northern Eurasia from 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in 1917, forming the final era of Tsarist Russia and the wider Russian monarchy. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about 22,800,000 km2 (8,800,000 sq mi), roughly one-sixth of the world's landmass, making it the third-largest empire in history, behind only the British and Mongol empires.
Mapped extent in 1850 CE: 21.04M km²
The Qing Dynasty
1645–1911 CEThe Qing dynasty, officially the Great Qing, also known as the Qing Empire or Qing China, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia which existed from 1636/1644 to 1912. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the Ming dynasty and succeeded by the Republic of China.
Mapped extent in 1850 CE: 12.10M km²
Empire of Brazil
1822–1889 CEThe Empire of Brazil was a 19th-century state that broadly comprised the territories which form modern Brazil and Uruguay until the latter achieved independence in 1828. The empire's government was a representative parliamentary constitutional monarchy under the rule of Emperors Pedro I and his son Pedro II.
Mapped extent in 1850 CE: 7.82M km²
The British Empire
1706–1999 CEThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and colonisation attempts by Scotland during the 17th century.
Mapped extent in 1850 CE: 6.48M km²
United States of America
1776–2024 CE) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. C.
Mapped extent in 1850 CE: 3.47M km²
The Ottoman Empire
1305–1923 CEThe Ottoman Empire, also known historically as Turkey or the Turkish Empire, was a state that spanned much of Southeastern Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th century to the early 20th century, centred in modern-day Turkey. It also controlled parts of southeastern Central Europe between the early 16th and early 18th centuries.
Mapped extent in 1850 CE: 2.11M km²
Descriptions are the opening of each state's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
States and Empires in 1850 CE
145 mapped, largest territory first. Dates are the span of each state's mapped borders.
1850 CE by Region
1850 CE: Quick Answers
- What empires and states existed in 1850 CE?
- The atlas maps 145 states in 1850 CE. The largest by mapped territory were The Russian Empire, The Qing Dynasty, Empire of Brazil, The British Empire, United States of America, The Ottoman Empire.
- What was the largest empire in 1850 CE?
- The Russian Empire had the largest mapped territory in 1850 CE, about 21.04M km², followed by The Qing Dynasty (12.10M km²). Areas are measured from the mapped borders and are approximate.
- What did the world map look like in 1850?
- In 1850 CE the map of the World was divided between 145 mapped states and empires. The Russian Empire held the largest territory, followed by The Qing Dynasty. Their borders covered parts of 169 present-day countries.
- How many states are shown on the map for 1850 CE?
- 145. 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.