The history of our world is the history of empires From the sprawling domains of the Achaemenid Empire, which spanned three continents and ruled over more than 40% of the world's population at its peak, through to the Ottoman Empire which dominated Eurasia for centuries, the rise and fall of empires have been central to shaping our world. Historian and Sunday Times bestselling author Philip Parker examines the rise and fall of more than 60 empires, charting their growth and decline while examining the roots of their success and, ultimately, their demise and the legacies they left behind. Their stories are accompanied by stunning mapping which offers a vivid new perspective on the forces that have shaped our history. Each story of empire is accompanied by a map that illustrates its extent and helps illuminate the historical phenomenon of imperialism and question whether the age of empires is truly at an end. * More than 60 maps tell the story of the development of empires through the ages * Combines the artistic world of cartography with the facts of history * Written by leading historian and compiled by the cartographers who produce The Times Atlas of the World * Follows the success of History of Britain in Maps * Part of the Collins History in Maps Series: History of World Trade in Maps (2020) History of War in Maps (2022) History of Ireland in Maps (2023) History of Cities in Maps (2024) History of the World in Maps (2025).