A world empire, or universal empire, is an imperialist state which claims or aspires to be a universal monarchy and claims the right to world domination.

Five world empires of antiquity

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Map Empire and timespan Notes
  First empire
Assyrian Empire
745–612 BC
  Second empire
Median Empire
612–549 BC
  Third empire
Persian Empire
549–330 BC
  Fourth empire
Macedonian Empire
330–63 BC
  Fifth empire
Roman Empire
63 BC – AD 476