Three richest empires - Historum

Nadir · April 29th, 2012, 10:45 AM

What were the three wealhtest,richest empires in history besides British and Roman?

Somehow I was under impression that Byzantine empire was at first place.
I dont have idea for second and third.

Maybe Mughal empire?

Master Chief · April 29th, 2012, 10:58 AM

Is there a specific era you are looking?

Tercio · April 29th, 2012, 11:23 AM

In terms of sheer wealth, if we don't regard overall economic mobility, external problems to drain the treasury and economic imbalances I would say the top three are: Ming China, The Spanish Empire and the Mughals.(It's obvious I tend only to focus on the 16th and 17th centuries :P). However both the Mugals and Ming FAR exceeded the Spaniards, whom I included due to fact that they eceeded their european milieu by an equally large margin

**Frank81** · April 29th, 2012, 11:50 AM

Mughal Empire was wonderfuly rich. With a yearly state revenue of around 4,000 tons of silver, it owned the largest revenue of pre-industrial era, far exceeding any other empire.

Chrysoloras · April 29th, 2012, 12:13 PM

The following table based on Angus Maddison's work might be interesting.
List of regions by past GDP (PPP) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There are many caveats one has to bear in mind when reading such numbers of course and at best they would only serve to give a general sense, not even a rough estimate, but they are interesting nonetheless.

Tercio · April 29th, 2012, 01:07 PM

thanks alotfor the link Chrysoloras...It was interesting

Chrysoloras · April 29th, 2012, 01:19 PM

Welcome Tercio (which is I think a Renaissance Spanish unit?). In this thread we discussed the issue of world economic history and spellbanisher and Guaporense both made very usefull and detailed comments.

harbinger · April 29th, 2012, 01:21 PM

I would put british as probably richest.

Mughals were the richest empire in the world of their time.

Emperor Aurangzeb's exchequer raised a record £100 million in annual revenue through various sources like taxes, customs and land revenue, et al. from 24 provinces.Emperor Aurangzeb's exchequer raised a record £100 million in annual revenue through various sources like taxes, customs and land revenue, et al. from 24 provinces.
This was in 1697 ,the mughals were already declining as marathas struggle was reaching its peak in the deccan.

Others would be ming or spanish.Romans and guptas are also contenders.

Chrysoloras · April 29th, 2012, 01:33 PM

Yes, harbinger, my two choices would be India and China as well. Possibly China first since India wasn't unified (at least not often) in one empire.

**Frank81** · April 29th, 2012, 01:58 PM

Even Quing China, with yearly revenues worthing 1500 tons of silver in mid 18th century falls behind Mughal India.