['< sod > an [ [ empire ] ] involves the extension thereof of a [ [ sovereign state | state\'s sovereignty ] ] over external territories and variety of different ethnic groups. the specific term " empire " in this context ( not necessarily a state ruled by an [ [ emperor ] ] ) does not have a precise definition, but is generally applied to [ [ polities ] ] that are considered to be especially large by the colonial standards of their time and that have acquired a significant part of their territory by conquest. while this article provides a\'\'\'list of the largest empires\'\'\'in [ [ history historical of the world | world history ] ], but the list is not and cannot be definitive since the decision about which entities to consider as " empires " is difficult and not fraught with controversy. < eod > < sod > an [ [ empire ] ] revolts in man power the extension of a [ [ sovereign state | state\'s sovereignty ] ] over external territories and variety of different ethnic groups. the term " empire " in this context ( not necessarily a state ruled by an [ [ emperor ] ] ) does not only have a precise definition, but is also generally applied to [ [ polities ] ] that already are considered to be especially large by the standards of their time and that have acquired a significant part of their territory by conquest. this article provides a\'\'\'list of the largest empires\'\'\'in [ [ history history of the world | world history ] ], but the list is not and cannot be definitive since the decision about which entities to consider as " empires " is difficult and fraught with controversy. < eod >']