Geographic HistoryMap of the Parthian Empire
On the Geographic History map, the Parthian Empire appears from 246 BC to AD 224. It reaches its largest mapped extent in AD 119: about 2.2 million km² across 51 provinces.
The Parthian Empire grew from a small kingdom founded by Arsaces I in northeastern Iran around 247 BC into the power that ruled Iran and Mesopotamia. Its horse archers destroyed Crassus's army at Carrhae in 53 BC, and for almost three centuries it was Rome's main rival in the east. In AD 224 the Persian Ardashir I overthrew the last Parthian king and founded the Sasanian Empire.
The source dataset also uses this name outside 247 BC - AD 224; this page counts only 247 BC - AD 224.
Mapped area over time
The Parthian Empire on the world maps
Largest other states in AD 119
| State | Mapped area |
|---|---|
| Roman Empire | 4.6 million km² |
| Han | 4.1 million km² |
| Xianbei | 2.3 million km² |
| Kushan | 1.2 million km² |
| Satavahana | 750 thousand km² |
| Kangju | 660 thousand km² |
| Xiongnu | 580 thousand km² |
| Meroe | 550 thousand km² |
About this map
Territory comes from the Chronas historical dataset used by the Geographic History app. Areas are approximate, computed from about 2,400 province shapes, and describe this map rather than official historical figures - border data for the ancient and medieval world is necessarily a reconstruction.
Every year has a map
Drag a timeline across 2,500 years in the free Geographic History app - every province, ruler and battle, also offline.
