Geographic History

World map in 1861

199 states share the map in 1861. The largest by mapped area are Russia, United Kingdom and Qing.

Russia is the largest state on the map in 1861, a position it has held since 1633 (before that: Spanish Empire). It stays in first place until 1917, when United Kingdom takes over. The five largest states hold 57% of all land with a recorded ruler. 18% of the land on the map has no recorded state. The number of states is about the same as in 1860: 199 against 201.

Historical map of the world in 1861 showing the borders of states and empires
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The world in 1861, colored by ruling state. Grey land has no state recorded in the dataset.

Largest states in 1861

StateMapped areaProvinces
Russia20 million km²268
United Kingdom16 million km²297
Qing11 million km²163
Brazil8 million km²83
United States of America6.5 million km²184
Ottoman Empire4.8 million km²143
Argentina2.2 million km²31
Mexico1.9 million km²57
Colombia1.7 million km²22
Bolivia1.7 million km²23

What changed since 1860

  • On the map, Tukulor Empire takes the place of Ségou Empire (about 610 thousand km²).
  • Apart from that, 32 provinces changed hands between 1860 and 1861.
  • France gained about 290 thousand km², mostly from land with no recorded state and Mzab.
  • Netherlands gained about 260 thousand km², mostly from land with no recorded state and Banjar.
  • Sardinia Piedmont gained about 160 thousand km², mostly from Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and Central Italy.
  • Confederate States gained about 79 thousand km², mostly from United States of America.
  • New on the map: Confederate States.
  • No longer on the map: Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Banjar and Central Italy.

Battles, 1861 - 1869

  • 1861Hangzhou
    Taiping Rebellion - won by Taiping
  • 1862Corinth, Mississippi (1st)
    American Civil War - won by United States
  • 1862Fredericksburg
    American Civil War - won by Confederate States of America
  • 1862Yuhuatai
    Taiping Rebellion - won by China
  • 1863Suzhou
    Taiping Rebellion - won by China
  • 1864Hubei
    Taiping Rebellion - won by China
  • 1864Cold Harbour
    American Civil War - won by Confederate States of America
  • 1864Fujian
    Taiping Rebellion - won by China
  • 1864Kennesaw Mountain
    American Civil War - won by Confederate States of America
  • 1864Totopotomoy Creek
    American Civil War
  • 1864Wilderness
    American Civil War - won by Confederate States of America
  • 1865Appomattox Court House
    US Civil War - won by United States of America

Empire maps for this period

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