Geographic History

World map in 218 BC

165 states share the map in 218 BC. The largest by mapped area are Maurya Empire, Seleucid Empire and Qin.

Maurya Empire is the largest state on the map in 218 BC, a position it has held since 254 BC (before that: Seleucid Empire). It stays in first place until 184 BC, when Han Dynasty takes over. The five largest states hold 47% of all land with a recorded ruler. 85% of the land on the map has no recorded state. The number of states is about the same as in 264 BC: 165 against 171.

Historical map of the world in 218 BC showing the borders of states and empires
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The world in 218 BC, colored by ruling state. Grey land has no state recorded in the dataset.

Largest states in 218 BC

StateMapped areaProvinces
Maurya Empire3.4 million km²124
Seleucid Empire2.4 million km²63
Qin2 million km²57
Ptolemaic Kingdom1.1 million km²29
Greco Baktria630 thousand km²12
Yuezhi620 thousand km²5
Parthia570 thousand km²11
Chin550 thousand km²35
Carthage510 thousand km²23
Babyllinioi500 thousand km²11

What changed since 264 BC

  • On the map, Parthia takes the place of Dahae (about 220 thousand km²).
  • On the map, Au Lac takes the place of Van Lang (about 110 thousand km²).
  • Apart from that, 108 provinces changed hands between 264 BC and 218 BC.
  • Qin gained about 980 thousand km², mostly from Chu State and Northern Wei.
  • Greco Baktria gained about 630 thousand km², mostly from Seleucid Empire.
  • Parthia gained about 360 thousand km², mostly from Seleucid Empire.
  • Achaois Kingdom gained about 170 thousand km², mostly from Seleucid Empire.
  • New on the map: Greco Baktria, Achaois Kingdom, Scirii, Cappadocia and Alexandria Eschate.
  • No longer on the map: Chu State, Northern Wei, Qi, Kyrene and Zhao.

Battles, 218 BC - 201 BC

  • 218 BCTicinus
    2nd Punic War - won by Carthage
  • 218 BCTrebbia
    2nd Punic War - won by Carthage
  • 217 BCLake Trasimene
    2nd Punic War - won by Carthage
  • 217 BCRaphia
    4th Syrian War - won by Ptolmeic Egypt
  • 216 BCCannae
    2nd Punic War - won by Carthage
  • 216 BCNola
    2nd Punic War - won by Rome
  • 215 BCNola
    2nd Punic War - won by Rome
  • 214 BCCasilinum
    2nd Punic War - won by Rome
  • 207 BCJulu
    Fall of the Qin Dynasty - won by Rebel Xiang Yu
  • 205 BCJingxing
    Chu-Han War - won by Han
  • 205 BCPengcheng
    Chu-Han War - won by Xiang Yu
  • 202 BCGaixial
    Chu-Han War - won by Liu Bang

Empire maps for this period

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