Geographic History

World map in AD 500

201 states share the map in AD 500. The largest by mapped area are Rouran, Sasanian Empire and Hephthalite Empire.

Rouran is the largest state on the map in AD 500, a position it has held since AD 441 (before that: Sasanian Empire). It stays in first place until AD 548, when Gokturks takes over. The five largest states hold 33% of all land with a recorded ruler. 69% of the land on the map has no recorded state. The number of states is about the same as in AD 476: 201 against 202.

Historical map of the world in AD 500 showing the borders of states and empires
Explore this map in the app
The world in AD 500, colored by ruling state. Grey land has no state recorded in the dataset.

Largest states in AD 500

StateMapped areaProvinces
Rouran3.6 million km²30
Sasanian Empire3 million km²78
Hephthalite Empire2.4 million km²47
Southern Qi2.3 million km²66
Byzantine Empire2 million km²90
Northern Wei1.8 million km²40
Gupta1.4 million km²52
Oghuz1.1 million km²15
Ghana850 thousand km²10
Visigoths660 thousand km²42

What changed since AD 476

  • On the map, Southern Qi takes the place of Liu Song (about 2.3 million km²).
  • Apart from that, 123 provinces changed hands between AD 476 and AD 500.
  • Hephthalite Empire gained about 440 thousand km², mostly from Chuban.
  • Rouran gained about 420 thousand km², mostly from Chuban.
  • Ostrogoths gained about 400 thousand km², mostly from Western Roman Empire and Vandal Kingdom.
  • Kingdom of the Franks gained about 310 thousand km², mostly from Soissons and Alemanni.
  • New on the map: Xiyu, Bana, Shanshan and Toltec.
  • No longer on the map: Chuban, Western Roman Empire, Soissons, Alemanni and Rugii.

Battles, AD 500 - AD 532

  • AD 500Avignon
    Burgundian Frankish War - won by Burgundy
  • AD 500Dijon
    Burgundian-Frankish War - won by Frankish Empire
  • AD 500Vienne
    Burgundian-Frankish War - won by Gundobald of Burgundy
  • AD 502Amida
    Byzantine-Persian Wars - won by Sassanid Empire
  • AD 503Apadna
    Byzantine-Persian Wars - won by Sassanid Persia
  • AD 503Edessa
    Byzantine-Persian War
  • AD 505Horreum Margi
    Gothic War in Italy - won by Huns, Goths
  • AD 507Vouille
    Visigothic-Frankish War - won by Franks, Burgundians
  • AD 508Arles
    Visigoth-Frankish Wars - won by Ostrogoths
  • AD 530Dara
    Byzantine-Persian Wars - won by Byzantium
  • AD 531Callinicum
    Byzantine-Persian Wars - won by Sassanid Persia
  • AD 532Constantinople
    Nike Insurrection - won by Byzantium

Empire maps for this period

More world maps

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.