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Historical map · 500

Map of Asia in 500

In 500, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 35 states, empires and other polities in Asia. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were Alliance between Northern Wei and Rouran Khaganate, Rouran Khaganate and White Huns.

See this map live. The interactive map opens on Asia in 500. Zoom in, move the year slider to watch the borders change, or ask the history guide a question and it draws the answer on the map.

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States and empires in Asia in 500

StateIn this regionWhole stateIn the data
Alliance between Northern Wei and Rouran Khaganate Wikipedia5.0 million km²6.2 million km²387–533
Rouran Khaganate Wikipedia3.8 million km²3.8 million km²402–554
White Huns Wikipedia3.3 million km²3.3 million km²410–560
Southern Qi Wikipedia2.4 million km²2.4 million km²480–509
Sasanian Empire Wikipedia2.2 million km²2.2 million km²215–643
Alliance between Gupta Empire and Vakataka Kingdom Wikipedia1.7 million km²2.7 million km²324–554
Allegiance of Ostrogothic Kingdom to Eastern Roman Empire Wikipedia1.6 million km²4.4 million km²500–560
Eastern Roman Empire Wikipedia1.6 million km²2.0 million km²31 BC–AD 632
Vakataka Kingdom Wikipedia673,000 km²673,000 km²260–554
Tuyuhun Wikipedia554,000 km²554,000 km²287–665
Protectorate of the Western Regions Wikipedia437,000 km²437,000 km²117–601
Goguryeo Wikipedia408,000 km²408,000 km²36 BC–AD 681
Himyarite Kingdom Wikipedia297,000 km²297,000 km²110 BC–AD 601
Lakhmid Kingdom Wikipedia259,000 km²259,000 km²270–633
Funan Wikipedia246,000 km²246,000 km²51–640
Kadamba Empire Wikipedia203,000 km²203,000 km²353–554
Nobatia Wikipedia148,000 km²148,000 km²347–655
Maitraka Dynasty Wikipedia145,000 km²145,000 km²476–731
Kalabhra Dynasty Wikipedia138,000 km²138,000 km²353–601
Kamarupa Kingdom Wikipedia130,000 km²130,000 km²353–1138
Alodia Wikipedia124,000 km²124,000 km²347–1506
Pyu City-States Wikipedia117,000 km²117,000 km²84–1045
Kingdom of Axum Wikipedia97,000 km²97,000 km²50 BC–AD 946
Caucasian Albania Wikipedia75,000 km²75,000 km²63 BC–AD 509
Anurādhapura Wikipedia74,000 km²74,000 km²291 BC–AD 1017
Chámpa Wikipedia73,000 km²73,000 km²207–1652
Makuria Wikipedia65,000 km²65,000 km²347–1518
Late Pallava Empire Wikipedia38,000 km²38,000 km²283–805
Caucasian Iberia Wikipedia36,000 km²36,000 km²63 BC–AD 533
Baekje Wikipedia35,000 km²35,000 km²347–660
Lazica Wikipedia24,000 km²24,000 km²63 BC–AD 777
Silla Wikipedia24,000 km²24,000 km²378–681
Tarumanagara Wikipedia17,000 km²17,000 km²367–673
Byeonhan Wikipedia14,000 km²14,000 km²91 BC–AD 566
Tamna Wikipedia1,960 km²1,960 km²263–1278

"In the data" gives the first and last year the dataset draws the state under this identity; states often existed earlier or later in another form.

What changed since 400

New on the map: Rouran Khaganate, White Huns, Southern Qi, Allegiance of Ostrogothic Kingdom to Eastern Roman Empire, Maitraka Dynasty.

Gone from the map: Allegiance of Kidarites to Sasanian Empire, Western Jin, Huns, Western Satraps, Xionites, Later Yan, Later Qin, Northern Liang, Western Qin, Later Liang, Wusun, Southern Liang.

What comes next: 600

Appear by 600: Western Göktürks, Sui Dynasty, Avar Khaganate, Maukhari Dynasty, Yenisei Kyrgyz, Ghassanids, Asuka Japan, Chalukya Dynasty, Chenla, Turk Shahis, Karkota Dynasty, Early Lý Dynasty, Pandya Dynasty.

Gone by 600: Alliance between Northern Wei and Rouran Khaganate, Rouran Khaganate, White Huns, Southern Qi, Alliance between Gupta Empire and Vakataka Kingdom, Allegiance of Ostrogothic Kingdom to Eastern Roman Empire, Vakataka Kingdom, Kadamba Empire, Caucasian Albania, Caucasian Iberia, Lazica, Byeonhan.

Questions about this map

Which countries were in Asia in 500?

The map data draws 35 states and other polities in Asia in 500. The largest by land were Alliance between Northern Wei and Rouran Khaganate, Rouran Khaganate, White Huns, Southern Qi and the Sasanian Empire.

What was the largest empire in Asia in 500?

Of the states on this map, Alliance between Northern Wei and Rouran Khaganate held the most land in total: about 6.2 million km² in the reconstruction used here. Ancient and frontier borders are approximate, so treat areas as estimates.

Can I explore Asia in 500 interactively?

Yes. Open the interactive map at 500, zoom into any region, move through the years, and ask the history guide questions: it answers in plain words and draws places, armies and borders on the map.

About these borders

The borders come from Cliopatria (v0.2.1, Seshat Global History Databank, CC BY 4.0), the dataset behind our interactive map, with our audited name and border corrections. It records each state's territory year by year from 3400 BC to 2024. Borders before modern surveys are reconstructions: the data draws a state where it held control, and frontier zones, nomadic realms and loose overlordships are approximate. Areas are measured on an equal-area projection. Read how we make our maps.

Asia in other years

Other regions in 500