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Historical map · 1453

Map of China and East Asia in 1453

In 1453, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 21 states, empires and other polities in China and East Asia. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were the Allegiance of Joseon to Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty and Four Oirats.

See this map live. The interactive map opens on China and East Asia in 1453. 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 China and East Asia in 1453

StateIn this regionWhole stateIn the data
Allegiance of Joseon to Ming Dynasty5.2 million km²5.4 million km²1395–1897
Ming Dynasty Wikipedia5.0 million km²5.0 million km²1375–1644
Four Oirats Wikipedia3.7 million km²4.0 million km²1402–1676
Tibet Wikipedia966,000 km²1.5 million km²1363–1952
Lan Xang Wikipedia377,000 km²377,000 km²1363–1708
Ashikaga Shogunate Wikipedia321,000 km²321,000 km²1344–1571
Shan States Wikipedia275,000 km²275,000 km²1294–1563
Ayutthaya Kingdom Wikipedia236,000 km²385,000 km²1352–1768
Chagatai Khanate Wikipedia204,000 km²1.5 million km²1294–1462
Ava Kingdom Wikipedia193,000 km²193,000 km²1375–1528
Lê Dynasty Wikipedia152,000 km²152,000 km²1429–1571
Sultanate of Bengal Wikipedia131,000 km²307,000 km²1344–1533
Kingdom of Mrauk U Wikipedia85,000 km²85,000 km²1429–1787
Hanthawaddy Kingdom Wikipedia79,000 km²79,000 km²1294–1546
Lan Na Kingdom Wikipedia53,000 km²53,000 km²1294–1761
Khmer Empire Wikipedia18,000 km²241,000 km²800–1539
Chámpa Wikipedia17,000 km²93,000 km²207–1652
Tondo Wikipedia4,970 km²4,970 km²1375–1571
Ryukyu Kingdom Wikipedia2,190 km²2,190 km²1429–1520
Namayan Wikipedia1,130 km²1,130 km²1202–1571
Khanate of Sibir Wikipedia950 km²4.4 million km²1429–1587

"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 1444

Gone from the map: Sukhothai Kingdom.

What comes next: 1492

Appear by 1492: Mongol Khanate, Warring States Japan, Moghulistan, Prome Kingdom.

Gone by 1492: Four Oirats, Chagatai Khanate, Chámpa.

Questions about this map

Which countries were in China and East Asia in 1453?

The map data draws 21 states and other polities in China and East Asia in 1453. The largest by land were the Allegiance of Joseon to Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty, Four Oirats, Tibet and Lan Xang.

What was the largest empire in China and East Asia in 1453?

Of the states on this map, the Allegiance of Joseon to Ming Dynasty held the most land in total: about 5.4 million km² in the reconstruction used here. Ancient and frontier borders are approximate, so treat areas as estimates.

Can I explore China and East Asia in 1453 interactively?

Yes. Open the interactive map at 1453, 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.

China in other years

Other regions in 1453