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Historical map · 500 BC

Map of China and East Asia in 500 BC

In 500 BC, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 19 states, empires and other polities in China and East Asia. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were the Spring and Autumn States, Chu and Wu.

See this map live. The interactive map opens on China and East Asia in 500 BC. 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 500 BC

StateIn this regionWhole stateIn the data
Spring and Autumn States Wikipedia898,000 km²898,000 km²750 BC–481 BC
Chu Wikipedia353,000 km²353,000 km²750 BC–224 BC
Wu193,000 km²193,000 km²750 BC–451 BC
Jin153,000 km²153,000 km²750 BC–405 BC
Yue Wikipedia111,000 km²111,000 km²500 BC–111 BC
Qi87,000 km²87,000 km²750 BC–204 BC
Qin57,000 km²57,000 km²750 BC–219 BC
Yan50,000 km²50,000 km²750 BC–204 BC
Lu44,000 km²44,000 km²750 BC–248 BC
Song23,000 km²23,000 km²750 BC–285 BC
Later Zhou Wikipedia9,660 km²9,660 km²750 BC–AD 960
Wey Wikipedia6,940 km²6,940 km²750 BC–248 BC
Zhu Wikipedia6,650 km²6,650 km²750 BC–405 BC
Zheng Wikipedia5,280 km²5,280 km²750 BC–367 BC
Chen Wikipedia5,050 km²5,050 km²750 BC–451 BC
Xu Wikipedia4,640 km²4,640 km²750 BC–285 BC
Teng Wikipedia4,320 km²4,320 km²750 BC–451 BC
Cao Wikipedia4,010 km²4,010 km²750 BC–AD 223
Cai Wikipedia3,680 km²3,680 km²750 BC–451 BC

"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 750 BC

New on the map: Yue.

What comes next: 323 BC

Appear by 323 BC: Warring States China, Nanda Empire, Yuezhi, Wei, Zhao, Han, Zhongshan.

Gone by 323 BC: Spring and Autumn States, Wu, Jin, Zhu, Zheng, Chen, Teng, Cao, Cai.

Questions about this map

Which countries were in China and East Asia in 500 BC?

The map data draws 19 states and other polities in China and East Asia in 500 BC. The largest by land were the Spring and Autumn States, Chu, Wu, Jin and Yue.

What was the largest empire in China and East Asia in 500 BC?

Of the states on this map, the Spring and Autumn States held the most land in total: about 898,000 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 500 BC interactively?

Yes. Open the interactive map at 500 BC, 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 500 BC