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Historical map · 500

Map of China and East Asia in 500

In 500, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 14 states, empires and other polities in China and East Asia. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were Alliance between Northern Wei and Rouran Khaganate, Rouran Khaganate and Southern Qi.

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

StateIn this regionWhole stateIn the data
Alliance between Northern Wei and Rouran Khaganate Wikipedia4.6 million km²6.2 million km²387–533
Rouran Khaganate Wikipedia3.4 million km²3.8 million km²402–554
Southern Qi Wikipedia2.4 million km²2.4 million km²480–509
Tuyuhun Wikipedia454,000 km²554,000 km²287–665
Goguryeo Wikipedia408,000 km²408,000 km²36 BC–AD 681
Kamarupa Kingdom Wikipedia130,000 km²130,000 km²353–1138
Pyu City-States Wikipedia117,000 km²117,000 km²84–1045
Alliance between Gupta Empire and Vakataka Kingdom Wikipedia102,000 km²2.7 million km²324–554
Protectorate of the Western Regions Wikipedia48,000 km²437,000 km²117–601
Chámpa Wikipedia41,000 km²73,000 km²207–1652
Baekje Wikipedia35,000 km²35,000 km²347–660
Silla Wikipedia24,000 km²24,000 km²378–681
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, Southern Qi.

Gone from the map: Western Jin, Later Yan, Later Qin, Northern Liang, Western Qin, Later Liang, Southern Liang.

What comes next: 600

Appear by 600: Sui Dynasty, Western Göktürks, Yenisei Kyrgyz, Asuka Japan, Chenla, Early Lý Dynasty, Maukhari Dynasty.

Gone by 600: Alliance between Northern Wei and Rouran Khaganate, Rouran Khaganate, Southern Qi, Alliance between Gupta Empire and Vakataka Kingdom, Byeonhan.

Questions about this map

Which countries were in China and East Asia in 500?

The map data draws 14 states and other polities in China and East Asia in 500. The largest by land were Alliance between Northern Wei and Rouran Khaganate, Rouran Khaganate, Southern Qi, Tuyuhun and Goguryeo.

What was the largest empire in China and East 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 China and East 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.

China in other years

Other regions in 500