Approximate borders
140 states, peoples and territories are mapped in 1500. The largest are Chagatai Khanate, Bantu peoples, Siberians.
Explore 1500 on the mapAreas calculated from the map outlines (≈). Share of Earth's land area including Antarctica.
| # | State or people | Area | Share of land |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chagatai Khanate | 8,367,714 km² (3,230,793 sq mi) | 5.6% |
| 2 | Bantu peoples | 8,242,186 km² (3,182,326 sq mi) | 5.5% |
| 3 | Siberians | 8,018,516 km² (3,095,966 sq mi) | 5.4% |
| 4 | Australian aboriginal hunter-gatherers | 7,602,370 km² (2,935,292 sq mi) | 5.1% |
| 5 | Ming Chinese Empire | 4,206,543 km² (1,624,155 sq mi) | 2.8% |
| 6 | West African cereal farmers | 3,882,778 km² (1,499,149 sq mi) | 2.6% |
| 7 | Amazon hunter-gatherers | 3,215,447 km² (1,241,491 sq mi) | 2.2% |
| 8 | Kalmar Union | 3,070,202 km² (1,185,412 sq mi) | 2.1% |
| 9 | Savanna hunter-gatherers | 2,983,259 km² (1,151,843 sq mi) | 2.0% |
| 10 | Grand Duchy of Moscow | 2,771,834 km² (1,070,211 sq mi) | 1.9% |
| 11 | White Horde | 2,634,770 km² (1,017,290 sq mi) | 1.8% |
| 12 | Khoisan | 2,331,889 km² (900,347 sq mi) | 1.6% |
Comparing the two snapshots. Some differences reflect improved mapping rather than real events, especially before 1500.
Formalized the same year · Treaty of Tordesillas
A line 370 leagues west of Cape Verde divides the world outside Europe between the two crowns. It was a claim on paper: almost none of that land was under their control yet.
See it on the 1500 map