I for one cannot believe that the entire roman empire had less GDP than india

This graph was made by Angus Maddison who was one of the most influential writers in the field of history and comparative analysis of economic growth. His databases are still used as they are the most important sources of analysis of long-term economic growth.

I'd fire him for trying to do something impossible...and then trying to pass it off as absolutely true. We don't even really know the GDPs for today; let alone the past. We can estimate, but not really. Also, we don't even know how "precisely" many inhabitants we have today, let alone since 1500 years ago. It's only recently (early 1800s) that we can begin to estimate the Earth's population somewhat accurately by the milliards and only since the 1900s that we can estimate by the millions. At this day, maybe we can estimate to hundred thousand. But anything before 1800s is who knows how many folk?

Also, I agree with Thomas on this.

Edited 4/10/2015 11:50:46

Juq that's why I said it was an estimation... You cannot have the exact data, this graph was meant to give you an idea of world powers in the past according to nowadays's most used economic measure: the GDP. There were also some studies about historical demographics, and Angus Maddison was one of the most qualified in this field.

About the Roman Empire Thomas, it is not counted in this comparative graph because it is not a geographic area nor a state which still exist nowadays. However I can tell you that the Roman Empire was the equal of the old Chinese Empire, the Chinese refered the Roman Empire has 大秦 'Daqin' (which could be translated as the 'great empire', Qin pronounced almost like tsin, refering to the founding Qin dynasty of China were the western word 'china' itself comes from), Rome was treated as an equal of China, a perfect mirror of their Empire in term of culture, civilization and wealth.

Quote from Gan Ying about the Roman Empire (Chinese ambassador who tried to reach the Roman Empire in 97 CE)

Their kings are not permanent. They select and appoint the most worthy man. If there are unexpected calamities in the kingdom, such as frequent extraordinary winds or rains, he is unceremoniously rejected and replaced. The one who has been dismissed quietly accepts his demotion, and is not angry. The people of this country are all tall and honest. They resemble the people of the Middle Kingdom and that is why this kingdom is called Da Qin. This country produces plenty of gold [and] silver, [and of] rare and precious they have luminous jade, 'bright moon pearls,' Haiji rhinoceroses, coral, yellow amber, opaque glass, whitish chalcedony, red cinnabar, green gemstones, gold-thread embroideries, woven gold-threaded net, delicate polychrome silks painted with gold, and asbestos cloth.

They also have a fine cloth which some people say is made from the down of 'water sheep', but which is made, in fact, from the cocoons of wild silkworms. They blend all sorts of fragrances, and by boiling the juice, make a compound perfume. [They have] all the precious and rare things that come from the various foreign kingdoms. They make gold and silver coins. Ten silver coins are worth one gold coin. They trade with Anxi and Tianzhu by sea. The profit margin is ten to one. [...] The king of this country always wanted to send envoys to the Han, but Anxi, wishing to control the trade in multi-coloured Chinese silks, blocked the route to prevent [the Romans] getting through [to China]

Kyrgyzstan

In all seriousness, though. Here's my stance, throughout history. I'll go several thousand years back, from what most people have currently been using.

3000 BC: Egypt. (Sumer is a close runner up).
2300 BC: The Akkadian Empire.
2000 BC: Neo-Sumer (The Minoan Civilisation is not far behind).
1500 BC: Egypt.
1000 BC: Either Babylon, or Western Zhou.
700 BC: Assyrian Empire.
600 BC: Close, between Babylonian Empire, or the Median Empire.
500 BC: Achaemenid Persia.
400 BC: Nanda Dynasty (India)
323 BC: (I can't leave this out) Alexander the Great's Macedonia was a powerhouse at this point.
300 BC: Maurya Dynasty (India)
200 BC: Han Dynasty (China)
100 BC: Roman Republic
1 AD: Han Dynasty
100 AD: Roman Empire
200 AD: Han Dynasty (Roman Empire and Parthian Persia are not far behind)
300 AD: Roman Empire
400 AD: Sassanid Persia
500 AD: Byzantine Empire
600 AD: Sui Dynasty (China)
700 AD: Umayyad Caliphate
800 AD: Abbasid Caliphate (Byzantium and the Frankish Empire are also strong)
900 AD: Tang Dynasty (China) (Kievan Rus' and Byzantium are in good shape as well)
1000 AD: Song Dynasty (China) (Ghaznavid Persia is a close second)
1080 AD: (Didn't want to skip it) The Great Seljuq Empire is the strongest now.
1100 AD: Song Dynasty
1200 AD: The Holy Roman Empire
1250 AD: The Mongol Empire
1300 AD: Yuan Dynasty (Mongol China) (The Golden Horde is also strong right now)
1400 AD: Ming Dynasty (China) (Very close, at this point. The Ottomans are becoming stronger, the Timurids are powerful, and the Holy Roman Empire are still strong).
1500 AD: Spain (Portugal, Ottomans, and Ming are also very powerful).
1550 AD: The Ottoman Empire (Spain, Portugal, and Ming are close behind).
1600 AD: The Iberian Union (Poland-Lithuania, Ming and Ottomans are also strong).
1650 AD: Spain / Portugal -Tie- (Sweden, Ottomans, and France are strong as well).
1700 AD: France (Ottomans, Qing, and the Mughal Empire are not far behind France, though).
1750 AD: France (British Empire, Qing, and Austria are good contenders though).
1800 AD: British Empire (France, Russia, Qing, and Austria are in good shape, though).
1850 AD: British Empire (Russia, Austria, and France all had good power as well).
1900 AD: British Empire (Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and France were very strong as well).
1939-1945: This Period saw very many strong powers collide, including the British Empire, The Japanese Empire, USSR, USA, and Nazi Germany being the strongest powers in the process).
1950: USA (USSR and UK are strong as well)
2000: USA
2015: USA (China is beginning to catch up)
2100: KYRGYZSTAN WILL BECOME A HYPER POWER BY THEN. NO ONE WILL COMPARE.

Juq that's why I said it was an estimation... You cannot have the exact data, this graph was meant to give you an idea of world powers in the past according to nowadays's most used economic measure: the GDP. There were also some studies about historical demographics, and Angus Maddison was one of the most qualified in this field.

I estimate that you're a hundred years old. Give or take 200. Wait, are you ageless?

Also, what is West Europe even based on if not the Roman Empire? Some cultures in Greece or something?

R stands for right, W stands for wrong.

3000 BC: Egypt. (Sumer is a close runner up). R
2300 BC: The Akkadian Empire. R
2000 BC: Neo-Sumer (The Minoan Civilisation is not far behind). W
1500 BC: Egypt. R
1000 BC: Either Babylon, or Western Zhou. R
700 BC: Assyrian Empire. R
600 BC: Close, between Babylonian Empire, or the Median Empire. R
500 BC: Achaemenid Persia. R
400 BC: Nanda Dynasty (India) W
323 BC: (I can't leave this out) Alexander the Great's Macedonia was a powerhouse at this point. R
300 BC: Maurya Dynasty (India) W
200 BC: Han Dynasty (China) R
100 BC: Roman Republic W
1 AD: Han Dynasty R
100 AD: Roman Empire R
200 AD: Han Dynasty (Roman Empire and Parthian Persia are not far behind) R
300 AD: Roman Empire W
400 AD: Sassanid Persia R
500 AD: Byzantine Empire W
600 AD: Sui Dynasty (China) R
700 AD: Umayyad Caliphate R
800 AD: Abbasid Caliphate (Byzantium and the Frankish Empire are also strong) R
900 AD: Tang Dynasty (China) (Kievan Rus' and Byzantium are in good shape as well) R
1000 AD: Song Dynasty (China) (Ghaznavid Persia is a close second) R
1080 AD: (Didn't want to skip it) The Great Seljuq Empire is the strongest now. R
1100 AD: Song Dynasty R
1200 AD: The Holy Roman Empire R
1250 AD: The Mongol Empire R
1300 AD: Yuan Dynasty (Mongol China) (The Golden Horde is also strong right now) R
1400 AD: Ming Dynasty (China) (Very close, at this point. The Ottomans are becoming stronger, the Timurids are powerful, and the Holy Roman Empire are still strong). R
1500 AD: Spain (Portugal, Ottomans, and Ming are also very powerful). R
1550 AD: The Ottoman Empire (Spain, Portugal, and Ming are close behind). W
1600 AD: The Iberian Union (Poland-Lithuania, Ming and Ottomans are also strong). R
1650 AD: Spain / Portugal -Tie- (Sweden, Ottomans, and France are strong as well). W
1700 AD: France (Ottomans, Qing, and the Mughal Empire are not far behind France, though). W
1750 AD: France (British Empire, Qing, and Austria are good contenders though). W
1800 AD: British Empire (France, Russia, Qing, and Austria are in good shape, though). R
1850 AD: British Empire (Russia, Austria, and France all had good power as well). R
1900 AD: British Empire (Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and France were very strong as well). R
1939-1945: This Period saw very many strong powers collide, including the British Empire, The Japanese Empire, USSR, USA, and Nazi Germany being the strongest powers in the process). R
1950: USA (USSR and UK are strong as well) W
2000: USA R
2015: USA (China is beginning to catch up) W
2100: KYRGYZSTAN WILL BECOME A HYPER POWER BY THEN. NO ONE WILL COMPARE. RRRRR

First of all, the Chinese economy won't catch up with that of the U.S. It is slowing down
Second, the U.S. also has the most advanced and logistically handled military in the world
Third, Western Europe is based off the Germanic civilization, not the Romans

Rome became a power house at 264 when it controlled the italian penesulia. Was a power house until 340ish.

Byzantines were a power house until they lost Egypt. I forget when that happened.

1. USA (Top Military and Economic Power)
2. China (Close on Economic and Military)
3. Russia (They have the most nukes but their Military is degrading plus their Economy is fucking up due to sanctions)
4. Germany (They have a good economy but their Military is not very well maintained)
5. India (cause why not)
6. UK (yeah)
7. France (yeah)
8. Nordic Countries (They have a really fucking good economy)
9. Japan (really great economy, if their military budget increases then they could have one of the most powerful militaries in the world)
10. PC (Our glorious Master Race)

My thoughts on the coming world powers:

American Trade Union
After the great Monetary Split, the world was essentially divided into the one power block of the Trade Union, and the rest of the nations. Over time and with military dominance, the USA came to absorb all nations in the ATU.

Eurasian Union
After the Split, the Euro collapsed, and so did the EU. Spearheaded by Germany, Britain and Russia, the EAU was founded and gradually they absorbed all other nations within Europe. They gradually absorbed themselves through political alliance, forming the EAU as one singular state.

Jungle Republics
Proposed by Nigeria and Brazil to protect rainforested regions from foreign interests, this went from environmental to political, and nearby nations became involved, forming one of the few remaining power blocs not under control of one state.

Mafian Puppet Nations
This is merely a nickname, for the Mafia doesn't truly control the nations, rather a collection of crime organizations and drug rings that own a substantial area in South America, the Carribean, the Mediterranean, and Central America. They have formed a neutrality pact, in the purpose of growing their own profits. They have no place in Monetary Split debate, as they don't want to cut off profits, regardless of currency.

United Nations
With the UN a doomed construct, South Africa gathered several remaining members of the league within Africa and Indonesia to form a revitalized UN. This became a milito-political pact, and they took part on China's side with the Monetary Split. For the most part, they are a series of poor nations, but together they have a substantial military strength and have even liberated Somalia from the Mafian Puppet Nations.

Indo-Chinese Coalition
In present known as China, the party of China took over the Indochinese region, as well as uniting India. Afterwards, a Democratic civil war occured, and the nation became the ICC as we know it in the future. It supported the Yuan become the next reserve currency, as did several other nations, unlike America and Russia, who supported the Dollar and Rouble respectively.

Japanese Protectorate States
Japan vassalized several nations and islands, such as the Phillipines, to protect them from the financial panics of the 21st century. They would support the Yuan, but they would use the US dollar de facto. This has made them technically neutral, but they do have an ongoing series of border crises with US Navy patrols.

OPEC
OPEC came to a grand succession in the Middle East, during political instability expressed in the 21st century, and made their foundation successfuly in the mid-22nd century. They have come to be the regional power of the Balkans, Arabia, Middle East, Central Asia, and North/East Africa, though the EAU, ATU and UN could overwhelm it if they truly wanted to. Thanks to oil reserves and monopolies, they are neutral in the geopolitical scene, though they accept Rouble and Dollar currencies.

Australian Protectorate State
Australia became a Protectorate simultaneously of the ATU, the UN, the ICC, the JPS and the EAU. The UN and JPS were the only ones with legitimate claims, but this issue has become the fuel of the likely upcoming war between the ATU, EAU and ICC. Meanwhile, the UN and JPS as well as the MPN, JRs and OPEC will likely be absorbed by the 3 mentioned nations in the probably war, causing (unfortunately) a scenario of the classic novel 1984, by George Orwell, but only in a military sense, since the fighting factions of the ATU, EAU and ICC would likely have differing ideologies.

Those were my 2100 - 2200 predictions.

1. USA (Top Military and Economic Power)
2. China (Close on Economic and Military)
3. Russia (They have the most nukes but their Military is degrading plus their Economy is fucking up due to sanctions)
4. Germany (They have a good economy but their Military is not very well maintained)
5. India (cause why not)
6. UK (yeah)
7. France (yeah)
8. Nordic Countries (They have a really fucking good economy)
9. Japan (really great economy, if their military budget increases then they could have one of the most powerful militaries in the world)
10. PC (Our glorious Master Race)

1. You don't know any militaries, the most powerful things are what you don't know. Economic power, that's not even certain (though likely).
2. Still don't know about militaries
3. Russia's economy is still pretty good, look up the statistics for yourself. Also, military unknown.
4. Shut up about the military.
8, Nordic Countries have a good economy, but just around 5 folk live there.
9. Japan is behind the Nordic Council?

The real top 10:

1. China
2. America
3, India
4. Japan
5. Brazil
6. Russia
7. Germany
8. Nigeria
9. Britain
10. France

goddamnit xypapy stop making china first XD

goddamnit xypapy stop making china first XD

Well China IS first ^^

Heh America has been in a near constant state of war since it's founding, we make people disappear, we have had flying death robots since the 90s, we produce more food than any other country, we are the best economically, we have 11 aircraft carriers, we can bomb places that oppose us and nobody does anything, we destroyed the Iraqi army in three weeks, we invaded North Africa in 1805 , we are the one country that ever used nuclear weapons in a war, we are virtually unopposed by any country in the western hemisphere, we have military basesacross the world, we bought most of our land (or paid for it in some way) , and we have fried chicken.

and we have fried chicken.

And you have Nicky Minaj, Justin Bieber, Nicolas Cage and Chuck Norris!

Justin Bieber is Canadian, Nicki Minaj isn't a person, Nicholas Cage is er, eh, and Chuck Norris is bad ass

Justin Bieber WAS Canadian but he is now a frankenstein-like monster created the 'Murican media and coordinated by the CIA, debilitating the world with his songs. He is as dangerous as a nuclear weapon!

But what does CIA really stand for...... Canadian Intelligence Agency! dun dun DUNNN!!