By applying a comparative approach the volume focuses on a select group of empires which are generally not in the focus of empires studies. They are studied in detail and analyzed due to a strict concept that takes into account real history and reception history as well. Reception history becomes more and more an important element in empire studies although this topic is still often more or less underdeveloped. The volume singles out a series of such forgotten empires. It aims to provide a methodologically clearly structured as well as a uniform and consistent approach. It develops a general set of questions that help to compare and distinguish these entities. This way the volume intends to examine and to illuminate empires that are generally ignored by modern scholarship.

Michael Gehler is professor of history at the University of Hildesheim and Jean Monnet Chair for European Integration Studies, as well as Senior Fellow at the Center of European Integration Research/University of Bonn, Germany.

Robert Rollinger is professor of ancient history and ancient near eastern studies at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, as well as Visiting Professor at the University of Wrocaw, Poland (2021-2025) holding the NAWA Chair From the Achaemenids to the Romans: Contextualizing empire and its longue-durée developments.

Introduction.- I. Theories of Empires: an ongoing debate.- II. Empires and Bureaucracies.- III. Europe | Europa.- IV. Early Medieval Steppe Empires in Europe.- V. The Mediterranean and the Near East | Das Mittelmeer und Vorderasien.- VI. Central Asia before Islam.- VII. Iranian and Central Asian Formations of Empires in the Shadow of Mongol Rule.- VIII. Southeast Asia.- IX. Africa and Eurocentrism.- X. The Americas | Die Amerikas.- XI. General Observations and Considerations. Mit Beiträgen von Graham CONNAH, Alexander DEMANDT, Bogusaw DYBA, Sven EXTERNBRINK, Tilman FRASCH, Michael GEHLER, Leonhard HARDING, Birgitt HOFFMANN, Milinda HOO, Doris KURELLA, Bernhard PALME, Jürgen PAUL, Walter POHL, Friedrich PÖHL, Khodadad REZAKHANI, Robert ROLLINGER, Kai RUFFING, Arno SONDEREGGER, Arnold SUPPAN, Seçil ULUISIK, Matthew W. WATERS, Josef WIESEHÖFER, Daniel ZIEMANN