Higher-or-Lower Quiz · Last updated: October 2026
How long did empires, dynasties and alliances last? The range goes from a few years to more than a millennium. Tip: young states and short-lived alliances tend to disappear quickly, while long-lived empires often shape entire eras.
When exactly an empire begins or ends is often a matter of definition among historians: do you count the founding, the first coronation or the conquest of the capital? That is why the time spans in this category are rounded approximations.
Long-lived empires such as the Byzantine Empire or the Republic of Venice outlasted their contemporaries by centuries, while modern political entities – alliances, unions or short-lived states – often existed for only a few decades or years.
All values are rounded approximations (as of 2024/25) meant for fun, not as a factual source.
Test your feel for these numbers in the game: pick the category and try to get 10 correct answers in 60 seconds.