* Origin: Nomadic tribes in Central Asia
* Expansion: from Anatolia to Southeastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East
* Military: Janissaries (elite infantry), gunpowder artillery, and formidable cavalry
* Trade and economy: Control over trade routes and ports, agriculture, and a thriving urban economy
2. Mughal Empire (16th-19th centuries)
* Origin: Descendants of Central Asian conqueror Timur (Timurlane) and Mongol rulers
* Expansion: from Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent, extending from Punjab to Bengal
* Military: Cavalry archers, gunpowder artillery, and war elephants
* Trade and economy: Extensive trade networks, agriculture, and a growing textile industry
3. Safavid Empire (15th-18th centuries)
* Origin: Sufi religious order based in Ardabil, present-day Iran
* Expansion: From Northwestern Iran to Iraq, Armenia, and parts of the Caucasus, Anatolia, and Central Asia
* Military: Cavalry, gunpowder artillery, and a centralized military administration
* Trade and economy: Trade between East and West, agriculture, and a flourishing art and cultural scene
4. Qing Dynasty (1644-1912)
* Origin: Manchu people in Northeast Asia
* Expansion: From Manchuria to China and Central Asia, including Tibet and parts of Mongolia
* Military: Banner armies, gunpowder weapons, and a highly organized military system
* Trade and economy: Extensive trade, especially with Europe, maritime trade, agriculture, and a growing economy driven by technological advancements
5. Maratha Empire (17th-19th centuries)
* Origin: Marathi-speaking people from the Deccan Plateau in Western India
* Expansion: From the Deccan to most parts of the Indian subcontinent, stretching from Central India to Tamil Nadu
* Military: Cavalry, infantry with gunpowder weapons, hill forts as strategic strongholds
* Trade and economy: Control of trade routes, agriculture, and a substantial maritime trade network
These empires were characterized by their use of gunpowder weapons, centralized governance, expansionist policies, and their significant influence on politics, trade, and cultural developments in their respective regions.