Since the advent of written records, military leaders have been reported to have taken foreign territories through conquest. Even in ancient times, rulers like Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar were able to expand their realms significantly through years of conquest, creating empires. Some empires founded by conquerors lasted for many centuries, while others fell apart after the death of their founder, such as that of Alexander the Great, or even during their lifetime, like that of Napoleon. Given the multitude of conquests by militarily skilled individuals over five millennia of recorded human history, a selection had to be made. A total of 35 figures from all historical periods are covered, spanning from the Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III.