Что есть Империя?

[obezyna]

Остается ли это понятие классическо-военным, т.е. страна, завоевавшая что-то или, в настоящее время, к этому примешиваются и экономические факторы.

[CTAC_P]

Как нащет в словарь заглянуть?

Main Entry: em·pire
Pronunciation: 'em-"pIr
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French empire, empirie, from Latin imperium absolute authority, empire, from imperare
1 a (1) : a major political unit having a territory of great extent or a number of territories or peoples under a single sovereign authority; especially : one having an emperor as chief of state (2) : the territory of such a political unit b : something resembling a political empire; especially : an extensive territory or enterprise under single domination or control
2 : imperial sovereignty, rule, or dominion

Main Entry: 1im·pe·ri·al
Pronunciation: im-'pir-E-&l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin imperialis, from Latin imperium command, empire
1 a : of, relating to, befitting, or suggestive of an empire or an emperor b (1) : of or relating to the United Kingdom as distinguished from the constituent parts (2) : of or relating to the Commonwealth of Nations and British Empire
2 a : SOVEREIGN b : REGAL, IMPERIOUS
3 : of superior or unusual size or excellence
4 : belonging to the official British series of weights and measures -- see WEIGHT table
- im·pe·ri·al·ly /-&-lE/ adverb