The historic Chinese Empire (221 BCE-1911 CE) has frequently been treated in isolation, as something unique and exceptional. It is not often compared with other historic empires. This essay attempts to do just that. It argues that, for all its peculiarities, the Chinese Empire can fruitfully be compared with other empires, to the benefit of our understanding of empire in general across space and time.  It considers point by point the case for not treating China as an empire, and answers these again point by point. The essay also argues that, in our present condition where the validity and efficacy of the dominant form of the nation-state have been called into question, and where globalization has also faltered and to some extent retreated, the experience of the historic empires might be a valuable resource to draw upon in considering our future possibilities.