Unit 3 World History: Empires, Reformation, and Political Structures

Gunpowder Empires

Empires that relied on gunpowder technology to expand their territories and maintain control, notably including the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires.

Russian Empire

A historical empire that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution in 1917, known for its vast territory and diverse population.

Ottoman Empire

A powerful empire that lasted from the late 13th century until the early 20th century, centered in modern-day Turkey and known for its cultural and military achievements.

Safavid Empire

A significant Persian empire that ruled from the early 16th to the mid-18th century, known for establishing Shia Islam as the state religion.

Mughal Empire

An empire that ruled most of the Indian subcontinent from the early 16th to the 19th century, known for its rich culture and architectural achievements.

Printing Press

A revolutionary invention that allowed for the mass production of books and written material, significantly impacting literacy and the spread of information.

Ivan IV

Also known as Ivan the Terrible, he was the first Tsar of Russia, known for his complex and often brutal reign from 1547 to 1584.

Volga River

The longest river in Europe, flowing through central Russia and historically significant for trade and cultural exchange.

Ming Dynasty

A major Chinese dynasty that ruled from 1368 to 1644, known for its trade expansion, cultural achievements, and the construction of the Great Wall.

Manchu

An ethnic group from Northeast Asia that founded the Qing Dynasty in China, ruling from 1644 to 1912.

Manchuria

A historical region in Northeast Asia, known as the homeland of the Manchu people and significant in Chinese history.

Ghazi Ideal

A concept in Islamic culture referring to the notion of a warrior for Islam, often associated with the expansion of empires.

Tamerlane

A Turco-Mongol conqueror who founded the Timurid Empire in the late 14th century, known for his military campaigns and cultural patronage.

Divine Right

A political doctrine that asserts a monarch's legitimacy is derived directly from God, justifying their absolute rule.

Justices of the Peace

Officials in England responsible for maintaining peace and administering justice at a local level, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Absolute

Referring to a form of government where a single ruler has complete and unrestricted power over the state.

Louis XIV

The King of France from 1643 to 1715, known as the 'Sun King' and for his absolute monarchy and the construction of the Palace of Versailles.

Versailles

A royal residence located outside Paris, known for its opulent architecture and gardens, and as a symbol of the absolute monarchy of Louis XIV.

Boyars

The noble class in Russia before the 17th century, often serving as landowners and advisors to the Tsar.

Serfs

Peasants in Russia who were tied to the land and subject to the authority of landowners, a system prevalent until the 19th century.

Peter the Great

The Tsar of Russia from 1682 to 1725, known for his extensive reforms aimed at modernizing Russia and expanding its territory.

Devshirme

A system used by the Ottoman Empire to recruit soldiers and bureaucrats, involving the forced conscription of Christian boys.

Janissaries

Elite infantry units that formed the backbone of the Ottoman military, originally composed of Christian boys taken through the devshirme system.

Daimyos

Powerful feudal lords in Japan during the Edo period, who controlled land and had their own samurai warriors.

Shogunate

A form of government in Japan where a shogun held power, often overshadowing the emperor, particularly during the Edo period.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement in the 16th century that led to the establishment of Protestant churches and significant changes in Christianity.

Martin Luther

A German monk and theologian whose 95 Theses sparked the Protestant Reformation by challenging the practices of the Catholic Church.

Simony

The act of selling church offices or roles, considered a corrupt practice in Christianity.

Indulgences

Payments made to the Catholic Church that were believed to reduce punishment for sins, heavily criticized during the Reformation.

95 Theses

A list of propositions for debate by Martin Luther, criticizing the Catholic Church's practices, particularly the sale of indulgences.

John Calvin

A French theologian and reformer whose teachings on predestination and the sovereignty of God influenced Protestantism.

Calvinism

A branch of Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin, emphasizing predestination and the authority of scripture.

Predestination

The doctrine that God has eternally chosen those who will be saved and those who will be damned, central to Calvinist theology.

Puritans

A group of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to purify the Church of England from Catholic practices.

King Henry VIII

The King of England from 1509 to 1547, known for his role in the separation of the Church of England from the Catholic Church.

Anne Boleyn

The second wife of King Henry VIII and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I, her marriage led to the English Reformation.

Anglican Church

The Church of England, established by King Henry VIII, which incorporates elements of both Protestantism and Catholicism.

Counter-Reformation

The Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation, aimed at reforming the church and reaffirming its doctrines.

Holy Synod

The governing body of the Russian Orthodox Church, established by Peter the Great to replace the patriarchate.

Inquisition

A group of institutions within the Catholic Church aimed at combating heresy and maintaining religious orthodoxy.

Jesuits

Members of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order founded in 1540, known for their educational and missionary work.

Council of Trent

An ecumenical council held between 1545 and 1563 to address issues of church reform and clarify Catholic doctrine.

Spanish Armada

A large fleet sent by Spain in 1588 to invade England, which was ultimately defeated, marking a turning point in naval power.

Shi'a

A branch of Islam that holds that Ali, the cousin of Muhammad, was the rightful successor, emphasizing the role of Imams.

Sunni

The largest branch of Islam, which accepts the first four caliphs as rightful successors to Muhammad and emphasizes community consensus.

Timbuktu

A historic city in Mali, known as a center of trade, culture, and Islamic scholarship during the medieval period.

Zamindar

Landowners in India during the Mughal Empire who collected taxes from peasants and maintained law and order in their regions.

Tax Farming

A system where the government sells the right to collect taxes to private individuals or groups, often leading to corruption.

Hard Currency

Money that has intrinsic value, such as gold or silver, as opposed to fiat currency, which has value by government decree.