Summary of Historical Empires and Key Figures

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions from the lecture, focusing on significant historical empires, figures, and concepts related to governance, religion, and societal structure.

Gunpowder Empires

Empires that successfully utilized gunpowder technology to establish and expand their territories. (ottomans, safavids, and the mughals)

kangxi

Qing emperor. He oversaw the greatest expansion of the qing empire

Qianlong

ruler that helped the secure Qing borders but ended up causing the downfall of the Qing dynasty

Gutenberg Printing Press

A revolutionary invention that enabled the mass production of books, leading to increased literacy and the spread of new ideas.

Ivan IV

Also known as Ivan the Terrible, he was the first Tsar of Russia and known for his centralization of power and the oprichnina policy.

Ming Dynasty

A major dynasty in China from 1368 to 1644 known for its trade expansion and cultural achievements.

Manchu

An ethnic group from Northeast China that founded the Qing Dynasty.

Qing Dynasty

The last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912.

Tamerlane

A conqueror who founded the Timurid Empire and is known for his military campaigns in Central Asia.

Ghazi Ideal

The concept of warrior-heroism in Islam that motivated Muslim leaders and their conquests.

Ottoman Empire

A vast empire centered in modern-day Turkey that lasted from 1299 to 1922, known for its cultural, military, and political achievements.

Mehmed II

Sultan of the Ottoman Empire known for capturing Constantinople in 1453.

Suleiman I

Known as Suleiman the Magnificent, he presided over the apex of the Ottoman Empire's military and cultural achievements.

Ismail

The founder of the Safavid Empire who declared Shi'ism the state religion of Persia.

shah

A title for a king or monarch in Persia/Iran.

Safavid Empire

A significant dynasty in Persia that ruled from the 1500s to the 1700s and established Shi'ism as the state faith.

Shah Abbas I

A noteworthy ruler of the Safavid Empire known for revitalizing the empire's economy and culture.

Akbar

The third Mughal emperor known for his policy of religious tolerance and administrative reforms.

Mughal Empire

An empire in the Indian subcontinent, known for its rich culture, architecture, and wealth from trade.

Divine Right of Kings

The doctrine that kings derive their authority from God and are accountable only to Him.

justices of the peace

Local officials in England responsible for maintaining peace and administering justice.

English Bill of Rights

A landmark document in 1689 that limited the powers of the monarchy and established rights for Parliament.

absolute power/monarchy

A form of government where a single ruler holds complete control over the government and its people.

Cardinal Richelieu

Chief minister to Louis XIII of France who centralized power and expanded the influence of the monarchy.

intendants

Royal officials in France responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing royal policies.

tax farmers (French)

Individuals in France who collected taxes on behalf of the crown, often profiting from the taxes they collected.

Louis XIV

The 'Sun King' of France known for absolute monarchy and the construction of the Palace of Versailles.

Versailles

The opulent palace built by Louis XIV that became a symbol of royal absolutism.

boyars

The noble landowners in Russia who held significant power before the rise of the Tsars.

serfdom

A system where peasants were tied to the land and forced to work for landowners.

oprichnina

A policy by Ivan IV involving the creation of a paramilitary force to enforce his policies and silence dissent.

Peter I

Also known as Peter the Great, he modernized Russia and expanded its territory.

devshirme

The Ottoman practice of recruiting boys from Christian families to serve as soldiers or administrative officials.

Janissaries

Elite infantry units of the Ottoman Empire, formed from the devshirme system.

daimyo

Feudal lords in Japan who governed over territories and maintained their own armies.

Edo

The former name of Tokyo, which served as the capital during the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Tokugawa Ieyasu

The founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate who established a period of peace in Japan.

Period of Great Peace

A time of peace and stability in Japan during the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Tokugawa Shogunate

The last feudal Japanese military government, which ruled from 1603 to 1868.

zamindars

Landowners in Mughal India responsible for collecting taxes from peasants.

Taj Mahal

A famous mausoleum in India commissioned by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife.

tax farming (Ottoman)

The practice in the Ottoman Empire where tax collectors were responsible for collecting taxes from the populace.

tributes

Forced payments imposed by a conqueror or state on subject peoples.

John Wycliffe and the Lollards

Early reformers who criticized the Catholic Church and advocated for the translation of the Bible.

Martin Luther

A German monk who initiated the Protestant Reformation by posting the 95 Theses.

indulgences

Payments to the Church for the remission of sins, criticized during the Reformation.

simony

The buying or selling of ecclesiastical privileges or offices.

95 Theses

A document by Martin Luther that challenged the practices of the Catholic Church.

John Calvin

A Protestant reformer known for his teachings on predestination and the Calvinist tradition.

elect

In Calvinist theology, those chosen by God for salvation.

predestination

The doctrine that God has eternally chosen those whom he intends to save.

Puritans

A religious group in England that sought to purify the Church of England of Catholic practices.

Protestant Reformation

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

Anglicanism

The faith and practice of the Church of England, established by Henry VIII.

Henry VIII

King of England who initiated the English Reformation to obtain a male heir.

Charles V

Holy Roman Emperor who sought to maintain Catholic unity in Europe against Protestant movements.

Holy Synod

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

Counter-Reformation

The Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation, aimed at reform and reaffirmation.

Inquisition

A series of institutions within the Catholic Church aimed at combating heresy.

Jesuits

Members of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic order founded to promote education and convert others.

Council of Trent

An ecumenical council of the Catholic Church held to address issues raised by the Reformation.

Phillip II

Spanish king known for his attempts to expand Spanish influence and suppress Protestantism.

Spanish Armada

The fleet sent by Philip II in 1588 to invade England, which was ultimately defeated.

Peace of Augsburg

A treaty that allowed German princes to choose between Catholicism and Lutheranism in their territories.

Edict of Nantes

A royal decree granting religious freedom to French Protestants (Huguenots).

Thirty Years' War

A destructive war in Europe from 1618 to 1648 primarily fought in the Holy Roman Empire.

Peace of Westphalia

Treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War and established a new order in Europe.

shariah

Islamic law derived from the Quran and Hadith.

Sikhism

A monotheistic religion founded in the Punjab region of India, combining elements of Hinduism and Islam.

Empiricism

The theory that all knowledge is based on empirical evidence and observation.

Ivan IV

The terrible, beat the mongols, tartars, and the poles, forced nobles into service, first ruler to take the tittle tsar

Akbar

Most illustrious sultan of the Mughal empire in india. He expanded the empire and pursued a policy of conciliation with hindus

Delhi

Capital of the Mughal empire in Northern india

Shah Jagan

Mogul emperor of india during who’s reign the finest monuments of mogul architecture were built