world history vocab

Boyars

A group of Russian nobles, operating with almost complete independence until Peter the Great limited their power

Edo Period

A time period from 1600 to 1868 when a shotgun, or warlord, controlled Japan

Fatawa al-Alamgiri

Meaning “Rules of the Conqueror,” an Islamic law code created in the late Mughali Empire

Grand Embassy

A large Russian delegation that visited most European capitals in the late 17th century

Great Northern War

A war fought between Russia and Sweden over land on which St. Petersburg would eventually be built

Khanate

An independent kingdom created from the breaking up of the Mongol Empire

Mongols

United clans of horseman from Central Asia; created the largest land empire in world history in the 13th century

Mughal

A derivative of the word “Mongol,” used to describe Mongol descendants who created an empire in India

Oprichnina

A secret Russian police force created by Ivan IV to keep tabs on the boyars

Sakoku

A policy of Edo Japan that prescribed execution for any unauthorized foreigner on Japanese soil

Sudebnik

The Russian Code of Laws created by Ivan III and IV in the late 15th century

St. Petersburg

The western capital of Russia built by Peter the Great to encourage Western European influence