History Flashcards Set

Cuius Regio eius religio

This Latin phrase means 'Whose realm, his religion.' It indicates that the religion of a ruler dictates the religion of his subjects.

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

A violent event that occurred in 1572 against French Protestants known as Huguenots, culminating in the deaths of approximately 70,000 individuals during the French Wars of Religion.

Caliphate

A system of Islamic governance led by a caliph, who is considered a political and religious successor to Muhammad. The caliphate expanded rapidly through conquests in Southwest Asia, North Africa, and Spain.

Sunnis and Shias

The two largest sects of Islam, split over beliefs about the rightful successor to Muhammad: Sunni Muslims believe any community member can lead, while Shia Muslims believe the leader should be a direct descendant.

The Janissaries

Elite soldiers and administrators in the Ottoman Empire, recruited from Christian populations under a system that prohibited Turkish Muslims from joining this corps.

Sankin Kotai

A policy in Japan requiring feudal lords to spend time in Edo, implemented from 1635 until the end of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1862.

The Columbian Exchange

The historical transfer of goods, people, and ideas between the Old World and New World following Columbus's voyages to America in 1492.

Mansa Musa

The 14th-century ruler of the Mali Empire, renowned for his immense wealth and famous pilgrimage to Mecca, which significantly affected the economy by devaluing gold in Cairo.

The Overland and the Tribute System

In China "the Overland" refers to the system of interactions primarily with nomadic groups in the north and west of China, often involving trade and diplomacy conducted via land routes, while "the Tribute System" describes the more formalized system of relations with states further south and east, where neighboring countries would send symbolic gifts ("tribute") to the Chinese emperor to acknowledge his superior power and gain access to trade benefits, essentially signifying their subordinate position within a Chinese-centered world order

“The royal court is magnificent and very well organized. When the king goes from one city to another with the people of hiscourt, he rides a camel and the horses are led by hand by servants. If fighting becomes necessary, the servants mount the camels and all the soldiers mount on horseback. When someone wishes to speak to the king, he must kneel before him and bow down; but this is only required of those who have never spoken to the king, or of ambassadors. The king has about 3,000 horsemen and infinity of foot-soldiers armed with bows made of wild fennel [?] which they use to shoot poisoned arrows. This king makes war only upon neighboring enemies and upon those who do not want to pay him tribute. When he has gained a victory, he has all of them--even the children- sold in the market at Timbuktu.”

This passage describes the royal court and military organization of the Mali Empire under Mansa Musa, highlighting the king's authority, the protocol for addressing him, and the consequences of warfare. It illustrates the social hierarchy, military strategies, and the economic practices of the empire, emphasizing the significance of tribute and the king's power in maintaining control over his subjects and enemies.

“The messengers with a trumpet worked in relays, one chasqui relieving another after a distance of just under two miles. Inthis way the rate of progress of the message could be kept astoundingly high. It was said that a snail picked off a leaf at Tumi in the north of the empire could be delivered to the Inca in Cuzco still alive. As for the higher messengers, their task was to carry heavy loads on a whole day’s journey at a time.”

This passage describes the highly efficient communication system of the Inca Empire, where chasquis (messengers) used a relay system to transport messages quickly across vast distances. It highlights the remarkable speed and organization of Inca communication, showcasing their logistical capabilities. This passage illustrates the relay system of chasquis in the Inca Empire, emphasizing their role in ensuring rapid communication across the empire's expansive territory.

“He said, "Oh! of old the former kings of Xia cultivated earnestly their virtue, and then there were no calamities from Heaven. The spirits of the hills and rivers alike were all in tranquility; and the birds and beasts, the fishes, and tortoises, all enjoyed their existence according to their nature. But their descendant did not follow their example, and great Heaven sent down calamities…”

This passage reflects the belief in the moral responsibility of rulers in ancient China, particularly during the Xia dynasty. It suggests that the virtue of former kings ensured harmony and prosperity, while their descendants' failure to uphold these values led to divine retribution and disasters. They believed in the idea that rulers' moral conduct directly influenced the welfare of their subjects and the natural order. When their moral conduct declined, it resulted in chaos and calamity. For example, king Yu the Great is often cited as a ruler who exemplified virtue, leading to a prosperous and harmonious society.

“Here it is told how the men of Tlatilulco and Tenochtitlan
surrendered to the Spaniards and what happened when they
were among them.
And when they had gotten him [Cuauhtémoc] there and when
he was on land, all the Spaniards came to see. They came to
take him. The Spaniards grasped him by the hand, took him
up to the roof and put him in front of the Captain [Cortés], the
war leader….[Then] they fired the cannons; they hit no one,
but they aimed over the [common] people, the [shots] just
went over the heads of the Indians. Then they brought out a
cannon, put it in a boat, and took it to the home of
Coyohuehuetzin. When they arrived, they took it up on the
roof. Then again they killed people, many died there.”

This passage recounts the surrender of the Mexica (Aztecs) to Spanish conquistadors, specifically detailing the capture of their leader Cuauhtémoc and the subsequent violent events that unfolded. It illustrates the impact of Spanish military technology, such as cannons, on the indigenous population and highlights the tension and chaos during the early encounters between the Spaniards and the Mexica.