Administration and Legitimatization of Land-Based Empires (1450-1750)

This set of flashcards covers the methods used by land-based rulers to legitimize and consolidate power through bureaucracies, religion, art, architecture, and taxation between 1450 and 1750.

In the context of land-based empires between 1450 and 1750, what does it mean for a ruler to legitimize their power?

It refers to the methods a ruler uses to communicate to their subjects who is in charge.

What does it mean for a ruler to consolidate their power?

It refers to the methods a ruler uses to take power from other groups and claim it for him or herself.

What is the function of a bureaucracy within an empire?

A bureaucracy is a collection of government officials that ensures laws are being kept throughout the empire and that vast territories are properly administered.

Describe the Ottoman Empire's Devshirme system.

A system where the Ottomans enslaved Christian boys from the Balkans, taught them Turkish, provided a proper Islamic education in Istanbul, and trained them to become effective administrators or military professionals.

Who were the Janissaries in the Ottoman Empire?

They were an elite cadre of military professionals made up of enslaved Christians from the Devshirme system who formed the core of the Ottoman standing army.

What is the doctrine of Divine Right used by European monarchs?

The belief that a king or queen ruled with the approval of Jesus himself, meaning that to oppose the monarch was to oppose God.

How did the Aztecs use human sacrifice to legitimize their power?

They performed rituals involving the spilling of sacrificial human blood (mostly from prisoners of war) to reinvigorate the sun god, holding mass gatherings that demonstrated the rulers' authority.

How did Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty use art to appeal to his subjects?

As an ethnic Manchu, he used imperial portraits that depicted him according to traditional Confucian values to convince his natively Chinese subjects of his legitimacy.

How did Louis XIV use the Palace of Versailles to consolidate power over the French nobility?

He forced the nobility to live at the palace at least part-time, which allowed him to remove power from them and situate it directly under his own control.

What was the significance of the Inca Sun Temple in Cusco?

It was used to facilitate festivals of worship and, through its immense wealth (gold-covered walls and statues), legitimize the power of the rulers who were considered direct descendants of the gods.

What was the Zamindar system in the Mughal Empire?

A system where the Muslim Mughal rulers employed local land owners called zamindars to collect taxes, which helped extend imperial authority over the mostly Hindu population.

How did 'tax farming' function in the Ottoman Empire?

The right to tax was auctioned to the highest bidder, providing the government with reliable income at the start of the year; the tax farmers then enriched themselves by collecting more from the people than was legally required.