ID Terms HIS-173

Mehmet II

(mid to late 1400s)

Ottoman sultan known for conquering Constantinople, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire and expanding the Ottoman Empire significantly.

Devshirme

(1500s - 1700s)

A system of collecting Christian boys to be trained as soldiers or bureaucrats in the Ottoman Empire. An effective force that helped the empire maintain control and expand its influence.

Millet System

(mid 1800s - early 1900s)

A system of governance in the Ottoman Empire that allowed various religious communities to self-administer and maintain their own laws and practices, fostering a degree of autonomy.

Shah Abbas

(late 1500s - early 1600s)

A significant ruler of the Safavid Empire in Persia, he brought the Safavid Empire to its peak by opening trade to the west and getting guns, as well as stepping away from religious extremism.

Akbar

(mid 1500s - early 1600s)

A notable emperor of the Mughal Empire in India. Known for his policy of religious tolerance, cultural integration, and how he opened trade to China and Europe, which all strengthened the empire.

Prince Henry

(early 1400s)

A Portuguese prince known for his role in the early days of the Portuguese Empire and for sponsoring voyages of exploration along the African coast, which let the Portuguese be involved in the slave trade and advanced knowledge of the geography of the continent.

Shah Jahan

(early to mid 1600s)

A Mughal emperor best known for commissioning the Taj Mahal. He is a great example of wasteful spending, which was a large factor that led to the collapse of the empire.

Aurangzeb

(mid 1600s - early 1700s)

A Mughal emperor known for the constant war he put India through and the economic catastrophe that arose from it. Great example of wars and depleted treasuries.

Olmecs

(1200 - 900 BCE)

An ancient Mesoamerican civilization known for their colossal stone heads, early writing system, and influence on later cultures in Mesoamerica.

Quipu

(2600 BCE - 1530 CE)

A series of knotted ropes used in ancient Inca society used to document information when there was no written language.

Hernan Cortes

(early 1500s)

Spanish conquistador who led the expedition to the Aztec empire, and after failing to convert their king to Christianity and to steal from him, killed basically the entire empire with disease and by murder. Conquered them.

Encomienda System

(early 1500s to early 1700s)

Spanish labor system that made a social and systematic ranking of people based on race and heritage. Still has effects today.

Bartolome de las Casas

(early 1500s)

Spanish activist that advocated for the rights of the indigenous people of the Americas and noted the gross mistreatment of them. Social justice example during these times.

Columbian Exchange

(late 1400s - 1700s)

The transfer of plants, animals, culture, humans, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World, reshaping societies and economies on both sides.

Chattel Slavery

(1400s - 1800s)

A form of slavery where people were legally treated as property and bought/sold. It created the foundation of America and shaped how people think about others even in today’s times.

Maroons

(1500s-1700s)

Former slaves who escaped into the mountains. They formed communities and freed people who were still being enslaved. Good example of revolts against slavery in this time.

Zumbi

(late 1600s)

A former slave who became a leader of a resistance against slavery in Brazil, a symbol of the fight for freedom.

Nzinga Mbemba

(early 1500s)

A king of Kongo who wanted to establish an alliance with Portugal during the slave trade. He did not realize that he wasn’t seen an equal to the King of Portugal. Later in life, he began to oppose the slave trade after seeing the large-scale effects of it on his kingdom.

Olaudah Equiano

(mid to late 1700s)

A former enslaved African who wrote about the horrors of the slave trade, spreading awareness through an inside perspective.

Zheng He

(early 1400s)

A Chinese explorer during the Ming dynasty, known for his voyages to many surrounding areas. His expeditions helped create relations between China and the middle east.

Hanlin Academy

(700 CE - early 1900s)

An institution in China that served as the highest academic level for scholars and officials. Graduation meant you were a scholar-gentry, a higher-ranking class. It was an economic drain on the country and eventually led to tensions between classes.

Kangxi

(late 1600s - early 1700s)

An emperor of the Qing dynasty, known for the the peace and prosperity he brought to China in his long reign. Brought on economic, territorial, and cultural expansion. Other rulers sucked at this previously.

Jesuits

(mid 1500s - now)

Catholic church missionaries that went out trying to spread Catholicism. Important because they spread a ton of Christianity everywhere.

Tokugawa Ieyasu

(mid 1500s - early 1600s)

First military ruler of Japan, (shogun) known for unifying the country and establishing a stable government that ruled for like 250 years.