Key Concepts from Gunpowder Empires and Historical Developments (Period2)

Flashcards summarizing important vocabulary and definitions based on lecture notes about historical empires and developments.

Gutenberg Printing Press

A machine capable of producing pages of text at incredible speed, leading to increased literacy rates in Europe.

Gunpowder Empires

Multiethnic states that relied on firearms to conquer and control territories, such as Russia, Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires.

Ivan IV

Also known as Ivan the Terrible, he was the first Tsar of Russia and relied on gunpowder to expand Russian territory.

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty from 1368-1644, known for prosperity through building the Forbidden City and Zheng He voyages.

Qing Dynasty

Chinese dynasty from 1644-1911, ruled by the Manchu but adopted Chinese culture like Confucianism.

Ghazi Ideal

A model for warrior life that blended nomadic life with a willingness to serve as holy fighters for Islam.

Safavid Empire

Gunpowder empire (1502-1722) that was a Muslim (Shi’a) state and fought with the Ottomans over religion and trade.

Mughal Empire

Gunpowder empire (1526-1739) in India, known for religious tolerance under Akbar the Great and decline under Aurangzeb due to intolerance.

Justices of Peace

Maintained peace and settled legal matters according to the king’s law in England, creating a new gentry class.

Absolutism

The concept that all authority rests with the king, often linked with divine right, as exemplified by King Louis XIV.

Coerced Labor

System of labor that lacked freedom of choice, including serfdom in Russia and enslaved populations across empires.

Devshirme

Ottoman system where Christian boys were taken to serve in military and government, ensuring loyalty to the state.

Janissaries

Elite military forces in the Ottoman Empire formed through the Devshirme system.

Zamindars

Mughal government officials responsible for tax collection and resource management, often gaining control for themselves.

Protestant Reformation

A major religious movement beginning in 1517 led by figures like Martin Luther, questioning Catholic Church practices.

Counter-Reformation

Attempts by the Roman Catholic Church to maintain power during the Protestant Reformation, including the Inquisition.

Peace of Augsburg

The 1555 agreement that allowed states in the Holy Roman Empire to choose their religion and marked the state system.

Shariah

Islamic legal system that governs all aspects of life, including criminal justice and marital laws.

Fall of Constantinople

The 1453 event marking the transition of power from the Byzantine Empire to the Ottoman Empire.

Scientific Revolution

A European process in the 1600s using reason over religion to understand the physical world.

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of food, people, diseases, and technology between the Old World and the New World after 1492.

Transatlantic Slave Trade

The forced movement of over 12 million enslaved people from Africa to the Americas, centered on agricultural cash crops.

Commercial Revolution

Economic transformation in Europe that included new trade routes and joint stock companies during the early modern period.

Triangular Trade

A system of trade linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas, involving the exchange of goods and enslaved people.

Caste System in Latin America

A social hierarchy based on race and ethnicity, determining status and rights in colonial societies.

African Diaspora

The movement and forced migration of people from Africa, leading to the spread of cultures, languages, and religions.