AP World UNIT 3 REVIEW [Everything You NEED to Know!]

Land-based Empire

An empire whose power comes from the extent of its territorial holdings.

Ottoman Empire

A powerful empire founded in the 14th century, known for its rapid expansion and the use of gunpowder weapons.

Gunpowder Weapons

Firearms and explosives that transformed military strategies, first invented in China.

Janissaries

An elite fighting force in the Ottoman Empire, often composed of enslaved Christians converted to Islam.

Safavid Empire

A Muslim empire established in the 16th century in the Middle East, known for its rapid expansion and adherence to Shia Islam.

Shia Islam

A branch of Islam that believes only blood relatives of Muhammad are his legitimate successors.

Mughal Empire

An Islamic empire established in the 16th century in South Asia, known for its military expansion and governance under Akbar the Great.

Akbar the Great

The third Mughal emperor known for his effective administration and religious tolerance.

Qing Dynasty

The last imperial dynasty of China, established by the Manchu people in the 17th century.

Bureaucracy

A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

Divine Right of Kings

The doctrine that kings derive their authority from God, legitimizing their rule.

Zamindar System

A Mughal tax collection system where elite landowners were granted authority to tax peasants.

Tax Farming

A system where the right to collect taxes is sold to the highest bidder, allowing for increased revenue without expanding the bureaucratic structure.

Indulgences

Payments made to the Catholic Church for the forgiveness of sins, which contributed to corruption during the Reformation.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement in the 16th century initiated by Martin Luther that led to a split in the Catholic Church.

Sikhism

A syncretic religion that combines elements of both Hinduism and Islam, emerging in South Asia.

Sunni Islam

A branch of Islam that believes the rightful successor of Muhammad can be anyone spiritually fit for the office.

Political Rivalries

Conflicts between empires often intensifying religious splits, particularly between Sunni and Shia Islam during the time of the Safavid Empire.

Ritual Cursing

A practice instigated by Shah Ismail to condemn the first three caliphs, intensifying Sunni-Shia tensions.

Monumental Architecture

Large constructions like palaces or temples that convey power and legitimacy of the ruler.

Council of Trent

A series of meetings called by the Catholic Church to address corruption and reaffirm core doctrines in response to the Protestant Reformation.