AP World Unit 3 Vocabulary

Ming Dynasty

Succeeded Mongol Yuan dynasty in China in 1368; initially mounted huge trade expeditions to southern Asia and elsewhere, but later concentrated efforts on internal development within China.

Zheng He

Chinese admiral during the Ming Dynasty, he led great voyages that spread China's fame throughout Asia

silver-only tax policy

Ming economic policy that led to disastrous devaluing of luxury Chinese goods which would ultimately cause the Ming economy to plummet

Qing Dynasty

The last imperial dynasty of China which was overthrown by revolutionaries; was ruled by the Manchu people: began to isolate themselves from Western culture

queue

a 19th century hairstyle imposed by the Qing Dynasty that required Han men to shave the fronts of their heads and grow out the rear in a long braided tail

Ottoman Empire

Islamic state of Turkic speaking peoples; conquered the Byzantine Empire in 1453; encompassed lands in the Middle East, North Africa, and eastern Europe; famous for their gunpowder armies and Janissaries

tax farming

a system called "iltizam" in which the Ottoman government would auction off the right to collect taxes to private individuals

Millet System

A system used by the Ottomans whereby subjects were divided into religious communities, enjoying autonomous self-rule under its religious leaders; a unique way to manage a diverse empire

miniature paintings

artworks of rulers used to demonstrate the power, influence, and wealth of rulers in the time period 1450-1750

Timars

land grants given as compensation for military service as a cavalry officer who contributed and led troops in the Ottoman army

Devshirme

the system known as a "blood tax" by which boys from Slavic Christian communities were taken by the Ottoman state to serve as Janissaries

Janissaries

elite Ottoman troops that specialized in gunpowder weapons such as muskets, grenades, and cannons

Balkans

geographic region of southeastern Europe, including states such as Greece, Serbia, Albania, etc. that resisted Ottoman influence

Safavids

A Shi'a Muslim dynasty that ruled in Persia (Iran and parts of Iraq) from the 16th-18th centuries

Battle of Chaldiran

Conflict between Ottomans and Safavids that illustrated the importance of gunpowder technology and resulted in limiting Shi'a Muslim expansion in the region

Mughal Empire

Muslim state exercising control over most of India in the 16th and 17th centuries; exercised greater tolerance for the local diversity in India

zamindars

Hindu princes that functioned as governors for the Mughal government, responsible for collecting taxes and participating in the military

Taj Mahal

mausoleum (tomb) built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan; illustrates syncretic blend between Indian and Arabic architectural styles as well as Islamic influences with calligraphy from the Quran

Sikhism

A monotheistic religion founded in northern India in the 16th century that combined elements of Hinduism and Islam; a result of the presence of the Mughal Empire in India

Divine Right

the idea that monarchs are God's representatives on earth and are therefore answerable only to God.

absolute monarchy

system of government in which the head of state is a hereditary position and the king or queen has almost complete power

Versailles

Palace constructed by Louis XIV outside of Paris to glorify his rule and subdue the nobility; late 17th-early 18th century

Grand Embassy

A group sent by Peter the Great throughout Western Europe in order to learn new ideas and help modernize Russia

St. Petersburg

location of Russia's new capital; near a warm water Baltic coast so that Peter the Great could establish a maritime empire like western Europe

Beard Tax

An effort by Peter the Great to force the Russian nobility to adopt western fashion and style

Protestant Reformation

religious movement begun by German monk Martin Luther who began to question the practices of the Catholic Church

95 Theses

arguments written by Martin Luther against the Catholic church; ultimately led to Martin Luther's excommunication

Martin Luther

a German monk who became one of the most famous critics of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1517, he wrote 95 theses, or statements of belief attacking the church practices

indulgence

a pardon given by the Roman Catholic Church in return for repentance for sins and payment; 'a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins'

sole fide

argument proposed by Martin Luther that stated one's salvation should only come from faith alone as opposed to performing good works in the Catholic faith

printing press

A mechanical device for transferring text or graphics from a woodblock or moveable type to paper using ink

Tokugawa Shogunate

Japanese government under a military warlord who exercised actual power while the Japanese emperor was reduced to a figurehead

Sakoku

Japanese policy of isolationism that closed the country to foreign trade with Europe in order to encouraging domestic production while limit foreign influence over society

Shintoism

Religion located in Japan; focuses particularly on nature and ancestor worship.

Louis XIV

Known as the Sun King, he was an absolute monarch of France. One of his greatest accomplishments was the building of the palace at Versailles.

Suleiman the Magnificent

The most illustrious sultan of the Ottoman Empire. He significantly expanded the empire in the Balkans and eastern Mediterranean.

Akbar the Great

Emperor of the Mughal Empire in India. He is responsible for the expanding the empire and promoting religious tolerance by incorporating Hindu princes into the government

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Known for unifying Japan under a centralized government and promoting a policy of isolationism to limit foreign influence

Peter the Great

Tsar of Russia who enthusiastically introduced elements of Western culture and technology to the Russian elite

Emperor Kangxi

Emperor of Qing dynasty who wished to conquer for the sake of security rather than territorial expansion