Unit 3 Ap World history condensed

Unit 3 Overview: Land-Based Empires

The one thing you need to know about this unit: Ruling is complicated. Lots of territory + diverse populations + external challenges = many different ruling styles, techniques, and methods.

Contextualizing the Unit

While the Columbian Exchange and Columbus’s voyages dominate attention between 1450-1750, land-based empires centralized during this period. These empires are compared and contrasted with Maritime Empires of Unit 4.

Gunpowder Technology

Gunpowder technology improved, enabling empires to use guns en masse.

Trade Routes

Trade routes intensified on land, providing new empires with access to more resources.

Continuities

Religion and cultural ideas continued to play a significant role and even spread within empires.

Political Control

Land-based empires were typically absolute, with strict political and economic control.

1453

Main Event: Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, rise of the Ottoman Empire.

1471

Main Event: Completion of the Sun Temple in Cuzco, rise of the Inca Empire.

1517

Main Event: Martin Luther publishes the 95 Theses, beginning the Protestant Reformation.

1526

Main Event: Guru Nanak founded the first Sikh Community.

1600

Main Event: Tokugawa Shogunate unifies Japan.

1644

Main Event: Qing Dynasty is founded in China.

1682

Main Event: Palace of Versailles completed in France.

1707

Main Event: Death of Emperor Aurangzeb, weakening the Mughal Empire.

Military Innovations

New weapons made wars more decisive between 1450-1750.

Empire Expansion

Increase in the size and number of empires.

Administrative Systems

Improved administration led to more resources for expansion.

Nomadic Empires

The collapse of nomadic empires created space for land-based empires to grow.

Religion and Empires

Religions continued to spread and were used to solidify rulers’ legitimacy.

Land-Based Empire Definition

Empires focused on land-based expansion or administration during 1450-1750 rather than overseas expansion.

Land-Based Conflict

Long-term conflict with other land powers kept attention on land expansion.

Naval Activity

Lack of state-sponsored naval activity except for exceptions like the Ottoman, Ming, and Tokugawa empires.

Empire Governance

Land-based empires were absolute monarchies, not democracies or representative governments.

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty (1368–1644) known for trade expansion, the Treasure Fleet, and cultural achievements like the Forbidden City.

Qing Dynasty

China's last dynasty (1644–1912), marked by territorial expansion and economic growth.

Tokugawa Shogunate

Japanese rule (1603–1868) with centralized power, sakoku isolation policy, and cultural development.

Mughal Empire

Indian empire (16th–19th century) known for cultural achievements, religious tolerance, and architectural wonders like the Taj Mahal.

Safavid Empire

Persian empire (16th–18th century) known for spreading Shia Islam and cultural advancements in literature and art.

Ottoman Empire

Empire (13th–20th century) spanning Europe, Asia, and Africa, known for its cultural influence and architectural legacy.

Songhai Empire

West African empire (14th–16th century) known for cultural and scholarly achievements.

French Empire

Napoleonic Empire (19th century) known for cultural and legal contributions to European history.

Russian Empire

European-Asian empire (18th–20th century) known for cultural, scientific, and territorial growth under the Romanovs.

Inca Empire

South American empire (13th–16th century) known for advanced administration and engineering feats like Machu Picchu.

Aztec Empire

Mesoamerican empire (14th–16th century) known for cultural richness and a complex writing system based on glyphs.