Unit 3 AP World History

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering vocabulary related to land-based empires, key figures, concepts, and significant events from the period 1450-1750.

Manchu/Qing Empire

The major land-based empire in East Asia from 1450-1750.

Ottoman Empire

The major land-based empire in the Middle East from 1450-1750.

Mughal Empire

The major land-based empire in South Asia from 1450-1750.

Gunpowder

Transformative military technology that fueled the rise of land-based empires.

Tribute

Payments made by one state or ruler to another as a sign of respect or submission.

Tax collection

The method by which empires financed their operations by gathering revenues.

Religious rivalries

Conflicts arising from differing beliefs within empires.

Sikhism

A new syncretic religion that developed in the Mughal Empire.

Protestant Reformation

The fracture of the formerly unified Catholic world in Europe.

Divine Right of Kings

The doctrine that kings derive their authority from God.

Taj Mahal

A mausoleum built by Shah Jahan for his wife, symbolizing monumental architecture.

Tax Farming

A system where tax collection is contracted out to the highest bidder.

Bannermen

Hereditary nobility in the Manchu/Qing Empire who organized military and census.

Alhambra Decree

A 1492 edict that expelled Jews from Spain.

Sunni/Shi’a Split

The division within Islam regarding the rightful successor to Muhammad.

Sikhism

A faith emerging from the Mughal Empire combining elements of Islam and Hinduism.

Devshirme

System of recruiting boys from Christian families for military and bureaucratic roles.

Millets

Autonomous religious communities within the Ottoman Empire.

Zamindars

Local Hindu princes in the Mughal Empire used for tax collection.

Kangxi

A notable emperor of the Manchu/Qing Dynasty.

Suleiman

An important sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

Akbar

A Mughal emperor known for his religious tolerance.

Shah Ismail

The founder of the Safavid Empire.

Guru Nanak

Founder of Sikhism.

Hagia Sophia

Originally a Christian church, converted into a mosque by the Ottomans.

Queue hairstyle

A hairstyle enforced by the Manchus as part of their rule.

Cultural diversity

The variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society.

Monumental architecture

Large structures built to convey power or religious significance.

Neo-Confucianism

A philosophy that blends Confucian ethics with Buddhist and Daoist elements.

Imperial Exam

Civil service examinations used to select government officials in China.

Janissaries

Elite infantry units formed from the Devshirme system in the Ottoman Empire.

Sultan

A ruler of a Muslim state.

Battle of Chaldiran

A major conflict between the Ottoman Empire and the Safavid Empire.

Religious tolerance

Acceptance of different religious beliefs within a state.

Military conquest

The act of conquering territory through armed forces.

Tax collection system

The methods empires used to gather income from their subjects.

Hereditary rulers

Leaders who pass authority from parent to child.

Succession of the Caliph

The method of choosing Islamic leaders after Muhammad's death.

Christian God

In the context of Divine Right, believed to have placed kings in power.

Protestantism

A branch of Christianity that broke from the Catholic Church.

Polytheism

The belief in multiple gods, practiced by the Aztecs.

Flower Wars

Wars fought by the Aztecs to obtain sacrificial victims.

Eunuchs

Men castrated to serve in specific roles within a kingdom.

Mausoleum

A large tomb, especially one built for a notable figure.

Imperial portraits

Images used to legitimize the authority of rulers.

Absolute rule

A form of government where one person holds total power.

Census

An official count or survey, especially of a population.

Sorcery

The use of supernatural powers for selfish purposes.

Bureaucratic positions

Roles within a government organization responsible for administration.

Focal point

The center of attention or activity.

Cultural legitimacy

The acceptance of a ruler's power based on cultural beliefs.

Conflict

A serious disagreement or argument.

Revolution

A dramatic and wide-reaching change in the way something works.

Trade routes

Pathways followed for commerce connecting different regions.

Transformation

A significant change in form, nature, or appearance.

Artisans

Skilled workers who make goods by hand.

Diversity

The state of being diverse; variety.

Succession crises

Conflicts arising over the rightful heir to a throne.

Fortification

The act of strengthening a place or structure to defend against attacks.

Nobility

A social class with a high position in society and often title.

Motivation

The reasons behind a person's actions.

Legitimacy

Acceptance and recognition of authority or power.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and constituent units.

Multiculturalism

The presence of, and support for, multiple cultural traditions.

Decentralization

The distribution of functions and powers away from a central location.

Religion

A system of beliefs that typically involves worship of a higher power.

Cultural synthesis

The blending of different cultural elements.

Islamic empire

An empire where the government and society are predominantly Muslim.

Sacred Edict

A set of moral guidelines issued by Qing emperors.

Canon

A general law, rule, principle, or criterion.

Religious schisms

Divisions within a religion resulting from doctrinal disagreements.

Divine presence

The belief in the presence or guidance of a divine being in human affairs.

Sacramental

An element that conveys grace to the faithful in and through specific rites.

Civic duty

The responsibilities of a citizen to engage in actions that benefit society.

Bureaucracy

A system of government where most of the important decisions are made by state officials.

Prosperity

The state of flourishing, thriving, success, or good fortune.

Hierarchy

A system in which members of an organization or society are ranked according to relative status or authority.

Autonomy

The right of an organization to govern itself or have self-government.

Status quo

The existing state of affairs.

Colonization

The act of establishing control over the indigenous people of an area.

Ethnic groups

Groups of people who identify based on shared cultural, linguistic, or ancestral heritage.

Political entities

Organizations that have the capacity to enact law and govern.

Cultural heritage

The traditions, customs, and artifacts shared by a group of people.

Sovereignty

Supreme authority over territory and the peoples within it.

Diplomacy

The art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations.

Empire

A large political structure that extends over a vast territory and includes various peoples.

Commercial revolution

A period of European economic expansion, colonialism, and mercantilism.

Nationalism

An extreme form of patriotism, often leading to the belief in a nation’s superiority.

Historiography

The study of the methodology of historians.

Feminism

The advocacy of women's rights based on the equality of the sexes.

Social stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of individuals in terms of power, wealth, and social status.

Millennium

A period of a thousand years, often referring specifically to the last thousand years.

Martyrdom

The act of sacrificing one’s life, often for a particular belief or cause.