Unit 3 of AP World History - Consolidation and Legitimization of Power

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the consolidation and legitimization of power by land-based empires from 1450 to 1750.

Centralized Bureaucracy

A form of government where power is concentrated in a central authority to maintain control over an empire.

Civil Service Examination

A test established by the Manchu in China to select individuals for positions in the bureaucracy based on merit.

Dev Shirme System

A system used by the Ottomans to recruit enslaved Christian boys for military and bureaucratic roles.

Tribute System

A method used by the Aztecs where conquered peoples owed goods regularly to the empire.

Zamindars

Bureaucrats employed in the Mughal Empire to collect taxes based on land holdings or production.

Tax Farming

An Ottoman system where individuals were contracted to collect taxes, often resulting in personal gain.

Gunpowder Weapons

Firearm-based technology that Eurasian empires used for military dominance.

Janissaries

An elite military group in the Ottoman Empire, made up of enslaved Christians who were loyal to the Sultan.

Caliph

A title taken by Islamic emperors indicating they are legitimate successors to Muhammad.

Divine Right of Kings

The doctrine stating that kings are God's appointed rulers on earth, justifying their power.

Monumental Architecture

Large structures that display the power of rulers beyond basic functional needs, such as the Taj Mahal.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement that challenged the practices of the Catholic Church, leading to a split within Christianity.

Shia and Sunni

Two main branches of Islam that had significant conflicts, especially between the Safavid and Ottoman empires.

Court Rituals

Ceremonies used by rulers, like those in the Songhai Empire, to display their power and authority.

Human Sacrifice

A practice of the Aztecs related to their religious rituals, requiring people as part of their tribute.