Unit 3: Land Based Empires 1450-1750

Gunpowder Empires

States in SE Asia, Asia, and SW Asia that relied on gunpowder to maintain power and expand territories.

Tamerlane

A military leader from Samarkand who created an empire across Persia and India, known for his brutal conquests.

Ottoman Empire

The largest Islamic empire during the time, which lasted from 1299 to 1922.

Mehmed II

Also known as Mehmed the Conqueror, he captured Constantinople in 1433.

Suleiman the Magnificent

The peak ruler of the Ottoman Empire known for his military expansions in the Mediterranean.

Safavid Empire

An Islamic empire founded in 1501, known for its Shia beliefs and conflicts with the Sunni Ottomans.

Mughal Empire

An empire in India founded by Babur in 1526, known for its cultural and architectural advancements.

Akbar

A significant Mughal ruler recognized for promoting religious tolerance and consolidating power.

Divine Right of Kings

The political doctrine that a monarch derives legitimacy from the will of God.

Devshirme System

The Ottoman practice of taking enslaved Christian boys from the Balkans, educating them, and making them serve in the military.

Janissaries

Elite military corps of the Ottoman Empire derived from the Devshirme system.

Absolutism

A political system in which a monarch holds absolute power over the state.

Bhakti Movement

A spiritual and social movement in India emphasizing personal relationships with deities.

Five Pillars of Islam

The five basic acts of worship that are considered the foundation of a Muslim's faith and practice.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement in the 16th century aimed at reforming the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.

Taj Mahal

A mausoleum commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, representing Mughal architecture.

Ming Dynasty

The Chinese dynasty that ruled from 1368-1644 known for its trade expansion and cultural achievements.

Confucianism

A philosophical system focused on societal harmony, tradition, and authority, dominant in China.

Songhai Empire

An empire that ruled over a large part of West Africa known for its advanced government and military.