Consolidation of Power in Land-Based Empires

These flashcards cover key concepts relating to the consolidation of power in land-based empires, including bureaucratic structures, military organization, legitimization of power, and cultural representations.

Bureaucracy

A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

Zamindars

Mughal bureaucrats responsible for collecting taxes based on land ownership or production.

Devshirme System

The Ottoman Empire's practice of collecting Christian boys to be trained as soldiers and bureaucrats.

Tribute System

A system where subjects pay rulers in goods, allowing indirect rule.

Janissaries

Elite military units of the Ottoman Empire, known for their fierce loyalty.

Caliph

The title taken by Islamic rulers to indicate their role as successors to Muhammad.

Divine Right of Kings

The political doctrine that asserts a monarch's legitimacy is conferred directly by God.

Monumental Architecture

Large buildings constructed to display power and wealth, such as the Taj Mahal and the Palace of Versailles.

Gunpowder Weapons

Firearms and explosive devices that provided military strength primarily to Eurasian empires.

Religious Conflicts

Struggles between different religious groups, exemplified by the Protestant Reformation and the Sunni-Shia divide.