AP World Unit 3

Brief terms included in AP Modern World History Unit 3

Qing Dynasty

The last imperial dynasty of China, established by the Manchus after overthrowing the Ming Dynasty in 1644. It ruled until 1912 and expanded China's territory significantly.

Manchus

A group from northeastern China who founded the Qing Dynasty. They maintained their distinct identity while ruling over a Han-majority population.

Mughal Empire

A powerful Islamic empire in South Asia (1526–1857), known for its cultural synthesis, monumental architecture (e.g., the Taj Mahal), and administration under leaders like Akbar and Aurangzeb. SUNNI ISLAM

Ottoman Empire

A major Islamic empire based in Anatolia that expanded into Southeast Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, with Istanbul as its capital. It reached its peak under Suleiman the Magnificent. SUNNI ISLAM

Safavid Empire

A SHI’A ISLAMIC empire in Persia (modern Iran) from 1501 to 1736, known for its promotion of Shi’a Islam as a state religion and conflicts with the Sunni Ottoman Empire.

Songhai Empire

A West African empire that flourished during the 15th and 16th centuries succeeding Mali, controlling trans-Saharan trade routes and notable for leaders like Askia the Great.

Devshirme

A system used by the Ottoman Empire to recruit Christian boys from the Balkans, converting them to Islam and training them as civil servants or elite soldiers, like Janissaries.

Janissary

Elite infantry units in the Ottoman military composed primarily of devshirme recruits. They were loyal to the sultan and played a key role in Ottoman military successes.

Samurai

The warrior class of feudal Japan who served the daimyo (regional lords) under the shogunate system, adhering to a code of honor known as bushido.

Shogunate

The military government in Japan led by a shogun, effectively ruling the country while the emperor held symbolic power.

Divine Right

The belief that monarchs derive their authority directly from God and are accountable only to Him, legitimizing absolute monarchy in Europe.

Absolute Monarchy

A system where a monarch holds complete authority over the government and its subjects, exemplified by rulers like Louis XIV of France.

Versailles

The opulent palace built by Louis XIV, symbolizing absolute monarchy and serving as a tool to control the French nobility.

Zamindars

Landowners or tax collectors in the Mughal Empire who were responsible for collecting revenue from peasants and forwarding it to the central government (intermediaries between government and peasantry).

Tax Farming

A system where the government outsourced tax collection to private individuals or groups who bidded for their position and kept any excess revenue collected after charging high amounts of tax.

Taj Mahal

A mausoleum built in Agra by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, exemplifying Mughal architectural brilliance.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement in 16th-century Europe that sought to reform the Catholic Church, leading to the creation of Protestant denominations. It was the result of the 95 Theses published by Martin Luther.

95 Theses

Martin Luther’s list of grievances against the Catholic Church, particularly criticizing the sale of indulgences, which he nailed to a church door in 1517.

Martin Luther

A German monk and theologian who initiated the Protestant Reformation by challenging Church practices and promoting justification by faith.

Counter/Catholic Reformation

The Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation, aiming to reform internal practices and reaffirm Catholic doctrine through the Council of Trent.

Jesuits

Members of the Society of Jesus, founded during the Catholic Reformation, known for their missionary work, education, and defense of Catholicism. Engaged in missionary work worldwide.

Indulgences

A grant by the Catholic Church that promised reduction of punishment for sins, often sold to raise funds, sparking criticism during the Reformation. Europeans could “pay” for their sins to be forgiven by performing certain acts or donating money.

Simony

The buying or selling of ecclesiastical privileges, such as church offices, a practice criticized by reformers. People could offer money, land or servitude to clergy in exchange for favors, like being promoted to a higher position.

Inquisition

A system established by the Catholic Church to root out heresy (false teachings), involving investigations and punishments, often associated with the Spanish Inquisition

Thirty Years’ War

A destructive conflict (1618–1648) in Europe, rooted in religious tensions between Catholics and Protestants, and political rivalries among states.

John Calvin

A key figure in the Protestant Reformation who developed a systematic theology emphasizing God's sovereignty and grace, and significantly influenced the development of Reformed theology and Protestantism as a whole.

Sikhism

A syncretic religion blending elements of Hinduism and Islam and emphasizing equality and devotion to one God in the Mughal Empire.

Jizya

A tax levied on non-Muslims in Islamic empires, including the Ottoman and Mughal Empires, in exchange for protection and exemption from military service

Millet System

The Ottoman Empire’s system of governance that allowed religious communities (millets) to govern themselves under their own laws and leaders.