APWH Unit 3 Overview of Land-Based Empires

This flashcard set covers key vocabulary and concepts related to the expansion and governance of land-based empires, history, and societal changes during the period described in the lecture notes.

Monarchies

Form of government where a single person rules, typically a king or queen.

Centralization

Concentration of control and power within a central authority or government.

Tudors

The royal dynasty in England that ruled starting in the late 15th century; notable monarchs include Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

Valois

The royal family that ruled France from the 14th to the 16th centuries.

Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand

Spanish monarchs who completed the Reconquista and sponsored Christopher Columbus's expeditions.

Bureaucracy

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

Divine Right of Kings

The doctrine that kings derive their authority from God, not from their subjects.

Absolutism

Political doctrine and practice of unlimited, centralized authority and absolute sovereignty, as vested in a monarch.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement in the 16th century that aimed to reform the Roman Catholic Church and led to the establishment of Protestant churches.

Lutheranism

A branch of Protestant Christianity based on the teachings of Martin Luther focusing on justification by faith.

Calvinism

A major branch of Protestantism founded by John Calvin that emphasizes the sovereignty of God and the authority of Scripture.

Anglicanism

The branch of the Church of England that arose from the English Reformation.

Counter Reformation

The period of Catholic resurgence initiated in response to the Protestant Reformation.

Empiricism

A theory emphasizing knowledge that comes from sensory experience.

Ivan IV/Ivan the Terrible

Tsar of Russia known for expanding the territory of Russia and his brutal reign.

Cossacks

Groups of warrior-peasants in Russia known for their military skill and role in expansion.

Tsarist Russia

The period of Russian history characterized by rule under Russian monarchs known as tsars.

Peter the Great

Emperor of Russia who implemented drastic reforms to westernize and modernize Russia.

Holy Synod

The governing body of the Russian Orthodox Church established by Peter the Great to bring the Church under state control.

Ming Dynasty

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

Qing Dynasty

The last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912, known for its expansion and cultural achievements.

Samurai

Military nobility of medieval and early modern Japan.

Tokugawa Shogunate

The last feudal Japanese military government, which lasted from 1603 to 1868.

Gasped Emperors

Rulers who emerged after gunpowder empires, particularly in the context of military expansion.

Ottoman Empire

A large empire founded by Turkish tribes in the 14th century that spanned three continents, known for its cultural and political achievements.

Suleiman I

The longest-serving sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for significant territorial expansion and legal reforms.

Devshirme System

A practice in the Ottoman Empire of recruiting boys from Christian communities to serve in the military and administration.

Janissaries

Elite military units that formed the backbone of the Ottoman military.

Akbar

Mughal emperor known for his policy of religious tolerance and cultural integration.

Architectural Accomplishments

Structures built that reflect the cultural and political power of empires, like mosques and palaces.

Shi’a Islam

Branch of Islam that holds that only a direct descendant of Muhammad can be a caliph.

Sunni Islam

Branch of Islam that holds that the first four caliphs were the rightful successors to Muhammad.

Tributary States

States that are subordinate to a more powerful state, often through the payment of taxes or tribute.

Thirty Years’ War

A series of wars in Central Europe from 1618 to 1648, primarily over religious conflicts.

Peace of Westphalia

A series of treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War and established the concept of state sovereignty.

Edict of Nantes

A law passed in 1598 that granted religious freedom to Huguenots in France.

Peace of Augsburg

A treaty signed in 1555 that allowed German states to choose between Catholicism and Lutheranism.

Mughal Empire

A prominent empire in India from the 16th to 19th centuries, known for its wealth and cultural achievements.

Safavid Empire

A Persian empire known for establishing Shi’a Islam as the state religion.

Gunpowder Empires

Empires that relied on the use of gunpowder for military expansion, including the Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals.

Tamerlane

A Mongol-Turkic ruler known for his military conquests in Central Asia.

Cultural Integration

The process of combining different cultural influences to create a unified national identity.

Military Technology

Innovations and advancements in weaponry and tactics used in warfare.

Tribalism

A social system organized around tribal affiliations and loyalties.

Social Mobility

The ability for individuals or groups to move within a social hierarchy.

Bureaucratic Elites

High-ranking members of a bureaucracy who hold significant power and influence.

Cultural Achievements

Notable advancements in art, architecture, literature, and scholarship attributed to a particular culture or civilization.

Religious Conflicts

Disputes and confrontations between different religious groups.

Absolutist Policies

Government policies that concentrate power in the hands of a single ruler.

Tribute System

A network of trade and foreign relations between China and its tributary states.

Reformation Movements

Social and political movements aimed at reforming religious institutions.

Religious Tolerance

The acceptance of differing religious beliefs and practices.

Economic Catastrophe

Severe economic downturn or crisis, often resulting in widespread hardship.

Isolationism

A foreign policy that avoids involvement in foreign conflicts and alliances.

Buddhism

A religion and philosophy based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha).

Confucianism

An ethical and philosophical system based on the teachings of Confucius, emphasizing morality and social relationships.

Fur Traders

Individuals or companies engaged in the trade of animal pelts, a key part of Russian expansion.

Indulgences

Payments made to the Catholic Church for the forgiveness of sins, a central issue during the Reformation.

Gutenberg Printing Press

An invention that revolutionized the production of books and the spread of knowledge.

Geopolitical Strategies

Methods employed by states to navigate power dynamics and territorial disputes.