Land-Based Empires, 1450–1750

This set of flashcards covers essential vocabulary related to the expansion and centralization of land-based empires between 1450 and 1750, highlighting key concepts, rulers, events, and sociopolitical developments.

Gunpowder Empires

Empires that expanded through the use of gunpowder technology, such as the Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal, Russia, Qing China, and Tokugawa Japan.

Divine Right of Kings

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

Taj Mahal

A mausoleum built in India during the Mughal Empire, symbolizing architectural achievement and imperial power.

Devshirme

The Ottoman system of conscripting Christian boys to serve in the government and military.

Janissaries

Elite infantry units formed in the Ottoman Empire, composed of enslaved Christian boys.

Ming Dynasty

The Chinese dynasty known for restoring Chinese rule after Mongol domination and sponsoring maritime exploration.

Qing Dynasty

The last imperial dynasty of China, ruled by the Manchus, known for territorial expansion and Confucian governance.

Oprichniki

Political police created by Ivan IV of Russia to eliminate opposition among the nobility.

Westernization

The process of adopting Western ideas and culture, notably implemented by Peter the Great in Russia.

Sankin-kotai

The Tokugawa period policy requiring regional lords to spend every other year in the capital, Edo.

Louis XIV

The French king known as 'The Sun King,' he practiced absolutism and built the Palace of Versailles.

Magna Carta

A charter signed in 1215 that limited royal authority and established certain legal rights in England.

95 Theses

Martin Luther's document challenging the Catholic Church's practices, sparking the Protestant Reformation.

Council of Trent

A major ecumenical council that addressed church corruption and clarified Catholic doctrine.

Peace of Augsburg

A 1555 treaty allowing German princes to choose between Lutheranism and Catholicism.

Edict of Nantes

A 1598 decree granting religious tolerance to French Protestants, later revoked in 1685.

Peace of Westphalia

The treaty ending the Thirty Years' War in 1648, allowing coexistence of Lutheran, Catholic, and Calvinist regions.

Shi'ism

A branch of Islam that holds that Muhammad's legitimate successors are his family members, particularly Ali.

Akbar

Mughal emperor known for his policies of religious tolerance and administrative centralization.

Serfdom

A system where laborers are tied to the land they work on, prevalent in Russia until the 19th century.

Islamic Law (Sharia)

Islamic legal system derived from the Quran and Hadith, governing both personal and public life.

Harem Politics

The influence of women in the elite class of the Ottomans within the royalty and court.

Cossacks

Fierce and independent horsemen in Russia, often serving in the military.

Zamindars

Local landlords in India who collected taxes and maintained order during the Mughal Empire.

Bureaucratic Control

The establishment of a government administration to enforce laws and regulations.

Calvinist Predestination

The belief in Calvinism that God has preordained who will be saved and who will be damned.

Architecture as Power Projection

The use of grand buildings like the Taj Mahal and Versailles to demonstrate a ruler's strength and legitimacy.

Suleiman the Magnificent

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

Battle of Lepanto

A naval battle in 1571 where Christian forces defeated the Ottoman Empire.

Shogun

The military leader of Japan, particularly during the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Samurai

The military nobility of feudal Japan who served the daimyo.

Daimyo

Powerful regional lords in Japan who controlled land and relied on samurai warriors.

Mughal Empire

A significant empire in India known for its cultural achievements and religious tolerance under certain rulers.

Qizilbash

The Shiite militant groups in Safavid Persia known for their red hats.

Muslim Law

Islamic law that encompasses all aspects of a Muslim's life, forming a basis for governance in Muslim states.

Censorship of Ideas

Efforts to suppress or control the dissemination of ideas, common during periods of religious and political upheaval.

Cultural Blending

The merging of different cultural traditions and practices, as seen in the Safavid Empire.