Safavids, Mughals, and Tokugawa Japan Vocabulary

Flashcards of vocabulary from a lecture on the Safavid and Mughal Empires, and Tokugawa Japan.

Ulama

Islamic scholars who acted as experts on Islamic sacred law and also served as religious intermediaries between the state and people.

Jizya

Tax on non-Muslims.

Twelver Shiite Muslims

True heirs of Islam were the descendants of Ali (son-in-law of Muhammad).

Qizilbash

Turkish (and some Persian) Shi’a warriors who were loyal to the Shah (paid in land and often granted political office).

Zamindar

Autonomous or semi-autonomous ruler of a province in the Mughal Empire. Typically hereditary, and held the right to collect tax on behalf of imperial courts or for military purposes.

Din-I Ilahi

Combined Muslim, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Christian, and Sikh beliefs; Akbar tried to reconcile the two with his Divine Faith.

Shogun

Top military authority in Early Modern Japan.

Daimyos

Powerful territorial noble lords in Early Modern Japan.

Samurai

Warriors in Feudal Japan.

Bushido

“Way of the warrior” (unwritten law code for Samurai) began in 9th century CE, stressed frugality, loyalty, martial arts mastery, and honor until death.

Seppuku

Ritualized suicide to maintain honor

Ronin

Samurai without a lord/master.

Sankin-Kotai (“Alternate attendance”)

Daimyo were required to reside in Edo every other year (their families must remain in Edo indefinitely).