Gunpowder Empires and Historical Transformations

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts, terms, and events related to gunpowder empires, historical transformations, cultural exchanges, and significant figures and innovations.

Why did innovation with gunpowder weapons occur in China in the 14th century?

Chinese rebels needed weapons to defeat their Mongol rulers.

Which empire is considered the first gunpowder empire due to Chinese advancements in gunpowder weapons?

The Ming Empire.

What was the goal of the Ming dynasty when it first took power in China in the 1300s?

To restore traditional Chinese rule.

What statement is true of Ming China?

The population doubled during the three centuries of Ming rule.

What change in military strategy is reflected by the rebuilding of the Great Wall?

A shift from offense to defense.

Who was Zheng He and what did he do?

He led seven sea voyages to faraway lands, expanding China's influence.

Why did the Ming dynasty choose to isolate China from the rest of the world in the 1430s?

They believed other cultures had little to offer China.

How were the Manchus gradually accepted in China?

They embraced Confucianism and Chinese culture.

Why did Qing China's success lead to its decline?

It maintained a conservative approach that previously brought stability.

What did daimyo in Japan eagerly seek during the mid-1500s?

Muskets and gunpowder.

What type of government ruled Japan under the Tokugawa rulers?

A strong, centralized government.

What motivated Japan to prevent contact with foreigners?

Concern about Catholic missionaries attracting converts.

Why did Japan remain open to foreign trade after the United States forced it to open?

The country lacked the means to keep foreigners out.

Why did Russia consider itself the 'Third Rome'?

It saw itself as heir to the Roman and Byzantine Empires.

How did Peter the Great change Russian culture?

He introduced European customs and learning.

What weakened the power of the Romanov dynasty in Russia?

Russia's outdated social system.

Where was gunpowder likely first developed?

China.

In which century did the earliest use of gunpowder in weapons likely occur?

The 10th century.

Which group was instrumental in spreading gunpowder across Eurasia?

The Mongols.

What was highlighted by the Ottomans' capture of Constantinople?

The importance of gunpowder weapons in building empires.

How did the Ottomans handle cultural and religious diversity within their empire?

They were generally tolerant and allowed separate communities to manage their own religious affairs.

What type of officials made up many high positions in the Ottoman Empire?

Enslaved individuals.

What legal code did Suleyman the Magnificent develop?

A code based on shari'ah law with additional provisions.

Which region did the Safavids unite under their rule?

Persia.

What was the consequence of the Safavids' loss to the Ottomans at the Battle of Chaldiran?

They recognized the need to use gunpowder weapons.

What was beneficial about employing golam in the Safavid army?

It provided a strong and loyal standing army.

Where did the Mughal Empire arise in the 1500s?

India.

What characterized the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar?

The flourishing of art and culture.

When did the Mughal Empire reach its greatest size?

Under the rule of Aurangzeb.

What was true about trade during Mughal rule?

India's economy was larger than that of any European nation.

How did gunpowder and gunpowder weapons first reach Europe?

They were likely introduced through multiple means.

What does the term 'gunpowder revolution' refer to?

Military advances resulting from the development of gunpowder weaponry.

How was the arts in Renaissance Italy funded?

Primarily from commerce.

What innovation was Johannes Gutenberg known for?

His printing press, which made books more widely available.

What was one consequence of the bubonic plague?

The destruction of feudalism and growth of urban workshops.

Who is the Renaissance artist famous for the 'Mona Lisa'?

Leonardo da Vinci.

What was emphasized by humanist writers like Dante and Petrarch?

The worth of the individual.

Why were indulgences viewed as corrupt?

They were pardons that people could buy.

What did Martin Luther assert about the Bible?

That any Christian could read it and understand God's message.

What was the Council of Trent part of?

The Counter-Reformation.

What aspect of navigation did sea voyages encourage interest in?

Astronomy.

How did Galileo support the heliocentric theory?

By observing the sky through a telescope.

What important laws did Isaac Newton explain in 'Principia'?

The laws of gravity and motion.

Who developed a new classification system for plants and animals?

Carl Linnaeus.

What did Enlightenment thinkers believe influenced human society?

Natural laws.

What did Adam Smith argue for in 'The Wealth of Nations'?

A free market based on competition.

What were the salons of French Enlightenment?

Gatherings in private homes.

What attitude did the Enlightenment promote?

Optimism.

How did Italian city-states like Venice and Genoa engage in trade?

By buying luxury goods from Muslims in the Middle East.

What helped Europe recover from economic damage caused by the Black Death?

Trade.

What political change occurred in Spain, Portugal, England, and France in the 1400s and 1500s?

Kings gained power at the expense of local nobles and the Church.

What could a European government do to promote trade?

All of the above.

Why did Portugal and Spain invest in exploration?

To bypass Muslim and Italian traders controlling Asian luxury trade.

What role did religion play in European exploration?

To spread Christianity to non-Christians.

What do Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro have in common?

Both conquered powerful empires in the Americas.

Why did the Dutch attack Spanish ships in the late 1500s?

To take the silver that the ships were carrying.

What was the principal cause of death among indigenous people after European arrival?

Disease.

What role did some African states play in the slave trade?

They brought enslaved people from the interior to the coast.

How did the Columbian Exchange change Europe?

American food plants improved Europeans' diets.

What did Asians want in return for goods bought by Europeans in the 1500s?

Silver.

How did the Dutch gain a monopoly over the spice trade?

By using their military to seize control of land and people.

Why did England focus on trade with India?

The Dutch kept the English out of the East Indies.

What was a major advantage of a joint-stock company?

It could raise large amounts of capital from many investors.

The arrow on the map that represents the Middle Passage goes from to .

From Africa to the West Indies.