Unit 3 AP World History

Protestant Reformation

a 16th-century European religious, political, and cultural upheaval that split the Catholic Church and led to the establishment of Protestantism. It began in 1517 when Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses, which criticized practices like indulgences and questioned the Catholic Church's authority

Indulgences

In the Catholic Church, an indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. This means it removes or reduces the consequences of sin

Ninety-five theses

Ninety-five Theses, a work of 95 one- or two-sentence propositions for debate, written in Latin by Martin Luther and concerned with the question of indulgences.

Catholic or Counter-reformation

The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival and reform from the 16th to 17th centuries, initiated in response to the Protestant Reformation. It sought to strengthen the Catholic Church, stop the spread of Protestantism, and address internal corruption through measures like the Council of Trent, new religious orders like the Jesuits, and the Inquisition

Gunpowder Empires

large, powerful states that emerged in the 15th and 16th centuries and used gunpowder weapons, particularly artillery, to expand and centralize their power. The most commonly cited examples are the Islamic empires of the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire, also called the Turkish Empire, controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Central Europe between the early 16th and early 18th centuries

Mughal Empire

Muslim dynasty that ruled much of the Indian subcontinent from 1526 to 1857. It was founded by Babur and known for its centralized government, rich culture, stunning architecture like the Taj Mahal, and periods of religious tolerance. The empire eventually weakened and was dissolved by the British. 

Safavid Empire

The Safavid Empire was a powerful Persian empire that lasted from 1501 to 1736, best known for establishing Twelver Shi'ism as the state religion of Iran. It was known for its military strength

Aztec Empire

a powerful Mesoamerican civilization that flourished in central Mexico from its capital, Tenochtitlan, from the 14th to the early 16th centuries

Inca Empire

a vast civilization in the Andes Mountains of South America, from the early 1400s to the mid-1500s, centered in the city of Cusco

Mita System

a labor tax system used by the Inca Empire and later adapted by the Spanish in colonial Peru. The Inca system required citizens to perform public work for a set period each year, which was used for projects like construction and agriculture

Tribute System of Aztecs and Incas

the Aztecs demanded tribute in goods, labor, and human sacrifice from conquered city-states, while the Inca system, called the mita, was mainly a labor tax for state projects