AP World History Unit 3: Land-Based Empires

Qing Dynasty

The last native Chinese dynasty known for building the Forbidden City and eliminating all evidence of foreign rule (Mongols) over China

Emperor Yongle

The Ming emperor who wanted to extend Chinese influence and sent his admiral, Zheng He, to explore the Indian Ocean through several voyages.

Zheng He

An imperial eunuch and Muslim, entrusted by the Ming emperor Yongle with a series of state voyages that took his gigantic ships through the Indian Ocean, from Southeast Asia to Africa.

Forbidden City

The Chinese imperial palace located in Beijing and housed the royal families for over 500 years - created by the Ming Dynasty.

Ottoman Empire

Islamic state founded by Osman in northwestern Anatolia ca. 1300. After the fall of the Byzantine Empire, this empire was based at Istanbul (formerly Constantinople) from 1453 to 1922. It encompassed lands in the Middle East, North Africa, the Caucasus, and eastern Europe.

Safavid Iran

Muslim (Shia) State located in Persia (Iran) that lasted from 1501-1736.

Mughals

Muslim state (1526-1857) and descendants of the Mongols exercising dominion over most of India in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Ottoman Coffeehouse

Places of cultural exchange in the Ottoman empire that also promoted one of their main goods (coffee)

Ottoman Miniature (Turkish Miniature)

An art form in the Ottoman Empire, which can be linked to the Persian miniature tradition, as well as strong Chinese artistic influences.

Suleymaniye Mosque

Great mosque built in Constantinople during the 16th-century reign of the Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Magnificent

Mehmed the Conqueror

The Ottoman sultan responsible for conquering Constantinople with cannons and siege weapons.

Istanbul

Capital of the Ottoman Empire - formerly known as Constantinople

Sikhism

A syncretic religion developed in the Mughal Empire that combined Hinduism and Islam.

Taj Mahal

The mausoleum that was built by the Mughal ruler, Shah Jahan, for his dead wife.

Isfahan

Capital of the Safavid Empire.

Topkapi Palace

Palace in Istanbul that was the primary residence for the ottoman sultans

Shah Abbas I

The Shah who revitalized the Safavid empire by encouraging trade (r. 1588-1629) He strengthened the military and led them to many victories. Brought northwestern Iran, Caucasus, and Mesopotamia under Safavid rule

Akbar

Most illustrious sultan of the Mughal Empire in India (r. 1556-1605). He expanded the empire and pursued a policy of conciliation with Hindus.

Devshirme

The Ottoman practice of recruiting soldiers and bureaucrats (janissaries) from the Balkans.

Janissaries

Slave soldiers in the Ottoman Empire who were recruited from the Balkans and eventually gained a tremendous amount of power and influence with the Sultan.

Ivan III (Ivan the Great)

Prince of Duchy of Moscow;claimed descent from Rurik;responsible for freeing Russia from Mongols (a.k.a. Tatars) after 1462;took title of tsar (czar), or Caesar- equivalent of emperor

Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible)

Russian tsar that confirmed power of tsarist autocracy by attacking authority of boyars (aristocrats);continued policy of Russian expansion;established contacts with western Europe commerce and trade

Dvoryanstvo

The hereditary nobility in Russia (Muscovy)

Serfs (krepostnoy krest'yanin)

Peasants that were bound to the land and served as a major labor force for agriculture in the Russian Empire.

Russian Orthodox Church

The type of Christianity practiced by Russia in order to legitimize their rule and connect themselves to the Byzantine Empire.

Urdu

A Persian-influenced literary form of Hindi written in Arabic characters and used as a literary language since the 1300s

Zamindars

Tax collectors/officials in the Mughal government.

Kanun

Law code created by Suleiman I to consolidate his rule - heavily influenced by already existing laws.

Songhai Empire

An Islamic empire established in the 1400s (following the decline of the Mali Empire) and lasting until

the 1600s in Western Africa. The capital city, Gao, was commercially successful.

Muhammad I Askia

Ruler of the Songhay Empire from 1493 to 1528 who expanded the empire and organized its government