AP World Period 2 DBQ Survival Notes — 1450–1750

Gunpowder Empires

The Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires used firearms and cannons to expand territory and strengthen central governments.

Ottoman Empire

Large Sunni Muslim empire that used Janissaries, bureaucracy, taxation, and military power to control diverse populations.

Janissaries

Elite Ottoman soldiers who helped the sultan maintain military and political control.

Devshirme System

Ottoman system that recruited Christian boys and trained them for military or government service.

Safavid Empire

Shi’a Muslim empire in Persia that used religion and military power to strengthen political unity.

Mughal Empire

Muslim empire ruling a mostly Hindu population in India.

Akbar

Mughal ruler who used religious tolerance and cooperation with Hindus to strengthen political stability.

Aurangzeb

Mughal ruler who reduced religious tolerance, increasing tensions within the empire.

Peter the Great

Russian ruler who westernized and modernized Russia to strengthen the state and military.

Political Legitimacy

Rulers used religion, art, architecture, military victories, and monuments to justify their authority.

Centralization

Process of rulers increasing control over government, taxes, military forces, and territory.

Protestant Reformation

Movement beginning in the 1500s that challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and created new Protestant denominations.

Martin Luther

German religious reformer whose criticism of the Catholic Church helped begin the Protestant Reformation.

Catholic Reformation

Catholic Church response to Protestantism that included reforms, missionary activity, and efforts to strengthen Catholicism.

Ottoman Religion

The Ottoman Empire was mainly Sunni Muslim.

Safavid Religion

The Safavid Empire was Shi’a Muslim.

Ottoman-Safavid Rivalry

Political competition was strengthened by the religious conflict between Sunni Ottomans and Shi’a Safavids.

Akbar’s Religious Tolerance

Akbar allowed different religions to practice and included Hindus in government, helping stabilize the Mughal Empire.

Aurangzeb’s Religious Policies

Aurangzeb favored Islam more strongly and reversed some of Akbar’s tolerant policies.

Religion and Legitimacy

Rulers often connected themselves to religion to justify their authority and unite their populations.

Religious Conflict

Religious differences could cause political conflict within and between states.

Missionaries

European empires spread Christianity to parts of the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

Mercantilism

Economic system in which governments controlled trade and colonies to increase national wealth.

Colonies

Overseas territories used to provide resources, markets, labor, and wealth to European states.

Joint-Stock Companies

Businesses funded by multiple investors who shared the risks and profits of overseas trade.

Dutch East India Company (VOC)

Powerful Dutch joint-stock company involved in Asian trade.

British East India Company

British company that expanded trade and influence in India and Asia.

Potosí

Major silver-mining center in Spanish-controlled South America.

Silver Trade

American silver became a major global commodity connecting the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

China and Silver

Strong Chinese demand for silver helped draw American silver into Asian markets.

Columbian Exchange

Transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and people between the Americas and the Eastern Hemisphere.

Cash Crops

Crops such as sugar and tobacco grown mainly for profit.

Plantation Economy

Large agricultural estates producing cash crops, often using forced labor.

Atlantic Slave Trade

Forced movement of millions of Africans to the Americas to provide labor for colonial economies.

Encomienda

Spanish system that allowed colonists to demand Indigenous labor or tribute.

Mita

Labor system adapted by the Spanish to force Indigenous workers into mining and other work.

Gunpowder + bureaucracy + religion → stronger centralized empires.

Connection highlighting the factors contributing to the strength of empires.

Religion → Politics

Rulers used religion to justify authority and strengthen their governments.

Religion → Conflict

Religious differences sometimes caused conflict, such as between the Sunni Ottomans and Shi’a Safavids.

Economy → Political Power

More trade and colonial wealth gave states money to strengthen governments and militaries.

Exploration → Economy

European exploration created new trade routes and overseas colonies.

Colonies → Forced Labor

European colonies relied on Indigenous labor and enslaved Africans to produce valuable goods.

Silver → Global Trade

Silver from the Americas connected European and Asian economies, especially China.

Technology → Political Expansion

Gunpowder helped land empires conquer territory, while navigation technology helped European maritime empires expand overseas.