World History Unit 4 Vocab - Colin Cao

A set of 76 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Islamic empires and East Asia.

Ottoman Empire

A major Sunni Muslim empire centered in Anatolia and the Balkans (c. 1299–1922) known for sultanate rule, janissaries, devshirme, and a vast bureaucracy.

Safavid Dynasty

Persian dynasty (1501–1736) establishing Twelver Shi'ism as state religion; capital Isfahan.

Mughal Empire

Islamic empire in the Indian subcontinent (c. 1526–1857).

Suleiman Mosque

Mosque emblematic of Ottoman architecture.

Coffeehouses

Social hubs where people gathered to drink coffee, share news, and discuss politics and culture.

Tariff

Tax on imported or exported goods used to regulate trade and raise revenue.

Tribute

Payment or acknowledgement from one state to another as a sign of submission or mutual recognition.

Ulama

Islamic scholars who interpret religious law and advise rulers.

Umma

The global community of Muslims.

Sharia Law

Islamic legal system derived from the Qur'an and Hadith governing personal and communal conduct.

Harem

The secluded women's quarters or private domain within a Muslim household or palace.

Miniature paintings

Small, detailed court paintings used to illustrate manuscripts and books.

Shah Abbas I

Safavid ruler who centralized power and strengthened Isfahan as a cultural hub.

Ismail

Founder of the Safavid Dynasty; promoted Shi'a Islam in Iran.

Sulh-i Kul

Policy of universal peace and religious tolerance associated with Mughal rule (Akbar era).

Khalsa

The collective body of initiated Sikhs founded by Guru Gobind Singh.

Qezilbash

Turkmen military groups that supported early Safavid rulers.

Isfahan

Capital city of Safavid Iran, renowned for its architecture and urban design.

Babur

Founder of the Mughal Empire; Central Asian origin who invaded India.

Shah Akbar

Akbar the Great; Mughal emperor who consolidated the empire and promoted tolerance.

Zamindars

Landholders in Mughal India who collected taxes on land.

Mansabdars

Mughal officers with assigned ranks in the imperial military and administration.

Devshirme

Ottoman system of recruiting Christian boys for military and administrative service (Janissaries).

Shah Jahan

Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal.

Shah Aurangzeb

Mughal emperor who expanded territory but enforced stricter religious orthodoxy.

Janissaries

Elite infantry of the Ottoman Empire recruited via the devshirme system.

Istanbul

Major city and former capital of the Ottoman Empire (formerly Byzantium).

Purdah

Practice of female seclusion and modesty in some Muslim societies.

Mumtaz Mahal

Wife of Shah Jahan; her death inspired the Taj Mahal.

Sunni

Largest branch of Islam emphasizing community consensus and elected caliphs.

Millet System

Ottoman administrative framework organizing subjects by religious communities.

Sikhism

Monotheistic faith founded in Punjab by Guru Nanak; emphasizes service and devotion.

Guru Nanak

Founder of Sikhism; taught devotion to God and social equality.

Taj Mahal

Mausoleum in Agra.

Gunpowder empires

Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires built on gunpowder weapons and artillery.

Sultan

Ruler or king in the Ottoman Empire and other Islamic states.

Shi'a

Branch of Islam that believes leadership should come from the Prophet's line; prominent in Safavid Persia.

Mehmed II

Ottoman sultan who captured Constantinople in 1453.

Rupee

Currency used in the Mughal Empire and in the Indian subcontinent.

Suleiman I

Suleiman the Magnificent; renowned Ottoman sultan known for legal reforms and expansion.

Topkapi Palace

Ottoman imperial residence in Istanbul.

Viziers

Senior government ministers who advised the sultan or emperor.

Shah

Persian title for a king used in Safavid, Mughal, and related contexts.

Tax farming

System where the right to collect taxes is leased to private individuals or groups.

Askia of Songhai

Askia Muhammad I; ruler who expanded Songhai and promoted Islam.

Delhi

Capital of the Mughal Empire; administrative and cultural center.

Twelver Shi'ism

Largest branch of Shia Islam; belief in twelve Imams.

Imams

Spiritual leaders in Shia Islam who succeed Prophet Muhammad as leaders.

Madrasas

Religious schools for training Muslim scholars and jurists.

Piracy

Sea robbery; maritime piracy affected trade routes and coastal states.

Bureaucracy

Administrative system of government staffed by trained officials.

Centralized Power

Concentration of authority in the central government rather than local authorities.

Hongwu

Founder of the Ming Dynasty who led the rebellion against Mongol rule.

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty (1368–1644) that restored Han Chinese rule.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Japanese unifier who centralized power in the late Sengoku period.

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate; established long period of peace.

Edo

Former name of Tokyo; capital during the Tokugawa regime.

Tokugawa Shogunate

Feudal regime in Japan (1603–1868) led by the Tokugawa family.

Daimyo

Powerful Japanese feudal lords who ruled domains.

Qing Dynasty

Manchu-led Chinese dynasty (1644–1912) succeeding the Ming.

Nanjing

Important capital in Ming and early Qing, cultural and political center.

Forbidden City

Beijing imperial palace complex built for Ming and Qing emperors.

Journey to the West

Classic Chinese novel about the monk Xuanzang and the Monkey King.

Zheng He

Ming dynasty admiral who led treasure voyages across the Indian Ocean.

White Lotus Rebellion

1796–1804 uprising against Qing rule in China.

Red Turban Movement

14th-century peasant uprising that helped establish the Ming Dynasty.

Cartography

The science and practice of map-making.

Manchus

Ethnic group that founded the Qing Dynasty in China.

57 Ronin

Group of masterless samurai famed in Japanese folklore for loyalty.

Tribute System

China-centered diplomatic and trade system with neighboring states.

Emperor Qianlong

Qing emperor who presided over a vast, prosperous empire.

Yongle

Ming emperor who moved the capital to Beijing and sponsored Zheng He voyages.

Kangxi

Qing emperor who stabilized and expanded China’s borders.

Canton System

Qing policy restricting foreign trade to Guangzhou and regulating it.

Queue

Manchu mandated hairstyle for men during Qing rule.

Period of Great Peace

Pax Tokugawa; era of relative peace and stability in Japan under the Tokugawa.