History of World Empires Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering the rise, administration, and decline of the Inca, Mali, Mongol, Ming, Aztec, Ottoman, Habsburg, and Tokugawa empires based on lecture notes.

According to the Inca origin myth, who was Manco Capac and where did he live?

Manco Capac, whose name means "The Son of the Sun," lived on a tiny island in the middle of Lake Titicaca around the year $1190$.

What was the sign given by Inti to Manco Capac to identify the site for their new home?

Inti gave Manco a large golden staff and told him to stick it into the ground every night; if the staff sank directly into the ground, he was to build a home there.

What name did Yupanqui take after rallying the Incas and defeating the Chancas?

He took the name Pachacuti, which means "he who remakes the world."

What were the provincial districts of the Inca Empire called, and what was the approximate size of the state?

The districts were known as Tahuantinsuyu, spanning an empire of approximately $20000$ square miles.

How large was the Inca army at its peak?

The Inca army consisted of approximately $200,000$ soldiers.

What were the primary trade resources that drove the wealth of states in the Sudan region of West Africa?

Gold and salt.

Who was the ruler of Mali encountered by Ibn Battuta in the Sudan between $1352$ and $1354$?

Mansa Suleiman, the younger brother of Mansa Musa.

Which state was known as the "Land of the Gold" and eventually fell due to attacks by Berbers?

Ghana.

In what battle did Moroccan soldiers defeat the Songhai Empire in the late $15th$ century?

The Battle of Tondibi.

What animals were known as the "Fleets of the desert" and allowed for extended trade across the Sahara starting around $100$ CE?

Camels.

What were the economic consequences of Mansa Musa's distribution of gold during his pilgrimage to Mecca ($1324-1326$)?

The value of gold dropped significantly, ruining the economy and causing massive inflation.

What was the result of a lack of primogeniture in the Mali Empire after Mansa Musa's death?

It led to constant civil war and a decline in the power of the ruling dynasty.

What was the birth name of Genghis Khan, and what does his title mean?

His birth name was Temujin; the title Genghis Khan means "Ruler of everything from Ocean to Ocean."

Which Mongol leader conquered Central China in $1234$ and died of alcoholism?

Ogedei, the third son and successor to Genghis Khan.

Who was the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and what was his original social background?

Chu Yuan-Chang (later Huang-wu), who was born into a poor family and served as a Buddhist monk before joining a criminal gang.

What was the purpose of the Chinese Tribute System under Emperor Yung-lo?

To force other rulers to acknowledge Yung-lo and China as the most powerful by bringing gold, spices, and goods to Beijing or facing military invasion.

Who led the seven great voyages of exploration for the Ming Dynasty to solidify China's hegemonic role?

Admiral Cheng Ho.

In the Aztec origin myth, what was the sign Huitzilopochtli told the people to look for to establish their empire?

An eagle sitting on a cactus eating a snake.

What were "chinampas" in the context of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan?

Floating gardens used to farm multiple crops in the lake surrounding the city.

At what age were Aztec men trained to begin fighting in the army?

Age $10$.

What was the symbolic meaning of the giant tree in Osman I's dream regarding the Ottoman Empire?

The tree covered the world, representing the future expansion and unification of the empire under Islam.

Who were the Janissaries in the Ottoman military?

An elite unit of soldiers seized at a young age who spent all their time training and fighting.

Which Ottoman Sultan fulfilled the vision of capturing Constantinople in $1453$?

Mehmet II.

In which $1526$ battle did the Ottoman guns and cannons defeat the Hungarian capital?

The Battle of Mohacs.

Which Habsburg ruler spent his reign fighting holy wars against Protestants and the Ottoman Turks?

Charles V (Charles $5^{th}$).

What percentage of Native Americans are estimated to have died from Old World diseases during the Spanish conquest?

$90\%$.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Lepanto?

A Christian "holy league" fleet destroyed the Ottoman/Muslim fleet in the Mediterranean.

Who was the first emperor of Japan, believed to be the grandson of the sun?

Jimmu.

Define the Bushido Code followed by the Samurai.

The "Way of the warrior," a strict code requiring samurais to never be captured, fight to the death, and commit suicide rather than surrender.

Which Japanese unifier used European firearms to conquer half of Japan before committing suicide when a general rebelled?

Oda Nobunaga.

Which daimyo won the civil war after Toyotomi Hideyoshi's death to establish a long-lasting shogunate and close Japan to the outside world?

Tokugawa Ieyasu.