Modern World History - Unit 1

Mongols, Ottomans, Savafid, Ming.

Where & When was the Mongol empire created?

Mongolia in 1206 (unification of the Mongol empire)

Ghengis Khan

Skilled charismatic leader, the “beginning of his conquest” started when he saved his first wife from being kidnapped.

What trade did the Mongols connect?

Central Asian steppe

What were the Mongols?

Warriors/Pastoral Nomads/Animal Husbandry

What weapons did the Mongols use?

Composite bows.

What method did the Mongols use when conquering?

Fear and spies.

Shamanistic

(Mongols) They worshipped the sky

Yam System

(Mongols) Relay system to send messages on horses. Allowed military orders / tax records.

Pax Mongolia

13th & 14th century. Interactions w/ diverse people, exchanging goods/ideas/food/culture.

What was the Black Death?

A pandemic started In the mid 1300’s believed to be carried on flees to camels across trade routes.

Misma Theory

Plague came from bad smell.

What religion did a lot of Catholic people turn too during the Plague?

Debauchery (yolo), Semi Monastic Orders (focusing on inner spirituality) and Self Punishment

What was the order of the Black plague?

1) Mass death + famine 2) Workers want money 3) Protests & No working 4) Gov wants them to work 5) Revolt 6) Collapse

What are the ways to prove legitimacy and control?

Insisted by god, Linked rule to past eras, Projected wealth to arts, Elevated power through conquest and allies.

Who were and were/when were the Ottomans?

First empire to bring back strength after black death, started in turkey and spans 3 continents.

Osman 1

(Ottomans) Brought integration of diverse groups, conquest and wealth/glory to all.

Meritocracy

(Ottomans) Gained status by merit, character and qualifications

Bureaucracy

(Ottomans and Savafids) System of gov divided among different offices

Grand Vizier

(Ottomans) 2nd most important person to the sultan

What city did the Ottomans take in 1453?

Constantinople/Istanbul, symbolic win, strategically located + withheld Muslim efforts.

Gunpowder Empire

(Ottomans + Savafids), built and sustained power by early gunpowder weaponry

Sultan

(Ottomans) Caliph (Leader of Sunni branch of Islam) + Shadow of god, constructed mosques/Islamic schools

Tools of empire building

1 - Religious foundation, 2 - Military strength 3 - Administry

Sultan Suleiman

Brought ottomans to great power, largest under his reign, focused on arts and poetry.

Ottoman Coffeehouses

Social hub

Topkapi Palace

(Ottomans) Where sultan resides, gov building, mosques, future bureaucrat training, day to day training

Milet System

(Ottomans) Jewish and Christian autonomy, loyal to the sultan

Jizya

(Ottomans) Tax levied on people of the book

Devshirmes

(Ottomans) Conscription of non-muslin youth to become janniasaries which someones rebel to overthrown the sultan.

Where/when was the Savafid empire founded?

Founded 1501 in Persia (modern day Iran).

Qizilbash

(Savafids), Military aristocrats

Shi’a/Shi’te Islam

(Savafids), Direct decedents of the prophet, wanted to be different from ottomans

Battle of Chaldiran (1514)

(Savafids), Saw the ottomans defeat the Safavids

Shah Abbas

(Savafids), stabilizes empire, reduces power of qizilbash + tribal elites.

Ghulams

(Savafids) Christian captives/converts under Savafid rule trained to be loyal to the shah

Ifashan Maydan

(Savafids), one of the largest open air squares

What showed the Savafids legitimacy?

Masjid-I Shah (mosque) & Ali Qapu palace

How did they use religion in the Savafid empire?

They used it as control/not religiously tolerant.

What were the key industries of the Savafid empire?

1) Silk 2) Carpet 3) Porcelain

What were Savafid economic relation with the Europeans?

Started off good, but then European merchants took control over Iranian trade

Fall of Savafids

Abbas left no clear successors, 2 front wars, damaged economy, last shah fell in 1726

Where and when was the Ming Dynasty?

1368 in China

Hongwu Emperor

(Ming), Led Red Turban Movement (peasant rebellion), Anti Mongol, Han Chinese (Imp. because seen as restoring culture), Agriculture + Trade

What was the Ming Dynasty state philosophy?

Neo-Confucianisim

Mandate of Heaven

Rulers right to govern is granted by heaven. But, can send signs if not liking the leader (rebellions, natural disasters, etc)

Civil Examination

(Ming) s.o to work for government, prove they follow and understand Neo Confucianism.

Yongle

(Ming), Hongwu Emperors son. Changed capital to Beijing to say to mongols they weren’t afraid, Build exclusive imperial palace compound/forbidden city to show legitimacy and wealth.

Culture Revival

(Ming Dynasty), Architecture, ceramics/porcelain, global demand for Chinese products. China wanted silver.

Tribute System

(Ming) Country send ambassadors with gift, in return ming would give them something better. Ambassadors have to Kowtow in front of the emperor to show submission.

Zheng He

(Ming) 7 expeditions in 28 years often with up to 30,000 people and 250 boats. Did it for the love of game/ To show off and prove legitmacy

What term was the Ming Dynasty?

Isolationist: Didn’t enchange with others.

The fall of the Ming empire

Gov corruption, bankrupt/increased taxes natural disasters. Beijing fell to invaders in 1644.