AP World Chapter 22 Vocab

Ottoman Empire

A dynasty established beginning in the 13th century by Turkic peoples from Central Asia. Though most of their empire's early territory was in Asia Minor, the Ottomans eventually captured Constantinople and made it the capital of an empire that spanned three continents and lasted over 600 years.

Safavid Dynasty/Empire

Originally a Turkic nomadic group; family originated in Sufi mystic group; espoused Shi'ism; conquered territory and established kingdom in region equivalent to modern Iran; lasted until 1722.

Mughal Empire

Established by Babur in India in 1526; the name is taken from the supposed Mongol descent of Babur, but there is little indication of any Mongol influence in the dynasty; became weak after rule of Aurangzeb in first decades of 18th century.

Mehmed II

(1432-1481) Ottoman sultan called the "Conqueror"; responsible for conquest of Constantinople in 1453; destroyed what remained of Byzantine empire.

Janissaries

Ottoman infantry divisions that dominated Ottoman armies; forcibly conscripted as boys in conquered areas of Balkans, legally slaves; translated military service into political influence, particularly after 15th century.

Vizier

Ottoman equivalent of the Abbasid wazir; head of the Ottoman bureaucracy; after 5th century often more powerful than sultan.

Sail al-Din

Early 14th-century Sufi mystic; began campaign to purify Islam; first member of Safavid dynasty.

Red Heads

Name given to Safavid followers because of their distinctive red headgear.

Ismâil

(1487-1524) Sufi commander who conquered city of Tabriz in 1501; first Safavid to be proclaimed shah or emperor.

Chaldiran

Site of battle between the Safavids and Ottomans in 1514; Safavids severely defeated by Ottomans; checked Western advance of Safavid Empire

Abbas the Great

Safavid ruler from 1587 to 1629; extended Safavid domain to greatest extent; created slave regiments based on captured Russians, who monopolized firearms within Safavid armies; incorporated Western military technology.

imams

According to Shi'ism, rulers who could trace descent from the successors of Ali.

mullahs

Local mosque officials and prayer leaders within the Safavid empire; agents of Safavid religious campaign to convert all of population to Shi'ism.

Isfahan

(1592-1629) Safavid capital under Abbas the Great; planned city laid out according to shah's plan; example of Safavid architecture.

Nadir Khan Afshar

Soldier-adventurer following fall of Safavid dynasty in 1722; proclaimed himself shah in 1736; established short-lived dynasty in reduced kingdom.

Babur

Founder of Mughal dynasty in India; descended from Turkic warriors; first led invasion of India in 1526; died in 1530.

Humayan

Son and successor of Babur; expelled from India in 1540, but restored Mughal rule by 1556; died shortly thereafter.

Akbar

(1542-1605) Son and successor of Humayan; oversaw building of military and administrative systems that became typical of Mughal rule in India; pursued policy of cooperation with Hindu princes; attempted to create new religion to bind Muslim and Hindu populations of India.

Din-i-Ilahi

Religion initiated by Akbar in Mughal India; blended elements of the many faiths of the subcontinent; key to efforts to reconcile Hindus and Muslims in India, but failed.

Sati

The practice followed by small minorities, usually upper caste, of Indians of burning widows on the funeral pyres of their deceased husbands.

purdah

The seclusion of Indian women in their homes.

Aurangzeb

Mughal emperor who succeeded Shah Jajan; known for his religious zealotry.

Nur Jahan

Wife of Jahangir; amassed power in court and created faction of male relatives who domi-nated Mughal empire during later years of Jahangir's reign.

Mumtaz Mahal

(1593-1631) Wife of Shah Jahan; took an active political role in Mughal court; entombed in Taj Mahal.

Sikhs

Sect in northwest India; early leaders tried to bridge differences between Hindu and Mus-lim, but Mughal persecution led to anti-Muslim feeling.