Expansion of European, East Asian, and Gunpowder Empires (1450-1750)

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the expansion of empires during the period from 1450 to 1750.

Gunpowder Empires

Large, multiethnic states in Southwest, Central, and South Asia that relied on firearms to conquer and control territories.

Suleiman the Magnificent

Ruler of the Ottoman Empire at its height, known for leading military campaigns and declaring religious worship as the happiest of practices.

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty that ruled from 1368 to 1644, known for stabilizing the region and for the construction of the Great Wall.

Qing Dynasty

Dynasty established by the Manchu in 1644, which controlled China until 1911 and expanded the empire significantly.

Ismail (Safavid Empire)

Early military hero of the Safavid Empire who conquered most of Persia and declared himself shah in 1501.

Ottoman Empire

The largest and most enduring Islamic empire, founded in the 1300s, controlling significant parts of Europe, North Africa, and Asia.

Abbas the Great

Shah Abbas I, ruler of the Safavid Empire at its height, known for military conquests and cultural patronage.

Aurangzeb

Mughal Emperor whose policies of intolerance towards minority religions and costly military expansions led to the decline of the Mughal Empire.

Gutenberg printing press

Invented in the mid-15th century, it led to increased literacy and the spread of information in Europe.

The ghazi ideal

A model for warrior life that blended nomadic values with the willingness to serve as a holy fighter for Islam.