AP Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (1450-1750)

Vocabulary terms covering the expansion, administration, and belief systems of major land-based empires between 1450 and 1750.

Land based empire

An empire whose power comes from the extent of its territorial holdings.

Ottoman Empire

An Islamic empire that spread quickly through southwestern Europe and Eastern Europe due to the adoption of gunpowder weapons.

1453

The year the Ottomans conquered Constantinople and renamed it Istanbul.

Janissaries

An elite fighting force of the Ottoman Empire composed of enslaved Christians who were converted to Islam.

Safavid Empire

A Middle Eastern empire founded in the 16th century that expanded rapidly through gunpowder and was characterized by Shi'a Islam.

Shah Ismail

The founder of the Safavid Empire who raided and conquered neighboring territories.

Shah Abbas

A Safavid ruler who built the military using gunpowder weapons and established an enslaved army of Christians from the Caucasus region.

Sunni Muslim

The branch of Islam followed by the Ottoman Empire; they believe anyone spiritually fit for the office can lead.

Shi'a Muslim

The branch of Islam followed by the Safavid Empire; they believe only blood relatives of Muhammad should lead.

Mughal Empire

An empire in South and Central Asia established in the first half of the 16th century.

Babur

The leader who founded the Mughal Empire in 1526 by leading campaigns against the Delhi sultanate.

Akbar

The grandson of Babur who was tolerant of all belief systems, making the Mughal Empire the most prosperous of the 16th century.

Qing Dynasty

A dynasty established in the first half of the 17th century by the Manu people after the Ming dynasty weakened.

Legitimized

Methods a ruler uses to establish their authority over their subjects.

Consolidated

Methods a ruler uses to transfer power from other groups to themselves.

Bureaucracy

Thousands of government officials who ensure laws are kept throughout an empire to maintain control.

Devshrime system

An Ottoman system used to staff the bureaucracy with highly trained individuals, specifically Christians who converted to Islam.

Divine right of Kings

The idea used by European monarchs to legitimize power by claiming they were God's representatives on Earth.

Emperor Kangxi

A Qing ruler who used imperial portraits to project Confucian wisdom and convince the Han population of his legitimacy.

Palace of Versailles

Monumental architecture used by Louis the 14th to consolidate power and signify who was in charge.

Zamimdar system

A Mughal innovation where elite landowners were granted authority to tax peasants on behalf of the imperial government.

Tax farming

An Ottoman system where the right to tax subjects was awarded to the highest bidder.

Tribute Lists

A system used by Aztec rulers requiring conquered peoples to send specific items as a form of tax.

Simony

A form of church corruption involving people buying their way into positions of power.

Sale of Indulgences

The practice of people paying money to the church to have their sins forgiven.

Martin Luther

A Catholic Monk who in 1517 wrote the 95 Theses to protest church corruption.

Protestant Reformation

A movement to clean up church corruption that led to the growth of Christianity and new branches of the faith.

Sikhism

A syncretic belief system that is a blend of Hindu and Islamic doctrines.