Polities, Laws, codes

Sharia

A system of Islamic law derived from the Quran and Hadith, governing the moral and legal conduct of Muslims.

Jizya

A tax levied on non-Muslims in an Islamic state, allowing them to practice their religion and receive state protection.

Jannisaries

Elite infantry units in the Ottoman Empire, originally composed of slave soldiers who converted to Islam and were trained to serve the Sultan.

• turkish language

• first male of Balkan family as tribute

Devshirme System

The practice of forcibly recruiting boys from Christian families in the Balkans, converting them to Islam, and training them for service in the Ottoman Empire, particularly as Janissaries.

Bureaucracy

A system of government in which state officials, rather than elected representatives, make decisions and administer laws. It often involves a hierarchy of authority and complex procedures.

divine right of Kings

EUROPEAN

The doctrine that monarchs derive their authority directly from God, and are accountable only to Him. It suggests that questioning the king's rule is equivalent to questioning divine order.

Inca Sun Temples

were ceremonial structures built for the worship of the sun god, Inti. These temples played a key role in Inca religious life and were often decorated with gold and silver, symbolizing the sun's wealth.

• Gave Inca rulers divinity

Palace of Versailles

A royal residence near Paris, France, known for its opulence and as a symbol of absolute monarchy.

• Kept nobility near to King to prevent uprisings

Ottoman tax farming

A system where the government auctioned the right to collect taxes from a specific region to the highest bidder, allowing tax farmers to keep a portion of the revenue.

Mughal Zamindar

A land revenue collector or landowner in the Mughal Empire who was responsible for tax assessment and collection from peasants.

Aztec tribute lists

Documents that recorded the goods and services required from conquered peoples as tribute, essential for the economic system of the Aztec Empire.

Indentured servitude

A labor system where people worked for a fixed term, usually in exchange for passage to a new country, basic needs, or land after their servitude ended.

Serfdom

A system where peasants were bound to the land and served a landowner, often providing labor and dues in exchange for protection and the right to work the land.