Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (1450–1750) (copy)

Land-based empires

States that expanded and ruled primarily through control of contiguous territory rather than primarily through overseas colonies.

Conquest

The act of gaining control over a territory through military force.

Legitimacy

The belief that a ruler has the right to govern, often built through ideologies, religion, and political stability.

Gunpowder weapons

Military technologies including cannons and firearms that were crucial in the expansion of empires during the early modern period.

Devshirme

A system used by the Ottoman Empire to recruit soldiers and bureaucrats, involving the collection of young Christian boys for service.

Twelver Shi’a Islam

The form of Islam promoted by the Safavid Empire as a state identity, distinguishing it from Sunni neighbors.

Akbar

Mughal emperor known for promoting religious tolerance and administrative reform in a majority non-Muslim population.

Cavalry

A military force composed of troops mounted on horseback, significant in the military traditions of various empires.

Timars

Land grants given to Ottoman nobles to ensure their loyalty and administrative control over regions.

Zamindars

Landowners in the Mughal Empire who were empowered to collect taxes from local peasants.

Indirect rule

A governing system where local elites maintain some authority while being subject to the overarching control of the empire.

National Seclusion Policy

A policy in Tokugawa Japan that prohibited Japanese travel abroad and limited foreign contact.

Manchus

The ethnic group that founded the Qing Dynasty in China after conquering it from the Ming Dynasty.

Sundu Ali

The ruler of the Songhai Empire known for establishing a strong central administration and navy.

Queen Nzinga

The ruler who resisted Portuguese colonization in Angola for 40 years.

Printing press

An invention by Johannes Gutenberg that revolutionized the production of books, contributing to increased literacy and dissemination of ideas.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement in the 16th century that led to the fragmentation of the Catholic Church and the establishment of Protestant denominations.

Absolutism

A political system where the monarch holds absolute power, often exemplified by rulers like Louis XIV of France.

Renaissance

A cultural movement that emphasized the revival of classical learning and values, leading to advancements in art, literature, and humanism.

Council of Trent

A key council in the Catholic Church that addressed issues of corruption and reformed church practices.

Habeas Corpus Act

A legal statute that protects individuals from arbitrary arrest, significant in the development of constitutional law in England.

Mughal Empire

An empire in the Indian subcontinent known for its military prowess, administrative sophistication, and cultural achievements.

Ottoman Empire

A powerful Islamic empire that controlled vast territories across Europe, Asia, and Africa, known for its diversity and administrative flexibility.

Safavid Empire

An empire in Persia that established Twelver Shi’a Islam as a state identity, creating a distinct cultural and religious framework.

Maratha Resistance

A series of movements in India that opposed Mughal rule, marking the rise of regional power in the late 17th century.

Sioux Wars

Conflicts between the United States and various Native American tribes, exemplifying the struggle for land and sovereignty.

Legal pluralism

A situation in which multiple legal systems coexist within a single state, often reflecting the diversity of its population.

Cossack Revolts

Uprisings in Ukraine against the Russian Empire, reflecting resistance to imperial authority.

Glorious Revolution

The non-violent overthrow of King James II of England, leading to the constitutional monarchy under William and Mary.

Thirty Years’ War

A series of conflict in Central Europe that began as a struggle between Catholics and Protestants and greatly weakened the Holy Roman Empire.

Serfdom

A labor system in Russia where peasants were bound to the land and subject to their landlords' will.

Syncretism

The blending of different religious and cultural traditions, often seen in regions with diverse populations.

Revenue needs

The financial requirements of an empire to maintain its military, bureaucracy, and administrative functions.

Bureaucracy

An administrative system governing large entities, ensuring order and the enforcement of laws through specialized officials.

Cultural exchange

The process through which different cultures share and influence one another, often leading to syncretism.

Trade routes

Pathways that connect different regions for the purpose of commerce, integral for empire wealth and power.

Colonization

The process of establishing control over foreign territories for economic and political gain.

Civil war

A conflict between groups within the same country, often over political control, ideologies, or social structures.