Unit 3.1: Land-Based Empires Expand

These empires were land-based and expanding geographically.

Gunpowder empires

What was the main was cause of expansion in land-based empires?

Gunpowder weapons/military technology

How did the Dardanelles help the Ottoman empire consolidate power/expand?

It was a strategic location that helped them launch campaigns of expansion.

What was one notable way gunpowder weapons facilitated Ottoman expansion?

The Ottomans sieged Constantinople using advanced artillery and cannon fire, leading to the city's capture in 1453.

Who led the siege of Constantinople?

Mehmed II, also known as Mehmed the Conqueror, led the siege of Constantinople.

What was Constantinople?

The capital city of the Byzantine Empire, later renamed Istanbul after its conquest by the Ottoman Empire in 1453.

What did the shah (Ismail II) declare the Safavid Empire as?

A Shi’a Islamic state, establishing it as the center of Shia Islam.

What was the main conflict between Shi’a and Sunni?

The main conflict arose from a disagreement over the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad, with Sunnis supporting elected leadership and Shi’as advocating for leadership through Muhammad's family lineage.

Why is the conflict between Shi’a and Sunni significant?

It plays a crucial role in shaping political and religious dynamics in the Islamic world, particularly between the Safavid Empire, and the Ottoman and Mughal Empire.

What did Shah Abbas do for the Safavid Empire?

The Safavid military was expanded, adopted gunpowder weapons, and promoted territorial expansion accordingly.

Who was the ruler of the Mughal Empire, and what did the empire replace?

The ruler was Babur, and the Mughal Empire replaced the Delhi Sultanate.

How did Babur extend the geographic reach of his empire? (territory, essentially)

Babur extended the geographic reach of his empire through military conquests, utilizing advanced tactics (such as gunpowder weapons) and strategies to defeat regional rivals.

Who is Akbar?

The third Mughal emperor, known for his military successes and administrative reforms, he promoted cultural integration and religious tolerance.

What followed after the decline of Mongol rule in China? (Yuan Dynasty)

The Ming Dynasty emerged, marking a restoration of native Han Chinese rule and leading to significant cultural and economic achievements.

What did the Ming establish?

The Ming established peace and order through East Asia and expanded their borders through gunpowder technology and military campaigns, enhancing trade and cultural exchanges.

Why did the Ming Dynasty fracture?

The Ming Dynasty fractured due to internal strife, corruption, peasant rebellions, and external pressures from invading forces like the Manchus, which ultimately led to its collapse. This led to the Qing Dynasty.

Who established the Qing Dynasty?

The Manchus established the Qing Dynasty after the fall of the Ming Dynasty, unifying China under their rule and marking the last imperial dynasty.

How did the Qing Dynasty expand?

The Qing Dynasty expanded through military conquests, like the 40-year campaign of conquest to claim all the former Ming territories (including Taiwan and portions of Mongolia in Central Asia).

What primarily caused conflict between empires?

Conflicts between empires were primarily caused by competition for resources, territorial expansion, and differences in governance, culture, and religion.

What is an example of conflict between empires?

The Safavid-Mughal conflict (possible example) was a significant clash over territory and influence in the Indian subcontinent, often fueled by religious differences between Shi'a and Sunni Islam.

What was the Songhai-Moroccan conflict?

The Songhai-Moroccan conflict was a military confrontation in the late 16th century where Moroccan forces invaded the Songhai Empire, aiming to control trans-Saharan trade routes and access to gold, significantly weakening the empire.