Unit 3: Land-Based Empires

Legitimate / Legitimacy

Lawful; proper and acceptable; genuine

Transoceanic

Situated on the other side of the ocean; crossing the ocean

Armaments

The weapons and supplies of war with which a military unit is equipped

Gutenberg Printing Press

Used to spread ideas of the Reformation and the Renaissance; First document printed was the Bible; Led to the growth of literacy used movable type to print, increased literacy and helped spread the Reformation

Literacy

The ability to read and write

Pivitol

Extremely important; crucial; key

Descendants

People who come from a particular ancestor or group of ancestors

Horde

A large group or crowd, especially one on the move

Cossacks

Free groups and outlaw armies of peasants who fled the tzar and service nobility

Militia

A group of civilians trained to fight in emergencies

Shaman

A person who is believed to have the power to cure the sick and forecast and control the future

Encroach

(v.) to advance beyond the usual or proper limits, trespass

Unique

One of a kind

Presided

Be in the position of authority in a meeting or gathering

Siege

A military blockade or bombardment of an enemy town or position in order to force it to surrender

Ineffectual

Not bringing about the desired result, futile.

Quell

To subdue, put down forcibly, end

Impediment

(n.) a physical defect; a hindrance, obstacle

Nominally

Existing in name only

Corruption

Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery.

Innovation

An improvement of an existing technological product, system, or method of doing something.

External

Located outside

Austere

Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance

Pious

Devoutly religious

Revolt

A violent uprising against a ruler

Diplomacy

The profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country's representatives abroad.

Patron

Financial supporter of the arts

Protectorate

Country with its own government but under the control of an outside power

Calligraphy

The art of fine handwriting beautiful fonts

Annexation

The formal act of acquiring something (especially territory) by conquest or occupation

Dali Lama

Religious leader of Tibet

Nepalese

A native or inhabitant of Nepal

Treasury

A place where money is kept; amount of money on hand

Corrupt

An evil; dishonest; to break away from honesty trait or person

Suppressed

Held in check with difficulty, forcibly put an end to, subdued; kept from being circulated

Artillery

Large-caliber guns used in warfare on land.

Regime

(n.) A government in power; a form or system of rule or management; a period of rule

Tripple

To multiply by 3

Steppes

Treeless plains, especially the high, flat expanses of northern Eurasia, which usually have little rain and are covered with coarse grass. They are good lands for nomads and their herds. Good for breeding horses: essential to Mongol military.

Memoirs

A kind of writing that tells someone's memories

Ravaged

Violently destroyed; ruined

Clash

1. a short fight between two groups of people

2. an argument between two people or groups of people who have different beliefs and ideas

3. the difference that exists between two things that are opposed to each other

4. a loud noise made by two metal objects being hit together

Beseiged

To crowd around in order to ask for favors; to overwhelm; to enclose with armed forces

Bombardment

An attack by dropping bombs

Robust

Strong and healthy; vigorous

Occupation

Grouping of jobs that perform similar tasks

Dissolution

The breaking up into parts; termination of a legal bond or contract

Legitimacy

The hereditary right of a monarch to rule

Adherence

Faithful attachment, obedience to a rule

Hostility

The intentional use of unfriendly or offensive behavior

Trade embargoes

Politically motivated trade sanctions against foreign countries to signal displeasure.

Ban

Officially or legally prohibit, forbid

Permitted

To allow to do something, permitted

Disarray

(n.) Disorder, confusion. (v.) To throw into disorder.

(SYN: disorganization, dishevel, mess up)

(ANT: organization, order, tidiness)

Castes

Social groups into which people are born and which can rarely be changed

Achhot

Successor

A person who inherits a title or office

Harem Politics

An important source of political power for women in the ottoman empire

Incited

Encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behavior), instigating

Extirpate

To tear up by the roots; to destroy totally

Consensus

A general agreement among various groups on fundamental matters; broad agreement on public questions

Repentance

The action of seeking forgiveness ; sincere regret or remorse.

Sublime

Of excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe

Heretical

Contrary to church doctrine or accepted beliefs or standards

Abominal

Causing moral revulsion

Tyranny

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

Infidel

A person who does not believe in religion or who adheres to a religion other than one's own

Devshirme

The tribute of boy children that the Ottoman Turks levied from their Christian subjects in the Balkans; the Ottomans raised the boys for service in the civil administration or in the elite Janissary infantry corps.

Gentry

Wealthy landowning class , a general term for a class of prosperous families, sometimes including but often ranked below the rural aristocrats.

Cunning

Sly, clever at being deceitful

Wit

The quickness of intellect and the power and talent for saying brilliant things that surprise and delight by their unexpectedness; the power to comment subtly and pointedly on the foibles of the passing scene.

Realm

A kingdom; a region or field of study

Oath

A solemn promise; blasphemous use of sacred words to express strong feelings; swear-word; Ex. "For Christ's sake''

Monarch

A government ruled by a king or queen

Parliament

Britain's law-making assembly, a body of representatives that makes laws for a nation

Liberties

Political, social, and economic rights that belong to the citizens, rights and freedoms

Civil Liberties

Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens

Detained

Held or kept back; not allowed to proceed or go ahead.

Intendants

The official appointed by French king Louis XIV to govern the provinces, collect taxes, and recruit soldiers

Espoused

To adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life)

Versailles

A palace built by Louis XIV outside of Paris; it was home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, outside of Paris to glorify his rule and subdue the nobility.

Boyar

A landowning noble in Russia under the tsars

Expansionists

A person who favors expanding the territory or influence of a country

Oprichnina

The secret army/police created by Ivan IV that he used to kill anyone who got in his way

Autocratic

Having unlimited power

Streltsy

Professional troops who made up the Moscow Garrison. They were suppressed by Peter the Great

Disbanded

Forced to break up or dissolve

Integrated

To bring different ethnic groups or people together

Orthodoxy

The authorized or generally accepted theory, doctrine, or practice

Ecclesiastical

Having to do with the church or the clergy

Provinces

Administrative divisions of a country

Bribe

A payment made to a person in a position of trust to corrupt his judgment

Janissaries

Infantry, originally of slave origin, armed with firearms and constituting the elite of the Ottoman army from the fifteenth century until the corps was abolished in 1826.

Indoctrinated

To teach (a person or group) to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.

Disuse

A theory that memory traces weaken when memories are not periodically used or retrieved