UNIT 3

Transoceanic Voyaging

The interconnection of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres through sea travel, transforming trade and impacting societies globally.

Gunpowder Empires

Land-based empires from 1500-1700s that expanded using gunpowder weapons, gaining power through militaristic methods.

Devshirme System

Ottoman practice of forced labor where Christian boys were taken to serve the government, mainly from the Balkans.

Mandate of Heaven

A method used by rulers to legitimize their power by claiming divine right to rule over their subjects.

Janissaries

Elite soldiers in the Ottoman Empire, formed through the Devshirme System, who were a core part of the standing army.

Zamindar System

Mughal Empire's method of tax collection using local landowners (zamindars) to consolidate power and collect revenue.

Bhakti and Sikhism

Religious movements in South Asia that emerged to bridge the gap between Muslims and Hindus, blending doctrines of both belief systems.