AP Modern World History Unit 3 1450-1750

This set of flashcards covers key terms and definitions related to Unit 3 of AP Modern World History, focusing on events and concepts from 1450 to 1750.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the creation of Protestant churches.

Indulgences

Selling of forgiveness by the Catholic Church, a common practice when the church needed to raise money, leading to the Reformation.

Martin Luther

A German monk who became one of the most famous critics of the Roman Catholic Church; wrote 95 theses in 1517 attacking church practices.

Ottoman Empire

An Islamic state founded in northwestern Anatolia, based at Istanbul from 1453-1922, known for using the devshirme system and ruling with religious tolerance.

Mughal Empire

A Muslim state that expanded over most of India in the 16th and 17th centuries, known for religious tolerance especially under Akbar.

Suleiman the Magnificent

The most illustrious sultan of the Ottoman Empire (r. 1520-1566); known for significant expansion of the empire.

Akbar the Great

Grandson of Babur, known for religious tolerance and the creation of a strong central government.

Gunpowder Empires

Empires like the Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals, that employed cannons and gunpowder to enhance their military capabilities.

Qing Dynasty

(1644-1911) The last imperial dynasty in China, ruled by the Manchu, known for substantial population and economic growth.

Safavid Empire

Turkish-ruled Iranian kingdom (1502-1722) established by Ismail Safavi, declaring Iran a Shi'ite state.

Bureaucracy

A large, complex governmental organization composed of appointed officials.

Tax farming

The practice of using private collectors to collect taxes for the government, allowing them to keep profit over a fixed amount.

Devshirme System

The practice by which the Ottoman Empire conscripted boys from Christian families to become Janissary soldiers or bureaucrats.

Divine Right of Kings

The doctrine that the right to rule comes from God and not people's consent.

Taj Mahal

A mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, completed in 1649.

Hagia Sophia

Originally a cathedral in Constantinople, it became a mosque after the Ottoman conquest, serving as an example of monumental architecture.

Zamindars

Local lords in the Mughal empire who collected taxes or tribute for the emperor.

Ottoman-Safavid Conflict

A century-long conflict (1534-1639) between Sunni Ottomans and Shiite Safavids.

Sikhism

A monotheistic religion founded in the 16th century in northern India, with some similarities to both Hinduism and Islam.

Mandate of Heaven

A political theory in ancient China that granted rulers the right to govern from a divine source.

Janissaries

Elite infantry of the Ottoman army originally of slave origin and armed with firearms.

Counter Reformation

The reaction of the Roman Catholic Church to the Reformation affirming important Church doctrine.

Jesuits

Members of the Society of Jesus, founded to resist the spread of Protestantism through education and missionary work.

Sunni Islam

The larger branch of Islam believing the community should select its own leadership.

Shi'ite Islam

One of the two main branches; recognizes Ali and his descendants as rightful leaders.

Canton System

A trading system under the Qing Dynasty that restricted western trade to the port of Canton.

Confucian Exam System

A written exam used to select high-ranking government officials in China.

Gutenberg Printing Press

A device that used movable type to print, increasing literacy and helping spread the Protestant Reformation.

Aurangzeb

Mughal ruler who expanded the empire but reinstated the Jizya tax and had a strict Muslim approach.

Manchus

Northeast Asian people who founded the Qing Dynasty, the last of China's imperial dynasties.

Mansabdars

Elite bureaucrats in the Mughal empire responsible for furnishing soldiers and collecting taxes.

Spanish Inquisition

A program initiated by the Spanish monarchy to investigate and eliminate heresy.

Tributary system

A system where neighboring states acknowledged the superiority of the Chinese emperors.

Qianlong Emperor

Emperor of the Qing Dynasty noted for his long reign during China's 'Golden Age'.

McCartney Mission

An unsuccessful attempt by the British to establish diplomatic relations with the Qing Empire.

Kangxi Emperor

Ruled the Qing Dynasty for 61 years, establishing a period of stability and prosperity.

Chinese Rites Controversy

Dispute over Jesuit missionaries permitting traditional customs in Chinese Catholicism.

Babur

Established the Mughal Empire in India.

British East India Company

Set up trading posts in India in the 1600s, beginning British economic interests there.

Sharia

Islamic law.

Millets

Communities of religious minorities in the Ottoman Empire that governed their own affairs.

Jizya

A tax that non-Muslims had to pay when living within a Muslim empire.

Red Fort

A monumental architecture in Delhi built by Emperor Shah Jahan, serving as the main residence of Mughal emperors.