Major Empires to Knowt for AP World

Delhi Sultanate

A series of Muslim dynasties ruling northern India from 1206 to 1526, facilitating Indo-Islamic culture.

Rajputs

A prominent warrior class in medieval India, known for their chivalry and resistance against foreign invaders.

Vijayanagara Empire

A major Hindu kingdom in South India established in 1336, known for its capital Hampi and trade networks.

Khmer Empire

An empire known for building Angkor Wat, blending Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and controlling parts of Southeast Asia.

Aztecs

An empire that expanded through militaristic conquests, known for Tenochtitlan and polytheistic religion with human sacrifices.

Inca Empire

The largest pre-Columbian empire known for its extensive road network, terrace farming, and the use of quipu for record-keeping.

Majapahit Empire

A dominant maritime power in Southeast Asia, marking the Golden Age of Indonesian history with a blend of Hindu and Buddhist culture.

Mongol Empire

The largest contiguous land empire in history founded by Genghis Khan, known for its skilled cavalry and promoting trade along the Silk Road.

Ottoman Empire

A long-reigning empire known for military strength and cultural blending, capturing Constantinople in 1453.

Safavid Empire

An empire founded by Shah Ismail I, known for establishing Twelver Shia Islam as the state religion and cultural achievements.

Mughal Empire

An empire in India founded by Babur, renowned for architectural contributions like the Taj Mahal and policies of religious tolerance.

Qing Empire

The last imperial dynasty of China, expanding territory considerably and facing internal uprisings and external pressures leading to its decline.

Maritime Empires

Empires such as Portugal and Spain that expanded territories through overseas exploration and established vast global trade networks.

Chinampas

Floating gardens used by the Aztecs for agriculture in Tenochtitlan, showcasing their agricultural ingenuity.

Quipu

A system of knotted strings used by the Incas to record numerical data for administration, trade, and census.

Pax Mongolica

A period of stability under the Mongol Empire promoting trade and cultural exchange across the Silk Road.

Devshirme

A recruitment system used by the Ottomans to convert Christian boys into Janissaries, elite soldiers of the empire.

Süleymaniye Mosque

An architectural masterpiece of the Ottoman Empire, reflecting a blend of Islamic and Byzantine influences.

Naqsh-e Jahan Square

A renowned square in Isfahan, symbolic of Persian architecture and culture during the Safavid Empire.

Hinduism revival

Efforts by the Vijayanagara rulers to promote Hinduism during Islamic dominance in northern India.

Canton System

The Qing Dynasty’s trade policy that restricted foreign merchants to specific ports and conditions.