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Empires To Know APW

Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526)

  • A series of Muslim dynasties ruled northern India.

  • Five major dynasties: Mamluk, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, and Lodi.

  • Synthesis of Indo-Islamic culture; iconic structures like the Qutub Minar.

  • Structured taxation, land revenue policies, and centralized administration.

  • Military campaigns influenced medieval India's political map.

  • Mughal Empire: Known for its cultural achievements and architecture, such as the Taj Mahal, it unified much of the Indian subcontinent under a centralized rule.

Aztecs (c. 1325 - 1521)

  • Established Tenochtitlan on an island in Lake Texcoco.

  • Strong militaristic culture with a tribute system.

  • Polytheistic religion with human sacrifice.

  • Detailed codices and an established education system.

  • Fell to the Spanish conquistadors in 1521.

Inca Empire (c. 1438 - 1533)

  • The largest empire in pre-Columbian America.

  • An extensive network of roads and bridges.

  • Cusco was the political, cultural, and spiritual center.

  • Sophisticated terrace farming and irrigation systems.

  • Quipu system for recording data.

  • Fell to the Spanish in the 1530s.

Mongol Empire (13th-14th centuries)

  • Largest contiguous land empire, founded by Genghis Khan.

  • Highly skilled horseback warriors.

  • Pax Mongolica promoted trade and cultural exchange.

  • Religious tolerance.

  • Fractured into khanates after Kublai Khan's death.

Ottoman Empire (1299 - 1922)

  • Founded by Osman I; peaked under Suleiman the Magnificent.

  • Captured Constantinople in 1453.

  • Janissaries were an elite corps of soldiers.

  • Blended Islamic and Byzantine influences.

  • Millet system allowed religious communities to govern themselves.

Safavid Empire (1501 - 1736)

  • Founded by Shah Ismail I; established Twelver Shia Islam.

  • Isfahan became a cultural hub under Shah Abbas I.

  • Clashed with Ottomans over territory and religion.

  • Crossroads of major trade routes.

  • Declined due to weak leadership and external pressures.

Mughal Empire (1526 - 1828)

  • Founded by Babur in 1526 after the Battle of Panipat.

  • Expanded under Akbar the Great, integrating much of India.

  • Akbar implemented religious tolerance with Din-i Ilahi.

  • Known for architecture like the Taj Mahal (Shah Jahan) and the Red Fort.

  • The Empire was weakened after Aurangzeb due to internal issues and the rise of the British East India Company, ending in 1857.

Qing Dynasty(1644-1912)

  • The last imperial dynasty of China was established by the Manchus.

  • Expanded territory to include Tibet, Xinjiang, and Mongolia.

  • Kangxi and Qianlong emperors supported Confucianism and infrastructure.

  • Controlled trade through the Canton System.

  • Collapsed after the 1911 Revolution due to internal uprisings (e.g., Taiping Rebellion) and external pressures (e.g., Opium Wars).

Maritime Empires

  • Rise of empires like Portugal, Spain, the Dutch Republic, England, and France.

  • Expanded through overseas exploration and colonization.

  • Established trade networks connecting Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

  • Innovations: caravel, astrolabe, and lateen sails facilitated exploration.

  • Colonization led to cultural, economic, and demographic impacts, including forced labor systems.

  • Maritime empires competed, leading to conflicts like the Anglo-Spanish War and the Anglo-Dutch Wars.