Introduction to Land and Sea-Based Empires
Overview of Land-Based vs. Sea-Based Empires (up to 1750)
Emphasis on Gunpowder Empires
Key military technology that fueled expansions.
Originated from China, spread through trade networks such as the Silk Road.
Major Gunpowder Empires
Ming Dynasty
Key period in China that utilized gunpowder technology.
Remember the Qing Dynasty emerged from the fall of the Ming.
Significant westward and northward expansion.
Ottoman Empire
Centered in modern-day Turkey.
An amalgamation of Turkic peoples.
Engages in continuous conflicts with the Safavid Empire.
Safavid Empire
Located in modern-day Iran.
Notable as the only Shia empire, emphasizing the division between Sunni and Shia Islam.
Involved in frequent conflicts with both Mughals and Ottomans, despite both empires being Muslim.
Mughal Empire
Predominantly located in India, ruled by a Muslim aristocracy over a majority Hindu population.
Included smaller religious groups such as Buddhists and Sikhs.
Highlights centralization of power, moving away from feudalistic tendencies.
Expansion Factors
Motivated largely by monetary gain and land acquisition.
Religious and ethnic strife also played significant roles, such as the Sunni-Shia conflict.
Centralization of Power
Transition from feudalism to autocratic rule—
Rulers taking power from nobles (example: Louis XIV in France).
Recruitment of specific elites (e.g., Janissaries in the Ottoman Empire through the Devshirme system; Cossack troops in Russia).
Peter the Great’s strategies to diminish the boyars' influence in Russia, including forced shaving of beards as a display of power.
Monumental Architecture and Art
Used as a means to legitimize power and showcase state wealth.
Examples include:
The Forbidden City in China
Versailles in France, emphasizing lavishness to demonstrate authority.
The Red Fort in the Mughal Empire, showcasing grandeur.
New Administrative Systems
Various techniques to improve governance and taxation:
Zanibar tax system in the Mughal Empire promoting religious toleration.
Millet system in the Ottoman Empire, allowing different ethnic groups self-regulation in taxation.
Table of Ranks in Russia, requiring proof of merit for government positions and creating a more educated bureaucratic class.
Changing Belief Systems
Religious tensions arise:
Attacks on Sikhs in the Mughal Empire post-Akbar.
Ongoing Sunni-Shia conflicts, particularly among Safavids and Ottomans.
Protestant Reformation in Europe led by Martin Luther, emphasizing disputes with Catholic practices and the beginning of religious wars in Europe.
Trends Highlighted
Growth of empires facilitated by gunpowder.
Centralization of state power; a shift toward modern governance.
Conflicts arising from expansion, religion, and ethnic tensions.
Emphasis on legitimization of power through monumental art and architecture, education reform, and economic strategies, including taxation adjustments