AP History Chapter 11

Here are definitions for the terms from Chapter 11: Empires in Collision:

• Taiping Uprising: A massive civil war in China from 1850 to 1864 led by Hong Xiuquan, aiming to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and establish the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom based on his interpretation of Christianity.

• Young Ottomans: A group of reformist intellectuals in the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century who advocated for modernization and constitutional governance in response to the empire's decline.

• Opium Wars: Conflicts between Britain and China (1839-1842 and 1856-1860) over the trade of opium, which Britain exported to China; resulted in China's defeat and the establishment of unequal treaties favoring Western powers.

• Sultan Abd al-Hamid II: The 34th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (reigned 1876-1909), known for introducing limited constitutional reforms and later for authoritarian rule.

• Commissioner Lin Zexu: A Chinese scholar and official in the Qing Dynasty recognized for his strong opposition to the opium trade and actions that led to the First Opium War.

• Young Turks: A revolutionary group in the early 20th century that sought to restore the constitutional monarchy in the Ottoman Empire and modernize the state along European lines.

• Unequal Treaties: A series of treaties between China and Western powers that favored the latter and undermined China's sovereignty, often signed under duress or as a result of military conflict.

• Informal Empires: Regions or territories where a more powerful country exerts influence or control without formal annexation, often through economic or political means.

• Self-Strengthening Movement: A late 19th-century movement in China aimed at modernizing the military and economy to resist foreign influence and strengthen the state, while maintaining Confucian values.

• Battle of Adowa: A decisive battle in 1896 where Ethiopian forces defeated the Italians, ensuring Ethiopian sovereignty and marking a significant moment in the struggle against colonialism in Africa.

• Boxer Uprising: An anti-foreign and anti-Christian uprising in China (1899-1901) by the "Boxers," aimed at expelling foreign influence and leading to international military intervention.

• Tokugawa Japan: The period in Japan (1603-1868) characterized by the shogunate's authoritarian rule, isolationist policies, and a focus on internal stability until the arrival of Western powers.

• Chinese Revolution of 1911-1912: The revolution that ended over two millennia of imperial rule in China, leading to the establishment of the Republic of China.

• Meiji Restoration: A period of rapid modernization and reform in Japan (1868-1912) following the restoration of the emperor's authority, transitioning from feudalism to a modern industrial state.

• "The Sick Man of Europe": A term used to describe the declining Ottoman Empire in the 19th and early 20th centuries, suggesting it was unable to compete with the growing power of European states.

• Russo-Japanese War: A conflict between Russia and Japan (1904-1905) over interests in Korea and Manchuria, resulting in Japan's victory, which marked a significant moment in Asian and world history as an Asian power defeated a European one.

• Tanzimat: A series of reforms within the Ottoman Empire (1839-1876) aimed at modernization, including changes in legal, educational, and administrative systems to centralize power and improve state efficiency.