3.2

Empires: Administrations

Introduction

• Essential Question: How did rulers in land-based empires legitimize and consolidate their power from 1450 to 1750?
• The centralization of power involved controlling taxes, the army, and aspects of religion, leading to
  • A powerful monarch in England
  • Absolute monarchy in France
• Different strategies included:
  • Building temples (Inca)
  • Paying military elites (samurai in Japan)
  • Establishing a captive governmental bureaucracy (Ottoman devshirme system)

Centralizing Control in Europe

• King James I of England (1566-1625)
  • Believed in the divine right of kings, positing that monarchs were God's representatives on earth.
  • This belief led him to view any challenge as a challenge to God.

England's Gentry Officials

• Tudors (1485-1603) utilized justices of the peace, selected by the landed gentry, to maintain public order.
• Their commission included ensuring equal justice for the poor and the rich.
• Responsibilities increased, making them a powerful group.
• Feudal lords’ influence waned as more justices occupied the House of Commons in Parliament.
• Parliament established in 1265, legitimizing the authority of the monarch.
• English Bill of Rights (1689) signed by William and Mary:
  • Ensured civil liberties, including legal processes before arrest.
  • Required parliamentary agreement for tax and military decisions, protecting against tyranny.

Absolutism in France

• France adopted a more absolute governmental structure, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries.
• Henry IV (1589-1610) and Louis XIII (1610-1643) advocated for divine right monarchy.
• Cardinal Richelieu expanded centralization through the intendants, royal officials in provinces to execute central orders.
  • Intendants collected taxes and supported royal governance.
• Louis XIV (1643-1715), the Sun King, epitomized absolute monarchy.
  • Proclaimed, "L'état, c'est moi."
  • Unified lawmaking and the judiciary in his governance.
  • Cultivated relationships with nobles at Versailles to prevent rebellion.

Comparison: Kangxi and Louis XIV

Control in the Russian Empire

• Social Hierarchy: Static structure with boyars (nobles) at the top, merchants in the middle, and peasants at the bottom.
• Ivan IV's Reign:
  • Clashed with boyars, especially Novgorod, and punished opponents by confining them to Moscow.
  • Created the oprichnina, a paramilitary group loyal to him, drawn from lower bureaucrats to mitigate boyar power.

Peter the Great (1682-1725)

• Peter dealt with conflicting desires from the Church, boyars, and his royal family.
• Defeated half-sister Sophia for control, consolidating power and integrating the rebellious Streltsy into the army.
• Actively participated in Church affairs but eventually clashed with clergy over reforms.
• Reorganized government into provinces with salaried officials to reduce corruption.

Centralizing Control in the Ottoman Empire

• The devshirme system recruited Christian boys from conquered lands for military and governmental roles.
  • Ages 8 to 20 were forcibly taken from their families and trained for loyalty to the sultan.
• Janissaries: Elite military force that emerged from the devshirme system; offered upward mobility despite being referred to as "slaves of the state."

China

• Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) aimed to eradicate Mongol influence by reestablishing civil service exams and bureaucracy.
• Qing Dynasty's later corruption led to high taxes and military oppression to quell public rebellion against the corrupt bureaucracy.

Consolidating Power in Japan

• Shogun Rule (12th-15th century) was challenged by internal conflict among daimyo.
• Oda Nobunaga unified Kyoto, utilizing Portuguese firearms.
• Toyotomi Hideyoshi continued expansion until the majority of Japan was under his control.
• After his death, Tokugawa Ieyasu centralized control in Edo (Tokyo) and became shogun in 1603.
  • Created a structure enforcing daimyo to maintain homes in both territories and Edo, reducing their autonomy.

Consolidating Mughal Power in South Asia

• Akbar (1556-1605) increased empire through military conquest and established an efficient, fair government.
• Zamindar system: Officials taxed and managed land, although later misuse by successors weakened the empire.

Legitimizing Power through Religion and Art

• European monarchs used the divine right of kings and monumental structures like Versailles.
• Peter and St. Petersburg: Established the city as a showcase of power and oversight of boyars.
  • Forced construction involved peasants and POWs to build the new capital.
• Askia the Great made Islam the official religion in Songhai, promoting it for unity and legitimacy.
• Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal to solidify his legacy through architecture.

Contributions of the Ottoman Empire

• Constructed significant architectural feats such as the Suleymaniye Mosque and preserved cultural traditions.
  • Istanbul remained a cultural and economic hub under Ottoman rule
• Versailles served as a tool for political control, drawing nobles to the court to limit their power elsewhere.

Financing Empires

• Funding empires varied by region, and taxation played a significant role in imperial success.
• Russia: New state industries introduced; however, Peter raised taxes leading to increased serf oppression.
• Ottoman and Mughal Taxation: Employed tax farming, with local officials collecting taxes leading to corruption and economic strain.
• Ming Dynasty’s Tax Collection: Relied on wealthy families; despite low rates, extravagant spending and wars led to bankruptcy.

Tribute Systems

• Tributes collected to assert dominance and recognition; examples include Korea as a tribute state to China, and similarly, the Songhai empire under Askia.

Key Terms by Theme

• Government: Europe
  • Divine right of kings
• Government: Ottoman Empire
  • Tax farmers, devshirme
• Economy: France
  • Tax farmers
• Government: England
  • Janissaries, justices of the peace, English Bill of Rights
• Government: France
  • Absolute, Cardinal Richelieu, intendants, Louis XIV
• Government: Russia
  • Ivan IV, Romanov Dynasty, Peter I
• Government: Japan
  • Daimyo, Edo, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Period of Great Peace, Tokugawa shogunate
• Government: Songhai
  • Askia the Great
• Government: Mughal Empire
  • Akbar, Delhi
• Economy: Ottoman Empire
  • Tax farming
• Economy: China
  • Tributes
• Economy: Mughal Empire
  • Zamindars
• Culture: Mughal Empire
  • Taj Mahal
• Culture: France
  • Versailles
• Society: Russia
  • Boyars, Shah Jahan, serfdom

Conclusion

• The period between 1450 and 1750 saw various methods employed by diverse empires to consolidate and legitimize power through structure, culture, and military innovations, heavily rooted in administrative practices and societal changes across regions.