APWH Unit 3 Notes on Land-Based Empires

Europe
- Rise of monarchies post-Medieval Period, characterized by increased literacy due to the invention of the Gutenberg Printing Press.
- Emergence of new centralized monarchies in the 1500s, controlling taxes, armies, and religion.
- Key Monarchs:
  - England: The Tudors
  - France: The Valois
  - Spain: Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand
- Utilization of wealth to fund overseas explorations and establish colonies.

Growing bureaucracies and the empowered middle class.
Decline of power for lords and churches.
Example: England under the Tudors
- Religion: Divine right of kings.
- Bureaucracy: Justices of the peace, Parliament, and the English Bill of Rights.
France under Louis XIV (The Sun King)
- Religion: Divine right of the monarchy articulated.
- Centralization under Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu, with intendants collecting taxes.
- Absolute power under Louis XIV (combined lawmaking and justice).
- Architectural endeavors like the Palace of Versailles to control and intimidate nobles.

Protestant Reformation
- Movement to reform the Catholic Church due to observed corruption, such as indulgences.
- Key Figures:
- Martin Luther: Proposed 95 Theses.
- John Calvin: Introduced Calvinism focusing on simplicity and a strong work ethic, leading to various groups (e.g., Huguenots and Puritans).
- King Henry VIII: Established the Church of England after Pope's refusal for divorce.
Counter Reformation
- Catholic Church's response includes:
- The Inquisition to punish nonbelievers.
- Creation of the Jesuits for missionary action.
- The Council of Trent corrected corrupt practices but resisted Protestant ideas.

Shift towards reason over blind faith, introducing empiricism (
- Key figures include Francis Bacon and Sir Isaac Newton (gravitational theory).

Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible)
- Expanded Russian territory eastward, gaining control over the Volga River to enhance trade.
- Utilized gunpowder and groups called Cossacks (warrior-peasants).
Post-Ivan IV Expansion
- Continued efforts under subsequent tsars to move into Siberia, with the use of militias and fur traders.
Romanovs under Peter the Great
- Centralized governance and westernization efforts faced resistance.
- Architectural endeavors moved the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
Orthodox Church
- Became instrumental in unifying Russian people; Peter the Great integrated the Church into government structure.

China
- The Ming Dynasty overthrew the Mongol Yuan, restoring territory and the Great Wall.
- Under the Qing Dynasty
- Emperor Kangxi expanded into Taiwan and Central Asia.
- Emperor Qianlong attempted but failed to expand into Burma and Vietnam.
Japan
- Conflict among daimyo leads to eventual unification.
- Key Leaders:
  - Oda Nobunaga: Early unification.
  - Toyotomi Hideyoshi: Continued unification efforts.
  - Tokugawa Ieyasu: Established Tokugawa Shogunate, leading to the Period of Great Peace.

General Overview
- Expansion of Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires propelled by the use of gunpowder, leading to military conquests.
- Ottoman Empire
- Mehmed II took Constantinople, later focused on the Balkans and utilized naval power.
- Under Suleiman I, expanded into Europe, inciting fear among Western nations.
- Safavid Empire
- Lacked navy and while Shah Abbas I attempted expansion, faced challenges.
- Mughal Empire
- Founded by Babur; Akbar led a golden age through trade and centralized governance, while Aurangzeb's military pursuits strained resources.

Transition from feudalism to exploration and expansion post-1450.
Patterns of tribute systems visible across various empires (Aztec, China, Songhai).
Religious Conflicts
- Peace of Augsburg in Germany allowed leader-driven religious choices.
- Edict of Nantes (France) and the Thirty Years' War impacted socio-political landscapes, culminating in the Peace of Westphalia allowing religious plurality in Europe.