Unit 3 - Land Based Empires (1450-1750)

• Compare the methods by which various empires increased their influence from 1450 to 1750

  •  The interconnection of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres made possible by transoceanic voyaging, transformed trade and had a significant social impact on the world. 

    • In some cases, the increase and intensification of interactions between newly connected hemispheres expanded the reach and furthered development of existing religions, and contributed to religious conflicts and the development of syncretic belief systems and practices.

  • Empires achieved increased scope and influence around the world, shaping and being shaped by the diverse populations they incorporated.

    • Imperial expansion relied on the increased use of gunpowder, cannons, and armed trade to establish large empires in both hemispheres. 

    • Land empires included:

      • The Manchu in Central and East Asia

      • Mughal in South and Central Asia

      • Ottoman in Southern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa

      • The Safavids in the Middle East 

    • Political and religious disputes led to rivalries and conflict between states.

Expansion of Land-Based Empires

• Gunpowder Empires (1500-1700s)

1. Empires were land-based

2. Each was expanding geographically, mainly due to adoption of gunpowder weapons

3. Empires that adopted these weapons were able to gain the most power with militaristic methods

   1. Ottoman Empire

      1. Founded in 14th century after fall of Mongols, but grew rapidly

      2. Controlled Dardanelles, an important strategic area where attacks were sent out

      3. Adoption and development of gunpowder weapons 

      4. Controlled most of Southwestern Europe and Anatolia, overthrowing Constantinople in 1453 (renamed Istanbul)

      5. Devshirme - a system of forced labor in which Christian boys, mostly from the Balkans, were taken from their homes to serve the Ottoman government

   2. Safavid Empire

      1. Began in 1500s in Middle East from former Muslim empires

      2. Grew under Ismail, becoming a Shi’a (belief that only true successor is blood relative of Muhammad) islam state

      3. Caused poor relation with Ottoman and Mughals (Sunni states)

      4. Under Shah Abbas, military expanded with gunpowder weapons

   3. Mughal Empire

      1. Replaced Delhi Sultanate in 16th century under Babur

      2. Made use of expanded military with gunpowder weapons and new technology

      3. Expanded more under grandson, Akbar, who was tolerant of different religions

         1. Mughal became the most prosperous empire under him, who was a masterful administrator

   4. Qing Dynasty

      1. After decline of mongols, Yuan fell and Ming was formed (mostly ethnically Han, a truly chinese dynasty)

         1. Ming was united and expanded with use of gunpowder 

      2. Ming fell from internal fragmentation, and Qing rose in power

         1. Established by a group of outsiders, the Manchu (not ethnically Han) people from the north

         2. Leaders launched a 40 year campaign to claim former land of Qing dynasty

• Rivalries between States

  • Clashes caused mainly by religion and politics

1. Safavid-Mughal conflict

   1. Both wanted to expand into Persian gulf

   2. Conflict erupted due to religious rivalry (Shia v Sunni)

      1. Both claimed to be rightful heirs to previous Muslim dynasties

      2. War lasted decades

2. Songhai-Moroccan conflict

   1. Songhai expanded by 16th century from Trans-Saharan trade

   2. Began to weaken from internal conflicts

   3. Growing Moroccan saw weakness, and wanted to take over Songhai for control over routes

   4. Moroccan was able to win due to gunpowder weapons

Administration of Land-Based Empires

• Legitimizing and Consolidating Power

  • Legitimizing : methods the ruler uses to communicate to all subjects WHO is in charge (Mandate of Heaven, religion, etc)

  • Consolidating : measures a ruler uses to take power from other groups and claim it for him or himself

• Bureaucracies and Militaries, Empires & Power

1. Creation of large imperial bureaucracies (gov’t officials responsible for administering empire and ensuring laws are kept)

   1. Became more necessary as empires grew more large to ensure that empires were correctly ruled

   2. Ex. Devshirme System - System by which Ottomans staffed their imperial bureaucracy with highly trained officials, mostly enslaved (Christian boys)

2. Expansion of military

   1. Created elite cadres of military officials

   2. Ex. Devshirme System brang elite soldiers named janissaries (slaves) formed core of Ottoman standing army

• Religion, Art, Architecture

1. Rule by divine right of kings (Europe), god given right (due to mass Christianity)

2. Human Sacrifice (Aztecs), citizens believed that sun god lost energy at regular intervals and were reinvigorated by sacrifice, priests and rulers would do the sacrifice with cities/prisoners, telling who was in charge

3. Art to legitimize power (Qing Dynasty), utilized Kangxi Imperial portraits around imperial city, showing power and appealing to Chinese subjects

4. Architecture to legitimize power (Palace of Versailles), Louis XIV created a large palace to showcase his power, also used palace to consolidate his power by forcing nobility to live there

5. Inca rulers built Sun Temples to facilitate festivals of worship, as rulers were said to be descendents from god

• Financing Imperial Expansion

1. Zamindar system (Mughal Empire) was used to collect tax revenue

   1. Mughal rulers were Muslim, while most of South Asian population was Hindu which meant a healthy dose of suspicion towards Muslim rulers

   2. To combat this, rulers employed local land owners (zamindars) to collect tax on behalf of empire (consolidated power)

2. Tax farming (Ottoman Empire), right to tax went to the highest bidder

   1. Whoever had that right was able to collect tax, from a particular group of people, and they enriched themselves by collecting more taxes than were legally required

   2. Provided a reliable source of income at beginning of every year, and Ottomans did not have to pay people who bid on these

Belief Systems of Land-Based Empires

• Christianity

  • Became a shared cultural glue in many European countries

  • Church was present and active in many states

  • Mass split occurred, creating 2 branches (Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic)

    • Great Schism of 1054 

  • In 1500, Catholic church became extremely rich, building many buildings and sold indulgences (promised forgiving of sin) and simony (church positions for sale)

    • Martin Luther was troubled at this, and wrote 95 Theses that denounced church (caused splitting of the church in the Protestant Revolution)

    • Was able to spread due to printing press

    • Led to reformation of the church, named the Counter/Catholic Reformation, meeting in the council of Trent

      • Continued salvation by faith and works, nature of biblical authority, permanent splitting of church

  • Various rulers across Europe either remained Catholic or imposed Protestantism

• Islam

  • Ottoman (Sunni)  and Safavids (Shia) were heavily divided, wanting to claim territory over each other

    • Division of Sunni and Shia increased due to political rivalry

• Changes in South Asia

  • Muslims mostly held power in South Asia (Mughal), despite the Hindu majority

  • Bhakti and Sikhism emerged to bridge the gap between muslims and hindu

    • Bhakti originated in 7th century, innovation on Hinduism about union with Hindu god

      • Similar to sufism, leading to exchange and blending of religions 

    • Sikhism blended islam and hinduism, combining doctrines of both belief systems

      • Discarded many distinctions (caste, gender hierarchy)