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AP World History Unit 3 Review (1450-1750)

Time Period Overview (1450-1750)

  • Focus on land-based empires: expansion, administration, and belief systems.

  • Definition of Land-Based Empire: Power derived from territorial holdings.

Expansion of Major Empires
1. Ottoman Empire

  • Foundation: 14th century; began as a small entity, expanded significantly.

  • Military Technology: Adoption of gunpowder weapons crucial for expansion.

  • Key Conquest: Fall of Constantinople in 1453, renamed Istanbul, strategic for further Eastern European expansion.

  • Military Structure: Recruitment of Christians in the Balkans; conversion to Islam; formation of Janissaries (elite fighting force).

2. Safavid Empire

  • Foundation: Early 16th century; initially small, expanded rapidly under Shah Ismail.

  • Military Strategy: Similar use of gunpowder weapons for expansion.

  • Military Structure: Enslaved army recruited from Christians in the Caucasus region.

  • Religious Differences: Sunni Ottoman vs. Shia Safavid; significant implications for political conflict.

3. Mughal Empire

  • Foundation: Established in the first half of the 16th century by Babur, defeating the Delhi Sultanate.

  • Military Technology: Also utilized gunpowder weapons for territorial expansion.

  • Religious Tensions: Under Akbar, practiced religious tolerance, fostering prosperity amid Hindu majority.

4. Qing Dynasty (Manchu Empire)

  • Foundation: Established after the decline of the Ming dynasty in the 17th century.

  • Military Expansion: Strengthened military with gunpowder weapons, conquered significant territory.

Comparing the Four Empires

  • All land-based, rapid expansion characterized by the use of gunpowder weapons.

  • Shared reliance on military professionals and strategies for consolidation of power.

  • Distinct religious affiliations: Ottoman (Sunni) vs. Safavid (Shia), impacting inter-empire relations.

Conflicts Between Empires

  • Safavid-Mughal Conflict: Fighting over territory in modern Afghanistan intensified by religious differences, no clear victor established.

Administration of Empires

  • Legitimation of Power: Methods rulers used to establish authority (e.g., bureaucracies, military professionals, religious legitimacy).

Major Administrative Strategies

  1. Bureaucracies: Essential for governance across vast territories.

    • Example: Ottomans used the Devshirme system to staff bureaucracy from converted Christians.

  2. Military Professionals: Establishment of trained military units such as Janissaries in the Ottoman Empire.

  3. Cultural and Religious Legitimization:

    • Divine Right of Kings in Europe.

    • Architectural examples in Qing (e.g., Emperor Kangxi's portraits) and Aztec (Sun Temple of Cusco) empires.

  4. Tax Collection Innovations:

    • Mughal Zamindar system, Ottoman tax farming, and Aztec tribute lists to ensure revenue.

Changes in Belief Systems
1. Christianity

  • Protestant Reformation fueled by Martin Luther's 95 theses against corrupt church practices.

  • Catholic Church's response included the Council of Trent and internal reforms, signifying both change and continuity.

2. Islam

  • Sunni-Shia split intensified by political rivalries, particularly under the Safavid Empire and Shah Ismail’s policies.

3. Sikhism

  • Emergence as a syncretic belief system blending Hindu and Islamic doctrines, promoting social equality and discarding traditional hierarchies.