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.