UNIT 3 APWH
Unit 3 Notes - Land Based Empires
C Cycle of Empires
Conquest/Expansion
Economic prosperity and stability
Innovations in military technology
Consolidation
Administrative efforts to maintain control
Conflict
Internal
Corruption
Lack of tolerance leading to civil unrest
Economic pressures on lower classes
External
Natural disasters
Invaders
Collapse
Gunpowder Empires
3 Common Traits:
Turks/Nomads
Minority Ethnically
Muslim (Two Sunni, One Shi’a)
The Ottoman Empire (1453-1923)
Osman Bey
Mehmed II (The Conqueror)
Captured Byzantine capital Constantinople in 1453
Utilized cannons for the siege
Renamed city to Istanbul
Control of trade through strategic location on the Bosporus
Suleiman I (The Great)
Empire reached peak under his rule
Built a strong navy
Expanded into Eastern Europe (Hungary 1526) and the Mediterranean (Rhodes 1522)
Considered a Turkish Empire, not Arab
Associated with early exploration that led to the discovery of America
Mughals (1526-1761)
Babur
Established Mughal rule over India
Invaded from northeast (modern-day Afghanistan/Uzbekistan)
Defeated Delhi Sultanate at the Battle of Panipat
Muslim and religiously tolerant
Akbar
Noted for religious tolerance, ruled over a land primarily populated by Hindus
Developed a universal religion incorporating major world religions
Shah Jahan
Constructed the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal
Aurangzeb
Less tolerant than previous emperors
Oppressed non-Muslims, creating anti-Muslim sentiments
Left a legacy of division
Safavid Empire (1501-1736)
Persian legacy and ethnically blended society
Predominantly Shia Islam
Positioned between Sunni-ruled Ottomans and Mughals
Leaders:
Shah Ismail
Shah Abbas
Ethnic tensions due to Sunni minority in the empire
Yuan and Ming Dynasty
Ming Rise (1368-1644)
Moved capital to Beijing and began construction of the Forbidden City
Hong Wu: Founder, initiated Confucian revival, returned civil service exams
Yongle: Second emperor, created first encyclopedia, aimed to re-establish China’s status as the Middle Kingdom
Zheng He
A prominent Muslim mariner known for his expeditions (1405-1433)
Built the largest ships of his time and explored the Indian Ocean
Brought goods and exotic items back to China
Post 1433, resource allocation shifted focus, leading to isolation
Renaissance
Origins: Began in Northern Italy; feudal structures weakened post-Bubonic Plague
Medici Family: Unintentionally initiated Renaissance
Venice Prosperity: Led to competitive cultural flourishing among cities
Art:
Leonardo da Vinci: Represented humanism, highlighted realism (e.g., Mona Lisa)
Michelangelo: Famous for his work on the Sistine Chapel
Northern Renaissance
More secular approach to arts and literature
Niccolò Machiavelli: Authored 'The Prince', emphasized the importance of fear in rule
William Shakespeare: Notable for tragedy and drama writing
Reformation Context
Roman Catholicism was the only prominent Christian Church
Events like Crusades and the Plague highlighted Church corruption
Christian Humanism: Influenced self-reliance among believers
Gutenberg’s Printing Press: Enabled increased literacy and spread of ideas
Martin Luther (1483-1546):
German monk whose 'Ninety-Five Theses' criticized Church excesses
Emphasized 'Faith Alone' as central
Response to the sale of indulgences (purchase to absolve sins)
Initiated Protestant movement following his excommunication
Calvinism and Counter Reformation
John Calvin: Swiss theologian advocating predestination and the omnipotence of God
Ideas were adopted by John Knox in Scotland, leading to Presbyterianism
Counter Reformation: Catholic response to Protestantism
Council of Trent: Aimed to standardize practices and eliminate corruption
Ignatius Loyola: Founded the Jesuit Order to focus on education and missions, especially effective in South America
Absolute Monarchs
Defined as rulers with total control over their nations, often claiming divine right
France:
Bourbon Dynasty (1589-1792; 1815-1848):
Henry IV: Established Edict of Nantes for Protestant worship; assassinated
Louis XIII: Managed by Cardinal Richelieu, revoked Edict of Nantes
Louis XIV: Known as 'Sun King', moved court to Versailles, engaged in multiple wars
Spain:
Charles V: Faced Ottoman incursions and Protestant Reformation efforts
Thirty Years War
Conflict between Protestants and Catholics in the Holy Roman Empire
Hapsburgs led the Catholic side
Resulted in empire fragmentation, with Austria and Prussia emerging
Russia
Inhabited by Slavs, isolated culturally and geographically
Ivan III: Initiated independence from Mongol rule, establishing Czar role
Ivan IV (The Terrible): First Russian ruler to adopt absolute monarchy, expanded territory toward Siberia
Romanov Dynasty (1613-1917)
Peter the Great (1682-1725):
Modernized Russia; encouraged Western culture, built St. Petersburg
Established a navy, fashionable reforms including outlawing beards
Japan
Shogunate System: Hierarchical order from Shogun to Samurai
Tokugawa Ieyasu: Unified shogunates, established the Tokugawa Shogunate
Closed borders except for limited trade to manage foreign influence and maintain control.
Unit 3 Notes - Land Based Empires
Cycle of Empires: Conquest, economic prosperity and stability, innovations in military technology, consolidation, conflict (internal and external), and collapse.
Gunpowder Empires Traits: Turk/Nomads, religiously Muslim, and minority ethnically.
Ottoman Empire (1453-1923): Captured Constantinople (Istanbul) under Mehmed II. Reached peak under Suleiman I, known for military expansion and naval strength.
Mughals (1526-1761): Established by Babur, known for invasions and religious tolerance under Akbar. Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal; Aurangzeb's reign marked decline in tolerance.
Safavid Empire (1501-1736): Persian influence, primarily Shia, with tensions between Sunni and Shia.
Yuan and Ming Dynasties: Ming established capital in Beijing, with Hong Wu reviving Confucianism. Zheng He led maritime expeditions, but China became isolated post-1433.
Renaissance: Originated in Northern Italy post-Bubonic Plague, marked by cultural flourish under the Medici family. Key figures: Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Northern Renaissance was more secular, with Machiavelli and Shakespeare contributing.
Reformation Context: Roman Catholicism faced challenges from corruption; Martin Luther's 'Ninety-Five Theses' and the rise of Protestantism (Calvinism).
Absolute Monarchs: Total control, often claiming divine right; notable rulers included Henry IV and Louis XIV in France, Charles V in Spain, and Peter the Great in Russia, who modernized the nation.
Japan: Controlled by the Tokugawa Shogunate, which isolated the nation while maintaining a hierarchical order.