AP World UNIT 3 REVIEW [Everything You NEED to Know!]

Overview of Unit 3: AP World History (1450 - 1750)

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

Key Concepts

Definition of Land-Based Empire

  • An empire whose power derives from territorial holdings.

  • Examples of land-based empires: Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal, and Qing.

Four Key Empires

Ottoman Empire

  • Foundation: Established in the 14th century.

  • Expansion: Rapid expansion through adoption of gunpowder weapons.

  • Major Events:

    • Conquered Constantinople in 1453, naming it Istanbul.

    • Controlled much of Southwestern Europe by the 15th century.

  • Military Structure:

    • Utilized Janissaries, elite troops formed from enslaved Christians.

    • Strategy: enslaving and converting Christians for military purposes.

Safavid Empire

  • Foundation: Emerged in the early 16th century.

  • Expansion: Under Shah Ismail, the empire expanded rapidly.

  • Military Structure:

    • Adopted gunpowder weapons and established a military of enslaved soldiers.

    • Sourced soldiers from Christians in the Caucasus region.

  • Religious Differences:

    • Split between Sunni (Ottomans) and Shia (Safavids) Muslims led to political conflicts.

    • Beliefs: Sunnis accepted various successors for Muhammad; Shia insisted on blood relatives only.

Mughal Empire

  • Foundation: Established in the early 16th century.

  • Key Figures: Babur conquered Delhi Sultanate, Akbar expanded the empire further.

  • Religious Tolerance: Akbar fostered a culture of tolerance towards Hindus, unlike previous rulers.

  • Military Structure: Utilized gunpowder weapons for expansion.

Qing Dynasty

  • Foundation: Established by Manchus after the decline of the Ming Dynasty in the 17th century.

  • Expansion: Strengthened military and governance using gunpowder weapons.

  • Ethnic Differences: Manchu rulers governed a primarily Han Chinese population.

Comparisons Across Empires

  • All empires experienced rapid expansion and utilized gunpowder weaponry.

  • Differences in religious administration (Sunni vs. Shia) and ethnic governance (Qing and Mughal).

Conflict Overview

Safavid-Mughal Conflict

  • Series of wars fought for territory, particularly in Afghanistan.

  • Bitter rivalry rooted in differing religious beliefs: Sunni (Mughals) vs. Shia (Safavids).

Administration of Land-Based Empires

Methods of Legitimizing and Consolidating Power

  1. Bureaucracies

    • Formation of large bureaucracies to manage laws and regulations.

    • Example: Ottoman devshirme system trained Christians for elite bureaucratic positions.

  2. Military Professionals

    • Development of disciplined military units, e.g., Janissaries in the Ottoman Empire.

  3. Religious Ideas, Art, and Architecture

    • Divine right of kings in Europe justified monarchs' authority (e.g., Louis XIV - Palace of Versailles).

    • Qing Emperor Kangxi used portraits to assert legitimacy.

  4. Tax Collection Innovations

    • Mughals: zamindar system for taxing peasants.

    • Ottomans: tax farming awarded tax rights to the highest bidder.

    • Aztecs: tribute lists from conquered regions ensured resources.

Changes in Belief Systems

Christianity

  • Roman Catholic Church dominated but faced corruption (e.g., sale of indulgences).

  • Protestant Reformation: Initiated by Martin Luther in 1517; split the church, leading to growth of Protestantism.

  • Catholic Church responded with reforms during the Council of Trent.

Islam

  • Increasing Sunni-Shia tensions intensified by Safavid policies against Sunnis.

  • Shah Ismail's declaration of Shia Islam led to significant power struggles.

Sikhism

  • Emerged as a syncretic religion blending Hindu and Islamic beliefs:

    • Retained monotheism and concepts of reincarnation, rejected gender hierarchies and caste systems.

Resources for Study

  • AP World History Heimler Review Guide: comprehensive study materials, practice exams, notes.