4.7 Changing Social Hiearchy

Vocabulary

reconquista- a series of wars in portugal and spain to reclaim land taken by the muslims

sultanate of women-a period where the women exerted extraordinary political influence 

boyars- a group of russian noblemen who were given privileged offices and responsibilities 

manchu- a member of an indigenous people of manchuria who conquered china and established a dynasty there 

queue- a customary for men to wear their hair in a long braid

castas- the caste based on race 

mestizo- a person of mixed blood (indian and european)

mulatto- a black and white person

zambos- individuals of mixed african and indigenous ancestry particularly in colonial latin america 

creoles- people of european decent born in the americas 

learning targets

Explain how social categories, roles, and practices have been maintained or have changed over time

notes

gunpowder empires

ottoman empire 

• sultans begin to lose influence as janissaries rebel

• viziers (advisors) gain power but sultan still in charge

• religious tolerance continued towards jews and christians (ex. Mehmed II invited jews exiled from spain to settle im empire 

• still could only live in specific areas, pay jiyza tax, could not hold top political positions

• women and concubines used harem politics to try to get their children to be heir to the throne

• middle class is small, made up of merchants/artisans

• lower class is made up of peasants

• bottom class is made up of slaves from wherever the empire conquered

mughal empire 

• religiously tolerant still

• ended jiyza tax, gave land and money to hindus and muslims, supported sikhism

china

• qing dynasty

• civil service exam and bureaucracy used manchu rule over han chinese and other ethnic groups

• led to conflict between minority manchu leaders and majority han chinese

 europe

• nobles still second in charge after royalty, but lose some power in france after failing in an uprising against Louis XIV

• scientific revolution and enlightenment bring a bit less discrimination towards jews in some parts of europe (ex. netherlands)

 russia

• royal tsar

• noble landowners (boyars): many not trusted by tsar (ex. ivan the terrible kills many of them, forces them to lie under surveillance in moscow)

• peasants (many will become serfs)

• serfs