period 2 vocab

Period 2 Vocabulary


Unit 3



  • Devshirme

    • Utilization of Christian boys in the Ottoman empire to convert and train them to become military (janissaries) or bureaucrats.

      • The Ottomans took young Christian boys out of the Balkans and forced them to convert to islam. These boys would then learn and train to be either bureaucrats or military officials called Janissaries. 

  • Divine Right of Kings

    • political and religious doctrine that asserted monarchs derived their authority to rule directly from God therefore, kings were not accountable to their subjects and that challenging royal authority was equivalent to opposing God's will.

      • The divine right of kings states that they have the right to rule from god. So denying them would be denying god. The rulers who had the divine right used it to levy high taxes on their subjects because the subjects couldn’t do anything about that. 

  • Gunpowder Empires

    •  Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires, who dominated large regions through their advanced military technology and strategies. They significantly influenced trade, culture, and politics across Eurasia from the 15th to the 18th centuries.

      • The gunpowder empire, the Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal empire. They used gunpowder and its various forms to expand their empire. They were primarily islamic states.

  • Ming Dynasty

    • The Ming Dynasty ruled China from 1368 to 1644 and is known for its strong centralized government and cultural flourishing. It was marked by significant advancements in trade, exploration, and the arts, including the famous voyages of Admiral Zheng He.

  • Mughal Empire

    • The Mughal Empire, established in the early 16th century, was renowned for its rich cultural heritage and monumental architecture, such as the Taj Mahal. It reached its zenith under Emperor Akbar, who promoted religious tolerance and administrative reforms.

      • Akbar was religiously tolerant whereas Jahangir was very pro-muslim. 

  • Qing (Manchu) Dynasty

    • The Qing Dynasty, ruling from 1644 to 1912, was the last imperial dynasty of China, established by the Manchus after they overthrew the Ming Dynasty. It is known for its territorial expansion, cultural achievements, and eventual challenges leading to its decline and the end of imperial rule in China.

  • Ottoman Empire

    • The Ottoman Empire lasted from the late 13th century until the early 20th century and became a major political and military power in Europe and the Middle East. Known for its architectural achievements and diverse culture, it played a crucial role in connecting East and West.

  • Safavid Empire

    • The Safavid Empire emerged in the early 16th century in Persia and is noted for establishing Shia Islam as the state religion. Under Shah Abbas I, it experienced significant economic growth and cultural development, particularly in art and architecture.

  • Salaried Samurai

    • Salaried samurai were professional warriors in feudal Japan who received regular pay from their lords instead of relying on land ownership. This system emerged during the Edo period and helped stabilize social structures while allowing samurai to focus on their marital duties. Tokugawa shogunate reported to damiyo , paid jobs within government

  • Sikhism

    • Sikhism was founded in the late 15th century by Guru Nanak in the Punjab region of South Asia. It emphasizes equality, community service, and devotion to one God, with teachings that challenge caste distinctions and promote social justice

  • Songhai Empire

    • The Songhai Empire was one of the largest empires in West Africa during the 15th and 16th centuries, thriving on trade across the Sahara Desert. Its capital, Timbuktu, became a center of learning and culture, known for its universities and libraries.

  • Vizier

    • A vizier is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in various historical Islamic states, often serving as a chief administrator or prime minister. The role was crucial in managing state affairs, implementing policies, and advising rulers on governance.

      • Used by Safavid empire because the grand vizier passed all laws

  • Zamindar

    • Zamindars were landowners or landlords in South Asia who held significant power during the Mughal era and later under British colonial rule. They were responsible for tax collection from peasants and played a key role in local governance and agricultural management.


Unit 4



  • Boyars

    • Boyars were members of the highest-ranking aristocracy in medieval Eastern European states, particularly in Russia, Bulgaria, and Romania. They held significant political and economic power, often serving as advisors to rulers and owning large estates, until their influence was gradually diminished by centralizing monarchs.

  • Caravel

    • A caravel was a small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed by the Portuguese in the 15th century. It played a crucial role in the Age of Discovery, allowing European explorers to navigate coastal waters and rivers with ease.

  • Carrack

    • The carrack was a three- or four-masted sailing ship used for exploration and trade in the 15th to 17th centuries. It was larger than the caravel and became the preferred vessel for long ocean voyages due to its capacity to carry more cargo and withstand rough seas.

  • Columbian Exchange

    • The Columbian Exchange refers to the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds following Christopher Columbus's voyages. This exchange had profound and lasting effects on both hemispheres, reshaping ecosystems, diets, and populations

  • Dutch East India Company

    • The Dutch East India Company, founded in 1602, was a powerful multinational corporation granted a monopoly on Dutch trade in Asia. It played a significant role in the spice trade and colonization efforts, becoming one of the world's first publicly traded companies.

  • Encomienda System

    • The Encomienda System was a labor system implemented by the Spanish crown in its American colonies. It granted colonists the right to demand tribute and labor from indigenous people in exchange for protection and Christian instruction, often leading to exploitation and abuse.

  • Fluyt

    • The fluyt was a Dutch-designed cargo ship of the 16th and 17th centuries, characterized by its large cargo capacity and small crew requirements. It played a crucial role in the Dutch domination of world trade during this period due to its cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

  • Hacienda System

    • The Hacienda System was a form of large self sufficient profit making land estate in Spanish America, combining agriculture and manufacturing. It was characterized by the exploitation of indigenous labor and played a significant role in the social and economic structure of colonial Latin America.

  • Joint-Stock Company

    • A Joint-Stock Company is a business entity in which shares of the company's stock can be bought and sold by shareholders. This model, which emerged in the early modern period, allowed for the pooling of capital from multiple investors, facilitating large-scale commercial and colonial ventures.

  • Lateen Sail

    • The Lateen Sail is a triangular sail set on a long yard mounted at an angle on the mast, allowing ships to sail closer to the wind. It was widely used in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, playing a crucial role in the development of oceanic navigation.

  • Maroon Societies

    • Maroon Societies were communities of escaped slaves  from SE US to Brazil,and their descendants in the Americas. These autonomous groups established their own cultures and often engaged in resistance against colonial powers.

  • Mercantilism

    • Mercantilism was an economic theory and practice dominant in Europe from the 16th to the 18th century, which held that national prosperity depended on a positive balance of trade. It encouraged colonization, monopolies, and protectionism to maximize exports and minimize imports. Countries export more than imports

  • Ming China

    • Ming China refers to the period of Chinese history under the Ming dynasty, lasting from 1368 to 1644. This era was characterized by economic prosperity, cultural achievements, and initial global engagement followed by increasing isolationism.

  • Mit’a System

    • The Mit'a System was a form of mandatory public service in the Inca Empire, later adapted by Spanish colonizers. It required indigenous communities to provide labor for various public works and mining projects, often under harsh condition

  • Omani Merchants

    • Omani Merchants were influential traders who played a significant role in the Indian Ocean trade network during the early modern period. They established commercial links between the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia, contributing to cultural and economic exchanges.

  • Plantation Economy

    • A Plantation Economy is an economic system based on agricultural mass production, typically of a single crop, using slave or indentured labor. This system was prevalent in the Americas and played a crucial role in the development of the Atlantic economy. Stretching between chesapeake Bay and Brazil that produced sugar cotton and tobacco using slave labor.

  • Portuguese Trading Post Empire

    • The Portuguese Trading Post Empire was a network of fortified trading stations established by Portugal along the coasts of Africa, Asia, and later Brazil. This system allowed Portugal to dominate maritime trade routes in the 15th and 16th centuries without the need for extensive territorial control. Forcing merchant vessel to pay duties at fortified trading sites and buy safe-conduct passes

  • Pueblo Revolt

    • The Pueblo Revolt was an uprising of Pueblo peoples against Spanish colonizers in present-day New Mexico in 1680. It successfully expelled the Spanish for over a decade and is considered one of the most significant indigenous rebellions in North American history.

  • Silver Trade

    • The Silver Trade refers to the global exchange of silver, primarily from the Americas to Asia, during the 16th to 18th centuries. This trade had profound economic impacts, linking world economies and fueling the growth of global commerce.

  • Timars

    • Timars were land grants given to Ottoman cavalry officers in exchange for military service. This system formed the backbone of Ottoman military and administrative organization in newly conquered territories.

  • Tokugawa Shogunate

    • The Tokugawa Shogunate was the last feudal Japanese military government, ruling from 1603 to 1867. It was characterized by a period of peace, economic growth, strict social order, and isolationist foreign policies. Unification of japan decline of landowner and samurai

  • Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

    • The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade was the forced transportation of enslaved African people to the Americas from the 16th to the 19th centuries. It played a crucial role in the development of the plantation economies in the Americas and had devastating effects on African societies.