ERA 2 (Unit 3) Flashcards
How did land-based empires consolidate power in this era? (Unit 3)
By centralizing their bureaucracies
●Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), China:
○Reintroduced the Civil Service Exam. Necessary for legitimizing power over the Chinese since the Manchu were seen as foreigners. (The Ming Dynasty was the last native dynasty in China)
●Ottoman Empire (c. 1300-1922), Middle East & Southern Europe
○The Devshirme system (Christian boys from the Balkans were enslaved & educated to serve the state)helped to consolidate power by creating a very loyal bureaucracy and elite military (the Janissaries).
●Songhai Empire (c. 1464 -1591), West Africa
○Consolidated power through their military, alliances, and having control over trade routes. Legitimacy established through court rituals of kings(King on a raised platform surrounded by 700 Eunuchs; only approached lying down on the ground)Consolidating power based on Tribute
●Aztec Empire (1428-1521), Mesoamerica
○The Aztecs demanded specific goods from conquered people, called Tribute. This allowed for indirect rule (instead of centralized direct authority), where the Aztec did not have to be present in conquered areas to maintain control
What are the various methods used by land-based empires to collect taxes in this era? (Unit 3)
Mughal Empire (1526-1857 CE).
●Bureaucrats called Zamindars were appointed by the emperor to collect taxes based on an individual’s land or production.
Ottoman Empire
●Tax Farmers (who were not government employees) were told to collect a certain amount of taxes from an area. Anything extra that they collected they were able to keep.
Aztec Empire
●Tribute (discussed in number 1). Also, human sacrifice victims.
Why were large powerful militaries & elite cadres of soldiers essential in this era?
Eurasian empires had all gained access to gunpowder based weapons. In the Americas, they did not have gunpowder but a large military still led to intimidation and the consolidation of power. Elite Soldiers:-Ottomans: Janissaries from the Devshirme system.-Safavids: Ghulams (enslaved people from Armenian and Circassian populations, much like Devshirme)-Aztecs: Elite squad also made up of enslaved people. Part of the “blood tax” of tribute states.
How did religion legitimize powers in this era?
●Islamic Emperors took the title “Caliph” to show they were the legitimate successors of Muhammed.
●European monarchs embraced “Divine Right” which claims that the king is God’s representative on Earth and carries out his bidding.
●Songhai rulers and nobles all converted to Islam.
How did religion lead to conflict in this era?
The Protestant Reformation in Europe challenged what was seen as corrupt practices of the Catholic Church. Eventually leaders chose whether to be Protestant or Catholic which led to bitter resentments among them. It did, however, lead to further spread of Christianity.
●In the Middle East, the Ottomans were Sunni Muslims while the Safavids (1501-1736, Persia) were Shi’a Muslims. They saw each other as heretical and fought each other for land.
How did leaders legitimize their rule through art and architecture?
Art
●Qing portraits of emperors and high officials meant to impress.
●European monarchs were also patrons of artists for the same reason
Architecture
●Monumental architecture (giant structures) meant to impress.
●Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal as a tomb for his wife.
●French King Louis XIV built the Palace of Versailles. It was enormous and beautiful. It showed his power and wealth. He also forced all nobility to live there with him so they could not challenge his power while being watched.
