Unit 3: Land-Based Empires

Question 1

Qing Dynasty

Answer 1

Last imperial dynasty of China; preceded by the Ming Dynasty and succeeded by the People’s Republic;

Question 2

Manchus

Answer 2

Northeast Asian peoples who defeated the Ming Dynasty and founded the Qing Dynasty in 1644, which was the last of China’s imperial dynasties.

Question 3

Mughal Empire

Answer 3

Muslim state most of India; often had difficulties managing such a large, diverse empire

Question 4

Ottoman Empire

Answer 4

Islamic state of Turkic speaking peoples lasting from 1453-1922; conquered the Byzantine Empire in 1453; based at Istanbul (formerly Constantinople); encompassed lands in the Middle East, North Africa, the Caucasus, and eastern Europe.

Question 5

Safavids

Answer 5

A Shi’a Muslim dynasty that ruled in Persia that had a mixed culture of the Persians, Ottomans, and Arabs.

Question 6

Songhai

Answer 6

An Islamic West African empire that conquered Mali and controlled trade from the into the 16th century; eventually defeated by the Moroccans who were broke after fighting with Portugal

Question 7

Devshirme

Answer 7

The system by which boys from Christian communities were taken by the Ottoman state to serve as Janissaries (elite military units)

Question 8

Janissary

Answer 8

Elite Ottoman guard (trained as foot soldiers or administrators) recruited from the Christian population through the devshirme system, that often converted to Islam; utilized gunpowder weapons

Question 9

Samurai

Answer 9

Class of salaried warriors in feudal Japan who pledged loyalty to a noble called a daimyo (who in turned pledged loyalty to a shogun) in return for land or rice payments

Question 10

Divine Right

Answer 10

The idea that monarchs are God’s representatives on earth and are therefore answerable only to God.

Question 11

Absolute Monarchy

Answer 11

System of government in which the head of state is a hereditary position and the king or queen has almost complete power

Question 12

Versailles

Answer 12

Palace constructed by Louis XIV outside of Paris to glorify his rule and subdue the nobility

Question 13

Zamindars

Answer 13

Mughal empire’s taxation system where decentralized lords collected tribute/taxes for the emperor

Question 14

Taj Mahal

Answer 14

Beautiful mausoleum (tomb) at Agra (India) built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (completed in 1649) in memory of his favorite wife; illustrates syncretic blend between Indian and Arabic architectural styles

Question 15

Tax Farming

Answer 15

Tax-collection system utilized by the Ottoman Empire to generate money for territorial expansion; the government hired private individuals to collect taxes

Question 16

Protestant Reformation

Answer 16

Religious movement begun by German monk Martin Luther who began to question the practices of the Catholic Church beginning in 1519; split the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the ‘protesters’ forming several new Christian denominations: Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican Churches (among many others)

Question 17

95 Theses

Answer 17

Arguments written by Martin Luther against the Catholic church. They were posted on October 31, 1517; ultimately led to Martin Luther’s excommunication and the Protestant Reformation

Question 18

Martin Luther

Answer 18

A German monk who became one of the most famous critics of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1517, he wrote 95 theses, or statements of belief attacking the church practices; began the Protestant Reformation

Question 19

Counter/Catholic Reformation

Answer 19

The reaction of the Roman Catholic Church to the Protestant Reformation; reaffirming the respect of saints and the authority of the Pope (to which Protestants objected), ended sale of indulgences and simony, created Jesuits missionaries, but also the began the Inquisition

Question 20

Jesuits

Answer 20

Also known as the Society of Jesus; a teaching and missionary order to resist the spread of Protestantism (a result of the Counter Reformation); sent to China, Japan, and the New World to gain Catholic converts

Question 21

Indulgence

Answer 21

A pardon given by the Roman Catholic Church in return for repentance for sins and payment; “a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins”

Question 22

Simony

Answer 22

The buying and selling of church offices, seen as a corrupt practice, this practice was outlawed by the Catholic Church during the Counter Reformation

Question 23

Inquisition

Answer 23

Roman Catholic tribunal for investigating and prosecuting charges of heresy, a reaction to the Protestant Reformation

Question 24

Thirty Years War

Answer 24

A war that resulted from the Protestant Reformation (1618-1648 CE); occurred in the Holy Roman Empire between German Protestants and their allies (Sweden, Denmark, France) and the emperor and his ally, Spain who supported Roman Catholicism; ended in 1648 after great destruction with Treaty of Westphalia

Question 25

John Calvin

Answer 25

1509-1564. French theologian who developed the Christian theology known as Calvinism; attracted Protestant followers with his teachings; believed in predestination

Question 26

Sikhism

Answer 26

The doctrines of a monotheistic religion founded in northern India in the 16th century by Guru Nanak and combining elements of Hinduism and Islam; a result of the presence of the Mughal Empire in India

Question 27

Shogunate

Answer 27

Japanese system of government under a shogun (military warlord), who exercised actual power while the emperor was reduced to a figurehead

Question 28

Daimyo

Answer 28

Japanese feudal lord who commanded a private army of samurai; owed allegiance to the shogun

Question 29

Jizya

Answer 29

Tax paid by Christians and Jews (and sometimes other faiths) who lived in Muslim communities to allow them to continue to practice their own religion; often utilized by Islamic states to manage diverse populations within their empires

Question 30

Millet System

Answer 30

A system used by the Ottomans whereby subjects were divided into religious communities, with each millet (nation) enjoying autonomous self-government under its religious leaders; a unique way to manage a diverse empire

Question 31

Early Modern Period in Europe

Answer 31

Plagues had ended. End of the 100 Year War. Introduction of the Printing Press - Increased Literacy

Question 32

Russian Expansion. What did expansion rely on? Where did they expand? What did they dominate?

Answer 32

Ivan IV takes control of last Khanates held by Golden Horde descendants. Expansion relied on Gunpowder. Focused on expanding East to control the fur trade.

Question 33

Emperor Kangxi

Answer 33

Qing Dynasty ruler who expanded China into Taiwan, Mongolia, Central Asia . Imposed a protectorate over Tibet and N. India which reflects China’s power today.

Question 34

The Rule of Tamerlane

Answer 34

Built a government dependent on the military that encouraged the arts and learning.
Started in Samarkand and butally spread through Persia and Indian. Began the ghazi ideal which encouraged Islamic warriors for centuries. Ineffective rule eventually ended the rule of Tamerlane, but traditions established by his empire led to the Islamic gunpowder empires.

Question 35

Mehmed II. Who was he? What did he do?

Answer 35

Leader of the Ottoman Empire. Used siege weapons and gunpowder to overtake the highly fortified city of Constantinople and establish the ottoman capital. The city was a nexus of trade with a great location. Expanded to lands around the Black sea and built up the Navy to counter Venice, who he forced to pay a yearly tax.

Question 36

Suleiman I. Who was he? What did he do?

Answer 36

Leader of the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman empire reaches its peak. Able to send troops all the way into Christian Europe (Vienna) which freaked Europe out!

Question 37

Shah Abbas I. Who was he? What did he do (3)?

Answer 37

Presided over the Safavid Empire at its height.
Impressed Christian boys into his military.
Imported weapons from Europe and utilized European technology and advice in war.
Controlled religion - used Shi’a Islam as a unifying force and denied legitimacy to any Sunni ruler. (This leads to tension with the Sunni Ottoman empire)

Question 38

Bureaucratic Elites

Answer 38

Had the power to collect taxes and enforce laws in the name of the king. Weakened feudal lords and legitimized the power of the king.

Question 39

Oprichnina

Answer 39

A secret police loyal to Ivan IV who kept an eye on the Boyars (rich land owners)

Question 40

Peter the Great. Who was he? What did he do (6)?

Answer 40

Russian Empire. Consolidated rule by eliminating threats. Supported the church, but reforms made him lose their favor. Reorganized Russia into provinces Used bureaucratic elites (paid government officials) to collect taxes. Created a senate to inform his decisions. Established St. Petersburg which was full of architecture built to show how European Russia was.

Question 41

What did the Tokugawa Shogunate do to consolidate power?

Answer 41

Dividing Japan into 250 hans, or territories, each controlled by a Daimyo.
BUT they forced the Daimyos to have two homes - one of which was in the capital - making the family stay in the capital so the Daimyo would not gain power when they were away (like Russia and France).
Limited foreign trade and
reduced foreign ideas that could threatened Shogun’s power.

Question 42

What were the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughals’ religions and what were their levels of religious tolerance?

Answer 42

Ottoman: Sunni Islam. Some tolerance under Suleiman, but not much after him.

Safavid: Shi’a Islam. No religious tolerance. Created hostilities with the Ottomans.

Mughal: Religious tolerance under Akbar. Mainly Sunni and Hindu.