Unit 3 Review: Land-Based Empires and State Building (c. 1450–1750)

Gunpowder Empires

The Islamic empires of the Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals that expanded using gunpowder technology.

Absolutism

Centralized control under a single monarch, moving away from feudal systems.

Louis XIV

French monarch who epitomized absolutism, famously declaring 'L'État, c'est moi'.

Peter the Great

Russian ruler who centralized authority and modernized the military.

Tokugawa Shogunate

Japanese shogunate that ended the Warring States period and enforced centralized control.

Devshirme

System in the Ottoman Empire where Christian boys were converted and trained for civil service and military roles.

Civil Service Exam

System maintained by the Qing to recruit bureaucrats based on merit rather than heredity.

Salaried Samurai

Samurai in Japan who transitioned from warriors to paid bureaucrats after civil conflict.'

Tax Farming

System where the government auctioned the right to collect taxes, often leading to corruption.

Zamindars

Local intermediaries in the Mughal Empire who collected taxes, especially under Akbar.

Tribute Systems

Economic systems where countries paid tribute to more powerful nations, exemplified by China.

Gunpowder Weaponry

Technological advancement in military weapons using gunpowder.

Cannons

Artillery used in siege warfare, notably by Mehmed II in the conquest of Constantinople.

Arquebus/Musket

Small arms that allowed infantry to penetrate armor and reduced cavalry dominance.

Census and Surveying

Administrative methods used by empires to accurately calculate tax burdens.

Single Whip Law

Ming and Qing policy requiring taxes to be paid in silver instead of goods.

Divine Right of Kings

The belief that monarchs derive their authority directly from God.

Shi'a Islam

Form of Islam adopted by Safavid Shahs as state religion to unify Persian subjects.

Mandate of Heaven

The Confucian principle that justified the emperor's rule based on their right to govern.

Taj Mahal

Monumental mausoleum built by Shah Jahan to showcase Mughal empire's grandeur.

Palace of Versailles

Residence that symbolized the absolute power and wealth of Louis XIV.

St. Basil's Cathedral

Moscow cathedral commissioned by Ivan the Terrible, symbolizing church-state union.

Consolidating Power

The mechanics of taking control in an empire, often involving bureaucracy and military.

Legitimizing Power

The justifications for a ruler's control, often through religion or cultural means.

Religious Toleration

Policies allowing diverse religious beliefs and practices within an empire.

Intolerant Policies

Governments enforcing strict conformity to a single religion, leading to persecution.

Maritime Empires

Empires that grew through overseas exploration and colonization, contrasting with land-based empires.

Economic Stagnation

The period by 1750 when many land-based empires started to decline compared to maritime powers.