AP World History Unit 3 Overview

Time Period: 1450-1750

• Focus on land-based empires
  • Expansion
  • Administration
  • Belief Systems

Definition

• Land-based Empire: Power comes from territorial holdings.

Major Land-Based Empires

• Ottoman Empire

  • Founded in the 14th century.
  • Expanded rapidly using gunpowder weapons.
  • Conquest of Constantinople in 1453 (renamed to Istanbul).
  • Developed elite fighting force: Janissaries.

• Safavid Empire

  • Founded in the early 16th century under Shah Ismail.
  • Expanded using gunpowder weapons and enslaved Christians for its army.
  • Significant religious difference: Shia Islam.

• Mughal Empire

  • Established in the 16th century by Babur after defeating the Delhi Sultanate.
  • Rapid expansion with gunpowder weapons.
  • Akbar’s rule: Religious tolerance, prosperity.

• Qing Dynasty

  • Established by the Manchus in the 17th century after the fall of the Ming Dynasty.
  • Ethnically different from the Han people they ruled.
  • Expanded using gunpowder weapons.

Summary of Empires

• All were land-based and expanded rapidly using gunpowder.
• Ottomans: Sunni; Safavids: Shia (major conflict).
• Conflict: Safavid vs. Mughal over territory in Afghanistan.

Administration Tactics

• Legitimization and Consolidation of Power
  • Large bureaucracies (e.g., Ottoman Devshirme system).
  • Military professionals (e.g., Janissaries).
  • Use of religious ideas, art, and monumental architecture.
    • Divine Right of Kings in Europe.
    • Kangxi’s portraits in Qing Dynasty.
    • Sun Temple of Cusco by the Incas.
    • Palace of Versailles for power consolidation.
  • Innovations in tax collection systems.
    • Zamindar System (Mughal).
    • Tax Farming (Ottomans).
    • Tribute Lists (Aztecs).

Belief Systems

• Christianity

  • Protestant Reformation initiated by Martin Luther.
  • Catholic Reformation (Council of Trent).

• Islam

  • Sunni-Shia split intensified by Safavid Empire's policies.

• Sikhism in South Asia

  • A syncretic faith blending Hinduism and Islam.
  • Retained belief in one God, reincarnation.
  • Rejected gender hierarchies and caste system.