UNIT 3: Land-Based Empires - Heimler Review Guide

Expansion of Empires

Ottoman Empire

• Expanded starting in the 14th century using gunpowder weapons.
• Controlled Southwestern Europe and Anatolia, including Constantinople (Istanbul since 1453).
• Utilized the Devshirme System: Enslavement and conversion of Balkan Christians to Islam to create elite fighting force, the Janissaries.

Safavid Empire

• Expanded starting in the 16th century using gunpowder weapons.
• Shah Abbas built a military with gunpowder weapons and enslaved army from the Caucasus.

Mughal Empire

• Expanded starting in the 16th century under Babur by defeating the Delhi Sultanate.
• Emperor Akbar legitimized rule through religious tolerance toward Hindus.

Safavid-Mughal Conflict

• Fought over lands in modern Afghanistan.
• Mughals could not reclaim lands taken by Safavids.
• Religious conflict: Safavids (Shia) vs Mughals (Sunni).

Rivalries Between Empires

Ottomans vs Safavids

• Sunni (Ottomans) vs Shia (Safavids) divide intensified post-Muhammad.
• Religious and political disputes fueled the rivalry.

Power and Administration

Legitimizing and Consolidating Power

• Legitimize: Methods to establish authority.
• Consolidate: Transfer power from other groups to rulers.

Bureaucracies

• Used to maintain centralized control.
• Ottomans used Devshirme system for elite and loyal bureaucrats.

European Monarchs

• Divine Right of Kings: Legitimize rule by claiming kings as God's representatives.

Qing Dynasty and Art

• Used portrayals in art to gain support from Han Chinese by displaying Confucian wisdom.

Monumental Architecture

• Inca's Sun Temple of Cuzco and Louis XIV's Palace of Versailles were used to display ruler's power and transfer power from nobility.

Revenue Generation

Innovative Tax-Collection Systems

• Mughal Empire: Zamindar System for land tax.
• Ottomans: Tax-farming.
• Aztecs: Tribute lists from conquered regions.

Belief Systems and Religious Changes

Christianity in Europe (1450-1750 CE)

• Corruption led to Protestant Reformation by Martin Luther (95 Theses).
• Catholic Reformation with Council of Trent.

Ottoman-Safavid Rivalry

• Shah Ismail’s declaration of Shia state deepened Sunni-Shia split.
• Sunni executions and curse of first three caliphs highlighted religious tension.

Development of Sikhism

• Syncretic blend of Hinduism and Islam.
• Adopted monotheism from Islam, reincarnation from Hinduism.
• Rejected gender hierarchies and caste system.