AP World History Study Guide: Unit Three - Land-Based Empires (1450-1750)

Empires Expand

• The period from 1450 to 1750 marked significant expansion of land-based empires, often referred to as the "Gunpowder Empires."
• Expansion was largely facilitated by the use of gunpowder, cannons, and advanced weaponry.
• East Asia:
  • The Manchu ethnic group overthrew the Ming Dynasty to establish the Qing Dynasty.
• Islamic Empires:
  • Mughal Empire: Dominated South Asia.
  • Safavid Empire: Controlled large areas in the Middle East.
  • Ottoman Empire: Spanned Southern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
• Conflicts arose due to religious and political rivalries, such as the Safavid-Mughal rivalry and the Songhai Empire's conflict with Morocco.

Empires: Administration

• Methods to legitimize power and maintain control varied:
  • Ottomans: Used the devshirme system to recruit soldiers and bureaucrats.
  • Japan: Developed a professional military with salaried samurai.
  • Constructed monumental structures, like the Incan Temple of the Sun in Cuzco and the Taj Mahal by the Mughals.
• Europe:
  • Promoted the divine right of kings; built palaces like Versailles as power symbols.
• Revenue Collection:
  • Empires implemented systems to collect taxes and revenue.
  • South Asia: Zamindars collected taxes for the Mughal Empire.
  • Ming Dynasty: Collected hard currency and agricultural products.

Empires: Belief Systems

• Major religions like Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism continued to dominate.
• Europe:
  • Protestant Reformation led by Martin Luther.
  • Catholic Counter-Reformation reshaped Christian practices.
• Islamic World:
  • Sunni and Shia divisions deepened, particularly in Ottoman and Safavid empires.
• South Asia:
  • Intermingling of Hindu and Muslim cultures led to the development of Sikhism.

Key Figures and Structures

• Martin Luther: Initiated the Protestant Reformation.
• Taj Mahal: An example of Mughal architecture symbolizing religious dedication.