AP World History Unit 3: 1450-1750 Land-Based Empires

Overview

• Focus on land-based empires, their expansion, administration, and belief systems from 1450-1750.
• Land-based empires derive power from territorial holdings.

Key Empires

Ottoman Empire

• Founded in the 14th century, expanded rapidly using gunpowder weapons.
• Conquered Constantinople in 1453, renamed it Istanbul.
• Enslaved Christians in the Balkans, converted them to Islam, formed elite forces called Janissaries.
• Major Sunni Muslim empire.

Safavid Empire

• Founded at the beginning of the 16th century in the Middle East.
• Expanded using gunpowder weapons.
• Built military with enslaved soldiers from the Caucasus.
• Shia Muslim empire, conflicted with Sunni Ottomans.

Mughal Empire

• Established in the first half of the 16th century in South and Central Asia.
• Rose by defeating the Delhi Sultanate.
• Expanded using gunpowder and led by tolerant ruler Akbar, who promoted religious tolerance.
• Muslim rulers over a predominantly Hindu population.

Qing Dynasty

• Emerged in the 17th century after the fall of the Ming Dynasty.
• Manchu rulers over Han Chinese population.
• Expanded using gunpowder weapons.

Comparisons and Conflicts

• All four empires expanded rapidly using gunpowder.
• Ottoman vs. Safavid: Sunni-Shia divide, Safavid-Mughal conflict in Afghanistan.
• Administrative systems to legitimize and consolidate power.

Methods of Administration

Bureaucracies

• Extensive systems of government officials to enforce laws.
• Ottoman Devshirme system educated and trained Christian converts for bureaucracy.

Military Professionals

• Development of elite military units, e.g., Janissaries in the Ottoman Empire.

Religious Ideas, Art, Monumental Architecture

• Europe: Divine right of kings strengthened monarchies.
• Qing Dynasty: Emperor portrayed as Confucian scholar.
• Inca Empire: Sun Temple symbolized power.
• France: Palace of Versailles as a power consolidation tool.

Tax Collection Innovations

• Mughal Zamindar System: Elite landowners taxed peasants.
• Ottoman Tax Farming: Auctioned right to tax, leading to corruption.
• Aztec Tribute Lists: Conquered regions sent goods as tribute.

Belief Systems: Continuity and Change

Christianity (Europe)

• Protestant Reformation initiated by Martin Luther against Catholic corruption.
• Catholic Counter-Reformation addressed corruption but maintained salvation doctrines.

Islam

• Sunni-Shia split intensified by Safavid policies under Shah Ismail.
• Forced conversions and sectarian conflict with Ottomans.

Sikhism (South Asia)

• Syncretic religion blending Hindu and Islamic elements.
• Retained monotheism and reincarnation but rejected gender hierarchies and caste system.

Conclusion

• Significant growth and conflict shaped by religious, political, and cultural developments.
• Empires utilized various strategies to expand and maintain power.