AP World History Unit 3: Expansion of Land-based Empires (1450-1750)

Introduction

• Land-based empires: Empires whose power is based on territorial holdings.
• Expansion period: 1450-1750.
• Compare with sea-based empires: Next unit will cover sea-based empires whose power derives from naval dominance.
• Common traits:
  • Militaristic expansion using gunpowder (referred to as "gunpowder empires").
  • Successors of fallen Mongol Empire.

Key Land-based Empires

Ottoman Empire

• Significance: Most significant Islamic empire in this period.
• Origins: Founded in the 14th century post-Mongol Empire.
• Key to Expansion:
  • Control of the Dardanelle (strategic choke point).
  • Development and use of gunpowder weapons.
• Major achievement:
  • Sack of Constantinople (1453), renamed Istanbul.
• Expansion: Covered much of Southwestern Europe and Anatolia by 1750.

Safavid Empire

• Location: Middle East.
• Formation: Early 1500s from previous Muslim empires.
• Notable Leader: Shah Ismail.
  • Declared empire a Shia Muslim state.
  • Created tensions with neighboring Sunni empires (Ottomans and Mughals).
• Military Expansion: Under Shah Abbas, expanded military with gunpowder weapons.

Mughal Empire

• Region: South and Central Asia.
• Foundation: Replaced the Delhi Sultanate in the 16th century.
• Key Figures:
  • Babur: Initial expansion using gunpowder weapons.
  • Akbar: Grandson of Babur; known for religious tolerance and administration.
• Achievements: Most prosperous empire of the 16th century.

Qing Dynasty

• Background: Successor of the Ming Dynasty after Mongol rule.
• Ming Dynasty: Ethnically Han, established peace in East Asia.
• Qing Rise:
  • Founded by Manchu people in 1636.
  • Took over Ming territories using a 40-year conquest campaign.
  • Control included Taiwan and parts of Mongolia and Central Asia.
• Ethnic Tensions: Manchu rule over majority Han population created tensions.

Inter-Empire Conflicts

• Expansionist Goals: Led to inevitable clashes.
• Common Causes:
  • Religious conflicts.
  • Political goals.

Example Conflicts

1. Safavid-Mughal Conflict

   • Series of wars in the 17th century over Persian Gulf and Central Asia.
   • Religious rivalry: Safavid (Shia) vs. Mughal (Sunni).
   • No clear victory.

2. Songhai-Moroccan Conflict

   • Songhai Empire weakened due to internal issues.
   • Moroccan invasion aimed to control trade routes.
   • Moroccans succeeded due to gunpowder weapons advantage.

Conclusion

• Land-based empires were characterized by expansion through military innovation and conflicts driven by religious and political objectives.
• Understanding these dynamics is essential for studying the development of world history during this period.