Glossary
Absolute Monarchies
A form of government where the monarch holds supreme, unchecked power, often claiming divine right, characteristic of many land-based empires.
Example:
Louis XIV of France exemplified Absolute Monarchies, famously declaring 'L'état, c'est moi' (I am the state), centralizing all power in his own hands.
Administration (in empires)
The systems and methods used by empires to govern their vast territories, collect resources, and maintain control over diverse populations.
Example:
Effective Administration was crucial for the Mughal Empire to manage its diverse religious and ethnic groups across the Indian subcontinent, including tax collection and justice.
Aztec Empire
A Mesoamerican empire (c. 1428-1521 CE) in modern-day Mexico, known for its cultural achievements, complex government, and writing system using glyphs.
Example:
The Aztec Empire built its capital city, Tenochtitlan, on an island in a lake, demonstrating advanced engineering and urban planning.
Columbian Exchange
The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas, West Africa, and the Old World in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Example:
While European maritime powers were initiating the Columbian Exchange across oceans, land-based empires were simultaneously consolidating power on continents.
Comparison (in history)
A historical analysis skill that involves identifying and explaining similarities and differences between two or more historical phenomena, societies, or events.
Example:
A common AP World History task is to make a Comparison between the administrative methods of the Ottoman and Mughal Empires, highlighting their shared use of bureaucratic systems and differing approaches to religious diversity.
Continuity and Change
A historical analysis concept that examines what aspects of a society or historical period remained the same (continuity) and what transformed (change) over time.
Example:
When studying the transition from the Ming to the Qing Dynasty, historians analyze the Continuity and Change in China's political structure, economic policies, and social hierarchies.
Cultural Exchange
The reciprocal sharing and blending of ideas, customs, technologies, and artistic forms between different societies or groups within empires.
Example:
The Silk Road facilitated significant Cultural Exchange, allowing Buddhism, paper-making, and various artistic styles to spread across Asia and into Europe.
Empire Building
The process by which empires expand their territory and influence, often through military conquest, diplomatic alliances, and economic control.
Example:
The Empire Building strategies of the Qing Dynasty involved both military campaigns and the strategic integration of conquered peoples into their administrative system.
Forbidden City
An imperial palace complex in Beijing, China, built during the Ming Dynasty, serving as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for centuries.
Example:
The sheer scale and intricate design of the Forbidden City demonstrated the immense power and wealth of the Chinese emperors who resided within its walls.
French Empire
Also known as the Napoleonic Empire, founded by Napoleon Bonaparte, which held significant territory in Europe, Africa, and the Americas during the early 19th century.
Example:
The French Empire under Napoleon sought to spread revolutionary ideals and French influence across Europe through military conquest and political reforms.
Great Wall
A series of fortifications built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China, with significant sections rebuilt and expanded during the Ming Dynasty.
Example:
The Ming Dynasty undertook extensive renovations and additions to the Great Wall to protect against nomadic incursions from the north.
Gunpowder Technology
Innovations in weaponry, such as cannons and muskets, that became widespread during the 1450-1750 period, making conquests more efficient for empires.
Example:
The effective use of Gunpowder Technology allowed the Ottoman Empire to breach formidable city walls, as seen in their siege of Constantinople.
Inca Empire
A large South American empire (c. 1400-1532 CE) in the Andes region, known for its sophisticated government, administration, and record-keeping system (quipus).
Example:
The Inca Empire managed its vast mountainous territory through an impressive network of roads and a highly centralized administrative structure.
Land-Based Empires
Empires primarily focused on territorial expansion and administration within contiguous landmasses, typically existing between 1450-1750 CE.
Example:
The Land-Based Empires of the Ottoman and Mughal dynasties expanded their influence across vast regions through military conquest and sophisticated administrative systems, rather than focusing on overseas colonies.
Manchu
An ethnic group from Manchuria who founded the Qing Dynasty and conquered China in 1644.
Example:
The Manchu rulers of the Qing Dynasty adopted many Chinese administrative practices while also maintaining aspects of their own distinct culture.
Maritime Empires
Empires that primarily focused on overseas expansion, trade, and the establishment of colonies across oceans, contrasting with land-based empires.
Example:
Unlike the Qing Dynasty's focus on internal expansion, the British and Spanish were developing extensive Maritime Empires through naval power and colonial ventures.
Ming Dynasty
A Chinese imperial dynasty (1368-1644) known for its trade expansion, including the Treasure Fleet voyages, and significant cultural achievements like the Forbidden City.
Example:
The Ming Dynasty oversaw a period of immense cultural and economic prosperity in China, including the construction of impressive architectural feats and extensive maritime expeditions.
Mughal Empire
A Muslim dynasty that ruled most of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century, known for cultural achievements and periods of religious tolerance.
Example:
The Mughal Empire blended Persian, Islamic, and Indian cultures, leading to a unique architectural style exemplified by structures like the Taj Mahal.
Ottoman Conquest of Constantinople
The capture of the Byzantine capital, Constantinople, by the Ottoman Empire in 1453, marking a significant shift in power and the end of the Byzantine Empire.
Example:
The Ottoman Conquest of Constantinople in 1453 not only provided the Ottomans with a strategic capital but also symbolized their rising dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Ottoman Empire
A powerful Muslim empire (c. 1299-1922) spanning parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, known for its military strength, cultural achievements, and long duration.
Example:
The Ottoman Empire controlled vital trade routes between East and West, leveraging its strategic position to become a dominant force for centuries.
Palace of Versailles
A grand royal residence built by King Louis XIV of France, completed in 1682, symbolizing the absolute power and grandeur of the French monarchy.
Example:
The construction of the Palace of Versailles served as a powerful visual statement of King Louis XIV's absolute authority, drawing nobles away from their regional power bases to the royal court.
Qing Dynasty
The last imperial dynasty of China (1644-1912), founded by the Manchu, known for territorial expansion, economic growth, and later, internal unrest.
Example:
The Qing Dynasty expanded China's borders significantly, incorporating regions like Tibet and Xinjiang, and maintained control through a sophisticated bureaucratic system.
Quipus
A system of knotted strings used by the Inca Empire for record-keeping, including numerical data, historical accounts, and possibly narratives.
Example:
Without a written language, the Inca relied on Quipus to manage their complex economy, track census data, and preserve important historical information.
Russian Empire
A vast empire (1721-1917) spanning Europe and Asia, known for its territorial expansion, cultural achievements, and advancements in science and technology.
Example:
The Russian Empire continuously expanded its borders eastward across Siberia, eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean and establishing a vast multi-ethnic state.
Safavid Empire
A Persian Empire (1501-1736) in modern Iran and Iraq, founded by Ismail I, which established Shia Islam as its official religion.
Example:
The Safavid Empire became a major center of Shia Islam, often clashing with its Sunni Ottoman neighbors over religious and territorial disputes.
Sakoku Policy
Japan's isolationist foreign policy implemented by the Tokugawa Shogunate, strictly limiting foreign trade and contact from the 17th to the 19th century.
Example:
The Sakoku Policy effectively closed Japan off from most of the outside world, allowing the Tokugawa Shogunate to maintain internal stability and control over foreign influences.
Shia Islam
One of the two main branches of Islam, which became the official religion of the Safavid Empire, distinguishing it from its Sunni neighbors.
Example:
The adoption of Shia Islam as the state religion by the Safavid Empire created a distinct cultural and political identity that often led to conflict with the predominantly Sunni Ottoman Empire.
Songhai Empire
A West African empire (c. 14th-16th century) known for its cultural achievements and as a center of learning, particularly in Islamic studies, mathematics, and astronomy.
Example:
The Songhai Empire flourished as a major trading power in West Africa, with cities like Timbuktu becoming renowned centers of scholarship and Islamic education.
Tokugawa Shogunate
A military dictatorship that ruled Japan during the Edo Period (1603-1868), known for bringing peace, stability, and a policy of isolation.
Example:
Under the Tokugawa Shogunate, Japan experienced a long period of internal peace and cultural flourishing, largely due to its strict control over feudal lords and foreign interactions.