Glossary
Aztec Empire
A Mesoamerican empire that dominated large parts of central Mexico from the 14th to the 16th centuries, known for its complex religious practices, including human sacrifice.
Example:
The Aztec Empire expanded its influence through military conquest and tribute collection, often incorporating conquered peoples into their vast network.
Bureaucratic Elites
Individuals who hold power and influence within an empire due to their knowledge and expertise in government administration.
Example:
In the Qing Dynasty, highly educated scholar-officials who passed rigorous civil service exams formed the core of the bureaucratic elites, managing everything from tax collection to public works.
Devshirme System
A system used by the Ottoman Empire to recruit non-Muslim children, primarily from the Balkans, who were then educated and trained for military or administrative service.
Example:
Through the devshirme system, a young Christian boy might be taken from his village and trained to become a high-ranking official or a formidable Janissary soldier.
Divine Right
A political and religious doctrine asserting that a monarch's legitimacy to rule comes directly from God, not from the consent of the people.
Example:
European monarchs often invoked divine right to justify their absolute authority, claiming that challenging their rule was equivalent to challenging God's will.
Human Sacrifice (Aztec)
A religious practice, notably by the Aztecs, where individuals were ritually killed to appease deities and legitimize the ruler's connection to the divine.
Example:
The large-scale human sacrifice practiced by the Aztecs, while central to their religious beliefs, also contributed to resentment among neighboring groups who were often the victims.
Janissaries
Elite infantry units of the Ottoman army, originally composed of Christian boys recruited through the devshirme system and converted to Islam.
Example:
The Janissaries were renowned for their discipline and loyalty, often serving as the Sultan's personal guard and shock troops in battle.
Mausoleums
Grand, often elaborate, buildings constructed as monuments enclosing the tomb or tombs of a deceased person or people.
Example:
The ancient world saw the construction of magnificent mausoleums, such as the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, built for Mausolus, a satrap in the Persian Empire.
Military Elites
Individuals who possess significant power and influence within an empire due to their high rank and position in the armed forces.
Example:
The Mamluks in Egypt were a powerful class of military elites who, despite being originally enslaved soldiers, rose to rule the region for centuries.
Ming Empire (Silver Policy)
The policy implemented by the Ming Dynasty in China to collect all taxes in silver, leading to a significant monetization of the Chinese economy.
Example:
The Ming Empire's silver policy created a massive demand for silver, drawing vast quantities of the metal from the Americas and Japan into China's economy.
Palace of Versailles
A grand royal château in France, serving as a symbol of absolute monarchy and used by Louis XIV to display military power and consolidate control over the nobility.
Example:
Louis XIV's decision to move the French court to the Palace of Versailles allowed him to keep a close eye on the nobility and showcase France's immense wealth and power.
Ronin
Masterless samurai in feudal Japan, often resulting from their lord's death or loss of favor, which could lead to instability.
Example:
Without a lord to serve, a ronin might become a mercenary, a bandit, or seek a new master, embodying a sense of rootlessness in Japanese society.
Salaried Samurai
Samurai who, during the Tokugawa Shogunate, received a fixed income or stipend from their lord rather than land, reflecting their transition to administrative roles.
Example:
Instead of managing their own estates, salaried samurai lived in castle towns and received regular payments, which helped centralize power under the shogun.
Samurai
A class of hereditary military nobility and officers in feudal Japan, who transitioned from warriors to administrators during periods of peace.
Example:
After centuries of warfare, many samurai during the Tokugawa era found new roles as bureaucrats, managing domains and collecting taxes rather than fighting battles.
Songhai Empire
A powerful West African empire that flourished from the 15th to the 16th century, known for promoting Islam and using religious legitimacy for its rulers.
Example:
The rulers of the Songhai Empire actively supported Islamic scholarship and trade, further solidifying their authority through religious patronage.
Sun Temple (Inca Empire)
A significant religious building in the Inca capital of Cuzco, dedicated to Inti, the Inca sun god, and used to reinforce the ruler's divine connection.
Example:
The Sun Temple in Cuzco, with its walls adorned with sheets of gold, visually proclaimed the Inca emperor's direct lineage from the sun god.
Taj Mahal
A magnificent white marble mausoleum in Agra, India, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, symbolizing Islamic architecture and piety.
Example:
The Taj Mahal stands as a breathtaking testament to Mughal architectural prowess and the emperor's profound grief, drawing millions of visitors annually.
Tax Farming
A system where governments sell the right to collect taxes in a specific area to private individuals or groups, who then collect taxes for themselves in return for an upfront payment to the state.
Example:
In the Ottoman Empire, tax farming could be lucrative for the tax farmers but often led to over-taxation of the populace, as collectors sought to maximize their profits.
Tokugawa Shogunate
The last feudal government of Japan, which ruled from 1603 to 1868, known for its long period of peace and stability.
Example:
Under the Tokugawa Shogunate, Japan implemented strict isolationist policies, limiting foreign trade and influence to maintain internal order.
Zamindars
Local landholders and tax collectors in the Mughal Empire, often Hindu princes, who were incorporated into the imperial administration.
Example:
The Mughal emperors relied on zamindars to collect taxes from the peasantry in their assigned territories, often granting them significant local autonomy in return.