Glossary
British Empire
The largest empire in history, spanning from the 16th to the early 20th centuries, with territories on every continent, built on global trade and a vast system of colonies.
Example:
The phrase 'the sun never sets on the British Empire' reflected its immense global reach and continuous daylight across its territories.
Casta System
A rigid social hierarchy implemented in Spanish colonial America, based on racial purity and origin, determining an individual's status, rights, and opportunities.
Example:
Under the Casta System, a person's position in society, from Peninsulares at the top to indigenous peoples and enslaved Africans at the bottom, was determined by their ancestry.
Colonial Empires
A type of maritime empire that involved conquering and settling large territories overseas, often leading to significant population transfers and direct political control.
Example:
The Spanish established extensive Colonial Empires in the Americas, imposing their language, religion, and administrative systems on vast indigenous populations.
Devshirme System
A system used by the Ottoman Empire to recruit Christian boys from conquered territories, convert them to Islam, and train them for military or administrative service.
Example:
Through the Devshirme System, talented boys, often from the Balkans, could rise to high positions within the Ottoman government and military, including becoming Janissaries.
Divine Right of Kings
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:
King Louis XIV of France famously embodied the concept of the Divine Right of Kings, believing his authority was absolute and unquestionable.
Dutch Empire
A global maritime empire from the 16th to the early 20th centuries, known for its powerful East India Company and extensive trade and colonization in Southeast Asia and the Americas.
Example:
The Dutch Empire's control over the spice islands of Indonesia made it a dominant force in global commerce during the 17th century.
French Empire
A global maritime empire from the 16th to the early 20th centuries, establishing colonies and trade networks in North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia.
Example:
The French Empire's extensive fur trade in North America led to complex relationships with indigenous populations.
Incan Empire
A pre-Columbian empire in the Andes Mountains of South America, known for its advanced government, impressive architecture, and sophisticated agricultural techniques.
Example:
The intricate road system of the Incan Empire allowed for rapid communication and movement of goods across its vast and mountainous territory.
Land-Based Empires
Empires that primarily expanded and maintained power through control of contiguous land territories, agriculture, and overland trade routes.
Example:
The Ottoman Empire expanded its vast territory across three continents primarily by conquering land and controlling key trade routes like the Silk Road.
Mandate of Heaven
A traditional Chinese philosophical concept that sanctioned the rule of the emperor, implying that heaven would bless a just ruler and withdraw its mandate from a tyrannical one.
Example:
When a dynasty faced widespread rebellions or natural disasters, it was often interpreted as a sign that the emperor had lost the Mandate of Heaven.
Maritime Empires
Empires that derived their power and wealth from overseas trade, the establishment of colonies, and control of sea lanes.
Example:
The British Empire became the largest in history by establishing naval dominance and a global network of colonies and trading posts.
Mexica (Aztec Empire)
A powerful Mesoamerican empire that dominated central Mexico from the 14th to the 16th centuries, characterized by military prowess, complex religious practices, and architectural achievements.
Example:
The capital city of Tenochtitlan, built on a lake, was a marvel of urban planning and engineering within the Mexica (Aztec Empire).
Military Elites (as a system of rule)
A system where a powerful and loyal warrior class or professional military corps is central to maintaining the ruler's authority and control over the empire.
Example:
The Janissaries, an elite infantry unit, were crucial military elites who helped the Ottoman sultans maintain their vast empire.
Millet System
A system in the Ottoman Empire that allowed religious communities (millets) to govern themselves under their own laws, provided they remained loyal to the Sultan and paid taxes.
Example:
The Millet System enabled diverse religious groups, such as Orthodox Christians and Jews, to maintain their cultural and religious identities within the predominantly Muslim Ottoman Empire.
Ming Empire
A Chinese dynasty that ruled from 1368 to 1644, known for its strong government, economic growth, and significant cultural achievements like the completion of the Great Wall.
Example:
Admiral Zheng He's treasure voyages during the Ming Empire showcased China's naval power and extensive trade networks before a shift towards isolation.
Mughal Empire
A Muslim dynasty of Turco-Mongol origin that ruled most of South Asia from the early 16th to the mid-19th centuries, known for its cultural and architectural achievements.
Example:
The construction of the Taj Mahal stands as a testament to the architectural grandeur and prosperity achieved under the Mughal Empire.
Ottoman Empire
A powerful Turkish empire that emerged in the 14th century and controlled vast territories in Southeastern Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa until the early 20th century.
Example:
The Ottoman Empire's capture of Constantinople in 1453 marked a significant shift in global power dynamics and the end of the Byzantine Empire.
Portuguese Empire
An early global maritime empire from the 15th to the early 20th centuries, focused on establishing trading posts and colonies along coastal Africa, Asia, and Brazil.
Example:
Vasco da Gama's voyage around Africa to India established a crucial sea route that was central to the Portuguese Empire's spice trade.
Qing Empire
The last imperial dynasty of China, founded by the Manchu people in 1644, characterized by a centralized bureaucracy and significant cultural development until its fall in 1912.
Example:
The Qing Empire faced increasing internal rebellions and external pressures from European powers during the 19th century, leading to its eventual collapse.
Religious Justification (of rule)
A method used by rulers to legitimize their authority by claiming a divine connection or endorsement from a higher power.
Example:
European monarchs often asserted their right to rule through religious justification, claiming their power came directly from God.
Russian Empire
An autocratic empire ruled by tsars from 1721 to 1917, which expanded to become the largest country by land area, encompassing diverse ethnic groups.
Example:
Peter the Great's reforms aimed to modernize the Russian Empire by adopting Western European technologies and administrative practices.
Safavid Empire
A major Iranian empire established in the early 16th century, known for making Shia Islam the official state religion and for its conflicts with the Ottoman Empire.
Example:
The Safavid Empire fostered a distinct Persian identity through its promotion of Shia Islam, setting it apart from its Sunni neighbors.
Samurai Warriors
A class of hereditary military nobility and officers in feudal Japan, who served the shoguns and daimyo, adhering to a strict code of conduct known as Bushido.
Example:
The loyalty and martial skill of the Samurai Warriors were instrumental in maintaining the stability of Tokugawa Japan for over two centuries.
Social Hierarchies
Systems in societies that rank individuals or groups based on factors like wealth, status, birth, race, or religion, influencing their rights and opportunities.
Example:
Most empires, whether land-based or maritime, established clear social hierarchies to maintain order and control over diverse populations.
Songhai Empire
A large and powerful West African empire that flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries, known for its strong military and centralized administration.
Example:
Under rulers like Askia the Great, the Songhai Empire became a center of Islamic learning and trade in cities like Timbuktu.
Spanish Empire
A global empire from the 15th to the early 19th centuries, primarily focused on the Americas, known for its vast network of trade, colonization, and exploitation of mineral resources.
Example:
The discovery of vast silver deposits in Potosí fueled the wealth and expansion of the Spanish Empire in the Americas.
Tokugawa Japan
A period of Japanese history from 1603 to 1868, marked by political stability, economic growth, and a policy of national isolation under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Example:
During Tokugawa Japan, the strict social hierarchy and limited foreign contact fostered a unique cultural flourishing, including the development of kabuki theater.
Trading Post Empires
A type of maritime empire focused on establishing fortified commercial centers along coasts to control trade routes, rather than conquering large territories inland.
Example:
The Portuguese established Trading Post Empires across Africa and Asia, securing key ports like Goa and Malacca to dominate the spice trade.
Zamindar System
A system used by the Mughal Empire where local landlords (zamindars) were granted the right to collect taxes from peasants on behalf of the emperor.
Example:
The Zamindar System provided the Mughal Empire with a stable source of revenue but also gave significant power to local elites, sometimes leading to regional autonomy.