AP: Unit 3: Land Based Empires

Which of the following regions was instrumental in providing the Ottomans a military advantage when building their empire?

• China

• North America

• Africa

• Southeast Asia

Answer explanation

Gunpowder originated in China, and through exchange via trade routes, groups such as the Ottoman Turks were able to acquire this technology. By acquiring gunpowder, the Ottomans were able to use muskets against their foes, who did not have the same, and this enabled the Ottomans to conquer territory quickly.

From which of the following groups did the Ottomans model their government system?

• Aztecs

• Ghanians

• Europeans

• Persians

Answer explanation

When the Ottomans had conquered enough territory for their empire, they had to figure out a way to govern it effectively, especially since it was a multi-ethnic empire. Borrowing from their predecessors, the Persian Empire, the Ottomans used a similar, merit-based system to rule. Furthermore, the Ottomans divided their empire into provinces and allowed each province a certain degree of autonomy so that local issues could be dealt with immediately and efficiently

The elite military forces that enabled the Ottomans to conquer so much territory were called

• Janissaries

• Cavalry

• Devshirme

• Dragomans

Answer explanation

The Janissaries Corps was made up of boys who were taken as part of the Devshirme system. These boys were taught military skills and strategies for years, and also were skilled in the use of firearms - a key technological advantage that helped the Ottomans conquer so much territory

One way in which the Mughal Empire was unique from other gunpowder empires of the time was -

• They engaged in only limited trade

• They were the only ones to practice a democratic system of rule

• They were a religious minority within their own empire

• Gunpowder was only minimally used to conquer territories

Answer explanation

The Mughals were Islamic and when they came to rule in India, they were a religious minority group who ruled over a majority of Hindus.

Akbar the Great was most well known for his -

• Complex understanding of trade and commerce

• Desire to bring equality to all women in his empire

• Willingness allow colonialism in India

• Practice of religious tolerance and discourse

Answer explanation

Akbar is most well known for his policies of religious tolerance within his empire. As well, he tried to create a syncretic religion called the Din-i Ilahi which blended the beliefs of Hinduism, Islam, and even Christianity. He also opened the House of Ibadat Khana, where religious scholars from around the world engaged in open religious discourse

The Safavid Empire was different from the Ottoman and Mughal Empires in that

• The Safavids were of Turkish descent

• The Safavids were a Shia empire

• The Safavids did not use gunpowder to conquer territory

• The Safavids promoted religious tolerance within their empire

Answer explanation

The Safavids were the only Shia/Shi'ite gunpowder empire. Both the Ottomans and Mughals were Sunni Muslims. As a result, there was conflict between the Safavids and especially the Ottomans as they did not recognize the legitimacy of each other's rulers.

The decline of the Safavid empire was due to -

• The loss at the Battle of Chaldiran weakened the empire, which will lead to its demise

• The conquest of the Ottoman empire, which made the Safavids too big to be able to control

• The changing of trade routes cost the Safavids nearly all the revenue they needed to run the empire

• Mongol conquering of Central Asia threatened Safavid rule

Answer explanation

At the Battle of Chaldiran, Safavid forces were defeated by the Ottomans, which eliminated Safavid influence in Anatolia, a key region for trade. This loss, while not ending Safavid rule, will weaken it and help eventually lead to its decline.

A key difference between the Qing Empire and other Chinese empires was that

• The Qing did not practice Confucianism within their empire

• The Qing opened their trade to more European nations

• Women's status under the Qing actually improved

• The Qing were not of Chinese descent

Answer explanation

The Qing Dynasty was founded by the Manchus, who were from Manchuria, and were not ethnically Chinese. This made them unique in that all other Chinese dynasties were led by people of Chinese descent.

Which of the following policies directly led to the Opium Wars?

• The Canton System used for trade

• The mandate that all Chinese government officials had to pass the Civil Service Exam

• The conquering of Central Asia

• The annexation of Japan

Answer explanation

The Canton System limited European trade into China; Europeans were only allowed to trade at two ports and the Qing rarely, if ever, purchased European products. This led to a trade imbalance for Britain, who decided to fight back with Opium, which led to the Opium War

All of the following were effects of the Opium Wars EXCEPT

• More ports were open to European traders

• Britain took direct control over China

• Reparation payments had to be made by the Qing to the British

• European citizens were allowed to live in Chinese territory

Answer explanation

Britain's main goal in China was to open it markets for European products, and build more of an economic, not political empire. Britain did not really want to directly control Chinese political systems or social systems.