Topic 3.2

📍Topic 3.2 Empires: Administrations

📖 AMSCO p.155 - p.166

Main Idea

Key Timeline

Image Courtesy of Samhitha

Things to Know

Centralizing Control in Europe

• England:
  • King James I of England adhered to the divine right of kings, asserting that his authority to rule was bestowed upon him by God.
  • The Tudor era in England saw the rise of justices of the peace—appointed by the landed gentry to maintain peace, settle legal matters, and enforce the monarch's laws.
• France:
  • In 17th and 18th century France, absolutism took hold as the monarchy sought complete authority with a centralized government.
  • Louis XIV, known as the Sun King, epitomized absolutism, declaring himself the state and consolidating power at Versailles, ultimately leading to a weakening of the French government through the refusal to share power.

Reigning in Control of the Russian Empire

• Russia:
  • Boyars: Land owning upper class.
  • Serfdom: A system where they received land and protection from a noble in exchange for limited personal freedom.
  • Ivan the Terrible confiscated the lands of the dissenting boyars and compelled them to relocate to Moscow after defeating Novgorod.
  • The Romanov Dynasty, which gained control of Russia in 1613, faced conflicting interests from the Church, the boyars, and the royal family.
  • Peter's reforms led to a loss of support from the Russian clergy, and implemented governmental changes, including the creation of provinces with salaried officials and the establishment of a senate for advising in his absence.

Centralizing Control in the Ottoman Empire

• The Ottoman sultans maintained control over extensive territories by implementing the devshirme selection system
  • forcibly recruited Christian boys aged 8 to 20 from conquered European lands to serve in the military and government.
• Janissaries: An elite force of Christian boys in the Ottoman army.

Centralizing Control in East and South Asia

• Japan:
  • During the 12th to the 15th centuries, shoguns governed the nation in the emperor's name, while conflict among landholding aristocrats known as daimyo led to chaos.
  • The introduction of gunpowder weapons played a pivotal role in gradually unifying Japan.
  • The Tokugawa shogunate centralized control over Japan by reorganizing its feudal system, dividing the country into territories controlled by daimyo.
• Mughal Empire:
  • Akbar emerged as the most capable among the Mughal rulers, consolidating power through military victories and expansion of the empire in South Asia.
  • Akbar's centralized government utilized paid officials known as zamindars, initially tasked with specific duties but later granted land, leading to issues as subsequent rulers allowed them to retain more tax revenue for personal purposes.

Legitimizing Power through Religion and Art

• Russia:
  • Peter the Great secured a warm-water port for Russia on the Baltic Sea by seizing lands from Sweden, leading to the establishment of St. Petersburg as the new Russian capital.
• Songhai:
  • Askia the Great actively promoted Islam within the Songhai kingdom and undertook a significant pilgrimage to Mecca.
  • He declared Islam the official religion of Songhai, aiming to unify the empire, and implemented an efficient bureaucracy to enhance governance and cohesion.
• Mughal Empire:
  • Shah Jahan oversaw the construction of notable architectural marvels such as the Taj Mahal, intended as a tomb for his wife.
  • The artisans of Mughal India skillfully blended Islamic arts, including calligraphy and ceramics, with local artistic traditions to create grand structures adorned with intricate geometric designs.
  • Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, remained a key hub on the Silk Roads, with the Grand Bazaar flourishing with foreign goods.
  • Despite the ban on coffeehouses by Islamic law, they thrived in Ottoman towns, contributing to the empire's economic vitality.
• France:
  • The palace at Versailles, a prominent example of French architecture, served as a political tool for Louis XIV by hosting noble gatherings and preventing potential rebellions in their home provinces.

Financing Empires

• Taxation in Russia:
  • Peter the Great established state-controlled Shipyards and iron mountains, encouraging the development of private companies in metallurgy, woodwork, gunpowder, leather, paper, and mining.
  • When industrialization failed to generate enough money for military budget, Peter the Great raised taxes, forcing workers to find employment in shipyards.
  • In 1718, taxes on land became taxes on individuals, further oppressing the poor.
• Ottoman Empire and Mughal Taxation:
  • In order to expand the military, the Ottomans relied on tax farming.
  • Tax Farming: tax collected by private employees rather than government workers.
• Tax collection in the Ming Dynasty:
  • Tax collection is the responsibility of wealthy landowners.
  • Taxes consist of grains, silver, salt, wine, and other goods.
  • China collected tributes from other states to show off their fame and power.

Terms to Remember