Land-Based Empires: ADMINISTRATION [AP World History Review—Unit 3 Topic 2]

Summary

This video explores how land-based Empires from 1450 to 1750, such as the Ottoman and Inca, legitimized and consolidated power. It discusses the creation of large bureaucracies, like the Ottoman's devshirme system, and the expansion of militaries with elite soldiers like the janissaries. The script also covers the use of religion, art, and architecture to legitimize rule, exemplified by European Divine Right, Aztec human sacrifice, Chinese Imperial portraits, and grand buildings like the Palace of Versailles. Lastly, it touches on taxation systems like the Mughal Empire's zamindar system and the Ottoman's tax farming.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The rulers of land-based empires between 1450 and 1750 had to find ways to maintain power and administer their empires.
• 👑 'Legitimize' refers to methods used by rulers to communicate their authority to subjects, while 'consolidate' refers to taking power from others and claiming it for themselves.
• 📚 The script provides resources for students who prefer video content over textbooks to succeed in their classes.
• 🛃 Large imperial bureaucracies were created to ensure laws were upheld across expanding empires, exemplified by the Ottoman Empire's Devshirme system.
• 👥 The Devshirme system involved enslaving Christian boys, educating them in Islamic teachings, and employing them in the military or bureaucracy.
• 🗡️ Elite military units like the Ottoman Janissaries, composed of enslaved Christians, were used to expand and protect empires.
• ⛪️ Religion was used to legitimize rule, with European monarchs claiming Divine Right and the Aztecs using human sacrifice to demonstrate power.
• 🖼️ Art was employed to legitimize power, such as Emperor Kangxi displaying portraits to convince the Chinese of his legitimacy.
• 🏰 Architecture was used to legitimize rule, like the Palace of Versailles and the Inca Sun Temple, showcasing the ruler's grandeur and power.
• 💰 Empires financed their militaries and monumental projects through taxation systems, such as the Mughal Empire's Zamindar system and the Ottoman tax farming system.

Q & A

What were the two important terms explained at the beginning of the video?

The two important terms explained were 'legitimize' and 'consolidate'. 'Legitimize' refers to the methods a ruler uses to communicate who is in charge, while 'consolidate' refers to the methods used to take power from other groups and claim it for themselves.

How did the creation of large Imperial bureaucracies help legitimize and consolidate power?

Large Imperial bureaucracies helped legitimize and consolidate power by ensuring that laws were kept throughout the Empire. As Empires expanded, the bureaucracies grew to administer these vast territories effectively.

What was the Devshirme system in the Ottoman Empire?

The Devshirme system was a method by which the Ottomans staffed their Imperial bureaucracy with highly trained individuals, often enslaved Christians who were educated in the Islamic faith and trained to be effective administrators or soldiers.

How did the Ottoman Empire use the Devshirme system to create a standing army?

The Ottoman Empire used the Devshirme system to supply elite soldiers known as the Janissaries, who were also made up of enslaved Christians and formed the core of the Ottoman standing army.

What is meant by rulers legitimizing their power through religion?

Rulers legitimizing their power through religion involved claiming divine approval for their rule. For example, European monarchs claimed to rule by Divine Right, suggesting their rule was approved by God.

How did the Aztecs use religion to legitimize their power?

The Aztecs used the religious practice of human sacrifice to legitimize their power. They believed that their sun god required regular human blood sacrifices to maintain his energy, and these public rituals reinforced the authority of the Aztec rulers.

How did Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty use art to legitimize his rule?

Emperor Kangxi used art to legitimize his rule by displaying Imperial portraits of himself around the Imperial City. These portraits depicted him according to traditional Confucian values, appealing to his Chinese subjects and convincing them of his legitimacy despite being ethnically Manchu.

What was the purpose of the Palace of Versailles in consolidating power?

The Palace of Versailles was used by Louis XIV to consolidate power by forcing the French nobility to live there part-time, thereby removing power from them and centralizing it under his control.

How did the Inca rulers use architecture to legitimize their rule?

Inca rulers, considered direct descendants of the gods, built the Sun Temple in Cusco, adorned with gold and containing golden statues, to facilitate worship and legitimize their divine association and rule.

What was the Mughal Empire's system for collecting tax revenue called?

The Mughal Empire's system for collecting tax revenue was called the zamindar system, where local landowners collected taxes on behalf of the emperor, extending Imperial authority.

How did the Ottoman Empire's tax farming system help consolidate power?

The Ottoman Empire's tax farming system helped consolidate power by providing a reliable source of income from the bidding process at the beginning of each year. Tax farmers, who were not official bureaucrats, enriched themselves by collecting more taxes than required, which indirectly strengthened the empire's finances.