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.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Power Consolidation in Land-Based Empires

This paragraph discusses how rulers of land-based empires from 1450 to 1750 managed to maintain and administer their power. It introduces the concept of legitimizing and consolidating power, explaining that legitimizing refers to the ruler's communication of authority, while consolidation involves taking power from other groups. The paragraph then explores three main ways rulers achieved this: through large imperial bureaucracies, military expansion, and the use of religion, art, and architecture. An example of a bureaucracy is the Ottoman Empire's Devshirme system, which trained enslaved Christians to become effective administrators and soldiers, known as the Janissaries. The paragraph also touches on European monarchs' claim to rule by Divine Right and the use of human sacrifice by the Aztecs to legitimize their rule.

05:02

💵 Financing Empires: Taxation Systems

The second paragraph delves into how empires financed their large militaries and monumental architecture. It discusses the Mughal Empire's zamindar system, where local landowners collected taxes on behalf of the emperor, extending imperial authority. The Ottoman Empire's tax farming system is also described, where the right to tax was auctioned to the highest bidder, providing a reliable income source for the government. Tax farmers enriched themselves by collecting more than the legally required amount, which also served to consolidate power by removing it from the nobility.

Keywords

💡Legitimize

Legitimize refers to the process by which rulers establish the legality or validity of their power. In the video, it is discussed how rulers of land-based empires used various methods to communicate to their subjects that their rule was legitimate. An example given is the European monarchs claiming to rule by Divine Right, suggesting that their rule was approved by a higher power, in this case, Jesus, which would legitimize their power among their Christian subjects.

💡Consolidate

Consolidate, in the context of the video, means to strengthen or solidify one's power by taking it from other groups or individuals. The script explains how rulers used different strategies to centralize authority and reduce the influence of other power centers. An example is the Ottoman Empire's practice of tax farming, where the right to collect taxes was given to the highest bidder, thereby consolidating the empire's financial power.

💡Bureaucracy

A bureaucracy is defined as a system of government administration carried out by non-elected officials. The video discusses how land-based empires created large bureaucracies to manage their expanding territories. The Ottoman Empire's Devshirme system is highlighted, where it trained enslaved individuals to become effective administrators, thus ensuring the empire's laws were upheld and its administration was efficient.

💡Devshirme

Devshirme was a system used by the Ottoman Empire to staff their bureaucracy and military with highly trained individuals, often enslaved Christians. The video explains how this system was used to create a loyal and effective administrative and military force. The term is significant as it illustrates the empire's strategy for legitimizing and consolidating power through a well-organized and disciplined bureaucracy and military.

💡Janissaries

Janissaries were elite infantry units that formed the core of the Ottoman Empire's standing army. The video mentions that they were also part of the Devshirme system and were made up of enslaved Christians. They played a crucial role in the empire's military expansion and consolidation of power, showcasing the empire's ability to create and maintain a professional and loyal fighting force.

💡Divine Right

Divine Right is the idea that a monarch derives their right to rule directly from the will of God. The video uses this term to explain how European monarchs used religion to legitimize their rule. By claiming to rule by Divine Right, they implied that opposing the monarch was equivalent to opposing God, thereby consolidating their power and ensuring obedience from their subjects.

💡Human Sacrifice

Human sacrifice, as discussed in the video, was a religious practice used by the Aztecs to legitimize their power. The script explains that the Aztecs believed their gods required the energy from human sacrifices to maintain their strength. This practice was used to demonstrate the authority of the Aztec rulers and to reinforce their divine connection, thus legitimizing their rule among their subjects.

💡Imperial Portraits

Imperial portraits were used by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty to legitimize his rule. The video describes how these portraits depicted Kangxi according to traditional Confucian values, which would have appealed to his Chinese subjects. This use of art was a strategic move to convince the ethnically Chinese population of his legitimacy as their ruler, despite being from a different ethnic background.

💡Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is mentioned in the video as an example of how architecture was used to legitimize and consolidate power. Built for French monarch Louis XIV, the palace's grandeur was meant to impress upon the French people the absolute power and authority of the king. Additionally, by forcing the nobility to live there, Louis XIV was able to consolidate power by keeping a close eye on potential rivals and reducing their independent influence.

💡Taxation

Taxation is the process by which a government raises revenue, often from its citizens, to fund state activities. The video discusses two systems of taxation: the Mughal Empire's zamindar system and the Ottoman Empire's tax farming. These systems were crucial for financing the empires' military campaigns and monumental architectural projects, thereby playing a key role in the legitimization and consolidation of imperial power.

💡Zamindar System

The zamindar system was a form of taxation used in the Mughal Empire. Local landowners, known as zamindars, were employed to collect taxes on behalf of the emperor. The video explains that this system helped to extend the empire's authority and consolidate power, as it involved collaboration with local leaders who were trusted by the population, thus facilitating tax collection and reinforcing the emperor's rule.

Highlights

Rulers of land-based Empires from 1450 to 1750 had to figure out how to keep power and administer their Empires.

Two important terms: 'legitimize' and 'consolidate' power, which are crucial for understanding how rulers maintained control.

Legitimize power refers to methods used by rulers to communicate their authority to subjects.

Consolidate power involves taking power from other groups and claiming it for oneself.

First method of legitimizing and consolidating power was through large Imperial bureaucracies.

Bureaucracy is a collection of government officials ensuring laws are kept throughout the Empire.

The Ottoman Empire's dev Sher system as an example of staffing the bureaucracy with highly trained individuals.

Elite soldiers known as the janissaries were part of the Ottoman standing army, illustrating military expansion.

Second method was through religion, art, and architecture to legitimize and consolidate power.

European monarchs claimed to rule by Divine Right, associating their rule with the approval of God.

The Aztecs used human sacrifice as a religious practice to legitimize their power.

Art was used to legitimize power, as seen with Emperor Kangxi displaying portraits in the Imperial City.

Architecture was also used to legitimize rule, such as the Palace of Versailles built by Louis XIV.

The Inca Sun Temple in Cusco was built to facilitate worship and legitimize Inca rule.

Imperial rulers had to finance their militaries, monumental architecture, and other expenses.

The Mughal Empire established the zamindar system for tax collection to extend Imperial Authority.

The Ottoman Empire's tax farming system provided a reliable source of income for the government.

Transcripts

the rulers of land-based Empires from

1450 to 1750 had to figure out how to

keep power and how to administer their

Empires and baby that's what this video

is all about so if you're ready to get

them brain cows milked bureaucratically

then let's get to it okay now right here

at the beginning I need to explain two

very important terms that will probably

have you more confused than a fart in a

fan Factory this particular topic is all

about how rulers of landbased Empires

legitimized and Consolidated their power

you're going to see those words all over

your exams and your textbook reading and

if you don't know what they mean then in

the immortal words of elener shellstrop

you basic oh and by the way if you want

no guys to follow along with this video

in all my videos then check the link in

the description they're really good for

folks who don't like reading their

textbook but still want to do well in

their class so that's you check it out

anyway when rulers take measures to

legitimize their power that refers to

the methods the ruler uses to

communicate to all their underlings who

is in charge what's got two thumbs and

will cut your head off if you cross me

this guy on the other hand when rulers

take measures to consolidate power that

refers to the methods the ruler uses to

take power from other groups and claim

it for him or herself okay so now that

you understand those terms we need to

consider three way way rulers of

land-based Empires legitimized and

Consolidated their power first was

through the creation of large Imperial

bureaucracies and here's another

stinking word that you don't understand

so let's define it a bureaucracy is a

collection of government officials that

ensures that the laws are being kept

throughout the Empire and if you

remember my last video These landbased

Empires were expanding like mad during

this period and so the larger the

empires became the larger the

bureaucracies grew in order to make sure

that these vast Empires could be

properly administered now this was true

of basically all major Empires during

this period but I'm just going to give

you one specific example from the

ottoman Empire namely the dev Sher

system now this was a system by which

the Ottomans staffed their Imperial

bureaucracy with highly trained folks

who in this case were slav for example

in their campaigns for territorial

Conquest in the Balkans the Ottomans

enslaved Christian boys who were then

sent to live with Turkish families so

that they could learn the language and

then they were sent to istan buul for a

proper Islamic education now many of

those boys ended up in the ottoman

military but the cream of the crop were

given further education and sent to work

in the ottoman bureaucracy where their

Elite Education made them wise and

effective administrators of the Empire

but then the second way rulers

administered their Empires was by

expanding their militaries and

especially by creating Elite cadres of

military Professionals in the Ottoman

Empire that same Dev sheer system

supplied elite soldiers that became

known as the janissaries they were also

made up of enslaved Christians and

formed the core of the Ottoman standing

army which was significantly increasing

in size during this period okay now the

second Major Way rulers legitimized and

Consolidated their power during this

period was through religion art and

architecture and I'll give you an

example of each in terms of religion

European monarchs claim to rule by

Divine Right which is to say that the

king Queen ruled with the approval of

Jesus himself it's not hard to

understand why this belief if accepted

among the people would legitimize the

power of a monarch most of the folks in

Europe were Christians and if a monarch

ruled by divine right then to oppose the

King was to oppose God himself and that

was uh no bueno but over in the Americas

the Aztecs used the religious practice

of human sacrifice to legitimize their

power now to be fair this practice

predated the Aztecs and was common among

the mesika people before they became you

know the Aztec they believe that their

son God lost energy at regular intervals

and can only be reinvigorated through

the spilling of sacrif icial human blood

but at the height of the Aztec empire

priests and rulers worked in tandem to

perform these sacrifices usually with

captured prisoners of war and they

gathered whole cities for the ritual and

all of this had a way of letting

everyone know in attendance who was in

charge now in terms of using art to

legitimize power we have a great example

over in the Ching Dynasty there Emperor

kongi displayed Imperial portraits of

himself around the Imperial City and

maybe to you that just sounds like you

know he was really into himself but and

I don't know maybe he was but these

portraits served to convince the Chinese

that kangi was their legitimate ruler

remember from the last video that the

ching were ethnically Manu which is to

say not natively Chinese that means they

were Outsiders but in these portraits

kangi is depicted according to

traditional Confucian values which would

have appealed to his Chinese subjects

and hopefully convinced them to accept

his Rule and in terms of using

architecture to legitimize rule I'm in

the mood to give you two examples here

you see the Palace of Versailles which

was built for the French monarch Louis

the 14th and it was a massive when the

people of France saw this Palace and all

of its grander there was really only one

thought they could have whoever lives

there uh yeah that guy is in charge but

Louie also used this Palace to to

consolidate power as well and he did it

by forcing the French nobility to live

there at least part-time with that move

he was able to remove power from them

and situate it right beneath his

Fabulous High heeles and then the second

example is the Inca Sun temple in kusco

now remember that Inca rulers were

considered to be direct descendants of

the Gods and so to facilitate festivals

of worship Inca rulers built this Temple

whose walls were covered in sheets of

gold and whose Courtyards contained

hundreds of golden statues and again

since the rulers were associated with

the gods buildings like this serve to

legitimize their power and then finally

we need to talk about how Imperial

rulers Finance these huge militaries and

Monumental architecture and fabulous

butt cuts and that means we need to talk

about systems of Taxation and the mugal

Empire rulers established the zamindar

system to collect tax revenue now

remember that the mugal rulers were

Muslim While most of the South Asian

population was Hindu which meant a

healthy dose of Suspicion toward their

Muslim rulers so to combat that mugal

rulers employed local land owners called

zamindars to collect taxes throughout

the Empire on behalf of the emperor this

had the effect of extending Imperial

Authority and consolidating Imperial

power and then over in the Ottoman

Empire they created a system for

collecting taxes known as tax farming

essentially under this system the right

to tax subjects of the Ottoman Empire

went to the highest bidder and whoever

got that right was authorized to collect

taxes from a particular group of people

and they enriched themselves by

collecting more taxes than were legally

required and thus padding their pockets

this system helped the ottoman

government by providing a reliable

source of income at the beginning of

every year which came from the bidding

for the right to tax and furthermore

since these tax Farmers weren't members

of the official bureaucracy the Ottomans

didn't have to pay them since they paid

themselves by fleecing the general

populace Noise Okay click here to keep

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