Pre-Modern Eurasian States

Question 1

What was Moscow?

Answer 1

The capital of Russia & core of the Russian state beginning in the 1400s

Question 2

What was a yasak?

Answer 2

A tribute of furs & other goods paid to the Russian state by Central Asians & Siberians

Question 3

What was Russification?

Answer 3

The process of expanding Russian culture & language such as Orthodox Christianity to Central Asia and Siberia

Question 4

What was a tsar/czar?

Answer 4

A Russian ruler

Question 5

Who were Ivan, Catherine, & Peter

Answer 5

Russian czars who expanded the Russian state into Central Asia and Siberia

Question 6

Why did Russia expand into Central Asia?

Answer 6

To eliminate future threats from nomadic pastoralists

Question 7

Why did Russia expand into Siberia?

Answer 7

To get furs and other resources (gold, timber)

Question 8

What developed in Russia as a result of their conquests from 1450s-1750s?

Answer 8

A strong monarch and militaristic culture develops from the conquests

Question 9

What were the 5 long lasting effects of the Russian conquest from 1450-1750?

Answer 9

• Russia quickly became a multiethnic empire
• Process of Russification in which conquered people adopt Russian culture, language, & Orthodox Christianity
• Epidemic Diseases ( measles, smallpox, influenza) spread throughout Siberia
• Nomadic lifestyles are discouraged
• Russian “identify crisis”

Question 10

What was the Qing Dynasty?

Answer 10

The last imperial dynasty of China ruling from 1640s - 1911 and the emperors were ethnically Manchu and foreign

Question 11

How did the Qing leaders attempt to legitimize rule and appear more Chinese?

Answer 11

They adopted Chinese names and Confucianism

Question 12

Why did the Qing Dynasty conquer lots of Central Asia?

Answer 12

To prevent raids by nomadic pastoralists

Question 13

How did China rule their conquered regions in the 1450s-1750s?

Answer 13

• They were ruled as colonies
• Left behind economically
• No spread of Chinese culture to Central Asia

Question 14

How were the Russian and Chinese conquests similiar from 1450-1750?

Answer 14

• Both conquered Central Asia
• The purpose was to pacify/nuetralize nomads

Question 15

How did Russian conquests differ from Chinese conquests from 1450-1750?

Answer 15

• Russia conquered Siberia for luxury goods
• Russia spread Russian culture unlike China
• Russia spread diseases unlike China

Question 16

What was the Mughal Empire?

Answer 16

A diverse empire in India in the 17th-18th century

Question 17

How did Akbar work to culturally unify the Mughal Empire?

Answer 17

• Removed Jizya tax
• Allowed Hindus to serve in Mughal government
• Encouraged inter-faith discussions, debates, and contracts

Question 18

How did Aurangzeb oppose the softening of Islamic ideals in the Mughal Empire?

Answer 18

• Reimposed the Jizya tax
• Closed Hindu temples

Question 19

What was the result of Aurangzeb’s intolerant policies?

Answer 19

It led to instability in the Mughal Empire and the gradual easy takeover by the British

Question 20

What was the Ottoman Empire?

Answer 20

A strong Turkic Muslim state in the Middle East from 1453-1919

Question 21

What is the “Strong Sword of Islam”?

Answer 21

A reference to the Ottoman Empire’s role as leaders & caliphs of the Islamic world

Question 22

What are the Balkans?

Answer 22

A region of SE Europe which includes Greece, Serbia, etc

Question 23

What’s a sultan?

Answer 23

An Ottoman ruler

Question 24

What is devshirme?

Answer 24

The “gathering” of Christian boys by Ottoman rulers

Question 25

What are janissaries?

Answer 25

Elite Ottoman soldiers, many of whom were gathered by devshirme

Question 26

What was “Terror of the Turk”?

Answer 26

Term used to describe Europeans’ fear of the Ottomans

Question 27

What was the Siege of Vienna (1529)?

Answer 27

Battle at which the Ottomans failed to dominate Central Europe

Question 28

Why was the Ottoman Empire welcomed by Christians and Jews in the Balkans?

Answer 28

Lower taxes and religious freedom

Question 29

How did the Devshirme system work?

Answer 29

Christian families would need to surrender a son to the Ottoman Empire - the son would be castrated & converted to Islam- then would hold positions of power as government ministers or elite soldiers (janissaries)

Question 30

How did the Ottoman Empire deal with diversity?

Answer 30

• Permitted Christians and Jews to worship freely if they paid the jizya tax
• Gave local communities (called millets) autonomy as long as they paid taxes & remained loyal to

Question 31

What was Tokugawa Shogunate?

Answer 31

A military government of Japan from 1603-1868.

Question 32

What was a Shogun?

Answer 32

A supreme military ruler in Japan

Question 33

What was daimyo?

Answer 33

Japanese feudal nobles who controlled small competing states

Question 34

What were samurai?

Answer 34

Warriors of noble status who fought on behalf of the daimyo

Question 35

What was the Seclusion Act of 1636?

Answer 35

A law which expelled Europeans and outlawed guns and Christianity in Japan, lasted until 1858

Question 36

What was Japan like prior to 1603?

Answer 36

-There was a figurehead emperor
- Many competing feudal states like Europe
- Nobles ( daimyo) with private armies (samurai
- Regular warfare

Question 37

How did the Tokugawa unify Japan?

Answer 37

With silver profits

Question 38

What were the effects of the Tokugawa Shogunate?

Answer 38

-The beginning of a “shogunate”- a state ruled by a shogun
- Ends feudal warfare, but samurai and daimyo retain noble status
- Still a weak figurehead emperor
- Modernized the economy
- Limited population growth

Question 39

How did pre-modern states conquer and expand

Answer 39

The use of gunpowder