Ming Dynasty
What was the Mandate of Heaven?
The belief that heaven gave a dynasty the right to rule and could take it away if rulers were unjust.
Name the three Gunpowder Empires.
Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal.
What does “Renaissance” mean?
Rebirth — of learning, art, and classical ideas (focusing on the Greeks and Romans)
What was Martin Luther protesting against in the Catholic Church?
Corruption, indulgences, and leaders acting with pride instead of humility.
What strategy did Cortés use to gain power over the Aztecs?
Alliances and psychological manipulation, like turning the former allies against the Aztecs.
What was the main purpose of the Great Wall of China?
To protect China from northern invaders and show the emperor’s power.
What religious group was in power in these empires?
Muslims (Islamic rulers).
What new idea about human ability became central during the Renaissance?
Humanism — the belief in the value and potential of each person.
According to Protestants, what alone was enough to achieve salvation?
Faith
What was the Encomienda System?
A Spanish system giving colonists control of land and forced Indigenous labor.
What Confucian value encouraged the Ming government to build schools?
Education — the belief that learning makes people better and wiser.
What does the phrase “faith and firepower” mean in the context of these empires?
Rulers used both religion and weapons to control and unite their people.
How did Renaissance artists and thinkers show that humans could shape their own world?
They studied science and anatomy to improve art, explored new ideas, and emphasized human achievement instead of just religion.
How did Martin Luther’s ideas change people’s view of the Church’s power?
He argued that individuals could read the Bible and have faith without needing the Pope’s approval, which weakened Church control.
Why did Europeans force enslaved Africans to the Americas?
They "needed" labor for plantations after Indigenous populations declined.
How did the Ming Dynasty use Confucian values to strengthen the government?
Officials promoted education, moral behavior, and care for the people, creating order and stability.
Compare how the Ottomans and Mughals consolidated power.
Ottomans used a strong army and religious tolerance; Mughals used alliances and cultural blending.
How did the Church and the Scientific Revolution come into conflict?
Scientists like Galileo challenged Church teachings about the universe.
Name one major development that helped cause the Reformation.
Printing press, corruption in the Church, or humanist questioning.
What resource became the first sustained link between the Americas and Europe?
Silver.
Why could the Mandate of Heaven both support and challenge a ruler’s power?
It justified rule when things went well, but rebellions could claim the dynasty lost heaven’s favor after disasters.
Why did combining religion and military power make these empires last longer?
It created unity among people and loyalty to both the ruler and their faith.
How did art and science during the Renaissance reflect humanism?
They showed human creativity, curiosity, and confidence in human reason.
What was the Catholic Church’s response to the Reformation?
The Counter-Reformation — reforms, new religious orders, and reaffirming Church teachings.
What was the Middle Passage?
The deadly journey enslaved Africans took across the Atlantic.