Unit 3 2026 | Land-Based
Empires Study Guide &
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, Ottoman Empire Islamic state founded by Osman in northwestern Anatolia. After the fall of the
Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire was based at Istanbul (formerly
Constantinople) from 1453-1922. It encompassed lands in the Middle East, North
Africa, the Caucasus, and eastern Europe.
Safavids A Shi'ite Muslim dynasty that ruled in Persia (Iran and parts of Iraq) from the 16th-
18th centuries that had a mixed culture of the Persians, Ottomans and Arabs.
Songhai a West African empire that conquered Mali and controlled trade from the into the
16th century; eventually defeated by the Moroccans who were broke after
fighting with Portugal
Devshirme 'Selection' in Turkish. The system by which boys from Christian communities were
taken by the Ottoman state to serve as Janissaries (elite military units utilized by
the Ottomans)
Janissary elite Ottoman guard (trained as foot soldiers or administrators) recruited from the
Christian population through the devshirme system, that often converted to Islam
Samurai Class of warriors in feudal Japan who pledged loyalty to a noble in return for land.
Divine Right the idea that monarchs are God's representatives on earth and are therefore
answerable only to God.