Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________ Class Period: ________
AMSCO World History: Modern Reading Guided Notes:
Chapters 3.1, 3.2
As you read the selections from the chapter, use the following questions/key vocab
words/graphic organizers to make sure you take notes on all the important information.
Rise of the Islamic Gunpowder Empires (pgs. 146-147)
1. Describe FIVE similarities between the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires (page
146, 1st paragraph).
Five similarities between the empires were they all: descended from Turkic nomads that lived in
Central Asia, all spoke a Turkic language, all took advantages of power vacuums left by the
breakup of Mongol khanates and relied on gunpowder weapons.
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________ Class Period: ________
2. Explain THREE reasons the Gunpowder Empires were able to conquer other empires and
expand their territories.
Military might, weakness/corruption of regimes they replaced, European nations fighting among
themselves.
3. Identify Tamerlane (Timur the Lame) and the cultures he was connected to. Describe his
methods of spreading his territory and at least TWO ways he maintained power (pages
146-147, paragraph that starts on 146 and ends at the top of 147).
Tamerlane was a Mongol-Turkic ruler in the late 14th century. He made ruthless conquests in
Persia and India, massacring 100,000 Hindus. The government was depended largely on the
military and heavy artillery, also protecting trade routes such as the silk roads.
4. Explain why Tamerlane’s empire was important for its military, economic, and
architectural accomplishments.
The Tamerlane empire was important for its accomplishments because it signified the
importance of gunpowder, set a precedence of importance on learning and arts, lastly to highlight
the importance of protecting trade routes or the empire’s economy.
The Ottoman Empire (pgs. 147-148)
5. Identify the years the Ottoman Empire existed and the territories it controlled (page 147,
1st paragraph in section).
1300-1918, controlling Turkey, Balkans of Europe, parts of North Africa, and Southeast Asia.
6. Identify Mehmed II and describe his military and political contributions to the Ottoman
Empire.
He was referred to as the Conqueror, ruling from 1451 to 1481. He established the capital of the
empire after besieging Constantinople, changed the city’s name to Istanbul, and strengthened the
Ottoman navy.
7. Identify Suleiman I and describe his military contributions to the Ottoman Empire (page
148, 1st two full paragraphs).
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________ Class Period: ________
Ruled 1520-1566, his armies overran Hungary and were at the gates of Vienna, causing fear in
Christian Europe. His navy captured the islands of Rhode, and took control of Tripoli.
The Safavids (pgs. 148-149)
8. Identify where the Safavid ruled and their first leader.
Established in Iran (northern Azerbaijan region), and Ismail or the Shah ruled since 1501.
9. What were the TWO major disadvantages the Safavid Empire faced (page 148, 2nd full
paragraph in section)?
Their empire did not have a real navy and they lacked natural defenses.
10. Identify the title the Safavids gave their political leaders and describe Abbas the Great’s
political contributions.
Shahs, Abbas imported weaponry from Europe and relied on Europeans to advise his
troops on military technology.
11. Describe Shah Ismail’s political contributions to the Safavid Empire and explain how he
used religion to support his rule (pg. page 148, 3rd paragraph)
Used Shi’a Islam as a unifying force, built a power base supporting his rule and denying
legitimacy to Sunni’s.
12. Describe TWO reasons the Ottoman and Safavids experienced conflict.
Strict adherence to Shi’a and control over overland trade routes.
Mughal India (pg. 149)
13. Identify the founder of the Mughal Empire and his ancestor. Describe who the Mughal
Empire traded with and what resources they wanted (page 149, 1st two paragraphs in
section).
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________ Class Period: ________
Babur was the founder of the Mughal Empire and Akbar, his grandson achieved religious
and political goals. They traded with Arab, wanting textiles, tropical foods, spices, and
precious stones.
14. Explain how the Mughal Empire used the Hindu caste system.
They were used as social groupings, which were the basis of educational and vocational
opportunities for Indian society.
Centralizing Control in the Ottoman Empire (pg. 158)
15. Explain how the devshirme system worked and how Ottoman rulers used it to strengthen
their control (1st and 2nd paragraphs).
It was a selection system that staffed their military and government. They used Christian boys to
develop a similar concept to slavery. Top groups were called Janissaries, an elite force in the
Ottoman army.
16. Describe the Janissaries and explain how they were used in state building.
They were an elite force within the Ottoman army, and they were groomed to become
administrators of the newly conquered territories.
Centralizing Control in East and South Asia (pgs. 159-160)
17. Identify the capital of the Mughal Empire and explain how the Mughal emperors,
especially Akbar, used state building to create a strong government (pgs. 159-160, two
paragraphs in this section).
The capital of the Mughal Empire was Delhi, he established an efficient, strong, and centralized
government. Paid government officials called zamindars were tasked with taxation, construction,
and water supply.
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________ Class Period: ________
East Asia (pgs. 145-146)
1. Which empire did the Ming conquer for control of China? In what year did they
accomplish this and how long did the Ming rule China (page 145, 1st paragraph in
section)?
The Yuan Dynasty. They accomplished this in 1368 after only less than a century in power.
2. Who replaced the Ming Dynasty in China, when did this conquest happen, and where
were the new rulers from?
The Manchu or Qing Dynasty replaced them, in 1644.
3. How did the Ming Dynasty and Mongols interact and how did the Ming react to Mongol
threats (page 145, 2nd paragraph)?
They fought over control and the Ming restored the Great Wall of China in response to the
capture of their leader.
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________ Class Period: ________
4. Identify the two Qing emperors discussed in this section, their contributions/
accomplishments, and the years they ruled.
Emperor Kangxi ruled in 1661-1722, he sent forces into Taiwan, Mongolia, and Central Asia,
making them apart of the empire. The 2nd, Emperor Qianlong ruling in 1736-1796, initiated
military campaigns, leading to the annexation of Xinjiang.
Financing Empires (pg. 163)
5. Who collected taxes in Ming China, what was taxed, and how were taxes stored (page
163)
Private citizens, or wealthy families. They taxed land and were collected in the form of grains
and later, silver. They were stored in local facilities.
AMSCO World History: Modern Reading Guided Notes:
Chapters 1.6, 3.3 (you also need to read 3.4)
As you read the selections from the chapter, use the following questions/key vocab
words/graphic organizers to make sure you take notes on all the important information.
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________ Class Period: ________
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________ Class Period: ________
Renaissance (pgs. 60-61)
1. Identify three changes that helped begin the Renaissance? (page 60, 1st paragraph)
Expansion of trade, growth of an agricultural surplus, and the rise of a middle class.
2. What does the author mean by describing the Renaissance as a “period characterized by a
revival of interest in classical Greek and Roman literature, art, culture, and civic virtue?”
How did the invention of the printing press contribute to the Renaissance?
It was an era where old art forms, culture, and literature were resurfaced and emphasized. It
allowed manuscripts to be mass-produced at affordable costs, leading to growth in literacy and
spread of ideas.
3. Define humanism and explain how humanists contributed to the Renaissance. (page 60,
2nd paragraph)
Humanism is the focus on oneself instead of religion, boosting education and reform.
4. Define vernacular and nationalism.
Vernacular is a common language spoken in a specific area. Nationalism is one’s pride in their
own nation.
5. Identify the countries included in the Southern Renaissance and describe how the
Renaissance was characterized there.
Italy and Spain, forms of art such as literature had poked at many common ideas and wealth
supporting the arts such as this lead to the Renaissance.
6. Describe how the Renaissance was characterized in the Northern Renaissance.
In the Northern Renaissance, they emphasized human concerns rather, however similarly
satirical.
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________ Class Period: ________
Protestant Reformation (pgs. 167-171)
7. Identify three people who challenged the Catholic Church and explain what they wanted
the Church to reform. (page 167, paragraph that spans the two pages)
John Wycliffe and the Lollard’s argued priests were unnecessary for salvation. Another person
that challenged the Catholic Church was Huldrych Zwingli. He opposed the requirement for
celibacy of the clergy.
8. Define the Babylonian Captivity and explain how it contributed to the weakening of the
Church.
Papacy was in France instead of Rome, leading to French rulers having greater influence over the
church including the ability to decide who should be Pope.
9. Describe THREE of Luther’s challenges to the Church and explain how the pope reacted
to his protest. (page 168, 2nd and 3rd full paragraphs)
Objected to the sales of indulgences, simony, and nailed the 95 Theses onto a church door. The
Church reacted harshly, knowing they needed the money coming from the challenged teachings.
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________ Class Period: ________
10. Describe THREE ways Lutheranism positively impacted women and ONE way it
negatively impacted them.
He taught that women should have direct access to God just as men could, he emphasized
women’s literacy, and believed they had significant roles in the family. However, Protestant
women did not have the opportunity to become leaders in a vital institution.
11. Describe Calvinism’s basic beliefs and identify THREE branches of Calvinism and
where they developed. (page 168, last paragraph)
They were encouraged to work hard and reinvest their profits, showing God their hard work. The
followers in France were called Huguenots, Puritans in England, and the Reformed Church of
Scotland led by John Knox.
12. Define “Protestant work ethic” and explain why it is associated with Protestantism.
They were encouraged to work hard and reinvest their profits, showing that God favored their
obedience and hard work.
13. Explain how Anglicanism developed. (page 169, last paragraph in section)
The King had wanted a male heir to succeed him however never had the chance and so he asked
the pope to annul his marriage so he could marry another women. King Henry defied this, and
became the head of the new Church of England, or Anglican Church.
The Orthodox Church and Reforms in Russia (pgs. 169-170)
14. Describe THREE ways Peter the Great make the Russian tsar more powerful than the
church?
He asserted his authority moving against the Orthodox Church, and abolished the position of
patriarch, the head of the Church, and made it into a government.
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________ Class Period: ________
Counter-Reformation or Catholic Reformation (pg. 170)
15. Describe THREE ways the Catholic Church tried to prevent Protestantism from replacing
it as the dominant Christian religion in Western Europe. (pg. 170, bulleted list)
Increased the use of the Inquisition or torture, a religious order of the Jesuits, and the Council of
Trent corrected some of the worst of the Church’s abuses.
16. Explain how the Counter-Reformation successfully preserved Catholicism and identify
where Catholicism remained strong.
Corrected many of the wrong practices of the Protestants and it remained strong in the areas of
Western Europe near the Mediterranean Sea.
Thirty Years’ War in Europe
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________ Class Period: ________
Wars of Religion (pg. 171)
17. Describe the Peace of Augsburg (page 171, 1st paragraph)
It allowed each German state to choose whether its ruler would be catholic or Lutheran, resulting
in churches and inhabitants forced to practice the state religion.
18. Describe the Edict of Nantes and explain what happened when Louis XIV issued the
Revocation of the Edict of Nantes.
Allowed Huguenots to practice their faith, and as a result of the Revocation of the Edict of
Nantes, France experienced social and economical effects.
19. Describe the Thirty Years’ War and the Peace of Westphalia. (page 171, 3rd and 4th
paragraphs)
The final great religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Europe, leading to
economic catastrophe. The Peace of Westphalia allowed each area of the Holy Roman Empire to
select one of three religious options: Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism, or Calvinism.
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________ Class Period: ________
20. Describe TWO effects of the Peace of Westphalia.
Allowed each area of the Holy Roman Empire to select one of three religious options: Roman
Catholicism, Lutheranism, or Calvinism. After this settlement, France, Spain, and Italy were
predominantly Catholic. Northern Europe was either Lutheran or Calvinist.
