World History empires name meanings study guide

Goal of this article is to help students identify context and historical recollection via definitions of historical names and terms

• along with memorizing names, places (map literacy) and dates
• historical knowledge and test-day recollection can be enhanced through etymology, or word origins of key historical places, empires or dynasties

Concepts & notes

Cultural Diffusion: are conquerors eventually conquered by the conquered?

• a common thread to studies of rise and fall of empires and dynasties is cultural diffusion
  • cultural diffusion = the spreading and mixing of cultures, populations, technologies, disease, etc.
• we will see in this review over and over how many conquerors become more like the people and places they conquered than what / who they were at the start of the conquest

Standardization & unity

• empires rule and spread rule through the process of standardization
• while we think of standardization as making things the same, it can also mean treating disparate groups equally
  • i.e., under legal or political standards of either tolerance or favor
  • in such systems, different groups may be treated unequally, but in a standardized system, the law or governance treats them consistently, if not equally
    • i.e., Islamic legal distinctions between Muslims and non-Muslims
      • different taxes, military service, etc.
• typical methods of standardization and unity include
  • writing / language
  • laws
  • taxation
  • currency/ money
  • road & canal building
  • official religion and/or religious tolerance

China empires/ dynasties

Name	Name definition	Dates	Region	Notes
Chinese dynasties follow four general categories of name origins:	geographic origins (Qin, Han dynasties) capital cities (Sui and Tang dynasties) material properties (Liao (iron), Tang (jade) dynasties word meanings (Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties; see below
Yuan Dynasty	as used by Kublai Khan, mean "origin" or "center" of the universe "Great Yuan" named by the empire's founder, Kublai Khan, likely in order to inlude his rule within Chinese dynastic history as well as to claim the Mandate of Heaven	1271–1368		established by Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan 1st non-Han dynasty to rule China Yuan emperors spoke Chinese but kept use of Mongolian Kublai Khan's 1st capital was called "City of the Khans," but was changed in Han Chinese to "Great Capital" he used the name changes to claim Chinese legitimacy Sources: History of the Yuan Dynasty (wikipedia)
Ming Dynasty	Ming is from the Chinese characters for sun and moon; it also means "luminescent" the name was taken by Han Shantong who led early rebellions against the Yuan Dynasty; Han Shantong took on the name "King Ming" for "King of Light"	1368-1644		followed the collapse of Mongol rule under the Yuan Dynasty the "Red Turban Rebellions" weakened the Yuan (named for red banners and hats) Red Turban movement was started by a Chinese monk (associated w/ the Bhuddist White Lotus secret society that believed in fight of good v. evil, influencd by Manichaeism from ancient Persia, called in China "Mingjiao") represented a Han Chinese ethnic rebellion against Mongol rule reinstituted Confucian culture, which was largely Han Ming emperors used court eunuchs (couldn't have children so posed no dynastic threat) to balance power w/ Confucian administrator Sources: 7 Things You May Not Know About the Ming Dynasty (History.com) The Ming Dynasty Facts (encyclopediaoffacts.com) The relationship between the Ming Dynasty and Mingjiao (nif.news) (not academic; seems to be a Chinese cultural magazine) Why did Zhu Yuanzhang name his dynasty the Ming Dynasty? (Quora user answer)
Qing Dynasty	Qing means, "blue, aqua, clear, transparent" Qing character contains 3 strokes of the water symbol the 1st Qing emperor renamed "the Great Jin" empire ("Jin" signifies "metal and fire") to "Great Qing" Jin was understood to represent the fiery tempers of the Manchu royalty Qing for "transparent" and "water" indicated an end to feuds in the royal family	1644–1911	Manchuria, China	Arose from the "Later Jin Dynasty" from Manchuria (northeast region of China thus is also known as the "Manchu Dynasty "Manchu" = people from Manchuria Jin dynasty ruler Hong Taiji, renamed the "Great Jin" to "Great Qung" in 1636 Qing was a Chinese name he renamed the "Jurchen" people to "Manchu" "Manchu" may come from the word for "brave" the renaming reflects his conquest of all of Manchuria key Hong Tajji's rise was adoption of artillery, which the Ming had used to defeat him before he conquered the Ming capital in Beijing in 1644 as ruler, he accepted ethnic Han into his military and government, and even married 10000 Manchu women to Han men sources: Qing Dynasty (New World Encyclopedia)

Mongol empires

Name	Name definition	Dates	Region	Notes
Mongol Empire	started by Genghis Khan or "Temüjin" Temüjin is Chinese and may mean or be related to Truco-Mongol for "blacksmith" Temüjin was given to him by his father upon defeat of a Tatar chief named Temüjin-üge "Genghis Khan" means "great leader" or "universal ruler" Khan meant chief of a clan (tribe) Genghis may mean "sea" thus suggesting "ruler of the seas," thus all of the world "Mongol" means "whole great nation"	1206–1368	Eurasia	Genghis Khan conquered / united central/northern Asian "tribal confederations" who were in constant warfare with one another Mongol Empire c. 1207, upon Genghis Khan's consolidation of Mongol tribes in the northern steppe. Temüjin took the name "Genghis Khan" that year. upon Genghis Khan's death the empire was divided into four "fragment" empires: Asia in 1335, showing the four "Khanates", successor empires to the Mongol Empire, often referred to as "fragments" of it. The four "khanates" are *Yuan Dynasty * Golden Horde * Chagatai Khanate * Ilkhanate Khanate	none
Yuan Dynasty	see above under China dynasties for Yuan	1271–1368
Golden Horde (Mongol)	"Golden Horde" means "Great State" in Turkic. founded by Batu Khan, a grandson of Ghengis Khan Genghis Khan conquered many "Tatar" tribes, including the "Tatar Confederation" that became part of the Golden Horde so the Golden Horde was referred to by Europeans as "Tatars" "Tatar" probably comes from persian for "mounted messenger" "Tatar" came to refer to all the Turkic people in Russia thus "tartar sauce", "steak tartare"			the Golden Horde ruled over central/northern Eurasia from the China bove the Black and Caspian Seas Later Russians referred to the The Golden Horde rule as the "Tatar yoke" "yoke" = a hitch used to constrain oxen due to excessive taxes and political consolidation of rule over local princes
Chagatai Khanate	named for the 2nd son of Ghengis Khan, Chagatai Khan Chagatai was considered rebellious and refused to recognize Ghengis Khan's first son, Jochi, as his full brother (thus marking a weakness in such imperial arrangements that have different sons from different wives of an organizing ruler) a Turkic language later developed in the region of Chagatai's rule, and was called "Chagatai"; the modern languages, Uzbek and Uyghur, a direct descendants of Chagatai	1242-1347 / 1347-1487		Chagatai inherited this region after the death of Genghis Khan in 1227; Chagatia died in 1242 during reign of Kublai Khan (who started the Yuan Dynasty), Chagatai rulers broke away from his rule Chagatai Khanate consists of modern Central Asian states in 1347, the Khanate was divided when Moghulistan was declared independent under a tribal alliance led by Tughlugh Timur Tughlugh Timur converted to Islam over time, his successors were also Muslim and eventually imposed Sharia Law in the 1400s the region underwent "Turkification," where by Turkic populations / culture largerly replaced Mongol culture adn/or Moghul populations
Ilkhanate Khanate	Ilkhan = "subordinate Khan) Illkhanid may have Persian meaning for "Iran-zamin" or "Land of Iran" "Iran" is from "of the PIE root *arya" ("one who assembles skillfully") from which "Aryan" and eventually "Iran" are derived original conquest of the territory was by Genghis Khan's 3rd son, Hulagu Khan, who defeated the Abbasid Caliphate	1256–1335	Persia & northern Middle East/ Anatolia	southwestern portion of the Mongol Empire the shortest-lived of the four fragmented Khanates, principally due to the larger historical experience of exchange, conquest, and mixing of cultures in the Middle East, as well as its location as central Eurasian/African crossroads. The Ilkhanate at its greatest extent at first, Hulagu, and especially his successors, feuded w/ the Golden Horde rulers the Ilkhanates resisted adopting Islam and ruled w/ religious tolerance (esp. in Persia) the 7th ruler, Ghazan, converted to Islam upon taking the throne in 1298 still, he aligned with European Christian Crusaders to fight back the Mamluk (Egyptian Muslim armies) upon collapse of the Ilkhanate Khanate, the northern Middle East fell into regional rule, which led to the rise of the Turks.

Europe monarchies/ empires

Name	Name definition	Dates	Region	Notes
Holy Roman Empire	from origins under Charlemagne who was crowned "Holy Roman Emperor" in 800 by Pope Leo III Charlemagne thus gained Church legitimacy in exchange for vassalhood to the Church "Holy Roman" = representing the Roman Church Empire = power supposedly inherited from ancient Roman emperors, i.e., considered in their lineage	800-1806 (962 alternative start date)	early stages, included France under the Carolingian line of French (Frankish) kings, but as France emerged as independent kingdom under the Capetian dynasty ( 987 to 1328, started by Hugh Capet; no certainty for the name, "Capet", but one can think of "head" for Capet, as in "head of France")	The Holy Roman Empire between 972 and 1032
House of Valois (France)		1328-1589
House of Bourbon (France)		1589-1792, 1815-1830, 1830-1848		note the interrupted timeline, starting w/ the French Revolution, 1792, and the Napoleonic period, then 1815, 1830 and 1848 revolutions
Napoleon
Austrian Empire / Hapsburgs	"House of Hapsburg" from Habsburg Castle, a fortress built in in early 1000s in modern day Switzerland empire indicates conquest, so think of Hungary, Slavic countries, lower Germany, etc.	1804–1867		mixed politically with Spanish monarchy under the Holy Roman Empire

India empires

Name	Name definition	Dates	Region	Notes
Timurid Empire	also called "Gurkani" empire, its Persian name for "son-in-law" the title was for founder Tamerlane (Timur), who married a descendent of Ghengis Khan, but was not himself a direct descendant Timurid means "sign of Timur": a symbol of the empire with three concentric, equal circles which represented different parts of the empire Tamerland was also called "Sahib-Qiran" for "ruler of three benevolent planets"	1370–1507	Persia (Iran), central Aisa, northern India	Sources Timurid Empire (wikipedia)
Mughal Empire	"Mughal" is Persian for "Mongol" founded by Babur, a warrior chief from central Asia a descendant of Tamerlane (Timur) and also of Genghis Khan also called the Timurid Empire, from Tamerlane's Turco-Mongol empire Babur was from Moghulistan, an independent central Asian Khanate (from Mongol empire), but he was kicked out, which led him to invade India	1526–1857

Islamic Caliphates & empires

Name	Name definition	Dates	Region	Notes
Notes: on Islamic Caliphates and empires
Caliphate from "Caliph" which means successor of Muhammad literally translated from Arabic = "Successor of the Messenger of God" the Caliph was considered ruler of the entire Muslim world (called the "umma" for "follower of Islam") note that "umma" transcends ethnic/ tribal alliances Sunni Caliphs were elected or selected by Islamic leaders Islam means "submit to God" Sharia is the Islamic law includes civil, political and criminal codes governing crime, family, trade, education, daily life and routines Sunni = "community" started by Muhammad's father-in-law, Abu Bakr Sunnis follow Caliphs Sunni religious rule is decentralized and localized Shi'a or Shiite is from "Shi'aat Ali" for "followers of Ali" Ali was Muhammad's son-in-law and the husband of his daughter, Fatima Shiites did not recognize the first three Caliphates as legiitimate Shi'a religious and political rule is centralized and extremely antagonistic towards Sunnis Sayyid is a title of descendancy from Muhummad Sunni rules for the title require expertise on the Koran Shia claims for the title are more political "Sharif" comes from "sayyid" Sultanate is a localized religious and political ruler but not a monarch or king (secular) "Sultan" means "strength, authority, rule" Sultans gained power as the Caliphates became fragmented over tmie				Political alignment at eve of Muslim conquest of Middle East: - Byzantine Empire controlled Asia Minor, Greece, Levant (eastern coast of Mediterranean) and North Africa - Sasanian Empire controlled Peria and Mesopotamia - Rashidun Caliphate controls Arabia and was highly expansionist Map of expansion of Islamic rule: - Expansion under Muhammad, 622-632- Expansion during the Rashidun Caliphate, 632-661- Expansion during the Umayyad Caliphate, 661-750
Rashidun Caliphate	"Rashidun" means "rightly guided" 1st Caliphate established by Abu Bakr, 632, who reunited Arabia under Islam following Muhammad's death under the idea, "Muhammad dead, Allah alive"	632–661	Middle East, North Africa, southwestern Anatolia	Abu Bakr conquered Arabia and united all the tribes under "umma" did not establish a monarchy, so succession was not hereditary all four Rashidun Caliphs were related to Muhammad through marriage
Umayyad Caliphate	2nd major Caliphate (Sunni) from the "Banu Umayya" clan, a leading clan of the Quraysh tribe (Mohammad was from same tribe, different clan) the clan initially opposed Mohammed, but joined after he captured Mecca so the Umayya clan was influential in early Islam	661–750		established capital at Damascus in Syria (near Middle East) spread Islam and Arabic conquered Persia and extended reach to Indus River (modern Pakistan) expanded across North Africa and into Spain
Abbasid Caliphate	named for the founder, Abu Al-Abbas the 3rd Caliphate	750-1258	Lower Middle East	conquered Damascus to create new Caliphate moved capital ot Baghdad included non-Arabs (especially Persians) attacked by Mogols and fell to Seljuk Turks Mongols sacked Baghdad in 1258
Mamluk Sultanate	"mamluk" in Arabic means "one who is owned", so it was a state run by slaves the Mamluks were non-Arabs, orgininally Turks but later mostly from Eastern Europe made up of slave-soldiers or freed slaves	1250–1517	Egypt, Levant	Mamluks became a military caste under Arab rule they gained prominence fighting the Christian Crusader states in the Levant used cavalry and was unable to withstand Ottoman use of artillery (gunpowder) the Ottomans retained Mamluks as subordinate ruling class in Egypt
Turks/ Seljuk Turks	Turko-Persian, Sunni Muslims from central Asia "Seljuk" from an earlier Seljuk warlord, and possibly means "honest" or "man of his word" empire founded by Tughril who united western Asian Turks "Tughril" means "bird of prey" "Seljuks" were nomads and mercenaries Tughril ruled the empire with 2 others ("triumvirate")	1037–1194	Persia, Mesopotamia, Levant, Anatolia	the Seljuks encroached into Persia and took Baghdad upon the weakening of the Abbasid Caliphate (Arab) conquered Persia and Middle East/ Anatolia (not Arabia and Egypt) Suljuks were "Persianized" during period of rule, although the rulers spoke Turkic used the Persian title "Shahanshah" (King of Kings) used Turkic tribes to defend eastern borders, which led to "Turkicization" of those areas lost parts of the Levant to European Crusades after decline and fragmentation, other rules controlled various parts of their territory, up until the Mongol invasions
Ottoman Empire	"Ottoman" from anglicization of "Osman I" founder of the empire the Turks also called it "Osmanli" for him so Ottoman referred to elites "while Turks" became a reference to lower classes also called "Turkish Empire" "Turk" = a dominant central Asian ethnic group "Ottoman Caliphate" is considered the 4th caliphate	1517–1924	Middle East, Anatolia, Southeastern Europe, Greece, North Africa	Selim I expanded the empire in 1512-1520 by claiming himself a Caliph, Selim I established his empire as a "Caliphate", which gave him the claim to legitimacy in the Muslim world and made him protector of Mecca The Ottoman Empire in 1683
Safavid Empire	Persian also called "Safavid Dynasty" started by Shah Ismail I hated Sunnis and forcibly converted Iran to Shi'a he enforced "ritual cursing" of the 1st three Sunni Caliphs took title "Shahanshah" for "king of kings" ("Shah" = king) Safavid rulers claimed "sayyid" (or "sharif" for descendancy from Muhammad	1501-1736	Persia, conquered Baghdad in 1508 (in modern day Iraq)	made Shi'a Islam official and forcibly converted Sunni Muslims the change put the empire at odds w/ the Sunni Ottomans one of the "gunpowder empires" Safavid empire origins are multicultrual

Other dynasties, empires or concepts:

Gunpower empires

Islamic Gunpowder Empires

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