Land-based empires ensured their power through centralized government, military force, and cultural propaganda, such as the undertaking of marvelous works of art and architectural wonders, a unifying religion, and foundational myths. The massive buildings and painted portraits of the empire's rulers gave everyone a clear understanding of who was in charge. Without some acceptance of the people and the dominance of the government, these empires would have rapidly collapsed. Let's take a look at some successful land-based empires!
Land-based Empires Definition
Land-based empires were large areas of land controlled by a single empire. Generally, the land-based empire would consist of a culturally and ethnically diverse population; this meant that the empire had to ensure unification through either government sectors or religion to succeed. Empires need a strong military–in the form of standing armies and technological superiority–to keep the peace and authority within their territory and defend it from outsiders.
Land-based empires relied heavily on the use of roads to swiftly move their military and have access to trade. If an empire held control over a piece of (or an entire) trade route, it would command respect from those who traveled through the area while also making said empire extremely wealthy. To give and receive trade from empires further down the roads, one must be at peace with the other or risk being blocked from accessing the necessary product.
Did you know?
Land-based empires existed from 1450-1750. Although a few existed before and after, what we define as modern land-based empires are confined to this specific time frame!
Land-based Empires around 1450-1750
Empires of Asia | Empires of Africa | Empires of the Americas | Empires of Europe |
The Ming & Qing dynasties of China The Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan The Mughal Empire The Safavid Empire The Ottoman Empire | The Songhai Empire | The Incan EmpireThe Aztec Empire | The Russian EmpireThe French EmpireThe British Empire |
Fig. 1 Map of the Asian Ottoman Empire
Unique Characteristics of Land-based Empires & Their Use of Power
Some general characteristics of an empire are hierarchy in society, expansion through colonization or conquest, and centralized government or administration. The ruling class maintained a hierarchical system in which the ruling nation's aristocrats were at the top. The vassal states or subjugated territories possessed the most minor rights and null representation.
Land-based empires had to rely on their trade routes and armies to support their territories and expansion. Without trade and a strong military, their supplies, money, and defense would quickly run out and leave them open to conquest from another empire.
Did you know?
The era after 1450 is referred to as the "Age of Gunpowder Empires" due to the use of guns and cannons to retain and build control.
Gunpowder Empires
The best examples of "Gunpowder Empires" are the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires; these three had the most robust and stable economies of the early modern period!
The introduction of gunpowder into the Islamic empires encouraged them to create even stronger centralized states, leading to commercialized expansion. With a flourishing economy and large amounts of power, the empires began to show this through architecture and art. For example, the Mughal empire went through the "Timurid Renaissance," which is now recognized for its lavish architectural style, and the Safavids sponsored significant developments in the fine arts.
Fig. 2 The mufti sprinkles the cannons with rose water at the start of the campaign, 1788
Each kingdom implemented a sort of training to ensure the strength of the empire's military. Before modernizing their armies, empires often used volunteer soldiers who would return to their regular jobs (farmers, merchants, etc.) after the conflict had ended. In a modern nation-state, a soldier's life revolves entirely around training and being an active part of the military as a full-time occupation. For example, the Chinese trained for Civil Service Exams, and the Ottomans used the Devshirme System. After passing the exam and swearing loyalty to the empire, one would become a professional member of the military and bureaucracy.
The Devshirme System was a system in which the Ottomans would enslave poor Christian boys from Southern Europe and Balkan areas to raise them to pledge their loyalties to the empire. Often, these boys would become some of the most loyal soldiers and members of the government.
Islamic rulers would take on the title of "Caliph" as a sign of being a chosen successor of the prophet Muhammed, while the Kings of France would use the "Doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings" to show that he is gods man on earth. They carried out God's will through his actions.
The Fall of Constantinople, 1453
Despite having walls that kept their city safe against older forms of military technology, the Ottoman use of gunpowder chipped away at the Byzantine gates, eventually giving way. Constantinople was besieged and conquered by the nomadic Turks (known as the Ottomans) on May 29th, 1453.
Led by Mehmed II, the Ottoman army of approximately 100,000 men easily outnumbered the 7,000 Byzantine men but faced the difficult challenge of breaking through the city's massive wall. With their large cannons having a reload time of 3 hours, the army in Constantinople had more than enough time to repair the damage and receive the next hit.
Having their entry into Golden Horn blocked by a chain implemented by the Byzantines, the Ottoman sailors famously carried their ships over land and around the block, forcing soldiers at the city's west wall to move and defend the north. This dispersement of the army enabled the Ottomans to break through the gates and finally seize the city after multiple previous attempts.
Fig. 3 Siege of Constantinople
Did you know?
The city's fall kicked off the Age of Discovery, colonization, and centuries of war between the Ottomans and Europe. The Age of Revolution would also follow these periods, leading to the revolutionary movements of European and American colonies seeking to establish more democratic governments over absolute monarchy. This period between 1774 and 1849 would completely change the politics of the empire!
Comparison of Land-based Empires
Though many land-based empires had similar characteristics, many things set them apart. Listed below are some examples of land-based empires with differing religions, architecture, and forms of rule over their people.
Government (The Aztec Empire)
While almost every single land-based empire was run by centralized rule, one exception existed in the Americas. The Aztec Empire used what was called a "tribute system" to keep hold of power over their conquered lands. This system meant that the conquered people owed certain goods or services to the Aztecs regularly, enabling them to rule a diverse territory without being directly present.
The Aztec Empire is a prominent exception to the centralized rule of land-based empires!
Religion: The Ottoman vs. The Safavid Empire
The Ottoman and Safavid Empires were both Muslim. However, there was a critical difference between them; the Ottomans were Sunni Muslims, while the Safavids were Shi'a Muslims. Both empires viewed the other as heretics, but why?
The division between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims dates back to the death of the prophet Muhammed in 632. After his death, the people needed to determine who would lead the Islamic nation. Sunni Muslims agreed with many of Muhammad's companions and believed that his close friend and advisor, Abu Bakr, should go on to become the first Caliph of the Islamic nation–which he did.
On the opposing side, some Muslims believed that power should remain within the prophet's family. This implied that they believed leadership should be passed to Muhammed's cousin and son-in-law, Ali bin Abu Talib. Because of this, Shi'a Muslims have not recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders. Instead, they chose to follow a line of "Imams," which they believed to have been appointed by God himself, free of sin and descendants of Muhammad.
Architecture: The Mughal Empire
The Mughal and French Empires created massive pieces of architecture to show their power and riches. The fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, built the Taj Mahal from 1632-1653 as a tomb for his wife. His wife had requested that he never remarry, so after her passing during childbirth, the devastated Shah asked that she be honored with an enormous mausoleum.
Fig. 4 Taj Mahal
Architecture: The French Empire
When Louis XIV decided to renovate the countryside hunting lodge of Louis XIII, not many expected that it would be turned into a palace that could hold nearly 20,000 people. In the 1660s, France was the most powerful empire in Europe, and Louis XIV wanted to emphasize that through the palaces' intricate architecture and decoration.
Fig. 5 Palace of Versailles
Land-based Empires vs. Maritime Empires
The Maritime Empires were England, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and France. The characteristics of maritime empires were the control of trade through a limited number of ports, the production and shipment of goods, colonization of limited territory, limited military confrontation and investments, improved maritime technology, and the exploration and control of distanced areas. Unlike land-based empires, the maritime did not rely on centralized government and was more self-reliant. However, this meant that power could easily be overturned by colonized people and stripped away; a maritime empire could be powerful one day and lose significant amounts of territory the next.
Maritime empires also settled and colonized beneficial areas, such as the coasts. Land-based empires often held control over land that wasn't even inhabited (apart from the cities, of course), so the sheer size between the two was very different. On the map down below, not only can we observe the difference in size, but we can also see that Maritime and Land-based Empires did not overlap outside of the Americas!
Land-Based Empires - Key takeaways
- Land-based empires were large areas of land controlled by a single empire. Generally, the land-based empire would consist of a culturally and ethnically diverse population.
- General characteristics of an empire are hierarchy in society, expansion through colonization or conquest, centralized government or administration, and sometimes an aristocracy.
- Land-based empires kept control through centralized government and military professionals and through the implementation of art, architecture, and religion.
- One of the main differences between maritime and land-based empires was their location. Land-based empires were often more inland and stretched over large, continuous spaces, while maritime empires were more scattered and located near the coasts.
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