peoples & empires library

 

Asian cultures changed greatly as they moved forward to the modern age. Explore the people and empires that developed after ancient times.

Featured Article:  Mongol Empire

Mongol Empire, a vast Eurasian empire of the 13th and 14th centuries. It was founded by Genghis Khan (1162?–1227), a Mongol chieftain who became a mighty conqueror. See more »

Were people vying to become slaves in the Ottoman Empire?

Were people vying to become slaves in the Ottoman Empire?

You may have heard your parents say, "I know what's best for you." In the 14th century, some Christian parents thought sacrificing their children to slavery was a benevolent measure.

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Empire of Trebizond

Trebizond, Empire of, an independent Byzantine domain on the south shore of the Black Sea that lasted from 1204 to 1461.

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French Settlements in India

French Settlements in India, five former colonial settlements on the east and west coasts of India.

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Gurkhas

Gurkhas, soldiers from Nepal who serve in the British and Indian armies. They are tough, disciplined fighters noted for their skill with a curved knife called a kukri.Most Gurkhas have been recruited from the Magar, Gurung, and Rai peoples, which have the reputation of being the most warlike of Nepal's various Tibeto-Nepalese groups.

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Hindustan

Hindustan, a term first used by Muslim invaders from Persia to denote the land of the Hindus—generally northern India from the Himalayas to the Deccan Plateau.

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House of Romanov

Romanov (or Romanoff), House of, the ruling family of Russia from 1613 until the revolution of 1917.

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How the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Work

There are the seven wonders of the medieval world and the modern world, as well as the seven wonders of the natural world and underwater world. But what about the original seven wonders of the world.

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Huns

Huns, a nomadic people, of Mongoloid origin, who plundered and terrorized Europe in the fourth and fifth centuries A.D.

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Islamic Culture

Islamic Culture, the artistic and intellectual accomplishments in the countries conquered by the Muslim Arabs in the seventh and eighth centuries A.D.

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Kalmuck

Kalmuck, or Kalmuk, the name of a Mongolian people. In the 17th century the Kalmucks migrated from China to the Lower Volga region of Russia.

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Latin Kingdoms

Latin Kingdoms, or Crusader States, domains established in the eastern Mediterranean region by western Europeans during the Crusades.

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Mameluks

Mamelukes, or Mamluks, members of a cavalry corps of Egyptian soldiers. A dynasty of Mameluke soldiers ruled Egypt from 1250 to 1517.

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Manchus

Manchu, , the name of the last dynasty of Chinese emperors, 1644-1912. It is also called the Ch'ing Dynasty.

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Mensheviks

Mensheviks in Russian history, one of two factions, with the Bolsheviks, within the Russian Social Democratic party.

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Mongol Empire

Mongol Empire, a vast Eurasian empire of the 13th and 14th centuries. It was founded by Genghis Khan (1162?–1227), a Mongol chieftain who became a mighty conqueror.

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Mongols

Mongols, a people of the Mongoloid race who speak Mongol, one of the Altaic languages of the Ural-Altaic language family.

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Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Empire, a Muslim Turkish empire that covered a vast area of the Middle East, southeastern Europe, and North Africa.

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Portuguese India

Portuguese India, a former Portuguese territory on the west coast of India. It consisted of the widely separated enclaves of Goa and Damāo (renamed Daman) and the island of Diu.

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Portuguese Timor

, a former Portuguese territory in southeast Asia. Most of the colony was located in the eastern half of Timor island, and its total land area was 5,763 square miles (14,925 km2).

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Saracens

Saracens, the name by which Muslims were generally known to Christians during the time of the Crusades.

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