Chapter 14 pp. 417-430

I find it fascinating how much of an impact that empires ultimately had on the making how our world is today. While the making of the Russian Empire was in progress, Moscow began conquering its neighboring cities and there was pressure to convert to Christianity. The expansion into Siberia was for the opportunity of getting furs. This expansion resulted in epidemics since the Siberian's weren't immune to the diseases that were being brought in. The Russians ultimately outnumbered the natives in the lands they were taking over. Products such as fur, agricultural land, and minerals helped progress Russian empire. Expansion turned Russia into a very militarized state. The Russian empire remained intact till 1991. The Asian empires were  regional, not global and the creation of these Asian empires did not include massive epidemics.There was a 80 year long Chinese conquest from 1680-1760. Russian and Chinese rule turned Central Asia to poverty. India was united by the Mughal empire. 20% of the population was Muslim, where the rest was Hindu. Emperor Akbar brought many Hindus into the military elite, and created a state cult that stressed loyalty to himself. There was destruction of some Hindu temples. The Ottoman empire was the Islamic's world's most important empire. Jewish refugees from Spain had more opportunities in the Ottoman empire.