Intro to AP World History - Modern

Interaction

Theme of history that focuses on how humans interact with each other and their environment. This can include migration or diaspora of people, spread of disease, natural resources, pollution, deforestation, etc.

Culture

Theme of history that focuses on values, traditions, and beliefs of groups of people. This can include religion/theology, art, architecture, language/writing, holidays, foods, etc.

Politics

Theme of history that focuses on governance. This includes empires, types of government, nationalism, revolutions, legal systems, etc.

Economics

Theme of history that pertains to do with money, property, trade, or their systems

Social / Society

Theme of history that focuses on the interaction of humans and how they organize. This can include social hierarchies, status levels, gender roles, economic classes, etc.

Technology

Theme of history that focuses on innovations and inventions that advanced civilizations - this can be agricultural, industrial, scientific, etc.

Primary Source

a document or object from the era being analyzed (i.e., made or written AT that specific historical time) by a person who witnessed the event. Examples includes photographs, diary or journal entries, documentaries, interviews, autobiographies, or speeches.

Secondary Source

a document analyzing a history that the author did not directly witness. This includes biographies, encyclopedia entries (online or in book form), textbooks, and video clips like Crash Course.

Historical Situation

the historical events that occured in the period of the source's creation that may influence the content of the source.

Author's Purpose

The intended use of a source - typically to persuade, inform, criticize, satirize, or entertain.

Point of View

The creator's perspective in a given source - and taking into account who they are, what their opinion is, and any biases they may have to analyze the source.

Audience

The individual or group the creator of the source is directly speaking to with their message.

Claim

An assertion, statement, or position on a source or topic. This must be supported by evidence to strengthen the claim.

Context

the scenario or setting for a story or event - providing context of an era helps understand why historical developments happened.

Comparison

a statement of the similarities and/or differences among two or more people, events, ideas, etc.

Causation

the reason(s) or situations that made an event or topic take place, leading to a series of effects.

Continuity vs. Change

a continuous pattern seen in a historical development or theme versus a shift in a theme over time

Thesis

a brief and general statement/argument that answers the question

Analyze / Analysis

explaining the how or the why of a document or topic rather than just what, who, or where