AP WORLD HISTORY-CRAM SHEET

PERIOD 1: 1200-1450 - GLOBAL TAPESTRY

• Characterized by the emergence of complex societies, trade networks, and cultural exchanges across regions such as Europe, Asia, and Africa.

• Major civilizations:

  • Byzantine Empire: Preserved Greco-Roman culture and influenced Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

  • Islamic Caliphates: Flourished in science, mathematics, and philosophy, spreading innovations across the Middle East and beyond.

  • Mongol Empire: Created the largest contiguous empire in history, facilitating trade and communication along the Silk Roads.

  • Song Dynasty: Notable for advancements in technology, agriculture, and the economy, as well as cultural achievements in art and literature. (Neo-Confucianism, civil service exams)

  • Abbasid Caliphate: A major dynasty that succeeded the Umayyads, known for its cultural flourishing and intellectual achievements, including the establishment of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. (fragmented but influential)

  • Delhi Sultanate in India: (spread of Islam)

  • Mali Empire: A significant West African empire known for its wealth, particularly due to the gold trade, and for its promotion of education and culture under rulers like Mansa Musa, who made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca.

  • Aztecs: (tribute system)

    • Tribute System: A method of economic taxation where conquered peoples paid goods or labor to the Aztec rulers, supporting the empire's grandeur and military expansion.

  • Incas: A major civilization in South America, known for their innovative agricultural techniques, extensive road systems, and impressive architectural achievements, such as Machu Picchu.

• Trade routes flourished:

  • Silk Roads, Indian Ocean trade, and Trans-Saharan trade networks encouraged cultural diffusion (like Islam, Buddhism, paper, and gunpowder)

• Development of Dar al-Islam, increased interregional connections, and syncretic belief systems.

PERIOD 2: 1450-1750 - EARLY MODERN ERA

• Age of exploration led by Portugal and Spain, followed by Britain, France and the Dutch

• The Columbian Exchange introduced new crops, animals, diseases, and led to population booms and declines (especially among Indigenous)

• Rise of Maritime Empire (Spanish, British, Dutch) using caravel ships, astrolabe, and lateen sail.

• Atlantic slave trade: Enslavement of millions of Africans; formation of triangular trade

• Gunpowder Empires: Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires—centralized, Islamic, and military power

• Protestant Reformation challenged Catholic dominance; leads to religious wars and Counter-Reformation

PERIOD 3: 1750-1900 - MODERN ERA

• Industrial Revolution begins in Britain due to coal, iron labor, and capital; spreads to europe, U.S, and japan

• Leads to urbanization, rise of factories, and class tensions (working vs middle class)

• New ideologies: capitalism (adam smith), communism (karl marx), nationalism, and liberalism

• Political Revolutions: American Revolution, French Revolution, Haitian Revolution, and Latin American wars for independence (e.g., Simon Bolivar).

• Second Industrial Revolution brings steel, electricity, and chemicals

• Imperialism peaks— Europe colonizes Africa and Asia (Berlin Conferece, British Raj).

• Resistance movements: Zulu resistance, Sepoy Rebellion, Boxer Rebellion, Taiping Rebellion

PERIOD 4: 1900-PRESENT - CONTEMPORARY ERA

• World War 1: Caused by militarism, alliances, nationalism, imperialism, and assassination

• Aftermath: Treaty of Versailles, League of Nations, Great Depression

• World war 2: caused by Fascism (hitler, muussolini), appeasement, global economic crisis

• Result: United Nations, decolonization, start of the cold war

• Cold war: conflict between U.S (capitalism) and U.S.S.R. (communism); major proxy wars: Korea, vietnam, afghanistan

• Decolonization: India (Gandhi), algeria, congo, and Vietnam gain independence, often through violent struggle

• Globalization: Increased trade, migration, digital technolgy, rise of multinationall corporations, concerns over climate change and human rights