Contextualization Tips

• Introduce the Time PePeriod or 3 “Big Ideas” from the list below & discuss them further

• Must be relevant to the period & /or prompt

• Use Contextualization to lead into your thesis

• You may pick events from before, during, or after the period

  • Before & During are used more than After

Post-Classical Era (1200-1450)

Big Ideas

• State Expansion which led to More Trade which led to Cultures Spreading

Economic

• Expansion of Interregional Trade Networks

  • Silk Roads

  • Indian Ocean Trade Network

  • Trans-Saharan Trade Network

Social & Cultural

• Spread of Religion

  • Buddhism to China & SE Asia

  • Christianity throughout Europe

  • Hinduism in India & SE Asia

  • Islam to Sub-Saharan Africa

• Chinese Influence

  • Sinification → Spread of Chinese Culture

  • Korea, Japan, Vietnam

Political

• Land-Based Empires

  • Song Dynasty

  • Mongols

  • West African Trading Kingdoms (Ghana, Mali, Songhai)

  • Islamic Empires (Abbasid)

Early Modern Era (1450-1750)

Big Ideas

• Age of Exploration

• Reformation

• Colonialism

• Mercantilism

• Capitalism

• Absolutism

Economic

• Global Trade

  • Atlantic Trade

    • Columbian Exchange

    • Atlantic Slave (Triangular) Trade

  • Indian Ocean Trade

Social & Cultural

• European Reform Movements

  • Reformation

  • Renaissance

  • Scientific Revolution

  • Enlightenment

• Columbian Exchange (Impacts)

  • American Social Structure Begins to Change

  • New Food/Animals

  • Population Increase

  • The disease impacts the Americas

Political

• Colonialism

  • Trade & Wealth

  • Overseas Expansion

• Absolutism

  • Monarchs

  • Divine Right

• Religion & Gov’t

  • Reformation & Counter-Reformation

  • Confucianism → Civil Service Exam

Modern Era (1750-1900)

Big Ideas

• Revolutions

• Industrialization

• Imperialism

Economic

• Industrialization

  • Increased Production

  • Technology

  • Less developed regions exploited for resources

Social & Cultural

• Reactions to Industrialization

  • Socialism & Communism

  • Feminism

  • More Education

• Motives for Imperialism

  • White Man’s Burden

  • Religion

  • Social Darwinism

• Impact of Imperialism

  • Migration

  • Syncretism (Blending of Beliefs)

  • Assimilation (Understanding of other cultures)

Political

• Revolutions

  • Nationalism

  • Enlightenment

  • Haiti, France, USA

• Socialism & Communism

• Imperialism

  • European dominance throughout Asia & Africa

Contemporary Era (1900-Present)

Big Ideas

• Nationalism

• Communism vs. Capitalism

• Decolonization

• Globalization

Economic

• Great Depression

  • Unemployment

  • Decrease in Trade

• Globalization

  • Multinational Organizations

Social & Cultural

• Westernization

• Environmentalism

• Cultural Tension

  • Genocide

  • Apartheid

  • Israel vs. Palestine

  • Terrorism

• Protests & Reform

Political

• Competing Ideologies

  • Socialism

  • Communism

  • Fascism

  • Capitalism

• Totalitarian Gov’t

• Global Conflicts

  • World War (I & II)

  • Cold War

• Zionism

  • Jewish movement to establish a home state (Israel)

• Decolonization

  • Self-Determination