ap world

AP World History Study Guide

Unit 1: The Global Tapestry (c. 1200 - c. 1450)

  1. State-Building and Expansion:

    • Focus on how various states developed and expanded their power.
    • Examine the methods of consolidation, such as bureaucracy, military power, and religious or cultural practices.
    • Key examples: Song Dynasty, various Islamic states, and states in the Americas (like the Inca and Aztec empires).

  2. Interactions and Cultural Developments:

    • Analyze the interactions between different cultures and their impacts.
    • Look at the role of trade, migration, and conflict in the spread of ideas, technologies, and religions.
    • Examples: The spread of Buddhism, the impact of the Crusades, and the developments in mathematics and science in Islamic societies.
Unit 2: Networks of Exchange (c. 1200 - c. 1450)

  1. Silk Roads:

    • Understand the significance of the Silk Roads as a network of exchange.
    • Identify the goods, technologies, and ideas that were exchanged.
    • Analyze the role of the Silk Roads in facilitating cultural diffusion and economic growth.

  2. Indian Ocean Trade:

    • Explore the Indian Ocean trade network and its major players.
    • Examine the role of monsoon winds, key trading ports, and the commodities traded.
    • Understand the impact of this trade on the development of East Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

  3. Trans-Saharan Trade:

    • Study the development and impact of the Trans-Saharan trade routes.
    • Focus on the exchange of goods like gold, salt, and slaves.
    • Analyze the role of the camel and the spread of Islam in facilitating this trade.
Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (c. 1450 - c. 1750)

  1. Rise of Empires:

    • Focus on the emergence and expansion of major land-based empires.
    • Examples: Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal, and Russian Empires.
    • Analyze the political, social, and economic characteristics of these empires.

  2. Imperial Administration:

    • Study the methods these empires used to govern their diverse populations.
    • Examine the roles of bureaucracy, military, and religious institutions.
    • Understand the challenges these empires faced, such as succession issues and maintaining control over vast territories.
Unit 4: Maritime Revolutions (c. 1450 - c. 1750)

  1. European Exploration:

    • Understand the motivations behind European exploration and colonization.
    • Analyze the roles of technological innovations like the compass and astrolabe.
    • Focus on the voyages of key explorers like Columbus, Magellan, and Vasco da Gama.

  2. Columbian Exchange:

    • Study the Columbian Exchange and its global impact.
    • Examine the exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old World and the New World.
    • Analyze the demographic, economic, and environmental consequences of this exchange.
Unit 5: Revolutions (c. 1750 - c. 1900)

  1. Enlightenment:

    • focus on the key ideas and thinkers of the Enlightenment.
    • Analyze their influence on political and social thought.
    • Key figures: Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu.

  2. Revolutions:

    • Understand the causes, events, and consequences of major revolutions.
    • Examples: American, French, Haitian, and Latin American Revolutions.
    • Analyze the role of nationalism, liberalism, and social inequality in these revolutions.
Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization (c. 1750 - c. 1900)

  1. Industrial Revolution:

    • Understand the origins and spread of the Industrial Revolution.
    • Analyze the key technological innovations and their impact on society.
    • Focus on the social and economic changes, such as urbanization, the rise of the factory system, and the emergence of new social classes.

  2. Imperialism:

    • Study the causes and consequences of 19th-century imperialism.
    • Focus on the motives behind European expansion, such as economic gain, strategic advantage, and cultural superiority.
    • Analyze the impact of imperialism on colonized regions, including Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.
Unit 7: Global Conflict (c. 1900 - Present)

  1. World War I:

    • Understand the causes and consequences of World War I.
    • Analyze the roles of nationalism, imperialism, and militarism.
    • Focus on the major battles, key players, and the Treaty of Versailles.

  2. World War II:

    • Study the causes and consequences of World War II.
    • Analyze the rise of fascism and totalitarianism.
    • Focus on the major events, key figures, and the impact of the war on global politics and society.
Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization (c. 1900 - Present)

  1. Cold War:

    • Understand the origins and development of the Cold War.
    • Analyze the ideological, political, and economic competition between the United States and the Soviet Union.
    • Focus on the major events, such as the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War.

  2. Decolonization:

    • Study the process of decolonization and the emergence of new nations.
    • Understand the factors that contributed to decolonization, such as nationalism and the decline of European power.
    • Analyze the challenges faced by newly independent nations.
Unit 9: Globalization (c. 1900 - Present)

  1. Globalization:

    • Understand the concept of globalization and its various dimensions.
    • Analyze the economic, political, and cultural aspects of globalization.
    • Focus on the role of technology, multinational corporations, and international organizations.