AP World History Flashcards
Unit 1: Global Tapestry (1200-1450)
Represents 8-10% of the AP World History exam.
Focuses on a global overview of different peoples and cultures from six AP regions.
East Asia
Song China: Characterized by Confucianism and Buddhism.
Civil Service Exam: A merit-based system for selecting government officials.
Champa Rice: A fast-growing rice variety that boosted agricultural productivity.
Filial Piety: Respect for elders and ancestors.
Grand Canal: Facilitated internal trade and transportation.
Dar al-Islam
Fall of the Abbasid Caliphate: Signaled a shift in Islamic political power.
House of Wisdom: A major intellectual center in Baghdad.
Advancements in algebra, medicine, and philosophy.
Start of Turkic rule.
Sufism: A mystical branch of Islam.
South and Southeast Asia
Delhi Sultanate: A Muslim kingdom in India.
Hinduism and Buddhism: Dominant religions.
Bhakti Movement: A devotional movement emphasizing love and devotion to a particular deity.
Sufism: Also present in this region.
Buddhist and Hindu states.
Americas
Incan Empire: Known for its centralized administration and extensive infrastructure.
Aztec Empire: Characterized by its military strength and complex social structure.
Mayan City States: Flourished in Mesoamerica, known for their advanced knowledge of mathematics and astronomy.
Mit'a System: A labor system in the Incan Empire.
Incan Road: An extensive road network facilitating communication and trade.
Human Sacrifice: Practiced by the Aztecs.
Chinampa: Floating gardens used for agriculture by the Aztecs.
Tenochtitlan: The capital city of the Aztec Empire.
Africa
Great Zimbabwe: Known for its stone structures and trade networks.
Ethiopia: A Christian kingdom.
Mali: A wealthy empire known for its gold trade.
Timbuktu: A major center of learning and trade.
Salt and Gold: Key commodities in trans-Saharan trade.
Islam: Spread through trade and cultural exchange.
Ibn Battuta: A famous Muslim traveler and scholar.
Swahili: A language and culture that emerged along the East African coast.
Mansa Musa: The ruler of Mali, known for his pilgrimage to Mecca.
Camel Caravans: Used for transportation across the Sahara.
Europe
Feudalism: A decentralized political system.
Manorialism: An economic system based on self-sufficient estates.
Serfdom: A system of labor in which peasants were tied to the land.
Crusades: Religious wars between Christians and Muslims.
Black Death: A devastating pandemic that decimated Europe's population.
Marco Polo: A European traveler who visited China.
Main Characters
Minamoto Yoritomo
Mansa Musa
Zheng He
Al-Razi
Pachacuti
Johannes Gutenberg
Skills Focus
Comparison: Explain relevant similarities and differences between state-building in different AP regions.
Continuity and Change: Describe a pattern of continuity and/or change in one of the AP regions from 1200-1450.
Unit 2: Networks of Exchange (1200-1450)
Represents 8-10% of the AP World History exam.
Focuses on the connectivity of Afro-Eurasia via major trade routes, cultural and environmental consequences, and the Mongols.
The Silk Roads
Kashgar/Samarkand: Important trading cities along the Silk Roads.
Caravanserai: roadside inns for travelers.
Paper Money: Facilitated trade.
Flying Cash: Chinese letters of credit.
Banking: Expanded to support trade.
Porcelain: A valuable trade good from China.
Chinese Iron/Steel: Highly sought-after commodities.
The Mongol Empire
Genghis Khan: Founder of the Mongol Empire.
Khanates: Mongol successor states.
Cultural transfers of medical knowledge and numbering systems.
Steppe: The grassland environment of Central Asia.
Bubonic Plague: Spread along trade routes.
Exchanges in the Indian Ocean
Gujarat/Malacca: Important trading ports in the Indian Ocean.
Diaspora: Merchant communities living outside their home countries.
Monsoon Winds: Influenced trade routes.
Compass: Navigational tool.
Ming Admiral Zheng He: Led voyages of exploration.
Trans-Saharan Trade Routes
Caravans: Used to transport goods across the Sahara.
Camel Saddles: Improved transportation.
Mali: Benefited from trade.
Islam: Spread through trade.
Mansa Musa: His pilgrimage increased awareness of Mali.
Gold and Salt: Key trade commodities.
Timbuktu: A center of trade and learning.
Caravanserai: Provided lodging for merchants.
Cultural Consequences
Spread of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam.
Spread of Paper and Gunpowder.
Ibn Battuta: Traveled extensively.
Marco Polo: Traveled to China.
Environmental Consequences
Bubonic Plague: Spread along trade routes.
Champa Rice: Introduced to new regions.
Citrus Fruits, Sugar: Spread via trade.
Main Characters
Genghis Khan
Marco Polo
Zheng He
Ibn Battuta
Margery Kempe
Skills Focus
Comparison: Explain the relevant similarities and differences among various networks of exchange.
Causation: Describe the causes and effects of the increased volume/expanded range of existing trade routes.
Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (1450-1750)
Represents 12-15% of the exam.
Covers major global land-based empires of the Early Modern Period: Manchus, Mughals, Ottomans, and Safavids.
Manchu Empire
Gunpowder: Utilized in warfare.
Qing: The dynasty established by the Manchus.
Kangxi: An important Qing emperor.
Imperial Portraits: Used to legitimize rule.
Civil Service Exam: Continued to be used.
Banner System: Military organization.
Queue: Hairstyle imposed on the Chinese.
Neo-Confucianism: Supported by the Qing.
Songhai Empire
Islam: The dominant religion.
Askia Muhammad: An important ruler.
Gao: The capital city.
Trans-Saharan trade.
Aztec Empire
Tenochtitlan: The capital city.
Human Sacrifice: Practiced for religious purposes.
Chinampas: Used for agriculture.
Inca Empire
Cuzco: The capital city.
Incan Road: Facilitated communication.
Atahualpa: The Incan ruler at the time of Spanish conquest.
Sun Temple: An important religious site.
Tokugawa Japan
Salaried Samurai: Samurai paid with stipends.
Shogun: The military ruler.
Bakafu: The Shogunate government.
Sakoku: Policy of isolation.
Ottoman Empire
Gunpowder: Used for military expansion.
1453: Conquest of Constantinople.
Istanbul: The new capital city.
Devshirme: System of conscripting Christian boys into the military.
Janissaries: Elite infantry units.
Tax Farming: System of collecting taxes.
Millet System: Allowed religious communities to govern themselves.
Sunni Islam: The dominant religion.
Alhambra Decree: Expulsion of Jews from Spain.
Miniatures: Ottoman art form.
Battle of Chaldiran: Conflict with the Safavid Empire.
Safavid Empire
Gunpowder: Used for military power.
Shi'a Islam: The state religion.
Battle of Chaldiran: Conflict with the Ottoman Empire.
Mughal Empire
Gunpowder: Military technology.
Divine Faith: syncretic religion promoted by Akbar I.
Sikhism: A new religion that emerged in India.
Zamindars: Landlords who collected taxes.
Taj Mahal: A famous mausoleum.
Marathas: A Hindu warrior group.
Europe: European powers began to exert influence.
Europe
Versailles: Symbol of royal power in France.
Protestant Reformation: Religious movement that challenged the Catholic Church.
Scientific Revolution: Emphasized reason and observation.
Main Characters
Mehmet II
Montezuma II
Guru Nanak
Martin Luther
Suleiman I
Akbar I
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Shah Abbas I
Kangxi
Skills Focus
Comparison: Compare the methods by which various empires increased their influence from 1450 to 1750.
Continuity and Change: Explain the continuities and changes within the various belief systems from 1450-1750.
Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections (1450-1750)
Represents 12-15% of the exam.
Focuses on European maritime empires and connections with Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
New Technology
Caravel: A type of ship.
Fluyts: Dutch cargo ships.
Prevailing Winds: Used for navigation.
Astronomical Charts: Used for navigation.
Astrolabe: Navigational instrument.
Compass: Navigational tool.
Lateen Sails: Triangular sails.
Portuguese Empire
Trading Post Empire: Focused on controlling trade routes.
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade: Involved in the trade of enslaved Africans.
Brazil/Angola/Indian Ocean: Areas of Portuguese influence.
Cash Crops: Sugar, etc.
Spice Islands: Source of valuable spices.
Spanish Empire
Reconquista: The reconquest of Spain from the Muslims.
Viceroyalties: Spanish colonial administrations.
Aztecs/Incas: Conquered by the Spanish.
Encomiendas: Forced labor system.
Castas: Social hierarchy based on race.
Our Lady of Guadalupe: Symbol of Mexican identity.
Vodun: syncretic religion in the Americas.
Potosi: Silver mining center.
Trading Companies
Joint Stock Company: A type of company.
Dutch V.O.C.: Dutch East India Company.
Indonesia: Area of Dutch influence.
British East India Co: British East India Company.
Spice Trade: Trade in spices like nutmeg and pepper.
Columbian Exchange
Exchange of plants, animals, diseases between East and West.
Potatoes: New World crop introduced to Europe.
Sugar: Grown in the Americas using slave labor.
Smallpox: Disease that devastated Native American populations.
Okra: Brought from Africa to the Americas.
Rice: Grown in the Americas.
Challenges to State Power
Cossacks: Ukrainian warriors.
Marathas: Indian warriors.
Ana Nzinga: African ruler who resisted Portuguese colonization.
Revolts from the Enslaved (Queen Nanny).
Tokugawa Ieyasu: Consolidated power in Japan.
Changing Social Hierarchies
Alhambra Decree: Expulsion of Jews from Spain.
Castas: Social hierarchy based on race in Spanish America.
Creoles/Peninsulares: Social classes in Spanish America.
Timars-Boyars-Gentry vs. Monarchs, Banners, Millets, Din-i-alahi, Han vs. Qing in China
Main Characters
Prince Henry
Christopher Columbus
Vasco da Gama
Bartolome de las Casas
Atahualpa
Ana Nzinga
Queen Nanny
Skills Focus
Causation: Explain the causes of the Columbian Exchange and its effects on the Eastern/Western Hemispheres.
Continuity and Change: Explain how economic developments in this period affected social structures over time.
Unit 5: Revolutions (1750-1900)
Represents 12-15% of the Exam.
Focuses on drastic political shifts based on nationalism and Enlightenment principles, as well as the economic shift of the Industrial Revolution.
Enlightenment
State of Nature: Philosophical concept about the natural condition of humanity.
Reason: Emphasis on rational thought.
Religious Tolerance: Acceptance of different religions.
Natural Rights: Rights inherent to all humans.
Social Contract: Agreement between the government and the governed.
Suffrage: The right to vote.
Feminism: Advocacy for women's rights.
Abolition: Movement to end slavery.
Nationalism and Revolution
Liberalism: Political ideology emphasizing individual rights.
Nationalism: Loyalty and devotion to a nation.
American/Haitian/Latin American Revolutions: Inspired by Enlightenment ideals and nationalism.
Declaration: Declarations of independence.
Jamaica Letter: Written by Simon Bolivar.
Industrial Beginnings
In Great Britain: Where the Industrial Revolution began.
Urbanization: Growth of cities.
Agricultural Revolution: Increased agricultural productivity.
Coal/Iron: Resources used in industrialization.
Private Property: Important for capitalism.
Factory System: Production in factories.
Spread of Industrialization
Steam: Power source for machines.
Spread to Europe, US, and Russia.
Trans-Siberian RR: Facilitated transportation in Russia.
Asian/African manufacturing decline.
Technology
Fossil Fuels (Coal/Oil): Used for energy.
2nd Industrial Revolution: Advances in technology.
Internal Combustion Engine: Revolutionized transportation.
Railroads: Facilitated transportation.
Steamships: Revolutionized transportation.
Telegraphs: Improved communication.
Governments and Industrialization
Meiji Restoration: Modernization in Japan.
Cotton in Egypt: Example of industrialization.
Self-Strengthening Movement: Attempt to modernize China.
Tanzimat Reforms: Ottoman reforms.
Industrial Economics
Adam Smith: Economist who advocated for capitalism.
Capitalism: Economic system based on private ownership.
Laissez-faire: Minimal government intervention in the economy.
Trans-National Businesses: Businesses operating in multiple countries.
HSBC, Unilever: Examples of multinational corporations.
Stock Markets: Facilitated investment.
Industrial Reactions
Reforms: Attempts to address the negative consequences of industrialization.
Karl Marx and Communism: Critique of capitalism.
Industrial Society
Middle and Working Class: New social classes.
Domesticity: Emphasis on women's role in the home.
Main Characters
John Locke
Adam Smith
James Watt
Toussaint L'Ouverture
Muhammad Ali
Bolivar
Karl Marx
Henry Ford
Skills Focus
Comparison: Explain the extent to which industrialization brought change from 1750 to 1900.
Contextualization: Explain the intellectual and ideological context to the Atlantic Revolutions from 1750 to 1900.
Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization (1750-1900)
Represents 12-15% of the Exam.
Focuses on global reactions to the Industrial Revolution, with a heavy focus on the New Imperialism as well as the Global Migrations.
Rationales for Imperialism
Social Darwinism: Belief in the superiority of certain races.
White Man's Burden: Belief that Europeans had a duty to civilize other peoples.
"Civilizing mission": Justification for imperialism.
Nationalism: Competition among European powers.
Religious conversion: Motivation for imperialism.
State Expansion
Non-state to state control.
Growth of US and Japanese Empires.
Berlin Conference: Regulated European colonization in Africa.
Settler Colony: Colony where settlers displace indigenous populations.
Congo: Colonized by Belgium.
Indigenous Responses
Growth of Nationalism.
Tupac Amaru: Indigenous revolt in Peru.
Sepoy Rebellion 1857: Revolt against British rule in India.
Yaa Asantewaa: Queen of the Ashanti who resisted British rule.
Xhosa Cattle Killing: A millenarian movement in South Africa.
Imperial Economics
Export economies: Focused on exporting raw materials.
Rubber, Palm Oil, Guano: Examples of raw materials.
Opium Wars: Conflicts between China and Britain.
Economic Imperialism: Control of a country's economy by another country.
Banana Republics: Countries dependent on the export of bananas and subject to foreign influence.
Causes of Migrations
New modes of transportation.
Job opportunities in cities (global urbanization).
Coerced Labor: Forced labor.
Effects of Migrations
Migrants=Male: leaving women behind.
Ethnic enclaves: Communities of immigrants.
Receiving societies.
White Australia Policy: Restricted non-European immigration to Australia.
Main Characters
Tupac Amaru II
Lin Zexu
Charles Darwin
Dr. Livingstone
King Leopold II
Hiram Maxim
Meiji Emperor
Skills Focus
Causation: Explain the relative significance of the effects of imperialism from 1750 to 1900.
Causation: Explain how ideologies contributed to the development of imperialism from 1750 to 1900.
Unit 7: Global Conflicts (1900-present)
Represents 8-10% of the Exam.
Focuses on the first half of the Contemporary Period, 1900-1945, and the World Wars, Great Depression, and the rise of totalitarian regimes.
Shifting Power
Land-based and Maritime empires give way to new states: Mexico, Qing, Russian Empire, Ottoman Empire.
Causes of WWI
Militarism: Buildup of military forces.
Competition for resources.
Intense nationalism.
Alliances.
Regional conflicts.
Imperialist expansion.
Conducting WWI
First total war.
Governments used art nationalism and propaganda.
Gas, tanks, machine guns: New weapons.
Interwar Economics
Stock Market Crash.
Great Depression.
New Deal.
Five Year Plans.
Fascist Corporatist Economy.
Unresolved Tensions
League of Nations.
Mandates.
East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
Indian National Congress.
Fascism.
Causes of WWII
Failures of the Treaty of Versailles.
Great Depression.
Aggressive militarism in Japan and Nazi Germany.
Conducting WWII
Total war.
Governments used propaganda.
Fascists/Communists
Fire-bombing.
Atomic bombs.
Mass Atrocities
Holocaust.
Genocide.
Ethnic violence: Armenians, Holodomor (Ukraine), Cambodia, Rwanda.
Main Characters
Franz Ferdinand
Sun Yat-Sen
Vladimir Lenin
Joseph Stalin
Ataturk
Joseph Stalin
Benito Mussolini
Adolf Hitler
Skills Focus
Causation: Explain the relative significance of the causes of the global conflicts in the period 1900 to present.
Comparison: Explain the similarities/differences in how governments used different methods to conduct war.
Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization (1900-present)
Represents 8-10% of the Exam.
Following the Global Conflicts, a cold war emerged between the US and the USSR as Africa and Asia decolonized from Western rule.
The Cold War
Yalta Conference: Post-WWII conference.
Marshall Plan: US aid to Europe.
Containment: US policy to prevent the spread of communism.
Truman Doctrine: US support for countries resisting communism.
Deterrence: Discouraging attack through military strength.
Non-aligned Movement: Countries not aligned with either the US or USSR.
M.A.D.: Mutually Assured Destruction.
Effects of the Cold War
N.A.T.O.: North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Warsaw Pact: Military alliance of communist countries.
Nuclear Proliferation.
Proxy Wars: Conflicts where the US and USSR supported opposing sides: Korean Conflict, Contras, Partition of Germany, Cuban Missile Crisis.
Spread of Communism
Chinese Civil War: Communist victory in China.
Chinese Communist Party (C.C.P.).
Great Leap Forward: Economic plan in China.
Cultural Revolution: Political movement in China.
Vietnam Conflict: War between North and South Vietnam.
Land and Resource Redistribution.
Decolonization
Nationalist leaders sought independence.
Negotiated vs. armed independence.
Ghana, India, Vietnam: Examples of decolonization.
Newly Independent States
Redrawing boundaries led to new states: Ghana, India, Pakistan, Israel.
Migrations to Metropoles.
Global Resistance
Challengers to conflict include: Gandhi, Mandela, M.L.K. Jr.
Others used violence including: Al Qaeda.
End of the Cold War
Detente: Easing of tensions.
Star Wars: Strategic Defense Initiative.
Arms Race.
Berlin Wall.
Soviet-Afghan War: Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Chernobyl: Nuclear disaster.
Glasnost: Openness.
Perestroika: Economic restructuring.
Main Characters
Mahatma Gandhi
George Marshall
Ho Chi Minh
Mao Zedong
Kwame Nkrumah
Nelson Mandela
Gorbachev
Skills Focus
Causation: Explain how the effects of the Cold War were similar in the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
Comparison: Compare the processes by which various peoples pursued independence after 1900.
Unit 9: Globalization (1900-present)
Represents 8-10% of the Exam.
After 1900, Globalization created a more interconnected planet based on technology, disease, governments, economics, and reforms.
Technology
Radio, Internet, Birth Control, Petroleum, Nuclear.
Green Revolution: Increased agricultural production.
GMOs: Genetically Modified Organisms.
Vaccine/Antibiotics.
Disease
Tuberculosis
1918 Flu.
Ebola.
HIV/AIDS.
Alzheimer's.
Environment
Climate Change.
Deforestation.
Greenhouse Gasses.
Economics
Free Market Economics: Economic liberalization.
Knowledge Economies vs. Manufacturing Economies.
Calls for Reform
UN Declaration of Human Rights.
Negritude.
Feminism.
Suffrage.
Civil Rights.
End of Apartheid.
Greenpeace.
Culture
Consumerism.
Reggae.
Bollywood.
Social Media.
BBC.
Resistance to Globalization
Anti-IMF.
Anti-World Bank.
Weibo.
Global Institutions
Failed League of Nations.
United Nations.
Main Characters
Wright Brothers
Margaret Sanger
Jonas Salk
Norman Borlaug
Margaret Thatcher
Wangari Maathai
Bin Laden
Skills Focus
Continuity and Change: Explain the extent to which science/technology brought change in this period.
Causation: Explain the causes and effects of environmental changes in the period 1900 to present.
Unit 1: Global Tapestry (1200-1450)
Song China (960-1279): Characterized by Confucianism and Buddhism.
Civil Service Exam: A merit-based system for selecting government officials, established during the Sui dynasty (581-618).
Champa Rice: A fast-growing rice variety that boosted agricultural productivity, introduced around 1000.
Filial Piety: Respect for elders and ancestors, emphasized in Confucian thought.
Grand Canal: Completed in the Sui dynasty (605-616), facilitated internal trade and transportation.
Dar al-Islam
Fall of the Abbasid Caliphate (1258): Signified a shift in Islamic political power.
House of Wisdom: Founded in the early 9th century.
Advancements in algebra, medicine, and philosophy during the Islamic Golden Age (8th to 14th centuries).
Start of Turkic rule from the 11th century onwards.
Sufism: Gained prominence during the 9th century.
South and Southeast Asia
Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526): A significant Muslim kingdom in India.
Hinduism and Buddhism: Dominant religions from ancient times.
Bhakti Movement: Emerged in the 7th century and peaked in the 15th-17th centuries.
Sufism: Present in the region during medieval times.
Various Buddhist and Hindu states throughout this time period.
Americas
Incan Empire (1438-1533): Known for its centralized administration and extensive infrastructure.
Aztec Empire (1428-1521): Characterized by military strength and complex social structure.
Mayan City States: Flourished from 250-900 CE with continued influence.
Mit'a System: Established in the 15th century.
Incan Road: Extensive road network during the empire's height.
Human Sacrifice: Practiced by the Aztecs during their peak.
Chinampa: Developed in the 14th century for agriculture.
Tenochtitlan: The capital city of the Aztec Empire founded in 1325.
Africa
Great Zimbabwe (1100-1450): Known for stone structures and trade networks.
Ethiopia: A Christian kingdom established around the 4th century.
Mali (circa 1235-1600): A wealthy empire known for its gold trade.
Timbuktu: Established around the 12th century as a major center of learning and trade.
Salt and Gold: Key commodities in trans-Saharan trade throughout this period.
Islam: Spread through trade beginning in the 7th century.
Ibn Battuta (1304-1369): A prominent Muslim traveler and scholar.
Swahili: Emerged along the East African coast from the 11th century.
Mansa Musa (reigned 1312-1337): Known for his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324.
Camel Caravans: Used for transportation across the Sahara beginning in the early centuries.
Europe
Feudalism: A decentralized political system prominent around the 9th century.
Manorialism: Developed in the early Middle Ages.
Serfdom: System of labor emerging during the medieval period.
Crusades (1095-1291): Religious wars between Christians and Muslims.
Black Death (1347-1351): A devastating pandemic that decimated Europe's population.
Marco Polo (1254-1324): A European traveler who visited China in the late 13th century.
Main Characters
Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199)
Mansa Musa (circa 1280-1337)
Zheng He (1371-1433)
Al-Razi (865-925)
Pachacuti (1438-1471)
Johannes Gutenberg (circa 1400-1468)
Unit 2: Networks of Exchange (1200-1450)
Kashgar/Samarkand: Important trading cities along the Silk Roads, flourishing until the 15th century.
Caravanserai: Roadsides inns for travelers developed throughout this period.
Paper Money: Introduced in China (circa 7th century), popularized during the Song Dynasty.
Flying Cash: Chinese letters of credit in use by the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Banking: Expanded to support trade during the 10th century onward.
Porcelain: A valuable trade good from China developed during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Chinese Iron/Steel: Highly sought-after commodities from the Song Dynasty onward.
The Mongol Empire
Genghis Khan (1162-1227): Founder of the Mongol Empire.
Khanates: Mongol successor states from the 13th century onward.
Cultural transfers of medical knowledge and numbering systems occurred during the 13th-14th centuries.
Steppe: The geographic region influential in the Mongol Empire's rise.
Bubonic Plague: Spread along trade routes in the 14th century.
Exchanges in the Indian Ocean
Gujarat/Malacca: Major trading ports active from the 13th century onward.
Diaspora: Merchant communities began forming in the 11th century.
Monsoon Winds: Crucial for trading patterns established through centuries.
Compass: Developed during the 11th century for navigation, greatly utilized by the 15th century.
Zheng He (1371-1433): Ming Admiral who led voyages of exploration from 1405-1433.
Trans-Saharan Trade Routes
Caravans: Transported goods across the Sahara since ancient times.
Camel Saddles: Improved transportation developed around the 4th century.
Mali: Benefited from trade prominence from the 13th century.
Islam: Significantly spread through trade from the 7th century onwards.
Mansa Musa: His famous pilgrimage to Mecca occurred in 1324, increasing awareness of Mali.
Gold and Salt: Key trade commodities remained essential through centuries.
Timbuktu: Continues to be a center of trade and learning since its establishment.
Caravanserai: Provided lodging for merchants throughout the early modern period.
Cultural Consequences
Spread of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam: Continued to expand from the 7th century onwards.
Spread of Paper and Gunpowder: Significant technological advancements during this period.
Ibn Battuta: Travelled extensively from 1325-1354.
Marco Polo: Travelled to China around 1271-1295.
Environmental Consequences
Bubonic Plague: Spread along trade routes during the 14th century.
Champa Rice: Introduced to new regions around 1000.
Citrus Fruits, Sugar: Spread via trade primarily in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Main Characters
Genghis Khan (1162-1227)
Marco Polo (1254-1324)
Zheng He (1371-1433)
Ibn Battuta (1304-1369)
Margery Kempe (circa 1373-1438)
Skills Focus
Comparison: Explain the relevant similarities and differences among various networks of exchange.
Causation: Describe the causes and effects of the increased volume/expanded range of existing trade routes.
Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (1450-1750)
Gunpowder Utilized in Warfare: Prominent in various empires from the 15th century onward.
Qing Dynasty Established by the Manchus (1644-1912).
Kangxi (1654-1722): An important Qing emperor who ruled from 1661-1722.
Imperial Portraits: Used to legitimize rule, popular in the 17th century.
Civil Service Exam Continued: Used throughout the Qing period.
Banner System: Established in the 17th century for military organization.
Queue Hairstyle Imposed (17th century): A distinctive feature of Qing-era administration.
Neo-Confucianism: Supported by the Qing during their reign.
Songhai Empire
Dominantly Islamic (until 1591): Flourished with important rulers throughout the 15th and 16th centuries.
Askia Muhammad: An important ruler reigned from 1493-1528.
Gao: Capital city prominent during this period.
Trans-Saharan Trade: Continued importance throughout this era.
Aztec Empire
Tenochtitlan (1325): The capital city developed by the Aztecs and became dominant until 1521.
Human Sacrifice: Practiced for religious purposes throughout their rule.
Chinampas: Used for agriculture introduced in the 14th century.
Inca Empire
Cuzco (established in the early 15th century): The capital city of the Incan Empire.
Incan Road System: Facilitated communication established from the 15th century onward.
Atahualpa (r. 1532-1533): The Incan ruler at the time of Spanish conquest.
Sun Temple: An important religious site significant since the Inca's rise.
Tokugawa Japan
Salaried Samurai: Samurai paid with stipends developed by the 17th century.
Shogun: The military ruler instituted in the 12th century; becomes definitive under Tokugawa (1603-1868).
Bakufu: The Shogunate government established by the 12th century, formalized under Tokugawa.
Sakoku: Policy of isolation established in 1635.
Ottoman Empire
Gunpowder Used for Military Expansion: Beginning in the 15th century.
1453: Conquest of Constantinople by Mehmet II.
Istanbul: The new capital city established after the conquest in 1453.
Devshirme: System of conscripting Christian boys into military established in the 14th century.
Janissaries: Elite infantry units developed from 14th century onward.
Tax Farming: Established during the Ottoman rule, primarily in the 15th century.
Millet System: Allowed religious communities to govern themselves established from the 15th century.
Sunni Islam: State religion established under the Ottoman rule.
Alhambra Decree (1492): Expulsion of Jews from Spain, impacting Ottoman policies after 1492.
Miniatures: Developed as an Ottoman art form during the 16th century.
Battle of Chaldiran (1514): Conflict with the Safavid Empire.
Safavid Empire
Gunpowder Used for Military Power: Established during its reign in the 16th century.
Shi'a Islam: The state religion formed during the rise of the Safavid Empire.
Battle of Chaldiran (1514): Conflict with the Ottoman Empire, significant for their military.
Mughal Empire
Gunpowder in Military Technology: Prominent from the establishment of the empire in the 16th century.
Divine Faith: A syncretic religion promoted by Akbar I during the late 16th century.
Sikhism: A new religion emerged in India during the 15th century.
Zamindars: Tax collectors prominent by the 16th century.
Taj Mahal (completed in 1653): A famous mausoleum commissioned by Shah Jahan.
Marathas: Hindu warrior group active from the 17th century.
Europe
Versailles Established as a Royal Power symbol in France (1661).
Protestant Reformation (1517): Religious movement that challenged the Catholic Church.
Scientific Revolution (16th-18th centuries): Emphasized reason and observation.
Main Characters
Mehmet II (1432-1481)
Montezuma II (circa 1466-1520)
Guru Nanak (1469-1539)
Martin Luther (1483-1546)
Suleiman I (1494-1566)
Akbar I (1542-1605)
Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616)
Shah Abbas I (1571-1629)
Kangxi (1654-1722)
Skills Focus
Comparison: Compare the methods by which various empires increased their influence from 1450 to 1750.
Continuity and Change: Explain the continuities and changes within the various belief systems from 1450-1750.
Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections (1450-1750)
Caravel: Developed in the 15th century as a type of ship.
Fluyts: Dutch cargo ships emerging in the 16th century.
Prevailing Winds: Used for navigation established in sailing traditions from ancient times.
Astronomical Charts: Used for navigation developed in the 15th century.
Astrolabe: Navigational instrument utilized in the 15th century.
Compass: Developed in China and used for navigation from the 12th century onward.
Lateen Sails: Triangular sails popularized by the 15th century.
Portuguese Empire
Trading Post Empire (15th-17th centuries): Focused on controlling trade routes.
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade: Involving the trade of enslaved Africans from the late 15th century.
Brazil/Angola/Indian Ocean: Areas of Portuguese influence established during their age of exploration (15th century).
Cash Crops: Such as sugar, primarily grown in the 16th century.
Spice Islands: Source of valuable spices emerged prominently during the 15th century.
Spanish Empire
Reconquista (718-1492): The reconquest of Spain from the Muslims known until 1492.
Viceroyalties: Spanish colonial administrations established in the 16th century.
Aztecs/Incas: Conquered by the Spanish in the early 16th century.
Encomiendas: Forced labor system introduced during conquest in the 16th century.
Castas: Social hierarchy based on race becoming systematic in the 16th century.
Our Lady of Guadalupe: Became a symbol of Mexican identity after 1531.
Vodun: A syncretic religion developing in the Americas in the 17th century.
Potosi: Established as the main silver mining center in 1545.
Trading Companies
Joint Stock Company: Established in the 17th century, empowering long-distance trade.
Dutch V.O.C.: Dutch East India Company founded in 1602.
Indonesia: Area of Dutch influence from the 17th century onwards.
British East India Co: Formed in 1600, prominent in Indian trade.
Spice Trade: Major trade in spices like nutmeg and pepper occurring throughout the 16th-18th centuries.
Columbian Exchange
Exchange of Plants, Animals, Diseases: Between East and West became prominent from 1492 onward.
Potatoes: Introduced to Europe after 1492 from the Americas.
Sugar: Grown in the Americas using slave labor dramatically from the 16th century.
Smallpox: Disease that devastated Native American populations following European contact after 1492.
Okra and Rice: Brought from Africa to the Americas around the 16th century.
Challenges to State Power
Cossacks: Ukrainian warriors emerged during the 16th century impacting regional conflicts.
Marathas: Indian warriors actively resisted Mughals from the 17th century onwards.
Ana Nzinga: Ruler who resisted Portuguese colonization in the 17th century.
Revolts from the Enslaved (Queen Nanny): Resisting slavery throughout the late 17th to early 18th centuries.
Tokugawa Ieyasu: Consolidated power in Japan from 1603.
Changing Social Hierarchies
Alhambra Decree (1492): Expulsion of Jews from Spain affecting societal structure.
Castas: Social hierarchy established in Spanish America from the 16th century.
Creoles/Peninsulares: Social classes defined in Spanish America from the 16th century.
Timars-Boyars-Gentry vs. Monarchs: Various social structures existing from the 15th century onward.
Main Characters
Prince Henry (1394-1460): Significant for Portuguese exploration.
Christopher Columbus (1451-1506): Visited the Americas in 1492.
Vasco da Gama (1460-1524): Reached India in 1498.
Bartolome de las Casas (1484-1566): Advocated for indigenous rights.
Atahualpa (1497-1533): Incan ruler at the time of Spanish conquest.
Ana Nzinga (1583-1663): Ruler known for resistance against colonization.
Queen Nanny (circa 1685-1755): Jamaican Maroon leader.
Skills Focus
Causation: Explain the causes of the Columbian Exchange and its effects on the Eastern/Western Hemispheres.
Continuity and Change: Explain how economic developments in this period affected social structures over time.
Unit 5: Revolutions (1750-1900)
State of Nature: Philosophical concept developed in the 17th century.
Reason: Emphasized through Enlightenment thought from the 18th century.
Religious Tolerance: Gaining traction in the Enlightenment by the 18th century.
Natural Rights: Concept articulated by John Locke (1632-1704) in the 17th century.
Social Contract: Idea popularized by philosophers in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Suffrage: Gaining attention and advocacy in the 19th century.
Feminism: Advocacy for women’s rights becoming more prominent in the 19th century.
Abolition: Movement gaining momentum to end slavery in the 19th century.
Nationalism and Revolution
Liberalism: Political ideology that emerged in the 19th century.
Nationalism: Loyalty and devotion to a nation emphasized throughout the 19th century.
American Revolution (1775-1783): Inspired by Enlightenment ideals.
Haitian Revolution (1791-1804): First successful slave revolt inspired by similar ideologies.
Latin American Revolutions (1810-1826): Inspired by Enlightenment ideals and nationalism.
Declaration of Independence (1776): A pivotal document asserting rights.
Jamaica Letter (1815): Written by Simon Bolivar addressing the independence movement.
Industrial Beginnings
In Great Britain: Where the Industrial Revolution began in the late 18th century (circa 1760).
Urbanization: Growth of cities during the 19th century fueled by industrialization.
Agricultural Revolution: Increased agricultural productivity occurred in the 18th century.
Coal/Iron: Resources significant to industrialization marked starting from the 18th century.
Private Property: Key aspect for capitalism emphasized during the 19th century.
Factory System: Production in factories becoming mainstream in the 19th century.
Spread of Industrialization
Steam: Power source for machines developed significantly by the 18th century.
Spread to Europe, US, and Russia: Began in the 19th century.
Trans-Siberian RR: Facilitated transportation in Russia starting from the 1890s.
Asian/African Manufacturing Decline: Noticed in the wake of industrialization during the 19th century.
Technology
Fossil Fuels (Coal/Oil): Energizing the industrial age from the 19th century.
2nd Industrial Revolution: Advances in technology occurring in the late 19th century.
Internal Combustion Engine: Revolutionized transportation in the 19th century.
Railroads: Facilitated movement and changed economies by the 19th century.
Steamships: Revolutionized transportation (early 19th century).
Telegraphs: Improved communication developing throughout the 19th century.
Governments and Industrialization
Meiji Restoration (1868): Marked the beginning of modernization in Japan.
Cotton in Egypt: Example of industrialization during the 19th century resurgence.
Self-Strengthening Movement: Attempt to modernize China in the 19th century.
Tanzimat Reforms: Ottoman reforms initiated in the 1830s.
Industrial Economics
Adam Smith (1723-1790): Economist advocating for capitalism in the 18th century.
Capitalism: Economic system based on private ownership surged post-Industrial Revolution.
Laissez-faire: Economic philosophy gaining traction in the 19th century.
Trans-National Businesses: Operating in multiple countries developing in the 19th century.
HSBC, Unilever: Examples of multinational corporations established in the 19th century.
Stock Markets: Facilitated investment growing from the 17th century into the 19th century.
Industrial Reactions
Reforms: Aimed to address industrialization’s negative consequences initiated in the late 19th century.
Karl Marx and Communism: Critique of capitalism published in the mid-19th century.
Industrial Society
Middle and Working Class: New social classes defined by the 19th century.
Domesticity: Linked to the emphasis on women’s role in the home, solidified in the 19th century.
Main Characters
John Locke (1632-1704): Influential Enlightenment philosopher.
Adam Smith (1723-1790): Economist known for capitalism theory.
James Watt (1736-1819): Improved steam engine in the 18th century.
Toussaint L'Ouverture (1743-1803): Leader of the Haitian Revolution.
Muhammad Ali (1769-1849): Leader of Egypt during modernization efforts.
Bolivar (1783-1830): Leader of South American independence.
Karl Marx (1818-1883): Philosopher and economist promoting socialism.
Henry Ford (1863-1947): Revolutionized the auto industry using assembly lines.
Skills Focus
Comparison: Explain the extent to which industrialization brought change from 1750 to 1900.
Contextualization: Explain the intellectual and ideological context to the Atlantic Revolutions from 1750 to 1900.
Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization (1750-1900)
Rationales for Imperialism
Social Darwinism: Belief in race superiority began circulation in the late 19th century.
White Man's Burden: Developed as justification for imperialism in the 19th century.
"Civilizing Mission": Embraced as a rationale in the 19th century.
Nationalism: Competitive drive among European powers peaked in the late 19th century.
Religious Conversion: Motivation linked to imperialist expansion from the 19th century.
State Expansion
Shift from non-state to state control in the 19th century.
Growth of US and Japanese Empires prominent during the late 19th century.
Berlin Conference (1884-1885): Regulated European colonization in Africa.
Settler Colony: Colonies where settlers displaced indigenous populations, notable during imperial expansions of the 19th century.
Congo: Colonized by Belgium starting from 1885.
Indigenous Responses
Growth of Nationalism: Response developed throughout the 19th century.
Tupac Amaru II (revolt in 1780): Indigenous revolt in Peru resisting colonial authority.
Sepoy Rebellion (1857): Significant revolt against British rule in India.
Yaa Asantewaa (1900): Queen of the Ashanti who led resistance against colonial forces.
Xhosa Cattle Killing (1856-1857): A millenarian movement in South Africa responding to colonial pressures.
Imperial Economics
Export Economies: Focused on exporting raw materials began throughout the 19th century.
Rubber, Palm Oil, Guano: Examples of raw materials peaked in the late 19th century.
Opium Wars: Conflicts between China and Britain occurring in 1839-1842 and 1856-1860.
Economic Imperialism: Control of a country's economy by another nation becoming widespread in the 19th century.
Banana Republics: States dependent on banana exports heavily influenced by foreign corporations emerging by the late 19th century.
Causes of Migrations
New models of transportation (19th century): Facilitated global migration patterns.
Job opportunities in cities: Urbanization leading to migrations globally in the 19th century.
Coerced Labor: Forced labor systems seen in various forms throughout the 19th century.
Effects of Migrations
Migrants are typically male: Leaving women behind became a pattern noticeable throughout the 19th century.
Ethnic Enclaves: Communities of immigrants establishing themselves in burgeoning cities.
White Australia Policy: Formalized in 1901, restricting non-European immigration to Australia.
Main Characters
Tupac Amaru II (circa 1740-1781): Advocate of indigenous rights in Andean resistance.
Lin Zexu (1785-1850): Anti-opium campaigner, key figure in the Opium Wars.
Charles Darwin (1809-1882): His theories of evolution influenced imperial ideology.
Dr. Livingstone (1813-1873): Missionary and explorer in Africa.
King Leopold II (1835-1909): Ruled over the Congo Free State noted for exploitative practices.
Hiram Maxim (1840-1916): Inventor of the Maxim Gun, pivotal in colonial conflicts.
Meiji Emperor (1852-1912): Key figure in Japan's modernization efforts.
Skills Focus
Causation: Explain the relative significance of the effects of imperialism from 1750 to 1900.
Causation: Explain how ideologies contributed to the development of imperialism from 1750 to 1900.
Unit 7: Global Conflicts (1900-present)
Shifting Power
Land-based and maritime empires give way to new states: around 1900.
Causes of WWI
Militarism: Buildup of military forces significant in the early 20th century.
Competition for resources: Heightened tensions prior to WWI.
Intense nationalism: Rising influence, particularly in Europe, leading up to 1914.
Alliances: Complex system solidified prior to WWI (1914-1918).
Regional conflicts: Triggering broader tensions in the Balkans.
Imperialist expansion: Underlying cause of conflict in early 20th century.
Conducting WWI
First total war: New levels of resource mobilization during 1914-1918.
Governments used art nationalism and propaganda intensively during the war.
Gas, tanks, machine guns: New weapons developed and deployed in WWI.
Interwar Economics
Stock Market Crash (1929): Initiated the Great Depression.
Great Depression (1929): Global economic downturn causing widespread hardship.
New Deal (1933): Reforms to combat the Great Depression in the U.S.
Five Year Plans: Initiated in 1928 in the Soviet Union to industrialize the economy.
Fascist Corporatist Economy: Implementation in Italy during the 1920s.
Unresolved Tensions
League of Nations: Formed in 1920 but failed in enforcing peace.
Mandates: Established after WWI, leading to discontent in the Middle East.
East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere: Concept developed by Japan during the 1930s.
Indian National Congress: Active in push for independence, particularly after WWI.
Fascism: Gained traction in early 20th century Europe.
Causes of WWII
Failures of the Treaty of Versailles (1919): Contributed to rising tensions.
Great Depression (1929): Economically destabilizing many nations.
Aggressive militarism in Japan and Nazi Germany: Major threats in the late 1930s.
Conducting WWII
Total war: Governments mobilized all aspects of society in the conflict, especially during 1939-1945.
Propaganda: Used extensively to maintain morale and support.
Fascists/Communists: Key players in the conflicts of WWII.
Fire-bombing and Atomic bombs: Strategies deployed from 1945.
Mass Atrocities
Holocaust: Systematic genocide during WWII (1941-1945).
Genocide: Targeted ethnic violence such as towards Armenians in WWI and in Holodomor (1932-1933) in Ukraine, Cambodia (1975-1979), and Rwanda (1994).
Main Characters
Franz Ferdinand (1863-1914): His assassination triggered WWI.
Sun Yat-Sen (1866-1925): Leader in the push for modernization in China.
Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924): Key figure in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.
Joseph Stalin (1878-1953): Leader of USSR during and after WWII.
Ataturk (1881-1938): Founder of modern Turkey and key reformist leader.
Joseph Stalin (1878-1953): Leader of USSR during and after WWII.
Benito Mussolini (1883-1945): Founder of Italian Fascism.
Adolf Hitler (1889-1945): Leader of Nazi Germany during WWII.
Skills Focus
Causation: Explain the relative significance of the causes of the global conflicts in the period 1900 to present.
Comparison: Explain the similarities/differences in how governments used different methods to conduct war.
Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization (1900-present)
The Cold War
Yalta Conference (1945): Post-WWII conference that divided Eastern Europe.
Marshall Plan (1948): U.S. aid to rebuild European economies.
Containment: U.S. policy to prevent the spread of communism articulated in the late 1940s.
Truman Doctrine (1947): U.S. support for countries resisting communism.
Deterrence: Developed as a strategy during the Cold War.
Non-aligned Movement: Countries that did not align with either the U.S. or USSR largely formed in the 1950s.
M.A.D. (Mutually Assured Destruction): Policy defining U.S.-Soviet relations from the 1960s onward.
Effects of the Cold War
N.A.T.O. (1949): North Atlantic Treaty Organization formed.
Warsaw Pact (1955): Military alliance of communist countries.
Nuclear Proliferation: Rapidly occurred throughout the Cold War.
Proxy Wars: Conflicts in Korea (1950-1953), Vietnam (1955-1975), along with support of opposing sides in other regions.
Spread of Communism: Increased access to global influence through revolutions and coups in the mid-20th century.
Chinese Civil War
Communist victory in China (1949): Led to the establishment of the PRC,; C.C.P. led by Mao Zedong.
Great Leap Forward (1958-1961): A failed economic plan in China.
Cultural Revolution (1966-1976): A political movement aiming to enforce communist ideology through purges and opening up to youth.
Decolonization
Nationalist leaders sought independence: Post-WWII years saw an increase in such actions.
Negotiated vs. armed independence: Diverse pathways of independence in the late 1940s-1960s.
Ghana (1957), India (1947), Vietnam (1954): Key examples of decolonization processes.
Newly Independent States
Redrawing boundaries led to new states between 1945-1965 (India, Pakistan, Israel).
Migrations to Metropoles: Increased movements noted as states gained independence.
Global Resistance
Challengers to conflict included leaders like Gandhi (1869-1948), Mandela (1918-2013), M.L.K. Jr. (1929-1968).
Others utilized violence in struggles, including terrorist groups like Al Qaeda (20th century).
End of the Cold War
Detente (1970s): Easing of tensions between Superpowers.
Star Wars (1980s): Strategic Defense Initiative crafted by U.S. government.
Arms Race: Heightened leading to nuclear stockpiling throughout the 1980s.
Berlin Wall (1989): Its fall symbolizes the end of the Cold War divisions.
Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989): Conflict that drained Soviet resources.
Chernobyl (1986): Nuclear disaster prompting discussions of nuclear safety.
Glasnost (1980s): Openness policy increasing transparency in USSR.
Perestroika (1980s): Economic restructuring promoting reforms in Soviet economy.
Main Characters
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948): Leader in non-violent resistance.
George Marshall (1880-1959): Key figure in post-war U.S. reconstruction.
Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969): Leader of communist guerrillas in Vietnam.
Mao Zedong (1893-1976): Leader of communist China.
Kwame Nkrumah (1909-1972): First Prime Minister of Ghana leading decolonization efforts.
Nelson Mandela (1918-2013): Important leader advocating for anti-apartheid.
Gorbachev (1931-): Last leader of the USSR known for reforms.
Skills Focus
Causation: Explain how the effects of the Cold War were similar in the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
Comparison: Compare the processes by which various peoples pursued independence after 1900.
Unit 9: Globalization (1900-present)
Technology
Radio: Popularized in the 1920s.
Internet: Emergence from the late 20th century (1990s).
Birth Control: Increased availability noted post 1960s.
Petroleum: Became a major energy source in the 20th century.
Nuclear: Technology development began post-WWII.
Green Revolution: Increased agricultural production began in the 1960s.
GMOs: Genetically Modified Organisms introduced in the 1990s.
Vaccine/Antibiotics: Major advancements occurred throughout the 20th century.
Disease
Tuberculosis: Major global health issue, still ongoing since the 19th century.
1918 Flu: Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919.
Ebola: Identified in the 1970s, leading to periodic outbreaks.
HIV/AIDS: First identified in the 1980s, resulting in ongoing global health challenges.
Alzheimer's: Recognized in 1906, gaining attention in the 20th century.
Environment
Climate Change: Growing concern evolving since the mid-20th century.
Deforestation: Documented as a crisis increasing during the 20th century.
Greenhouse Gasses: Concerns emerging from the mid-20th century.
Economics
Free Market Economics: Gaining traction post-WWII and through the 1980s.
Knowledge Economies vs. Manufacturing Economies: Distinction becoming prominent in late 20th century.
Calls for Reform assessing global inequalities in the late 20th century.
UN Declaration of Human Rights: Adopted in 1948.
Negritude: Cultural movement introduced in the 1930s.
Feminism: Movement gaining significant momentum in the 1960s and 1970s.
Suffrage: Expanding rights for women and minorities throughout the 20th century.
Civil Rights: Movement active in the 1960s.
End of Apartheid: Achieved in South Africa in 1994.
Greenpeace: Environmental activism initiated in the 1970s.
Culture
Consumerism: Intensified in the post-WWII era, particularly in the 1980s.
Reggae: Emerged from Jamaica in the 1960s.
Bollywood: Indian cinema became a global influence throughout the 20th century.
Social Media: Transformed communication from the early 21st century onwards.
BBC: Global news organization established in 1922.
Resistance to Globalization
Anti-IMF: Movements emerging during the 1980s.
Anti-World Bank protests seen in the 1990s.
Weibo: Chinese social media platform launched in 2009.
Global Institutions
Failed League of Nations (1920-1946) post-WWI failures noted.
United Nations (established 1945): Aimed at fostering international cooperation and peace.
Main Characters
Wright Brothers (1903): First successful powered flight.
Margaret Sanger (1879-1966): Birth control activist.
Jonas Salk (1914-1995): Developed the polio vaccine in the 1950s.
Norman Borlaug (1914-2009): Key figure in the Green Revolution.
Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013): U.K. Prime Minister, influential in the 1980s.
Wangari Maathai (1940-2011): Environmentalist and political activist.
Bin Laden (1957-2011): Leader of Al-Qaeda, influential in the early 21st century.
Skills Focus
Continuity and Change: Explain the extent to which science/technology brought change in this period.
Causation: Explain the causes and effects of environmental changes in the period
Unit 1: Global Tapestry (1200-1450)
Comparison: State-building in different regions revealed both unique methods and common themes. In East Asia, particularly in Song China, there was a robust emphasis on Confucian ideals, which stressed social harmony and the role of a meritocratic civil service. In contrast, the Inca and Aztec empires in the Americas built their societies on military strength, complex social hierarchies, and extensive trade networks. While Song China focused on philosophical frameworks to legitimize governance, the Americas often relied on conquest and tribute systems to consolidate power.
Unit 2: Networks of Exchange (1200-1450)
Causation: The increase in trade along existing routes like the Silk Roads and the Indian Ocean facilitated unprecedented cultural exchanges, the spread of religions like Buddhism and Islam, and an influx of commodities such as silk, spices, and precious metals. Factors such as the Mongol Empire's facilitation of trade and improved maritime navigation (like the compass) contributed to this expansion, leading to profound effects on social structures and economies across regions.
Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (1450-1750)
Comparison: Various empires employed distinct strategies to expand their influence. The Ottomans used gunpowder technology and a strong military force to secure vast territories, while the Mughals combined military might with cultural accommodation, exemplified by Akbar’s promotion of religious tolerance. The Qing dynasty emphasized political legitimacy through art and Confucian ideals, contrasting with the Mughals’ pluralism and the Ottomans’ millet system.
Continuity and Change: Despite changes across belief systems, Islam remained a dominant religion in empires like the Ottomans, while new syncretic religions emerged in the Mughal Empire, notably Sikhism. The Qing's adherence to Neo-Confucianism signified continuity of traditional beliefs, yet the rise of different schools of thought indicated a dynamic shift in how these beliefs were practiced and understood.
Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections (1450-1750)
Causation: The Columbian Exchange emerged from extensive European maritime exploration, resulting in significant transfer of crops, animals, and diseases between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The introduction of new staples like potatoes and maize to Europe transformed diets and agricultural practices, while diseases like smallpox decimated indigenous populations in the Americas. The profound social and economic changes linked to this exchange laid the groundwork for global trade networks.
Continuity and Change: Economic developments during this period affected social structures, particularly the rise of plantation economies driven by enslaved African labor in the Americas. This marked a transition from subsistence economies to profit-oriented agricultural systems, leading to new classes and altering the dynamics of labor and land ownership.
Unit 5: Revolutions (1750-1900)
Comparison: Industrialization significantly altered societies differently across regions. In Europe, industrialization resulted in a burgeoning middle class and a defined working class, with increased urbanization and shifts in labor practices. Meanwhile, in places like Japan, the Meiji Restoration actively promoted industrialization to strengthen the nation against Western powers. These developments differed in their socio-political implications, with European nations facing class struggles while Japan maintained a relatively stable social structure due to its top-down approach to reform.
Contextualization: The Atlantic revolutions were heavily influenced by Enlightenment ideals stressing natural rights, governance by consent, and social contracts. In the American Revolution, these principles led to ideas of independence and republicanism, while the Haitian Revolution was propelled by these same concepts in a quest for freedom from colonial oppression, showcasing how the Enlightenment served as a catalyst for active resistance across the globe.
Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization (1750-1900)
Causation: The industrial age fueled imperialism as European powers sought new markets and raw materials. Growing industrial needs led to a scramble for Africa and increased colonization in Asia, with ideologies like Social Darwinism justifying domination. Economic interests often overshadowed humanitarian concerns, leading to widespread exploitation of colonized peoples and resources.
Causation: Ideologies supporting imperialism emerged concurrently with industrial expansion. The concept of the “White Man's Burden” and Social Darwinism provided a moral framework for the justification of control over marginalized societies, advocating for a perceived duty to civilize non-Western regions, which shaped public opinion and policy in favor of continued colonialism.
Unit 7: Global Conflicts (1900-present)
Causation: Multiple factors led to global conflicts, with nationalism and militarism driving tensions that sparked World War I. The intricate system of alliances created entangling obligations, while regional conflicts in the Balkans acted as catalysts for larger scale warfare, ultimately reshaping international relations for decades. The unresolved tensions post-WWI sowed the seeds for WWII, illustrating a cycle of escalating conflicts influenced by nationalist ambitions and historical grievances.
Comparison: Governments utilized various methods to conduct war, with WWI showcasing total war strategies involving mass mobilization and propaganda to galvanize public support. In WWII, the scale broadened with technologies such as atomic bombs and firebombing campaigns employed for strategic objectives, revealing differences in technological application and public engagement in military efforts.
Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization (1900-present)
Causation: The Cold War's ideological conflict led to similar effects in both Eastern and Western Hemispheres, including heightened military expenditures and involvement in proxy wars like Korea and Vietnam. The fear of communism prompted military alliances, fortified borders, and global posturing that defined international relations for decades.
Comparison: The processes of independence varied significantly across nations. While countries like India achieved independence through negotiation, often in peaceful movements led by figures like Gandhi, others like Vietnam engaged in armed struggle to expel colonial powers. The methods of achieving independence reflected different political climates and societal conditions across regions, demonstrating the complexity of decolonization efforts.
Unit 9: Globalization (1900-present)
Continuity and Change: Science and technology transformed societies, with developments in communication (telegraphs, phones, internet) reshaping how people connect and interact globally. The Green Revolution led to increased agricultural production, impacting food security and economies, illustrating how technological advancements brought profound societal shifts and heightened interdependence.
Causation: Environmental changes stemmed from rapid industrialization, resulting in climate change and biodiversity loss driven by unchecked resource exploitation. The rise of global movement advocating for environmental reforms highlighted the consequences of industrial advancements and addressed growing concerns about sustainability and ecological balance throughout the 20th century.