AP World History Content Summary (2019 Edition)

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

• East Asia Developments (Song Dynasty)

  • Systems of Government: Traditional Confucianism and imperial bureaucracy.
  • Cultural Traditions: Continued influence of Buddhism in East Asia, with various branches such as Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan Buddhism.
  • Economic Innovations: Commercialization of the economy, reliance on peasant and artisanal labor, productivity boost due to innovations in agriculture and manufacturing.

• Dar al-Islam Developments

  • Belief Systems: Core beliefs of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity shaping societies.
  • Rise of Islamic States: Expansion due to military conquests, merchants, missionaries, and Sufis.
  • Political Entities: Emergence of the Seljuk Empire, Mamluks, and Delhi Sultanates.
  • Intellectual Innovations: Significant advancements in science, technology, and literature; preservation of classical knowledge at institutions like House of Wisdom.

• South and Southeast Asia Developments

  • Belief Systems: Influence of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam on societal organization.
  • State Formation: New states demonstrating continuity and change, with notable empires such as Vijayanagara and Srivijaya.

• State Building in the Americas

  • State Formation: Diverse state systems, e.g., Maya city-states, Mexica, Inca, marked by innovation and continuity.

• State Building in Africa

  • Political Structures: Evolution of complex societies, like Great Zimbabwe and the Hausa kingdoms, showing diversity and continuity.

• Developments in Europe

  • Religious Influence: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam shaping societal norms.
  • Political Decentralization: Fragmented monarchies and feudalism characterized Europe.
  • Agricultural Impact: Dependency on agricultural production and labor systems, including serfdom.

Unit 2: Networks of Exchange (c. 1200 to c. 1450)

• Silk Roads Expansion

  • Trade Innovations: Improved commercial practices increased trade volume, leading to powerful trading cities.
  • Luxury Goods Demand: High demand for textiles, porcelain, and metals, benefiting artisan economies.

• Mongol Empire

  • State Influence: Mongol expansion facilitated trade networks, enabling interregional interactions and cultural exchanges.

• Indian Ocean Trade

  • Navigation Technologies: Innovations such as the compass and astrolabe encouraged trade expansion.
  • Cultural Exchange: Merchant diasporic communities promoted cross-cultural interactions and technological transfers.

• Trans-Saharan Trade

  • Economic Growth: Innovations and expansion of trade networks in the Sahara impacted economies in West Africa.

• Cultural Connectivity

  • Cross-Cultural Diffusion: Exchange of ideas, cultural practices, literature, and knowledge through increased interaction.

Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (c. 1450 to c. 1750)

• Empire Expansion

  • Gunpowder Empires: Rise of empires like the Manchu, Mughal, Ottoman, and Safavid; imperial expansion leveraging gunpowder technology.
  • Legitimization Methods: Rulers used bureaucratic systems and religious justifications to strengthen their power.

• Belief Systems

  • Religious Changes: The Protestant Reformation led to new Christian branches; intense rivalries formed within Islam.

• Comparative Studies

  • Cultural Interactions: Global interconnections facilitated cultural exchange and influenced imperial policies.

Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections (c. 1450 to c. 1750)

• Technological Innovations

  • Exploration Advances: Development of new navigational technologies that enhanced maritime exploration.
  • Columbian Exchange: Exchange of crops, livestock, and diseases between the Americas and the Eastern Hemisphere led to widespread demographic changes.

• Maritime Empires

  • State Processes: Establishment of European maritime empires; economic demands led to exploitative labor practices like slavery.

Unit 5: Revolutions (c. 1750 to c. 1900)

• Enlightenment Influence
  • Philosophical Foundations: Rise of ideas emphasizing reason, individual rights, and democracy, leading to global revolutions.
  • Nationalism: Strength in cultural identities fostering new nation-states and independence movements.

Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization (c. 1750 to c. 1900)

• Imperialism Rationales

  • Cultural Ideologies: Justifications for imperialism stemmed from nationalism, social Darwinism, and religious conversion motivations.

• Global Economic Development

  • Resource Exploitation: Growth of economies driven by the need for raw materials and innovations in production.

Unit 7: Global Conflict (c. 1900 to present)

• World Wars I & II
  • Causes of Conflict: Nationalism, imperial competition, and new alliances led to total wars.

Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization (c. 1900 to present)

• Cold War Dynamics
  • Imperial Reactions: Governments and movements emerged from anti-colonial sentiments; former colonies sought independence through negotiation or revolution.

Unit 9: Globalization (c. 1900 to present)

• Technological Advances
  • Global Communication: Innovations in technology and transportation allowed for unprecedented global interactions and cultural blending.