AP World History: Modern - Speed Review Notes
AP® World History: Modern Speed Review
Unit 1: Global Tapestry (1200-1450) - 8-10% of Exam
Overview: Global review of different peoples and cultures from six AP regions.
East Asia - Song China
Confucianism: Influenced social order and governance.
Buddhism: Coexisted with Confucianism.
Civil Service Exam: Merit-based system for government positions.
Champa Rice: Led to population growth.
Filial Piety: Respect for elders, a core Confucian value.
Grand Canal: Facilitated trade and transportation.
Dar al-Islam
Fall of the Abbasid Caliphate: Signaled fragmentation of political unity.
House of Wisdom: Center of learning and translation in Baghdad.
Algebra, Medicine, and Philosophy: Significant advancements were made.
Start of Turkic Rule: Rise of new powers like the Seljuks.
Sufism: Mystical branch of Islam emphasizing inner experience.
South and Southeast Asia
Delhi Sultanate: Islamic rule in India.
Hinduism and Buddhism: Predominant religions.
Bhakti Movement: Emphasized devotion, transcending caste distinctions.
Sufism: Further spread Islamic mysticism.
Buddhist and Hindu States: Coexisted with varying degrees of conflict and cooperation.
Americas
Incan Empire: Andean civilization with a centralized government.
Aztec Empire: Mesoamerican empire known for its military prowess.
Mayan City-States: Declined but still present in fragmented form.
Mit'a System: Mandatory public service in the Inca Empire.
Incan Road: Facilitated communication and administration.
Human Sacrifice: Practiced by the Aztecs for religious purposes.
Chinampa: Floating gardens used for agriculture by the Aztecs.
Tenochtitlan: Capital city of the Aztec Empire.
Africa
Great Zimbabwe: Center of trade and culture in southern Africa.
Ethiopia: Christian kingdom with unique traditions.
Mali: Empire in West Africa known for its wealth and trade.
Timbuktu: Center of Islamic learning and trade in Mali.
Salt and Gold: Major commodities in trans-Saharan trade.
Islam: Spread through trade and cultural exchange.
Ibn Battuta: Muslim traveler who documented his journeys.
Swahili: Language and culture that developed along the East African coast.
Mansa Musa: Emperor of Mali famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca.
Camel Caravans: Facilitated trade across the Sahara.
Europe
Feudalism: Decentralized political system.
Manorialism: Economic system based on self-sufficient estates.
Serfdom: Labor system where peasants were tied to the land.
Crusades: Religious wars with significant social and economic impacts.
Black Death: Devastating pandemic that led to massive population decline.
Marco Polo: European traveler who visited China.
Main Characters
Minamoto Yoritomo
Mansa Musa
Zhenghe
al-Razi
Pachacuti
Johannes Gutenberg
Skills Focus
Comparison: Similarities and differences between state building in different AP regions.
Continuity and Change: Patterns of continuity and/or change in one of the AP regions.
Unit 2: Networks of Exchange (1200-1450) - 8-10% of Exam
Connectivity of Afro-Eurasia via major trade routes, the cultural and environmental consequences, and the Mongols.
The Silk Roads
Kashgar/Samarkand: Major trading cities along the Silk Roads.
Caravanserai: Roadside inns for travelers and merchants.
Paper Money: Facilitated trade in China.
Flying Cash: Early form of credit.
Banking: Developed to support long-distance trade.
Porcelain: High-demand trade item from China.
Chinese Iron/Steel: Important exports.
The Mongol Empire
Genghis Khan: Founder of the Mongol Empire.
Khanates: Mongol successor states.
Cultural Transfers: Medical knowledge and numbering systems.
Steppe: Grasslands of Central Asia, homeland of the Mongols.
Bubonic Plague: Spread along trade routes.
Exchanges in the Indian Ocean
Gujarat/Malacca: Key trading ports.
Diaspora: Merchant communities living outside their homeland.
Monsoon Winds: Influenced sailing patterns.
Compass: Navigational tool that facilitated trade.
Ming Admiral Zhenghe: Led naval expeditions.
Trans-Saharan Trade Routes
Caravans: Used to transport goods across the Sahara.
Camel Saddles: Allowed for efficient use of camels.
Mali: Benefited from trans-Saharan trade.
Islam: Spread through trade.
Mansa Musa: Famous ruler of Mali.
Gold and Salt: Major trade commodities.
Timbuktu: Center of trade and learning.
Caravanserai: Supported trade.
Cultural Consequences
Spread of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam: Religions spread along trade routes.
Spread of Paper and Gunpowder: Technological diffusion.
Ibn Battuta: Traveled extensively.
Marco Polo: Traveled to China.
Environmental Consequences
Bubonic Plague: Spread along trade routes.
Champa Rice: Introduced to China.
Citrus Fruits: Introduced to new regions.
Sugar: Spread and cultivated in new areas.
Main Characters
Genghis Khan
Marco Polo
Zhenghe
Ibn Battuta
Margery Kempe
Skills Focus
Comparison: Similarities and differences among various networks of exchange.
Causation: Causes and effects of the increased volume/expanded range of existing trade routes.
Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (1450-1750) - 12-15% of Exam
Major global land-based empires of the Early Modern Period: Manchus, Mughals, Ottomans, and Safavids.
Manchu Empire
Gunpowder: Utilized in military expansion.
Qing: Dynasty founded by the Manchus.
Kangxi: Important Qing emperor.
Imperial Portraits: Used to legitimize rule.
Civil Service Exam: Continued use for bureaucracy.
Banner System: Military organization.
Queue: Hairstyle imposed on Han Chinese.
Neo-Confucianism: Supported by the Qing.
Songhai Empire
Islam: Promoted by rulers.
Askia Muhammad: Important ruler.
Gao: Capital city.
Trans-Saharan: Engaged in trade.
Aztec Empire
Tenochtitlan: Capital city.
Human Sacrifice: Practiced for religious purposes.
Chinampas: Used for agriculture.
Inca Empire
Cuzco: Capital city.
Incan Road: Facilitated communication and administration.
Atahualpa: Inca ruler during the Spanish conquest.
Sun Temple: Religious site.
Tokugawa Japan
Salaried Samurai: Paid warriors.
Shogun: Military ruler.
Bakafu: Shogunate government.
Sakoku: Isolationist policy.
Ottoman Empire
Gunpowder: Used in military expansion.
1453: Conquest of Constantinople.
Istanbul: New capital city.
Devshirme: System of taking Christian boys into service.
Janissaries: Elite infantry force.
Tax Farming: System of collecting taxes.
Millet System: Allowed religious communities to govern themselves.
Sunni Islam: Official religion.
Alhambra Decree: Expulsion of Jews from Spain.
Miniatures: Art form.
Battle of Chaldiran: Conflict with the Safavid Empire.
Safavid Empire
Gunpowder: Used in military expansion.
Shi’a Islam: Official religion.
Battle of Chaldiran: Conflict with the Ottoman Empire.
Mughal Empire
Gunpowder: Used in military expansion.
Divine Faith: Syncretic religion promoted by Akbar.
Sikhism: New religion that emerged in India.
Zamindars: Landlords.
Taj Mahal: Architectural masterpiece.
Marathas: Hindu warriors who challenged Mughal rule.
Europe
Versailles: Symbol of royal power in France.
Protestant Reformation: Religious movement that challenged the Catholic Church.
Scientific Revolution: New way of thinking about the natural world.
Main Characters
Mehmet II
Montezuma II
Guru Nanak
Martin Luther
Suleiman I
Akbar I
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Shah Abbas I
Kangxi
Skills Focus
Comparison: Methods by which various empires increased their influence.
Continuity and Change: Continuities and changes within the various belief systems.
Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections (1450-1750) - 12-15% of Exam
Focus on the European maritime empires and their connections with Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
New Technology
Caravel: Ship design.
Fluyts: Dutch cargo ships.
Prevailing Winds: Used for navigation.
Astronomical Charts: Used for navigation.
Astrolabe: Navigational instrument.
Compass: Navigational instrument.
Lateen Sails: Triangular sails.
Portuguese Empire
Trading Post Empire: Focused on controlling trade routes.
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade: Involved in the slave trade.
Brazil/Angola/Indian Ocean: Areas of influence.
Cash Crops: Sugar.
Spice Islands: Controlled trade in spices.
Spanish Empire
Reconquista: Reconquest of Spain from the Muslims.
Viceroyalties: Colonial administrations.
Aztecs/Incas: Conquered by the Spanish.
Encomiendas: Labor system.
Castas: Social hierarchy based on race.
Our Lady of Guadalupe: Religious icon.
Vodun: Syncretic religion.
Potosi: Silver mine.
Trading Companies
Joint Stock Company: Financed exploration and trade.
Dutch V.O.C.: Dutch East India Company.
Indonesia: Area of Dutch influence.
British East India Co.: Controlled trade in India.
Spice Trade: Nutmeg, Pepper.
Columbian Exchange
Exchange of plants, animals, diseases when East met West.
Potatoes: New crop introduced to Europe.
Sugar: Cash crop.
Smallpox: Disease that devastated indigenous populations.
Okra: Brought to the Americas.
Rice: Brought to the Americas.
Challenges to State Power
Cossacks
Marathas
Ana Nzinga
Revolts from the Enslaved: Queen Nanny.
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Changing Social Hierarchies
Alhambra Decree: Expulsion of Jews from Spain.
Castas: Social hierarchy based on race.
Creoles/Peninsulares
Timars-Boyars-Gentry vs. Monarchs
Banners
Millets
Din-i-alahi
Han vs. Qing in China
Main Characters
Prince Henry
Chris Columbus
Vasco da Gama
Bartolome de las Casas
Atahualpa
Ana Nzinga
Queen Nanny
Skills Focus
Causation: Causes of the Columbian Exchange and its effects on the Eastern/Western Hemispheres.
Continuity and Change: How economic developments affected social structures over time.
Unit 5: Revolutions (1750-1900) - 12-15% of Exam
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 human existence without government.
Reason: Emphasis on logical thought.
Religious Tolerance: Acceptance of different religions.
Natural Rights: Rights inherent to all humans.
Social Contract: Agreement between people and government.
Suffrage: Right to vote.
Feminism: Advocacy for women's rights.
Abolition: Movement to end slavery.
Nationalism and Revolution
Liberalism: Political ideology emphasizing individual rights.
Nationalism: Identification with one's nation.
American/ Haitian/Latin American Revolutions: Inspired by Enlightenment ideas.
Declaration: Documents asserting rights and independence.
Jamaica Letter: Written by Simon Bolivar.
Industrial Beginnings
In Great Britain: Started in Britain due to resources and factors.
Urbanization: Growth of cities.
Agricultural Revolution: Increased food production.
Coal/Iron: Resources used for industrialization.
Private Property: Encouraged investment.
Factory System: Mass production in factories.
Spread of Industrialization
Steam: Steam engine powered machines.
Spread to Europe, US, and Russia
Trans-Siberian RR: Facilitated transportation.
Asian/African manufacturing decline: Due to competition from industrialized nations.
Technology
Fossil Fuels (Coal/Oil): Energy sources.
2nd Industrial Revolution
Internal Combustion Engine: Powered by gasoline.
Railroads: Transportation.
Steamships: Transportation.
Telegraphs: Communication.
Governments and Industrialization
Meiji Restoration: Modernization of Japan.
Cotton in Egypt: Focus on cash crops.
Self-Strengthening Movement: Attempt to modernize China.
Tanzimat Reforms: Reforms in Ottoman Empire.
Industrial Economics
Adam Smith: Economist.
Capitalism: Economic system based on private ownership.
Laissez-faire: Minimal government intervention.
Trans-National Businesses. HSBC, Unilever
Stock Markets
Industrial Reactions
Reforms
Karl Marx and Communism
Industrial Society
Middle and Working Class
Domesticity
Main Characters
John Locke
Adam Smith
James Watt
Toussaint L’Ouverture
Muhammad Ali
Bolivar
Karl Marx
Henry Ford
Skills Focus
Comparison: Extent to which industrialization brought change.
Contextualization: Intellectual and ideological context to the Atlantic Revolutions.
Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization (1750-1900) - 12-15% of Exam
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: Justification for imperial expansion.
White Man’s Burden: Belief in the need to civilize other cultures.
“Civilizing mission”
Nationalism: Desire for national prestige.
Religious conversion
State Expansion
Non-state to state control
Growth of US and Japanese Empires
Berlin Conference: Divided Africa among European powers.
Settler Colony
Congo
Indigenous Responses
Growth of Nationalism
Tupac Amaru
Sepoy Rebellion 1857
Yaa Asantewaa
Xhosa Cattle Killing
Imperial Economics
Export economies
Rubber
Palm Oil
Guano
Opium Wars
Economic Imperialism
Banana Republics
Causes of Migrations
New modes of transportation
Job opportunities in cities (global urbanization)
Coerced Labor
Effects of Migrations
Migrants=Male: leaving women behind
Ethnic enclaves
Receiving societies
White Australia Policy
Main Characters
Tupac Amaru II
Lin Zexu
Charles Darwin
Dr. Livingstone
King Leopold II
Hiram Maxim
Meiji Emperor
Skills Focus
Causation: Relative significance of the effects of imperialism.
Causation: How ideologies contributed to the development of imperialism.
Unit 7: Global Conflicts (1900-present) - 8-10% of Exam
Focus 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
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
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: Relative significance of the causes of the global conflicts.
Comparison: Similarities/Differences in how governments used different methods to conduct war.
Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization (1900-present) - 8-10% of 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
Marshall Plan
Containment
Truman Doctrine
Deterrence
Non-aligned Movement
M.A.D.
Effects of the Cold War
N.A.T.O.
Warsaw Pact
Nuclear Proliferation
Proxy Wars
Korean Conflict
Contras
Partition of Germany
Cuban Missile Crisis
Spread of Communism
Chinese Civil War
Chinese Communist Party (C.C.P.)
Great Leap Forward
Cultural Revolution
Vietnam Conflict
Land and Resource Redistribution
Decolonization
Nationalist leaders sought independence
Negotiated vs. armed independence
Ghana
India
Vietnam
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
Star Wars
Arms Race
Berlin Wall
Soviet-Afghan War
Chernobyl
Glasnost
Perestroika
Main Characters
Mahatma Gandhi
George Marshall
Ho Chi Minh
Mao Zedong
Kwame Nkrumah
Nelson Mandela
Gorbachev
Skills Focus
Causation: 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.
Unit 9: Globalization (1900-present) - 8-10% of 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
GMOs
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: Extent to which science/technology brought change.
Causation: Causes and effects of environmental changes.
Unit 1: Global Tapestry (1200-1450) - 8-10% of Exam
Overview: Global review of different peoples and cultures from six AP regions. Analyze major cultural and technological developments.
East Asia - Song China
Confucianism: Influenced social order and governance. Focused on filial piety and social harmony. The examination system reinforced these values.
Buddhism: Coexisted with Confucianism. Zen Buddhism became popular, blending Buddhist doctrines with local traditions.
Civil Service Exam: Merit-based system for government positions. Ensured a bureaucracy staffed by individuals skilled in Confucian classics and governance.
Champa Rice: Led to population growth. Drought-resistant rice from Vietnam increased agricultural productivity.
Filial Piety: Respect for elders, a core Confucian value. Shaped family and social hierarchies.
Grand Canal: Facilitated trade and transportation. Enabled efficient movement of goods and people across China. Improved economic integration between northern and southern China.
Dar al-Islam
Fall of the Abbasid Caliphate: Signaled fragmentation of political unity. Led to rise of regional powers and caliphates.
House of Wisdom: Center of learning and translation in Baghdad. Preserved and translated Greek, Persian, and Indian texts.
Algebra, Medicine, and Philosophy: Significant advancements were made. Islamic scholars made breakthroughs in mathematics, medicine, and philosophy.
Start of Turkic Rule: Rise of new powers like the Seljuks. Seljuks gained control over key regions and influenced political landscape.
Sufism: Mystical branch of Islam emphasizing inner experience and direct connection with God. Played a key role in spreading Islam.
South and Southeast Asia
Delhi Sultanate: Islamic rule in India. Introduced Islamic culture and administration to northern India.
Hinduism and Buddhism: Predominant religions. Influenced art, architecture, and social structures.
Bhakti Movement: Emphasized devotion, transcending caste distinctions. Promoted equality and challenged social hierarchies.
Sufism: Further spread Islamic mysticism. Facilitated conversion and cultural synthesis.
Buddhist and Hindu States: Coexisted with varying degrees of conflict and cooperation. Interactions shaped regional dynamics.
Americas
Incan Empire: Andean civilization with a centralized government. Known for its advanced infrastructure and administrative efficiency.
Aztec Empire: Mesoamerican empire known for its military prowess and complex social structures.
Mayan City-States: Declined but still present in fragmented form. Continued to exert influence despite their decline.
Mit'a System: Mandatory public service in the Inca Empire. Ensured labor for public works and agricultural projects.
Incan Road: Facilitated communication and administration. Enabled efficient movement of troops, goods, and information.
Human Sacrifice: Practiced by the Aztecs for religious purposes. Performed to appease gods and maintain cosmic balance.
Chinampa: Floating gardens used for agriculture by the Aztecs. Increased agricultural productivity in the lacustrine environment.
Tenochtitlan: Capital city of the Aztec Empire. A major urban center with impressive architecture and infrastructure.
Africa
Great Zimbabwe: Center of trade and culture in southern Africa. Known for its impressive stone structures and trade networks.
Ethiopia: Christian kingdom with unique traditions. Maintained its independence and Christian identity.
Mali: Empire in West Africa known for its wealth and trade. Controlled key trade routes and gold mines.
Timbuktu: Center of Islamic learning and trade in Mali. Attracted scholars and merchants from across the Islamic world.
Salt and Gold: Major commodities in trans-Saharan trade. Drove economic and political dynamics.
Islam: Spread through trade and cultural exchange. Influenced law, education, and social norms.
Ibn Battuta: Muslim traveler who documented his journeys. Provided valuable insights into different cultures.
Swahili: Language and culture that developed along the East African coast. Facilitated trade and interaction.
Mansa Musa: Emperor of Mali famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca. Showcased Mali's wealth and influence.
Camel Caravans: Facilitated trade across the Sahara. Enabled transport of goods across arid regions.
Europe
Feudalism: Decentralized political system. Characterized by land ownership and vassalage.
Manorialism: Economic system based on self-sufficient estates. Shaped rural life and agricultural production.
Serfdom: Labor system where peasants were tied to the land. Provided labor for agricultural production.
Crusades: Religious wars with significant social and economic impacts. Increased trade and cultural exchange.
Black Death: Devastating pandemic that led to massive population decline. Caused social and economic disruption.
Marco Polo: European traveler who visited China. Increased European awareness of Asian cultures and trade opportunities.
Main Characters
Minamoto Yoritomo
Mansa Musa
Zhenghe
al-Razi
Pachacuti
Johannes Gutenberg
Skills Focus
Comparison: Similarities and differences between state building in different AP regions. Consider factors such as religion, trade, and governance.
Continuity and Change: Patterns of continuity and/or change in one of the AP regions. Analyze long-term trends and turning points.