AP Test Study Guide

Chronological Periodization of Global History

World history is defined across several distinct time periods that categorize major shifts in human civilization and global connectivity. These periods include the years $1200$-$1450$, which comprise Units $1$ and $2$; the period from $1450$-$1750$, covering Units $3$ and $4$; the era from $1750$-$1900$, including Units $5$ and $6$; and the modern epoch from $1900$ to today, which encompasses Units $7$, $8$, and $9$.

Analysis of Global Religions and Belief Systems

Buddhism is a belief system with approximately $362,000,000$ followers. Its founder is identified as The Buddha, and its leadership is composed of Buddhist monks and nuns. The central belief of Buddhism is that a person can achieve complete peace and happiness, a state known as Nirvana. Reaching Nirvana is accomplished by adhering to several principles, including Right views, Right resolve, Right speech, and Right conduct.

Christianity consists of approximately $2,080,000,000$ followers who refer to the deity as God. The founder of the faith is Jesus Christ, and the leadership is provided by priests and ministers. The primary holy text is the Bible. Core beliefs include the conviction that there is only one God and that Jesus was the son of God. Furthermore, it is believed that His resurrection made eternal life possible for others.

Other significant religions and philosophies influencing global history include Hiduism, Islam, Judaism, and Confucianism. Each system has played a vital role in shaping the cultural and ethical frameworks of diverse societies.

Networks of Trade and Technological Interconnectivity

Global trade has historically been facilitated by primary routes such as the Silk road, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean Trade, and the Trans-Saharan trade. These networks were made possible through specific inventions that facilitated the movement of goods and people. These include the yoke, saddles and stirrups, and lateen sails. These technologies provided the physical means to bridge vast distances.

Diffusion of innovations is defined as a theory that seeks to explain how, why, and what role new ideas play in society. This cultural diffusion is carried out through various vehicles. Missionaries serve as vehicles by spreading religion and cultural practices. Merchants spread technology, religion, ideas, and food. Militaries are responsible for spreading technology and achieving conquest. Additionally, migrations provide a means for people to spread their religion as they move to new regions.

Consequences and Socio-Economic Results of Trans-regional Trade

Between $1200$ and $1540\text{ CE}$, trans-regional trade led to several transformative results. Exploration increased as societies sought new wealth and routes. Significant crops were spread across regions, most notably Champa Rice. This period also saw the development of new technologies. However, trade networks also facilitated the spread of epidemics, such as the Black Plague in Europe during the $14^{th}$ century. Beligans and religions also spread through these routes, specifically Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.

Maritime Expansion and the Gunpowder Empires (1450-1750)

During the period of $1450$-$1750$, European Gunpowder Empires rose to prominence, including the Portuguese, Spanish, English, Dutch, and French. These maritime powers utilized new tools and technologies to expand their influence. This included the Astrolabe, which was created by Europeans mariners and based on knowledge of wind patterns. The Greens and later the Islamic world mastered the understanding of wind, specifically the circular gyre. New types of ships were developed to handle long-range travel, including the Caravel, Carrack, and Fluyt.

The Columbian Exchange and Emerging Labor Paradigms

The Columbian Exchange occurred as a result of European exploration, leading to the massive transfer of foods, animals, and fruits between the Old and New Worlds. This exchange also necessitated the creation of new and often coercive labor systems. Chattel slavery is a system where people are treated as personal property. Indentured Servitude involves people entering into a contract with someone to labor for a set number of years. The Encomienda system was a grant by the King of Spain to an employer for a set number of Native Americans for labor. Additionally, Spanish arrivals coerced the Incan MIT\'a system, forcing Incans to provide $\frac{1}{7}$ of labor to Spain.

The Enlightenment and Intellectual Reform (1750-1900)

The Enlightenment was a new intellectual movement in the mid-$1700\text{s}$ that stressed reason and thought, as well as the power of individuals to solve political problems. Key Enlightenment thinkers included Voltaire ($1650$-$1222$), Rousseau ($1712$-$1728$) who discussed the general will, Thomas Hobbes ($1588$-$1679$), Montesquieu ($1689$-$1755$), and John Locke ($1632$-$1204$). Essential Enlightenment ideas included Reason, Popular Sovereignty, the Social Contract, the Separation of Powers, and Human Rights.

Political manifestations of these ideas appeared in the Atlantic Revolutions, which included the American Revolution ($1775$-$1783$), the French Revolution ($1789$-$1799$), and the Hatian Revolution ($1791$-$1804$).

The Global Impact of the Industrial Revolution and Imperialism

The Industrial Revolution introduced the factory system and a new social class structure. The levels were divided into the upper class (rich and business people), the upper middle class (businesses and professionals), the lower middle class (more professional people), and the working class (factory workers and small farmers). This economic power fueled Imperialism, which is defined as the domination or takeover by European powers, and later the USA and Japan, over subject lands in the larger world. These stronger countries dominated the political, economic, religious, and social life of the weaker countries.

The Twentieth Century: World War I and the Treaty of Versailles

Units $7$, $8$, and $9$ cover the period from $1900$ to the present. The four primary causes of WWI are identified as Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism. During the war, propaganda was extensively used. The conflict concluded with the Treaty of Versailles on June $28$, $1919$. Significant components of the treaty included Article $231$, known as the War guilt clause, which forced Germany to accept blame for starting WWI. Germany\'s military forces were severely reduced to only $100,000$ men, and they were prohibited from possessing modern weapons or battleships over $10,000$ tons. The Rhineland was declared demilitarized German national territory, and Germany lost national territory that was given to Belgium, Denmark, and most to Poland.

Economic Volatility and the Interwar Period

Following the war, the Democratic Heimar Republic faced extreme economic challenges. The value of the mark collapsed against the dollar through a series of stages: in $1919$ Pre-July, $1$ Dollar = $4$ marks; in $1918$, $1\text{D} = 8\text{ marks}$; in $1919$ After Besparations, $1\text{D} = 47\text{ marks}$; in $1922$ after TOV, $1\text{D} = 493\text{ marks}$; in $1922\text{ December}$, $1\text{D} = 7,000\text{ marks}$; in $1923\text{ April}$, $1\text{D} = 24,000\text{ marks}$; in $1923\text{ July}$, $1\text{D} = 353,000\text{ marks}$. By November $1923$, Germany experienced the Nazi beer Hall Putsch and $401$ unemployment. These conditions led into the Great Depression of $1929$. During this time, Hitler\'s goals were formulated, which included creating a Germany for all German-speaking people.