AP World Best Prompts

Prompt #1

Prompt: In the period circa 1200–1450, societies in South and Southeast Asia were shaped by various religious traditions such as Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Develop an argument that evaluates the extent to which societies in South or Southeast Asia experienced cultural change during this period.

Context: Throughout 1200- 1450, religions such as Confucianism, Buddhism, and Islam were carried by merchants as they traded their goods in the Indian Ocean Basin. With the introduction of Chinese junks and Arab dhows, these merchants were capable of traveling through the ocean as the monsoon winds pushed their ships to the popular cosmopolitan cities. The ideas traded with these beliefs led to governmental and intellectual advancements. 

Thesis: In the period circa 1200-1450, societies prevalent in South and Southeast Asia experienced cultural change through the emergence of new variations of religions and religious syncretism introduced to the region, such as Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism gaining importance in India, as well as the introduction of Confucianism to Vietnam and other regions in Asia which promoted more bureaucratic methods of rule, and Sufism, a distinctive form of Islam expanding into the primarily Hindu South Asia, where many beliefs faced change.  This launched Southeast Asia into an era influenced by various religious texts, art, and literature, transforming local traditions and societies. 

Evidence: Mahayana Buddhism was a variation that appreciated luxuries and materialism, instead of asceticism. Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism both focused on spiritual growth. Islam was the major religion of the Sea Roads, as it connected merchants with one another and gave them a trade advantage. By converting to Islam, Sufis were given more opportunities to make money. Confucianism was brought to Vietnam through the use of tributes and expanded education. Angkor Wat was an architectural display of Hinduism and the cosmos. Borobudur was a Buddhist temple for the growing followers of the belief. Hinduism was impacted by the expansion of Sufism, influencing Hindu society and religion. 

Prompt #2

Question Prompt

In what different ways did the Mongol empire affect Asia, Persia, and Europe? To what degree did they foster Eurasian integration?

Number 1

Context: Mongolia was in different states then was united by Chinggis Khan(Temujin) and they all took over China (Yuan dynasty by Kublai Khan) and conquered all of Eurasia (Asia, Persia, Kievan Rus). They did this through timing and conquered China while it was divided between the north and south. Under the Mongol’s reign, the Silk Road was the most wealthy and prosperous trade route and was the first and only way to get around Europe. The Byzantine Empire was the most prosperous eastern European state, the Ottoman Empire was forming during this time, and Mansa Musa was the richest person on the planet and was establishing Africa (through the trans-Saharan trade route and the trans-saharan slave trade).

Thesis: The Mongol Empire was a ruthless empire that drastically changed many regions such as Eurasia  Persia, and Europe through its taxation, mass destruction, chaos, segregation, and stolen inventions from China and in their own name. However, the Mongols helped Europe as well since they increased trade, brought countries together, let the Christian Orthodox Church flourish, were generally religiously tolerant, and ultimately brought back the prosperous days of the Silk Road and Europe as a whole.

Evidence: When the Mongol empire conquered China, it unified the country after they made many accommodations in their political system. The Mongols made use of the administrative practices and postal system, improved roads, built canals, valued education, and supported agriculture. However, they relied more on foreigners to rule in the government and disrupted social life. After the Ming Dynasty took over, they attempted to erase any signs of Mongol rule. In Persia, the aftermath was worse, as it was left to a period of political disorder as the Safavid Empire emerged and imposed the Shia version of Islam, creating rivalry with its neighbors. 

Number 2

Context: The Mongol Empire, which emerged under the leadership of Genghis (Chinggis) Khan in the early 13th century, became the largest contiguous land empire in history. It ruled over several khanates, including China, Persia, and Russia, and affected them in different ways. While their rule often brought destruction, it also facilitated connectivity and exchange across Eurasia. 

Thesis: In China, the Mongols helped boost its economy by prioritizing merchants but disallowed Chinese involvement in the government, rejecting Confucian ideals. In Persia, the Mongols assimilated into Persian culture by converting to Islam and restoring their economy by rebuilding irrigation systems and transferring skilled artisans. Lastly in Russia, the Mongols felt that Russia would not provide them any benefits, so they collected tribute instead. 

Evidence: In Asia, the Mongols prioritized merchants and gave them tax breaks. They would often offer merchants higher than their original selling price. They established themselves as the Yuan Dynasty, and Kublai Khan claimed the Mandate of Heaven. They were very harsh rulers, killing many people but keeping the skilled artisans who they would transfer to different countries, facilitating the spread of ideas. They removed the examination system and banned foot binding and intermarriage. Also, the Mongols created the Pax Mongolica which allowed merchants and traders to move freely across Eurasia. They also created the Yam Postal System which transferred goods and people. In Persia, the Mongols assimilated into Persian culture and learned Islam, something they never did anywhere else. While they destroyed land due to their nomadic lifestyle,  they also help rebuilt Persian society by recreating their irrigation systems and wine production. In Europe, the Russian empire wasn’t highly valued among the Mongols so they left the Russians to govern themselves. The Mongols only occupied Russia and collected taxes from the princes. However, the Mongols didn’t tax the Russian Catholic church, as they were religiously tolerant, which allowed it to flourish and spread Christianity. 

Prompt #3

Prompt:  In the period circa 1200–1450, goods, services, and ideas flowed through African and Eurasian trade networks. Develop an argument that evaluates the extent to which the various networks of exchange were similar or different. 

Context: Between the years 1200-1450, empires flourished around the world, developing their economies, producing goods, and expanding their territories. Throughout this process of the rise and fall of empires, trade became an essential widespread element connecting worldwide empires through wealth, goods, culture, ideas, and religion. Different types of currency were used and shared, goods such as silk, spices, ivory, etc. Cultures and religions mixed, spreading their ideas while new inventions were developed. 

Thesis: Between the years 1200-1450, several trade routes appeared, connecting empires across seas and land,  sharing several similarities in their effects and enhancement of empires they passed through. Trade routes such as the Sand Road and Silk Road connected different nations and grew in similar ways, spreading religions like Buddhism and Islam from their places of origin and trading goods of high value and demand, causing neighboring nations to prosper and obtain more power. 

Evidence: The sand roads linked the Mediterranean and North Africa, and it spread Islam Buddhism, and Christianity. African nations didn’t die out and Timbuktu thrived through the trade of cloth, weapons, bullion, salt, and slaves. Silk roads spread Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. In the Silk Roads, new inventions were shared (gunpower, compass, ideas on government, printing press, porcelain) currency was circulated (Paper money, silver, gold). Srivijaya kingdoms controlled commerce, and Malacca became wealthy. Sand roads (saddles and boats/ships).

Prompt #4

Prompt: In the period 1450-1750, as empires expanded globally, new challenges emerged in managing and incorporating a diverse population.  Compare the methods used by rulers of two of the following countries/empires to legitimize and consolidate power:  Spain, Russia, China, Mughal Empire.  (see chapter 5 for this stuff--new one I just changed in for another.)

Context: Prior to the 1500s, Eurasia was connected by a variety of trade routes, such as the Silk Road, the Sea roads, and the Sand Roads. After the fall of the Mongol Empire, many new regions rose to stardom as they conquered neighboring tribes and people and became empires, filling the power vacuum left behind by the Mongol Empire. At the same time in Western Europe, navigators started crossing the Atlantic, colonizing the Americas and forming oversea empires. One of these land based empires was the Qing Dynasty,  in China whose expansion was created by the Machus, nomadic people hailing from Manchuria who replaced the previous Ming Dynasty. During their rule, they began conquered neighboring regions such as Tibet and outer Mongolia due to security concerns. Another empire was the Russian Empire, whose center of Moscow driven gained power during Mongol rule. Driven by security and economic reasons, they began to conquer neighboring regions,  greatly affecting and changing the livelihoods of these conquered people.

Thesis: Although both of these empires had the similar motives of security for their reason of expansion, they were quite different in regards to the ways the interacted and assimilated with conquered people, as the Qing Dynasty gave conquered people more autonomy, respecting their religion, culture and way of life, while the Russian empire was more strict, pressuring native people assimilated by change their nomadic way of life and adopt Russian culture.

Evidence: 

• Manchu respected the culture and religions of conquered people, not requesting they convert to religions or change their beliefs like Confucianism- 

  • lots of religion maintained (EX: buddhism)

• China did not assimilate the conquered people into Chinese culture  

  • Manchu respected the culture and religions of conquered people, not requesting they convert to religions or change their beliefs like Confucianism- lots of religion maintained (EX: buddhism)

• Russia: conquered people did not keep their own cultures, and instead assimilated into Russian culture by converting to Christianity and learning the Russian language. (people conquered by the Russians were heavily assimilated into Russian culture).  

• Russia encouraged mass migration Local cultures were still disrupted heavily as hundreds of thousands of russians moved into Siberia to integrate the native siberians. 

  • They were forced to convert to Christianity, learn Russian language

  • Until Only 30% of people in siberia were native siberians!

• China did not encourage Chinese to migrate into conquered regions!

  •  Manchus wanted to utilize the people in their military, and therefore wanted to avoid diminishing the fighting spirit of Mongolian people

• Siberians were ethnically distinct but integrated into Russian society by adopting culture and religion. 

• Both empires had expanded because of local rivalries with other countries

  • in the case of the Russians it was the expanding influence of Poland and the Ottoman empire

  • The Qing Dynasty was actually suspicious of the Russians and expanded its influence in Central Asia to combat this

• Russia disrupted nomadic people’s way of life

  •  required nomads to pay hefty fees and gain permission before crossing farmlands! 

  • Yasak!! Required people to pay tribute in furs/soft gold

• Russian aristocrats historically always had a policy of direct and brutal control over its people,

•  Qing Dynasty allowed conquered regions to govern themselves locally

• Pastoralism was mostly destroyed under governance and conquest from both empires

• Both cited security as a reason for expansion

• Russia also wanted to economically expand! 

  • EX: fur trade/soft gold, Because of the little Ice Age, fur was more valuable-> conquered Siberia which had a lot of this

• The Central Asian peoples had been frequently visited by Silk Road traders, but siberian people were very isolated. As such, disease was a slight but noticeable contributor to the Russian conquest of Siberian people, a factor that was absent from the Qing expansion

Prompt #5

Prompt: A desire to convert others, the development of syncretic belief systems, and religious conflicts changed the Americas, Africa, and Eurasia from 1450 to 1750.  Develop an argument that evaluates the extent to which the effect on societies of various belief systems was similar or different during this time.

Context: After the fall of the Mongols, in the period of 1450-1750, it gave rise to many land-based empires like the Ottoman Empire, Mughal Empire, and Russian Empire in the Eastern parts of Eurasia. Additionally, it gave rise to many sea-based empires like the Spanish Empire and the Portuguese Empire. Technological advancements in travel and navigation, allowed for the discovery of new lands and consistent voyages to the new world (Americas). Furthermore, the desire to gain political rule over land and the idea of mercantilism led to the conquest of many new areas.

Thesis: In The Americas, there was conflict between the indigenous people and the Spanish Empire, as the Spanish gained control through forced conversion, ultimately leading to an unjust social hierarchy; however, in the Ottoman Empire, there was social harmony as the Ottomans were very religiously tolerant, and let non-ruling minority groups rule themselves.

Spanish:

• Caste system in Spanish—peninsulares, creoles, mestizos, Indigenous

• Missions in Latin America

• Can bring up Virgin of Guadalupe to account for some harmony in Spanish America

Ottoman:

• Sacking of Constantinople, led to the destruction of Christianity in this area (Islam the majority)

• Millet system 

• Devshirme

• Beneficial rights for women under Ottoman rule

Prompt #6

Question Prompt

Enlightenment ideals and the concept of nationalism swept the Atlantic world from 1750 to 1900 as people developed new standards of freedom and self-determination. Develop an argument that evaluates the extent to which intellectual and ideological causes influenced the revolutions that occurred in the Atlantic world during that era. 

Number 1

Context: 

Before 1750, the Atlantic world was dominated by colonial empires, monarchies, and rigid social hierarchies supported by systems like mercantilism and the Atlantic slave trade. The scientific revolution and the protestant reformation began challenging traditional authority, while imperial conflicts, like the 7 Years War, strained resources and heightened colonial dissatisfaction. These conditions laid the path for enlightenment ideals and the revolutionary movements that followed. 

Thesis: 

Intellectual and ideological causes that influenced the Atlantic Revolutions stem from ideas from the Enlightenment, particularly concepts of liberty and equal rights for men as well as the unifying force of nationalism, loyalty to the individuals’ country, that swept over countries and united them against the overarching imperial rule. 

Evidence: 

• Vindication of the Rights of Men 

• Enlightenment ideas - freedom of speech

• Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

• , fraternity, liberty

• Nationalism within America against Britain

•  abolishment of slavery

• Popular sovereignty

• Cry of Dolores

• French revolution

Number 2

Context:   The late 18th and early 19th centuries saw the rise of Enlightenment thought, which challenged absolute monarchies, colonial rule, and slavery. Thinkers like Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu promoted ideals of natural rights, the social contract, and popular sovereignty, which fueled revolutionary movements across the Atlantic world, especially as nationalism emerged as a force for self-determination.

Thesis: Enlightenment ideals of liberty, equality, and self-determination were key drivers of revolutions in the Atlantic world from 1750 to 1900. These ideas inspired movements such as the American, French, Haitian, and Latin American Revolutions, but economic, social, and political factors also played significant roles. While Enlightenment thought provided a crucial ideological foundation, its influence was often constrained by the realities of inequality and oppression.

Evidence: Enlightenment ideals inspired major revolutions in the Atlantic world. The American Revolution was driven by Locke’s ideas of natural rights, but excluded enslaved people, women, and Native Americans. The French Revolution sought liberty and equality but led to violence and failed to address social inequalities. The Haitian Revolution, inspired by Enlightenment thought, abolished slavery but faced economic instability, while Latin American revolutions, led by Bolívar, promoted independence yet did not resolve racial and social inequalities. Enlightenment thoughts abolished slavery but faced economic instability, while Latin American revolutions, led by Bolívar, promoted independence yet did not resolve racial and social inequalities.

Prompt #7

Prompt: Describe the relationship between the social and economic effects of Industrialization and the socialist movement in the period 1800 to 1900.  

Context: During the period of 1800-1900, industrialization emerged as a rising change in many societies. Britain adopted industrialization first, as society quickly switched from an agrarian lifestyle to a society built on production and efficiency. Classes like the middle class and laboring class emerged, with the middle class taking up 30% of society, and the other 70% being industrial workers who labored in factories. Intense and unsafe factory conditions made many workers infuriated. Some critics, like Karl Marx, created new ideals like socialism, which advocated for a classless society centered around equal distribution of wealth, effectively overthrowing the government. 

Thesis: The relationship between industrialization and the socialist movement was heavily connected, as many workers saw the socialist movement as a way to explain their living situation, overthrow the government, and attain better living conditions,  thus many attempts at reforming society through changing the social hierarchy were integrated within multiple countries. 

Evidence: 

• Many Russians facing difficult factory conditions, like long working hours,  looked at Marxism as a way to understand the change they were going through and hoped for a revolution like Marx predicted. 

• British working class was being low-paid and was being treated inhumanely, these working-class people decided to create unions, parties, and groups.

• Socialist parties were ubiquitous in European politics, as the notion of counteracting the grim harshness of industrialism became popular.

Prompt #8

Prompt: In the period 1750–1900, the economies of numerous states in Europe, North America, and Asia underwent industrialization. Develop an argument that evaluates the extent of social-economic change that the process of industrialization brought to Europe or Asia.

Context: Before 1750 most of the world was distantly connected and had slow production of products such as the Silk Road. The economy heavily depended on agriculture and the only means of communication was through word of mouth. Most of the production of products was done by manpower with help from some environmental factors such as wind. With the introduction of the Industrial Revolution, the economy increased through urbanization towards more populated cities for a new opportunity and jobs. New Classes also got added allowing for new laws to be placed and ideas such as socialism, capitalism, and communism, further pushing forward the revolution.

Thesis: In the 1750-1900 period of time, industrialization brought big economic growth and opportunities for different people through the people being involved in region transformation, lower wages, and more efficient production of growth leading to more profits, but also created economic turmoil as the population grew exponentially causing production to skyrocket in order to meet the needs of people.

Evidence: -Men, women, and families in the countryside were more than half involved in the transformation of the region meaning many people were moved by the impact of the Ind. revolution. 

-Many peasants were pushed by the quickly growing population with many people from different countries: about 7 million people returned to Europe which had a huge transportation impact across the globe 

-The movement made by the growth of population began to affect other countries such as South America and Africa outnumbered towns by 40,000:700,000