AP World History Review: Units 1-5
Introduction
- Schedule: Covering Units 1-5 tonight; 6-9 tomorrow.
- Exam Date: May 8th.
- Resources: Lecture will be posted online.
- Rules: Super chats can be used for shoutouts until 9:00 PM Eastern time. Inappropriate comments will be moderated.
Unit 1: State Building (1200-1450)
Big Idea 1: Song China
- Confucianism: Maintained hierarchical society; revival during Song Dynasty.
- Imperial Bureaucracy: Expanded civil service examination leading to meritocracy.
- Buddhism: Introduced via Silk Roads; Chan Buddhism emerged.
- Economy: Flourished with innovations like Champa rice, Grand Canal.
Big Idea 2: Islamic Political Entities
- Abbasid Decline: Led to new Islamic states like Delhi Sultanate, Mamluk Sultanate.
- Spread of Islam: Through military expansion, merchants, and Sufi movement.
- Intellectual Transfers: Greek classics translated into Arabic; Indian math to Europe.
Big Idea 3: South and Southeast Asia
- Delhi Sultanate: Islamic; majority Hindu population.
- Vijayanagara Empire: Hindu kingdom established by former Delhi officials.
- Influence of Trade: Introduction of Hinduism/Buddhism to Southeast Asia.
Big Idea 4: Civilizations of the Americas
- Aztecs: Used tribute system and human sacrifice for state building.
Big Idea 5: African State Building
- Great Zimbabwe: Trade and agriculture-based prosperity.
- Ethiopia: Christian kingdom with unique religious architecture.
Big Idea 6: Europe
- Feudalism: Decentralized political system.
- Agriculture: Innovations like the three-field system increased productivity.
Unit 2: Networks of Exchange (1200-1450)
Big Idea 1: Trade Networks
- Silk Roads: Luxury goods; innovations like caravanserai, paper money.
- Indian Ocean Network: Sea-based trade; technological innovations like compass.
- Trans-Saharan Trade: Linked North Africa with sub-Saharan Africa.
Big Idea 2: Cultural Diffusion
- Religions: Spread of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam.
- Scientific Transfers: Algebra, trigonometry, paper-making.
Big Idea 3: Environmental Consequences
- Crops: Spread of bananas in Africa; Champa rice in East Asia.
- Diseases: Spread of bubonic plague.
Big Idea 4: Mongol Empire
- Trade Facilitation: Control over Silk Roads increased trade.
- Cultural Transfers: Spread of technology and science across Eurasia.
Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (1450-1750)
Big Idea 1: Expansion
- Gunpowder Empires: Ottomans, Safavid, Mughal, Qing.
- Rivalries: Safavid-Mughal conflict.
Big Idea 2: Power and Control
- Bureaucracies: Ottomans' devshirme system.
- Religion and Architecture: Louis XIV's Versailles, Incan Sun Temple.
Big Idea 3: Belief Systems
- Christianity in Europe: Protestant Reformation, Catholic Counter-Reformation.
- Islamic Division: Sunni vs Shia.
Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections (1450-1750)
Big Idea 1: Maritime Empires
- Technologies: Astrolabe, compass, new ship designs like caravels.
Big Idea 2: Exploration
- State Sponsorship: Driven by wealth, religion, competition.
- Portuguese and Spanish: Trading post empire, Columbus’ voyages.
Big Idea 3: Columbian Exchange
- Crops/Animals: Exchange between Old and New Worlds.
- Diseases: Devastation of indigenous populations.
Big Idea 4: Labor Systems
- Coerced Labor: Encomienda, mita, and indentured servitude.
Big Idea 5: Economic Changes
- Joint-Stock Companies: British East India Company, Dutch VOC.
- Triangular Trade: Interdependence between continents.
Big Idea 6: Resistance
- Rebellions: Maratha and Pueblo Revolt.
Big Idea 7: Social Hierarchies
- Casta System: Racial hierarchy in Spanish colonies.
Unit 5: Revolutions (1750-1900)
Big Idea 1: Enlightenment and Reform
- Natural Rights: John Locke, Rousseau.
- Reform Movements: Women's suffrage, abolition.
Big Idea 2: Nationalism and Revolutions
- American Revolution: Enlightenment ideals, Declaration of Independence.
- French and Haitian Revolutions: Inspired by American Revolution.
Big Idea 3: Industrial Revolution
- Beginnings in Britain: Factory system, specialization of labor.
Big Idea 4: Global Manufacturing
- Spread of Industrialization: Decline in Eastern manufacturing.
Big Idea 5: Technological Advances
- Second Industrial Revolution: Steel, steam, oil, railroads.
Big Idea 6: Economic Shifts
- Capitalism: Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations.
- Transnational Businesses: Unilever Corporation.
Big Idea 7: Reforms
- Labor Unions: Working conditions, wages.
- Karl Marx: Critique of capitalism, Communist Manifesto.
This summary captures the essence of the AP World History review session covering units 1 through 5, focusing on state building, trade, cultural exchanges, conflicts, and the rise of industrialization and revolutions, among other significant themes.