AP World History Study Guide

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

Developments in East Asia

• China: Song Dynasty (960-1279)
  • Wealth, political stability, and innovations.
  • World’s most commercialized society.
  • Buddhism and Confucianism spread.
  • Bureaucracy expanded through meritocracy.
  • Grand Canal and gunpowder technology.
  • Increased agricultural productivity.
  • Social expectations like foot binding.
  • Religious diversity: Buddhism and Neo-Confucianism.
• Japan: Feudal society, centralization under shoguns.
• Korea: Strong Chinese influence, maintained aristocracy.
• Vietnam: More independence for women, village-centric political structure.

Developments in Dar al-Islam

• Innovations in mathematics, literature, and medicine.
• Merchants held high prestige.
• Transfers of Greek philosophy and establishment of House of Wisdom.
• Islamic rule in Spain, coexistence of Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

Developments in South and Southeast Asia

• South Asia: Hinduism vs. Islam; caste system persisted.
• Southeast Asia: Influence of Hindu and Buddhist cultures; significant kingdoms like Srivijaya and Khmer.

State Building in the Americas

• Mississippian Culture: Rigid class structure, matrilineal society.
• Mayan City-States: Astronomical linkage with religion.
• Aztecs: Tribute system, theocracy, human sacrifices.
• Incas: Mita system, Sun worship, advanced agriculture.

Developments in Africa

• Sub-Saharan Africa’s kin-based networks.
• Wealth from trade, spread of Islam.
• Kingdoms like Mali, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia.

Developments in Europe

• Feudalism, manorial system.
• Growth of monarchies, power shifts.
• Roman Catholic Church’s influence and corruption.
• Renaissance: revival of classical ideas, humanism.

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

The Silk Roads

• Unified trade under Mongols, improved transportation safety.
• Financial innovations like flying cash in China.

The Mongol Empire

• Expansion under Genghis Khan.
• Largest continuous land empire, trade and cultural exchanges.

Exchange in the Indian Ocean

• Growth of trading states, diasporic communities.
• Swahili city-states thrived.

Trans-Saharan Trade Routes

• Wealth from gold trade, spread of Islam.
• Mali Empire’s prosperity from trade.

Cultural and Environmental Consequences

• Spread of religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam.
• Scientific innovations through trade routes.
• Bubonic plague spread by Mongols.

Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (c. 1200 to c. 1450)

Empires Expand

• Gunpowder Empires: Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal.
• Europe's shift after the Black Death, literacy rise via the printing press.
• Russia’s expansion under Ivan IV.
• Rise of the Islamic Gunpowder Empires.

Empires: Administration

• Centralization of power, tax policies.
• Cultural achievements: St. Petersburg’s European architecture, Ottoman restorations.

Empires: Belief Systems

• Protestant Reformation: Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglicanism.
• Catholic Counter-Reformation.
• Scientific Revolution: Empiricism, Newton’s laws.

Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections (c. 1200 to c. 1450)

Technological Innovations

• Navigational advancements, ship improvements.
• Transatlantic connections by Columbus and others.

Columbian Exchange

• Disease, crops, and livestock exchanges.
• Impact on indigenous populations.

Maritime Empires Established

• European expansion in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
• Mercantilism and economic systems.

Unit 5: Revolutions (c. 1200 to c. 1450)

The Enlightenment

• Intellectual movement advocating reason.
• Influence on feminism and political thought.

Nationalism and Revolutions

• French Revolution: Liberty, equality, fraternity.
• Haitian Revolution: Slave-led rebellion.
• Unification of Italy and Germany.

Industrial Revolution Begins

• Technological advances: spinning jenny, steam engines.
• Shift in global manufacturing dynamics.

Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization (c. 1200 to c. 1450)

Rationales for Imperialism

• Motivations: Nationalism, racism, economic gain.

State Expansions

• Scramble for Africa, spheres of influence in China.
• U.S. imperialism in Latin America and the Pacific.

Indigenous Responses

• Resistance movements and conflicts.

Global Economic Developments

• Technological advancements in transportation and communication.
• Shift in agricultural practices and resource extraction.

Economic Imperialism

• Influence of European powers in Asia and Africa.

Unit 7: Global Conflict (c. 1200 to c. 1450)

Shifting Powers After 1900

• Russian Revolution, Mexico’s political changes.
• Causes and conduct of World War I.

Economies in the Interwar Period

• The Great Depression’s impact.

Unresolved Tensions After WWI

• Mandate system, anti-colonial movements.

Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization (c. 1200 to c. 1450)

Setting the Stage for the Cold War

• Division of Europe, post-war conferences.

Decolonization

• Independence movements in Africa and Asia.

Unit 9: Globalization (c. 1200 to c. 1450)

Advances in Technology and Exchange

• Technological and medical innovations.
• Environmental impacts of industrialization.

Economics in the Global Age

• Free-market economies and economic policies.

Calls for Reform

• Movements for racial and gender equality.

Globalized Culture

• Influence of media and consumer culture.
• Resistance to globalization and its impacts.