AP World History Study Guide

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

Developments in East Asia

• Song Dynasty in China: Wealth, stability, and innovations. Manufacturing and commercialization.
• Economic Developments: Grand Canal, gunpowder technology, agriculture, tribute system.
• Social Structures: Meritocracy, women's roles, foot binding.
• Religious Diversity: Spread of Buddhism and Neo-Confucianism.
• Japan: Feudal society, role of the shogun.
• Korea: Influenced by China, strong aristocracy.
• Vietnam: Greater independence for women, nuclear families, village allegiance.

Developments in Dar al-Islam

• Innovations: Advances in mathematics, literature, medicine.
• Social Structures: Merchants' prestige, women's rights.
• Transfers: Preservation of Greek philosophy, House of Wisdom.
• Islamic Rule in Spain: Umayyad rulers, climate of toleration.

Developments in South and Southeast Asia

• South Asia: Political structures, impact of Hinduism and Islam, caste system.
• Southeast Asia: Influence of South Asia, notable empires (Srivijaya, Majapahit, Khmer).

State Building in the Americas

• Mississippian Culture: Class structure, matrilineal society.
• Maya, Aztec, Inca: Diverse governance, tribute systems, religious practices, technological advances.

State Building in Africa

• Political Structures: Kin-based networks, influence of trade.
• Social Structures: Role of kinship, age, gender, slavery.
• Cultural Life: Music, visual arts, griots.

Developments in Europe

• Feudalism and Manorialism: Social and economic systems.
• Political Trends: Rise of monarchies, Hundred Years War.
• Church Influence: Great Schism, power and corruption.
• Crusades: Economic and social catalysts.
• Renaissance: Revival of classical culture and humanism.

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

Silk Roads

• Causes of Growth: Crusades, Mongol Empire, transportation improvements.
• Effects: Cities as trade centers, financial systems, increased demand for luxury goods.

Mongol Empire

• Expansion: Genghis Khan's conquests, grandson's kingdoms.
• Impact: Largest land empire, trade routes, cultural exchanges.

Indian Ocean Exchange

• Causes: Spread of Islam, demand for products, maritime technology.
• Effects: Diasporic communities, Swahili city-states.

Trans-Saharan Trade

• Impact: Wealth and cultural diversity, spread of Islam, expansion of empires like Mali.

Cultural and Environmental Consequences

• Spread of Religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam.
• Innovations: Scientific and technological advances.
• Environmental Impact: Agricultural effects, spread of epidemics (Black Death).

Unit 3: Land-Based Empires

Gunpowder Empires

• Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal: Use of firearms, centralized bureaucracy, religious and cultural achievements.

Empires' Administration

• Centralization: Development of bureaucracy, taxation, legitimizing power.

Empires' Belief Systems

• Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther, Calvinism, Anglicanism.
• Counter-Reformation: Catholic strategies, Jesuits, Council of Trent.
• Wars of Religion: Peace of Augsburg, Edict of Nantes, Thirty Years War.

Scientific Revolution

• Key Figures: Francis Bacon, Isaac Newton.

Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections

Technological Innovations

• Transoceanic Travel: Columbus, Prince Henry, navigational advancements.
• Explorations: Key voyages by Zheng He, John Cabot, Vasco da Gama, Columbus, Magellan.

Columbian Exchange

• Diseases and Animals: Impact on indigenous populations, introduction of crops and livestock.
• Cash Crops and Labor: Sugar, tobacco, slavery.

Maritime Empires Established

• State-Building: African interactions, European rivalries, economic systems.
• Types of Labor: Encomienda, slavery, indentured servants.

Challenges and Social Hierarchies

• Internal and External Challenges: Rebellions in empires, social systems in gunpowder empires.

Unit 5: Revolutions

Enlightenment

• Key Ideas: Intellectual movements, feminism, rise of Zionism.

Nationalism and Revolutions

• French and Haitian Revolutions: Causes, key figures.
• Unification in Europe: Italian and German unification.

Industrial Revolution Begins

• Technological Growth: Key inventions and industrial advantages.
• Spread of Industrialization: Impact on global economies.

Second Industrial Revolution

• Technological Developments: Steel, oil, electricity, telecommunication.

Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization

Imperialism

• Rationales and Motives: Nationalism, cultural superiority, economic interests.

State Expansions

• Scramble for Africa: Berlin Conference, new borders, Boer Wars.
• Imperialism in Asia: Spheres of influence, indigenous responses.

Global Economic Developments

• Technological and Agricultural Changes: Railroads, steamships, guano, rubber.
• Economic Imperialism: Opium trade, commodity imperialism.

Migration Causes

• Labor Systems: Indian, Chinese, Japanese migration.

Effects of Migration

• Receiving Societies: Ethnic enclaves, prejudice, regulations.

Unit 7: Global Conflict

Shifting Powers After 1900

• Revolution in Russia: Bolsheviks, rise of communism.
• Upheaval in China: Ethnic divisions, population challenges.
• Mexico: Political instability, revolution.

Causes of World War I

• MANIA: Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Imperialism, Assassination.

Conducting World War I

• Warfare Changes: Trench warfare, chemical weapons, machine guns.
• US Entry and Total War: Lusitania, Zimmerman Telegram, domestic efforts.
• Paris Peace Conference: Treaty of Versailles, League of Nations.

Economies in the Interwar Period

• Great Depression: Causes and global impacts.
• Political Changes: Rise of right-wing governments, Russian policies.

Unresolved Tensions

• Anti-Colonialism and Nationalism: Struggles for independence, movements in Asia.

Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization

Setting the Stage

• Post-War Conferences: Tehran, Yalta, Potsdam.
• Cold War Dynamics: Superpower tensions, ideological conflicts.

Spread of Communism

• China: Communist rise, land reforms.
• Latin America and Asia: Attempts at land redistribution and reforms.

Decolonization

• Ghana and Algeria: Paths to independence, nationalism.
• Vietnam and Egypt: Conflicts and compromises.

Newly Independent States

• Israel: Establishment, regional conflicts.
• Women's Leadership: Gains in South Asia and beyond.

End of the Cold War

• Nonviolent Resistance: Civil rights movements, apartheid.
• Global Revolts: 1968 protests, rise of terrorism.

Unit 9: Globalization

Advances in Technology and Exchange

• Green Revolution: Agricultural innovations.
• Energy and Medical Technologies: Fossil fuels, antibiotics.

Environmental Changes

• Causes and Effects: Population growth, urbanization, industrialization.

Economics in the Global Age

• Free-Market Economies: Global trade organizations, knowledge economies.

Calls for Reform

• Racial and Gender Equality: Civil rights, feminism.

Globalized Culture

• Cultural Changes: Artistic expressions, consumer culture.
• Resistance to Globalization: Anti-globalization movements, economic critiques.

Sources: College Board, AMSCO Advanced Placement World History, and others.