AP World History: Modern - Ultimate Guide Notes

Unit 1: The Global Tapestry

Review of History Within Civilizations

• Rise of new states after the collapse of classical civilizations
• Growth in long-distance trade networks

Overview of World’s Major Religions in 1200

• Religion as a central factor in history
• Major religions have divisions (sects and subgroups)
• Impact of religions on social, political, cultural, military developments
• Spread and cultural interactions of belief systems

Buddhism

• Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) in Nepal
• Key Teachings: 4 Noble Truths
• Split into Theravada (meditation-focused) and Mahayana (ritualistic) Buddhism
• Spread across India, China, Southeast Asia, Japan
• Impact: Rejected caste system, spread via trade routes

Christianity

• Based on teachings of Jesus Christ
• Major spread across Europe, Africa, Middle East
• Impact: Compassion, building of expansive networks, influence in Roman Empire

Confucianism

• Founded by Confucius in China
• Focus on political/social order, relationships
• Impact: Integrated with other religions, shaping Chinese culture

Hinduism

• Belief in Brahma, reincarnation, dharma
• Impact: Caste system, cultural spread, gave rise to Buddhism

Islam

• Founded on Prophet Muhammad’s teachings in the Quran
• 5 Pillars of Islam
• Rapid spread through Middle East, Africa, Europe

Judaism

• Monotheistic, unique chosen people relationship with God
• Impact: Basis for Christianity and Islam

Developments in the Middle East

• Abbasid Dynasty’s Golden Age
• Decline due to internal strife and Mongol invasions

Developments in Europe

• Middle Ages: Feudalism dominated
• Emergence of nation-states like England, France, Spain

Developments in Asia

China

• Song to Ming Dynasty
• Neo-Confucianism and trade

Japan

• Feudal structure with Samurai

India

• Delhi Sultanate, clash of Islam and Hinduism

Southeast Asia

• Trade spreads religions and state formation

Developments in Africa

• Trade explosion and Islamic spread
• Hausa Kingdoms’ economic and cultural influence

Developments in Americas

• Civilizations: Maya, Incas, Aztecs
• Aztec expansion and trade
• Inca infrastructure and religion

Unit 2: Networks of Exchange

Height of the Middle Ages

• Rise of towns, merchant power, and trade alliances
• Hanseatic League boosting trade
• Architecture and education developments

The Rise and Fall of the Mongols

• Mongol Empire’s expansion and cultural diffusion
• Division into various Khanates

Mali and Songhai

• Wealth through trade in Mali and cultural growth in Songhai

Chinese Technology and Trade

• Song Dynasty’s bureaucratic and technological innovations

Trade Networks and Cultural Diffusion

• Spread through Hanseatic League, Silk Road, and Trans-Saharan routes
• Bubonic Plague’s impact on populations

Indian Ocean Trade

• Dominated by Persians and Arabs, significant cultural intermixing

Unit 3: Land-Based Empires

Major European Developments

• Renaissance, Humanism, and Artistic revival
• Reformation challenging Church authority
• Scientific revolution’s impact on industry

European Rivals

Spain and Portugal

• Colonization and trade expansion

England

• Elizabethan Age and global exploration

France

• Religious conflict and monarchy centralization

Germany

• Religious wars and the Thirty Years War

Russia

• Tsarist authority and Westernization under Peter and Catherine the Great

Islamic Gunpowder Empires

• Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires’ rise and fall

Africa

• Songhai, Asanti, Kongo, Angola’s political shifts

Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections

European Expansion

• Treaty of Tordesillas, Age of Exploration
• Explorers and technological advancements

The New World

• Spanish conquest of Aztec and Inca empires
• Encomienda system and African slave trade

The Columbian Exchange

• Exchange of goods, diseases, and technologies

The Commercial Revolution

• Rise of joint-stock companies and mercantilism

Unit 5: Revolutions

The Enlightenment

• Philosophical influences on government and society
• Enlightenment monarchs and the Neoclassical Period

Enlightenment Revolutions

American Revolution

• Independence from Britain

French Revolution

• Decline of monarchy, rise of republic

Haitian Revolution

• From slavery to independence

Latin American Independence

• Revolutions led to independence from European powers

Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization

Industrial Revolution

• Technological advancements shifting production
• Formation of new social classes and economic systems

Nationalist Movements

• Italy and Germany’s unification
• Russian and Ottoman Empire transformations

Unit 7: Global Conflict

World War I Era

• Causes, alliances, and outcomes

Russian Revolution

• Bolshevik rise and establishment of Soviet Union

World War II Era

• Fascism, Axis Powers, Holocaust

The Cold War

• Ideological conflict between US and USSR

Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization

Communism and the Cold War

• Events, leaders, and impact

Independence Movements

Indian Subcontinent

• Partition and independence

Africa

• Liberation from colonial rule

Middle East

• Formation of Israel and regional conflicts

Unit 9: Globalization

International Terrorism and War

• Post-Cold War geopolitical landscape

World Trade and Cultural Exchange

• Rise of global organizations and cultural trends

Environmental Change

• Global warming and ecological concerns

Global Health Crises

• Epidemics, AIDS, and healthcare disparities

Age of the Computer

• Technological advancements and their societal impact