AP European History Overview

Introduction

• Emily Poole's lecture designed to prepare students for the AP European History exam.
• Provides a link to a speed review packet with an outline of the lecture.
• Encourages active listening and reviewing key terms during the presentation.

The Renaissance and Its Roots

• Contextualization: Begins with the fall of the Western Roman Empire, leading to fractured feudal kingdoms with Catholicism providing unity.
• Renaissance sparked by Crusades bringing Greek and Roman texts preserved in Islamic and Byzantine regions back to Europe.
• Emergence of humanism, secularism, and challenges to the Catholic Church.
• Italian Renaissance vs. Northern Renaissance: Italian focuses on secularism and classical ideals; Northern influenced by Christian humanism.
• Role of the printing press in spreading knowledge and vernacular languages.
• Rise of centralized states, challenging of papal power.
• Key Figures: Machiavelli (secular state), Erasmus (Christian virtue).

Exploration and the Columbian Exchange

• Motivated by trade ambitions, e.g., Columbus's 1492 voyage.
• Columbian Exchange: Transfer of goods, ideas, diseases, and people between Afro-Eurasia and the Americas.
  • Positive effects in Europe: population growth.
  • Negative effects: transatlantic slaving system.
• Economic shifts: Mercantilism, triangular trade, cottage industry.
• Treaty of Tordesillas divides world between Spain and Portugal.

Political and Social Changes

• Shift from Mediterranean to Atlantic economies; rise of new political philosophies.
• Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther's 95 Theses and emergence of Protestant denominations.
• Religious wars and peace settlements, e.g., Edict of Nantes, Peace of Westphalia.
• Catholic Reformation: Council of Trent, Index of Prohibited Books, Jesuits.
• Growth of baroque art and architecture as a religious and political show of power.

Enlightenment and Revolution

• Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment: New theories in science and political philosophy.
  • Notable Figures: John Locke (natural rights), Voltaire (freedom of speech), Rousseau (education).
• Enlightened absolutism in Eastern Europe.
• American and French Revolutions leading to changes in political and social structures.
• Rise of nationalism and romanticism as a response to Enlightenment and industrialization.

Industrialization and its Impact

• Britain's lead in the Industrial Revolution due to resources, technology, and government support.
• Social pyramid with factory owners at the top, workers at the bottom.
• Reforms and labor movements addressing working conditions and rights.
• Spread of industrialization leads to political upheavals and national movements in Europe.
• Technological advancements and their global influence.

Imperialism and World Wars

• New imperialism fueled by social Darwinism and economic interests.
• World War I & II: Causes, alliances, technological advancements, and global impact.
• Russian Revolution and the formation of the Soviet Union.
• Post-war political and social changes, including women's rights movements.

Cold War and Modern Europe

• Cold War tensions between capitalism/democracy and communism.
• Fall of the Soviet Union and European political restructuring.
• European Union formation and integration.
• Ongoing challenges: immigration, national identity, and political sovereignty.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to review and study for the AP exam using the speed review packet and lecture notes.
• Motivational close urging students to aim for a high score.