This page the requirements developed by the College Board for the second unit of AP Modern World History. Below you will find each of the following:
- The Silk Roads
- Focus on the development of innovations to promote the trade of luxury goods
- The Mongol Empire and the Making of the Modern World
- Focus on the conquests of the Mongols and its impact on Afro - Eurasian trade
- Exchange in the Indian Ocean
- Focus on the development of innovations to promote the trade of luxury goods
- Trans - Saharan Trade Routes
- Focus on the development of innovations to promote the trade of luxury goods
- Cultural Consequences of Connectivity
- Focus on the impact of trade on cultural diffusion
- Environmental Consequences of Connectivity
- Focus on the impact of trade on the spread of crops & diseases
The Silk Roads
Theme: Economic Systems
Learning Objective
Explain the causes and effects of growth of networks of exchange after 1200.
The focus of this concept is innovation; it is what allowed for the expansion of trade. All of the expansion of trade and intensification in manufacturing is based on the technological innovations that allowed for this. |
Must Know Concepts
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Additional Materials
- Ancient History Encyclopedia: The Silk Road
- Detailed history of the Silk Road from ancient times until the post classical era
- UNESCO's Silk Road Programme: Samarkand
- Brief discussion on the rise of the city on the Silk Road
- Britannica: Kashgar
- In depth background with historical content on Kashgar as a trade city
- UNESCO's Silk Road Programme: Caravanserai
- Brief explanation of the role of caravanserai on the silk roads
- The Silk Road Foundation: Chinese Flying Money
- Account of the rise of "flying money" in the Tang Dynasty and into the Song Dynasty
- Britannica: Bills of Exchange
- Brief explanation of Bills of Exchange; the second paragraph details its rise among Arabs and its spread to Europe
- Asia for Educators: The Song Economic Revolution
- Detail of steel & iron intensification
- A History of Persian Ceramics
- Very detailed site the goes back 7000 years up to the modern era
- Crash Course World History: The Silk Roads
- Although this dives into the ancient world, it is also effective for the Post - Classical period, too
- Although this dives into the ancient world, it is also effective for the Post - Classical period, too
The Mongol Empire & the Making of the Modern World
Theme: Governance
Learning Objective
Explain the process of state building and decline in Eurasia over time.
This one is pretty simple. The Mongols emerged at a time when other Empires were in decline or simply not equipped to cope with large scale pastoral raiding. |
Must Know Concepts
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Additional Materials
- Asia for Educators: The Mongols in World History
- This is a massive website with tons of content about the Mongols
- Mongol DBQ
Theme: Economic Systems
Learning Objective
Explain how the expansion of empires influenced trade and communication over time.
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Must Know Concepts
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Additional Materials
- History on the Net: Mongol Trade - Linking East to West
- Discussion on the impact of the Mongol Empire on the Silk Road
- UNESCO: The Silk Routes of the Mongols
- Discussion of the Mongol impact on trade along the Silk Road
Theme: Cultural Developments & Interactions
Learning Objective
Explain the significance of the Mongol Empire in larger patterns of continuity and change.
The major issues here focus on the ability of ideas to spread from the East to Europe, especially the rediscovery of Greek & Roman philosophy and Islamic knowledge. This also allowed for the spread of Arabic numerals to Europe. |
Must Know Concepts
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Additional Materials
- ThoughtCo: The Mongol Impact on Europe
- Detailed discussion of the spread of technological innovations to Europe
- Crash Course World History: The Mongols
Exchange in the Indian Ocean
Theme: Economic Systems
Learning Objective
Explain the causes of the growth of networks of exchange after 1200.
Much like the Silk Roads, the major focus of this portion of the unit is innovations and the impacts of those on the growth of trade cities & states. |
Must Know Concepts
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Additional Materials
- History World: Junk Ships
- A brief overview of the origin and history of Chinese Junk Ships
- The Mariners' Museum: Junk Ships
- Another discussion on Chinese Junk Ships
- Association for Asian Studies: When the World Came to Southeast Asia: Malacca & the Global Economy
- In depth discussion of the role of Malacca in world history
- Black Past: East African City - States (1000 - 1500)
- Brief background on Swahili City - States that emerged as a result of Indian Ocean trade
- Ancient History Encyclopedia: Swahili City - States
- In depth article about the history of the East African trade cities
- Khan Academy: The Srivijaya Empire
- Discussion of the rise of the empire in response to trade expansion in the Indian Ocean
- Discussion of the rise of the empire in response to trade expansion in the Indian Ocean
Theme: Cultural Developments & Interactions
Learning Objective
Explain the effects of the growth of networks of exchange after 1200.
The development of diasporic communities is a very important concept here - you also should make sure students feel confident on their knowledge of Zheng He. |
Must Know Concepts
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Additional Materials
- LibreTexts: The Swahili City - States
- This is an online textbook for a course - there is a good chance it will come down at some point, but it is a quality source
- Britannica: Indian Ocean Islam
- Background on the spread of Islam throughout the Indian Ocean via trade
- Background on the spread of Islam throughout the Indian Ocean via trade
- The Mariner's Museum: Zheng He
- Background on the Chinese explorer
- Khan Academy: Zheng He
- Another piece on the Chinese Explorer
- Asia for Educators: The Ming Voyages
- Great piece for teachers that includes discussion questions & classroom activities
- Great piece for teachers that includes discussion questions & classroom activities
Theme: Humans & the Environment
Learning Objective
Explain the role of environmental factors in the development of networks of exchange in the period from c. 1200 to c. 1450.
So long as students understand monsoons and the technology sailors used to cope with the monsoons, they should feel confident about this section |
Must Know Concepts
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Additional Materials
- Byzantine Emporia: The Monsoon Trade System
- Background on the need for environmental knowledge to sail across the Indian Ocean
- Background on the need for environmental knowledge to sail across the Indian Ocean
- Indian Ocean in World History: Overview for Students
- In depth background on the Indian Ocean from the origins of civilizations to the modern era
Trans - Saharan Trade Routes
Theme: Technology & Innovation
Learning Objectives
Explain the causes and effects of the growth of trans-Saharan trade.
No specific innovation is listed here by the College Board, but the camel saddle and camel caravans are clearly important concepts. |
Must Know Concepts
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Additional Materials
- Ancient History Encyclopedia: The Camel Caravans of the Ancient Sahara
- Article discussing the role of the camel and technology surrounding the camel which led to increased trade
Theme: Governance
Learning Objectives
Explain how the expansion of empires influenced trade and communication over time.
The Mali Empire is a crucial concept for Trans - Saharan trade; most students really enjoy learning about Mansa Musa. |
Must Know Concepts
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Additional Materials
- South African History Online: The Empire of Mali (1230 - 1600)
- Further background into the empire that led to West Africa's trade expansion
- Further background into the empire that led to West Africa's trade expansion
- The MET: The Empires of Western Sudan: Mali Empire
- Art history perspective on the empire
- Art history perspective on the empire
- History.com: This 14th Century African Emperor Remains the Richest Person in History
- Brief bio of Mansa Musa
- BlackPast: Mansa Musa
- Another bio of Mansa I
- Another bio of Mansa I
- Ancient History Encyclopedia: Mansa Musa I
- A much more in depth biography of Mansa I
- A much more in depth biography of Mansa I
Cultural Consequences of Connectivity
Theme: Cultural Developments & Interactions
Learning Objectives
Explain the intellectual and cultural effects of the various networks of exchange in Afro-Eurasia from 1200 to 1450.
Few things matter so much as trade to the College Board. The end result of trade is this portion of the unit, and it matters for students to be able to demonstrate that they understand this. |
Must Know Concepts
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Additional Materials
- The MET: Trade and the Spread of Islam in Africa
- Great article on the impact of trade on the spread of Islam across Northern & Western Africa - focused on art
- Ancient History Encyclopedia: The Spread of Islam in Ancient Africa
- In depth article about the spread of Islam across Africa - broad impact on science, religion, culture, & technology
- Asia Society: Belief Systems Along the Silk Road
- In depth discussion of the various religious traditions that spread along the silk roads
- Silk Road Foundation:
The History of Paper - Brief explanation of the spread of paper from China into Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe
- ThoughtCo: The Invention of Paper
- Brief discussion paper and its spread across Afro - Eurasia
- Brown.edu: Gunpowder - Origins in the East
- Very brief explanation of gunpowder's origins and spread
- Berkeley ORIAS: The Travels of Ibn Battuta
- Amazing site that gives incredible detail on each stop of Ibn Battuta's journey - includes primary sources
- Khan Academy: Ibn Battuta
- Less dense, but still very in depth account of Ibn Battuta's journeys
- Silk Road: Marco Polo & His Travels
- In depth discussion of Marco Polo's travels, his impact, and his influences
- Khan Academy: Marco Polo
- Less in depth, but still high quality discussion of Marco Polo
Environmental Consequences of Connectivity
Theme: Humans & the Environment
Learning Objectives
Explain the environmental effects of the various networks of exchange in Afro-Eurasia from 1200 to 1450.
Crops will matter for this part of the unit, but the spread of the plague from Asia to Europe is crucial. Connecting this to the Mongol Empire can be helpful for students to demonstrate knowledge of the impact of the Mongols on the expansion of trade. Additional Materials
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Must Know Concepts
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