This page covers the requirements developed by the College Board for the first unit of AP Modern World History. Below you will find each of the following:
- Developments in East Asia
- Focus on the Song Dynasty, Confucianism, & Buddhism
- Developments in Dar al-Islam
- Focus on Abrahamic Religions & the fragmentation of Muslim states
- Developments in South & Southeast Asia
- Focus on Islam, Hinduism, & Buddhism and their respective impacts on state building
- State Building in the Americas
- Focus on the development of states
- State Building in Africa
- Focus on the development of states
- Developments in Europe
- Focus on Abrahamic religions, and political & economic fragmentation typified by feudalism
Developments in East Asia
Theme: Governance
Learning Objective
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Must Know Concepts
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Explain the systems of government employed by Chinese Dynasties and how they developed over time.
This is really pretty easy: Dynasties rose and fell based on the Mandate of Heaven; each one came in as a powerful state builder, but eventually weakened and was overtaken by a successor dynasty. The concepts to the right are crucial for understanding this system. |
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Theme: Cultural Developments & Interactions
Learning Objective
Explain the effects of Chinese cultural traditions on East Asia over time.
For this concept, focus on changes to Confucianism under the Song, the impact of Buddhism on East Asia, and the continued importance of filial piety across all of China. |
Must Know Concepts
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Additional Materials
- Primary Docs: Kong Fuzi & Ban Zhao on the role of women in Chinese society
- The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Neo - Confucianism
- This source is VERY in depth and can provide broad concept development for students. I recommend picking and choosing what you use from this source
- A source from the University of Washington on Neo - Confucianism
- Not as densely packed as the above, but still a quality secondary source
- Khan Academy: The Branches of Buddhism
Theme: Economic Systems
Learning Objective
Explain the effects of innovation on the Chinese economy over time.
The most important concepts here focus on the Song Dynasty's successes at utilizing Champa Rice to increase yields & their expansion of iron & steel production. This culminates in their ability to expand exports and improve the economy. |
Must Know Concepts
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Additional Materials
- Champa Rice & It's Impact on the Song Dynasty
- This is a good academic source; using just the intro can be effective, but picking & choosing sections for criticism is a good idea, too.
- Asia for Educators: China's Golden Age
- Bullet pointed content covering commercialization under the Song, as well as details of the Yuan & Ming Dynasties
- Asia for Educators: The Song Economic Revolution
- Very brief but detailed discussion of the Song Dynasty's successes at steel & iron production
Developments in Dar al-Islam
Theme: Cultural Developments & Interactions
Learning Objective
Explain how systems of belief and their practices affected society in the period from 1200 - 1450.
Students should focus on the impact that each religion had on the other; develop an understanding of the concept of The People of the Book. |
Must Know Concepts
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Theme: Governance
Learning Objective
Explain the causes and effects of the rise of Islamic states over time.
The focus here is really trade beyond all else. Although missionary work and military conquest are important, trade trumps all. |
Must Know Concepts
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Additional Materials
- ThoughtCo: Who were the Seljuks?
- The Seljuk Empire emerged as the Abbasids collapsed
- History Today: Who were the Mamluks?
- The Mamluks overthrew their Abbasid masters and controlled Egypt for several centuries
- The Mamluks overthrew their Abbasid masters and controlled Egypt for several centuries
- ThoughtCo: The Delhi Sultanates
- The Delhi Sultanates overtook South Asia, beginning the Muslim control of the region for the next several centuries
- Primary Sources (and one secondary): Muslim perspectives on Trade & Conquest
Theme: Technology & Innovation
Learning Objective
Explain the effects of intellectual innovation in Dar al - Islam
This is relatively easy because it sits within the Golden Age of Islam, allowing for a broad range of concepts. Because the phrasing of the historical developments is vague, knowledge of any concepts in this era are generally acceptable. |
Must Know Content
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Additional Materials
- History on the Net: Six Important Islamic Achievements in Medieval Medicine
- This hits both innovations AND transfers pretty well. Give this as reading to all students, or break it up in parts for a jigsaw - style activity
- Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Nasir al-Din Tusi
- Brief biography of the brilliant polymath
- Muslim Heritage hosted at U of Arizona: The House of Wisdom, Baghdad's Intellectual Powerhouse
- Brief background on one of the great libraries of the Post - Classical world
Developments in South & Southeast Asia
Theme: Cultural Developments & Interactions
Learning Objective
Explain how the various belief systems and practices of South & Southeast Asia affected society over time.
A number of examples are available to demonstrate Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic states in the region, most of which are available below. |
Must Know Content
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Additional Materials
- Know India: Medieval History, The Bhakti Movement & Sufism
- Brief article on two major cultural movements in India: Bhakti & Sufism. This is a relatively uncritical look at both, as the source is from the Indian government
Theme: Governance
Learning Objectives
Explain how and why various states of South & Southeast Asia developed & maintained power over time.
Students will need specific examples to demonstrate continuity, innovation, & diversity. One way to do this is to create a graphic organizer that helps them visualize commonalities & variations across the region & across time. |
Must Know Content
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Additional Materials
- Britannica: Vijayanagar Empire
- Brief article on the rise of the Hindu Empire and its impact on India in the Post - Classical period
- Khan Academy: Srivijaya Empire
- Brief article on the Buddhist Empire's rise & decline
- ThoughtCo: Angkor Civilization, The Ancient Khmer Empire
- Brief article on the innovations of the original Hindu, then Buddhist empire and the building of Angkor Wat
- Fall of Civilizations Podcast: The Khmer Empire - Fall of the God Kings
- This is one of the shorter podcasts in Paul Cooper's series, clocking in at just over an hour & a half, but it is incredibly well researched and very detailed
- ThoughtCo: Overview of the Rajput People of India
- This focuses more on the cultural aspects of the Rajput peoples, but it does include a brief discussion of the Rajput Kingdoms and their impact on South Asia during the Post - Classical period
State Building in the Americas
Theme: Governance
Learning Objectives
Explain how and why states in the Americas developed and changed over time.
Students will need specific examples to demonstrate continuity, innovation, & diversity. One way to do this is to create a graphic organizer that helps them visualize commonalities & variations across the region & across time. |
Must Know Content
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Additional Materials
- History.com: Maya
- History.com is consistently a pretty good source of content; you can break these up and have students do separate readings, you can link to different sections within the article, or you can have them read the whole thing
- History.com is consistently a pretty good source of content; you can break these up and have students do separate readings, you can link to different sections within the article, or you can have them read the whole thing
- Fall of Civilizations Podcast: The Maya Collapse - Ruins Among the Trees
- Another great podcast from Paul Cooper. This is one of his earliest, so it clocks in at a paltry one hour and nine minutes. Lots of great content in this one
- Another great podcast from Paul Cooper. This is one of his earliest, so it clocks in at a paltry one hour and nine minutes. Lots of great content in this one
- Khan Academy: Introduction to the Aztecs
- As always, Khan Academy provides detailed information on the Central Mexican civilization
- As always, Khan Academy provides detailed information on the Central Mexican civilization
- Fall of Civilizations Podcast: The Aztecs - A Clash of Worlds
- This is an absolute behemoth of a podcast, clocking in at just over four hours; you can break it up and use it in two separate units, however, so it's a great choice
- This is an absolute behemoth of a podcast, clocking in at just over four hours; you can break it up and use it in two separate units, however, so it's a great choice
- History.com: The Inca
- Pretty good background on the Inca
- Fall of Civilizations Podcast: The Inca - Cities in the Cloud
- Another massive podcast, this one clocks in at just over three and a half hours; but like the Aztec episode, it's useful in more than one unit
- Another massive podcast, this one clocks in at just over three and a half hours; but like the Aztec episode, it's useful in more than one unit
- The Guardian: Mystery of Cahokia - Why did North America's largest city vanish?
- While I would not usually use a news article as a source for students, this is a great point to begin discussing historiography and debating the effectiveness of an author's argument
- While I would not usually use a news article as a source for students, this is a great point to begin discussing historiography and debating the effectiveness of an author's argument
State Building in Africa
Theme Governance
Learning Objectives
Explain how and why states in Africa developed and changed over time.
Students will need specific examples to demonstrate continuity, innovation, & diversity. One way to do this is to create a graphic organizer that helps them visualize commonalities & variations across the region & across time. |
Must Know Content
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Additional Materials
- Ancient History Encyclopedia: Great Zimbabwe
- This is relatively informative, but little is still known about the fallen civilization in Southern Africa
- Ancient History Encyclopedia: Kingdom of Abyssinia (Ethiopia)
- This is also incredibly informative; it also can be used in multiple units on East Africa
- Ancient History Encyclopedia: Hausaland
- Another quality discussion on the system of states in West Africa
- History of the World in 100 Objects Podcasts:
- Kilwa Pot Sherds
- Ife Head
- I included both of these in my Summer Assignment, but they are also just as easily usable here; they also give high quality context to the both East & West Africa during this time period
Developments in Europe
Theme: Cultural Developments and Interactions
Learning Objectives
Explain how the beliefs and practices of the predominant religions in Europe affected European society.
The primary difficulty in this section of the unit is to discuss the role of non - Christian religions on Europe. Luckily more scholarship is available now, but it still can be difficult to find high quality sources. |
Must Know Content
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Additional Materials
- Ancient History Encyclopedia: Religion in the Middle Ages
- One of the better articles on the website; it covers major Christian movements across Europe, as well as the impact of Judaism & Islam on the region
Theme: Governance
Learning Objectives
Explain the causes and consequences of political decentralization in Europe from 1200 to 1450.
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Must Know Content
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Additional Materials
- DBQ Activity: Political Decentralization in Europe
Theme: Social Interactions & Organizations
Learning Objectives
Explain the effects of agriculture on social organization in Europe from 1200 to 1450.
This concept is pretty easy to connect with the prior theme, especially since the concept of serfdom is directly connected to feudalism & manorialism. |
Must Know Content
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Additional Materials
- Khan Academy: Serfdom in Europe
- Great article on the origins of serfdom, beginning with the collapse of Rome