🌍AP World History: Modern Previous Exam Prep

Key Themes and Concepts

• Interaction between humans and the environment shaped societies (agriculture, trade, disease)
• Development and interaction of cultures led to cultural diffusion and assimilation
  • Includes religions, belief systems, philosophies, ideologies, and science
• State building, expansion, and conflict resulted in empires, nations, and transnational entities
  • Includes political structures, rise and fall of empires (Roman Empire), revolutions, and wars
• Creation, expansion, and interaction of economic systems impacted trade networks, commerce, and social hierarchies
  • Consists of agricultural and pastoral production, trade and commerce, labor systems, and industrialization
• Development and transformation of social structures shaped gender roles, family structures, and social hierarchies
  • Can be influenced by religions, philosophies, and ideologies

Historical Periods Covered

• Global Tapestry (1200 to 1450) marked by the Mongol Empire, Islamic Caliphates, and the Crusades
• Networks of Exchange (1200 to 1450) saw the expansion of trade routes (Silk Roads, Indian Ocean, Trans-Saharan)
  • Facilitated the spread of religions (Islam, Buddhism), technologies, and diseases (Black Death)
• Land-Based Empires (1450 to 1750) included the Ottoman Empire, Safavid Empire, and Mughal Empire
  • Characterized by centralized bureaucracies, standing armies, and religious tolerance
• Transoceanic Interconnections (1450 to 1750) began with European exploration and colonization
  • Led to the Columbian Exchange, Atlantic slave trade, and global trade networks
• Revolutions (1750 to 1900) encompassed political (American Revolution, French Revolution) and industrial revolutions
  • Resulted in new forms of government (democracy, nationalism) and economic systems (capitalism, socialism)
• Consequences of Industrialization (1750 to 1900) transformed societies and led to imperialism and global inequality
• Global Conflict (1900 to present) marked by World War I, World War II, and the Cold War
  • Shaped by ideologies (fascism, communism), decolonization, and globalization

Major Events and Developments

• The Mongol Empire (1206-1368) facilitated trade, cultural exchange, and the spread of technologies across Eurasia
• The Renaissance (1300-1600) in Europe saw a revival of classical learning, art, and humanism
• The Protestant Reformation (1517-1648) challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and led to religious wars
  • Resulted in the spread of Protestantism and the Counter-Reformation
• The Scientific Revolution (1550-1700) introduced new ways of thinking based on reason, empiricism, and scientific inquiry
  • Led to advances in mathematics, physics, astronomy, and medicine
• The Enlightenment (1650-1800) promoted ideas of reason, individual rights, and social contract theory
  • Influenced political revolutions and the rise of democratic ideals
• The Industrial Revolution (1750-1900) began in Great Britain and spread to other parts of Europe and North America
  • Transformed economies, social structures, and daily life through mechanization and factory production
• Imperialism (1800-1914) saw European powers establish colonial empires in Africa, Asia, and the Americas
  • Exploited resources, labor, and markets while imposing European culture and political control
• World War I (1914-1918) was a global conflict that reshaped the political map and led to the collapse of empires
• World War II (1939-1945) was the deadliest conflict in human history, marked by the Holocaust and the use of atomic weapons
• The Cold War (1947-1991) was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union
  • Characterized by proxy wars, arms race, and ideological competition

Important Historical Figures

• Genghis Khan (1162-1227) founded the Mongol Empire and conquered vast territories across Eurasia
• Martin Luther (1483-1546) initiated the Protestant Reformation by challenging the practices and authority of the Catholic Church
• Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) made significant contributions to astronomy and physics during the Scientific Revolution
  • Supported the heliocentric model and faced persecution from the Catholic Church
• John Locke (1632-1704) was a key Enlightenment thinker who developed the theory of natural rights and social contract
  • Influenced the American Revolution and the drafting of the Declaration of Independence
• Adam Smith (1723-1790) was an economist who advocated for free market capitalism in his work "The Wealth of Nations"
• Simon Bolivar (1783-1830) led independence movements in Latin America against Spanish colonial rule
• Karl Marx (1818-1883) developed the theory of communism and wrote "The Communist Manifesto" with Friedrich Engels
  • His ideas influenced socialist movements and revolutions in the 20th century
• Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) led the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule through nonviolent resistance
• Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) was the leader of Nazi Germany and orchestrated the Holocaust during World War II
• Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) fought against apartheid in South Africa and became the country's first black president

Exam Format and Structure

• The AP World History: Modern exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long
• Section I: Part A consists of 55 multiple-choice questions in 55 minutes
  • Assesses knowledge of historical concepts, events, and developments
• Section I: Part B includes 3 short-answer questions in 40 minutes
  • Requires analysis of historical sources, arguments, and evidence
• Section II: Part A is a document-based question (DBQ) in 60 minutes
  • Assesses the ability to analyze and synthesize historical documents and develop an argument
• Section II: Part B consists of a long essay question chosen from three options in 40 minutes
  • Evaluates the ability to develop and support an argument using historical evidence and reasoning
• The exam covers the historical periods from c. 1200 CE to the present

Practice Question Types

• Multiple-choice questions test knowledge of historical facts, concepts, and developments
  • May require analysis of maps, graphs, or passages
• Short-answer questions assess the ability to analyze historical sources, arguments, and evidence
  • Often require a thesis statement and supporting examples
• Document-based questions (DBQs) provide a set of historical documents to analyze and synthesize
  • Require a thesis statement, analysis of documents, and use of outside knowledge
• Long essay questions evaluate the ability to develop and support an argument using historical evidence and reasoning
  • Involve comparing and contrasting historical developments or assessing causation and continuity and change over time
• Stimulus-based multiple-choice questions present a historical source or data and ask questions related to its analysis and interpretation

Essay Writing Strategies

• Read the prompt carefully and identify the key terms, historical developments, and time periods
• Develop a clear and concise thesis statement that directly addresses the prompt and takes a position
  • Place the thesis at the end of the introductory paragraph
• Create an outline to organize your arguments and supporting evidence
  • Use topic sentences to introduce each body paragraph and connect back to the thesis
• Analyze and interpret historical evidence, such as documents, data, or examples, to support your arguments
  • Explain how the evidence relates to your thesis and the historical context
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the historical period, events, and developments related to the prompt
  • Incorporate relevant outside knowledge to provide context and depth to your arguments
• Use transitional phrases and sentences to create a logical flow between paragraphs and ideas
• Write a conclusion that restates your thesis and summarizes your main arguments
  • Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion
• Proofread your essay for clarity, coherence, and grammatical errors

Time Management Tips

• Pace yourself throughout the exam to ensure you have enough time for each section and question
• Read the questions and prompts carefully to understand what is being asked before answering
  • Underline or highlight key terms and instructions
• Prioritize the questions based on their point value and your level of confidence in answering them
  • Attempt easier questions first to build momentum and confidence
• Allocate your time strategically for each section and question type
  • Spend about 1 minute per multiple-choice question, 10-12 minutes per short-answer question, and 15 minutes per essay
• Use the process of elimination for multiple-choice questions to narrow down the options
  • Make educated guesses if you can eliminate some choices but are unsure of the correct answer
• Outline your essays before writing to organize your thoughts and arguments
  • Spend about 5 minutes planning and 10 minutes writing for each essay
• Monitor your progress during the exam and adjust your pace if necessary
  • If you find yourself spending too much time on a question, move on and come back to it later if time allows
• Reserve a few minutes at the end of each section to review your answers and make any necessary changes