Introduction
AP World History is all about making connections and
broad based generalizations. The class approaches history consistently with the six themes in the course descriptions. In
addition the there are 5 time periods in which the history is analyzed:
1. Foundation Period (from prehistory - 1000CE) ~14% of the questions
2. 1000 - 1450 CE (23% of questions on AP exam)
3. 1450 - 1750 CE (20% of questions)
4. 1750 - 1914 CE (20% of questions)
5. 1914 - present (23% of questions)
The themes are:
1. Impact of interactions among societies (for example trade, internation systems of
exchange, war and diplomacy)
2. The relationship of changes and continuities across the periods in world history.
3. The impact of technology on demography on people and the environments (population
growth and decline, manufacturing, disease, migrations, agriculture, weaponry)
4. Systems of social and gender structures (comparing major features within and among
societies and assessing changes)
5. Cultural and intellectual developments and interactions among and within societies.
6. Changes in functions and structures of states and attitudes toward states and political
indentities including the emergence of nation-state (type of political organizations)
The six themes allow trains you to analyze history similar to an actual historians.
History is not about facts and dates but insights into the past! (socially, economically, politically, and environmentally)
By its very nature, the AP World exam is very broad therefore learning mere facts defeats
the purpose of the course. The course has an analytical goal to foster critical and interpretive thinking skills to assess
change over time and how societies differ and are similar when faced with similar issues. The only way to achieve this goal
is by the thematic approach according to the course creators. It is important to understand the six overarching themes that
will help you connect "big pictures" ideas, cultures, events, places, and institutions across the world. In that sense, history
is more meaningfuf.
- Note that the course does not emphasize on either European or U.S. history. Both regions
only cover about 30% of the course maximum.
- Keep in mind that the multiple choice questions on the exam generally assess
factual knowledge while the 3 essays assess thematic understandings of world history.
