AP World History: Modern

We review everything from the paleolithic period to the neolithic revolution to the fall of Rome to classical civilizations to world religions. With these resources, you'll have a solid understanding of history before 1200 CE so you'll be prepared for the rest of the AP World curriculum!

Unit 0 – Before 1200 CE

Unit 1 – The Global Tapestry, 1200-1450

Conquer unit 2 of AP World History with our guides and other resources! We cover the Mongols, Silk Roads, Indian Ocean & Trans-Subsaharan trade routes, and the cultural & environmental effects of trade. With these resources, you'll have a solid understanding of the major trends and networks of exchange between 1200-1450.

Unit 2 – Networks of Exchange, 1200-1450

Dig deeper into unit 3 of AP World History. We cover the expansion of land-based empires (guns, trade & tax diplomacy, conquering of other empires), their governments (bureaucratic and military elites, works of art, military strength, divine right), and comparison of different land-based empires between 1450-1750.

Unit 3 – Land-Based Empires, 1450-1750

Understand unit 4 of AP World History with our resources. We review everything between 1450-1750: teachnological innovations, Age of Expoloration, Columbian Exchange, labor systems, maritime empires, Atlantic Slave Trade, joint-stock companies, Triangular Trade, resistance of European expansion, changing social hierachies, and more!

Unit 4 – Transoceanic Interactions, 1450-1750

Learn all about revolutions in unit 5 of AP World History. We cover the Enlightenment (individualism, nationalism, feminism, abolitionism), revolutions from 1750 to 1900, German & Italian Unifications, decline of Ottoman empire, and much more! 

Unit 5 – Revolutions, 1750-1900

Understand the consequences of industrialization in unit 6 of AP World History. We review expansion of imperialism, resistance to imperialism, global economic development, global capitalism, causes & effects of migration from 1750 to 1900, urbanization, indentured laborers, the Opium Wars, and put them all together to help you ace the AP exam!

Unit 6 – Consequences of Industrialization, 1750-1900

Understand global conflicts in unit 7 of AP World History. We cover the Mexican Revolution, World War 1 and 2, Russian Revolution, League of Nations, Chinese Civil War, Stalin's Five Year Plan, Great Depression, Holocaust, Chinese Communist Revolution, United Nations, end of Japanese empire, genocides (Armenian, Rwandan, Cambodian), and much more.

Unit 7 – Global Conflict, 1900-Present

Master unit 8 of AP World History. We review the causes and effects of the Cold War, spread of communism, decolonization and newly independent states after 1900, global resistance, collapse of the Soviet Union, and everything up to the present to help you put current events in a broader context with our amazing guides and other resources.

Unit 8 – Cold War & Decolonization, 1900-Present

Be well-prepared for unit 9 of AP World History with our resources. We cover technological advancements after 1900, climate change, social movements (feminism, Greenpeace, Civil Rights Act), new international organizations, globalized culture, resistance to globalization, and much more to ace AP World!

Unit 9 – Globalization, 1900-Present

Frequently Asked Questions

Master all the important vocabulary, concepts, and events in each of the themes in AP World History: Humans and the Environment, Cultural Developments and Interactions, Governance, Economic Systems, Social Interactions and Organizations, and Technology and Innovation. Thinking thematically is essential for developing a full understanding of AP World History.

Thematic Guides

These guides will help you understand each region in AP World History. We will provide a comprehensive timeline of the major events in each region: the Americas, the Pacific, Europe, and Asia. We also cover social, economic, and political devlopments in each region as it relates to each unit in AP World History.

Regional Guides

Develop effective exam skills that will help you tackle the document based question, free response questions, and multiple choice questions of AP World History exam. We'll also give you useful tips and tricks for annotating & analyzing sources, and developing historical thinking skills like contextualization, comparison, and continuity & change.

Historical Thinking Skills

Welcome to AP World History! We will be overviewing what will be expected in your AP class and exam. We'll review everything from what the test will look like to an overview of the AP World units to study tips. We'll also cover many of the common questions about taking AP World History.

Introduction to AP World

Learn how to approach the multiple choice questions in the AP World History exam. We'll cover MCQ logistics, analyzing text and visual sources, historical thinking skills (contextualization, comparison, and continuity & change), effective strategies to improve speed and accuracy, and examples. With review and practice, you'll ace the MCQs!

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

Be well-prepared with our amazing resources for the short answer questions of the AP World History exam. We'll cover SAQ logistics, scoring guidelines, historical thinking skills (contextualization, comparison, and continuity & change), analyzing text and visual sources, effective strategies, and examples.

Short Answer Questions (SAQ)

Master the long essay questions of the AP World History exam. We'll cover LEQ logistics, scoring guidelines, historical thinking skills (contextualization, comparison, and continuity & change), analyzing text and visual sources, effective strategies, and examples. With review and practice, you'll be ready to ace the LEQs!

Long Essay Questions (LEQ)

Conquer the document based question (aka the DBQ) in AP World History. We'll review DBQ logistics, scoring guidelines, how to analyze sources, historical thinking skills (contextualization, comparison, and continuity & change), effective strategies, and examples. 

Document Based Questions (DBQ)

Free Reviews 2020

This is a comprehensive review of the major events and key ideas of AP World History. We'll cover everything from the Silk Roads to land-based empires to the Columbian Exchange to the Enlightenment to imperialism to world wars to the Cold War to globalization. With examples and practice, you'll be ready to ace the AP exam! 

Big Reviews: Finals & Exam Prep

Welcome to the Fiveable question and answer sessions for AP World History. We will be holding comprehensive reviews in which we give students opportunites to ask questions about everything AP World!

Q & A sessions

Understand how to study for AP World History through student-led seesions that will teach you how to take effective notes, read your textbook efficiently, analyze sources, organizing events in time periods, and much more! We'll also give tips and tricks for the LEQs, SAQs, DBQ, and MCQs!

Student-Led Study Sessions

Professional Development

AP Cram Sessions 2021

Live Cram Sessions 2020

In this video, learn the themes with examples that categorize AP World History: Modern. Apply these themes using acronyms such as SPICE-T, PIECES, or InSPECT. Get some practice identifying and answering free-response questions using themes.

Periodizing Time Period 1

What’s Unit 1 All About?

Trends in Afro-Eurasia

Mansa Musa

Epic of Sundiata

Trends in the Americas 

Unit 1 Overview: The Global Tapestry

Developments in East Asia

Sui, Tang, and Song Dynasty Overview

Government Developments in the Song Dynasty

Economic Development

Economic Developments in China, 1200-1450

Social Structures in China

Periphery of China

Developments in East Asia from 1200-1450

Developments in Dar al-Islam

Overview of Islam

What is Dar al-Islam?

Periphery of the Abbasids

Umayyad Caliphates

Abbasid Caliphates

New Islamic Powers 

Key Developments of Dar al-Islam

Developments in Dar al-Islam from 1200-1450

South Asia

Post-Classical South Asia  

Southeast Asia

Key Questions

Developments in South and Southeast Asia from 1200-1450

Developments in the Americas

Big Picture

Major Empires of the Americas

State Building in the Americas from 1200-1450

Developments in Africa

Tribe vs. Clan-Based

Key Definitions

State Building in Africa from 1200-1450

Feudal Society

Regionalism to Kingdoms

Religious Conflict

The Renaissance

Developments in Europe from 1200-1450

Direct Comparisons (Based on the Years)

Direct Comparisons (Based on Dynasties)

New States Emerged

Mamluk Empire (Former Abbasid)

Selijuk Empire (Former Abbasid)

Delhi Sultanate (Former Gupta)

Former Empires Were Revived

Song Dynasty (Based on Han Dynasty)

Mali Empire (Ghana Kingdom)

Holy Roman Empire (Based on Kuman Empire)

Expansion in Scope

Aztecs (Mesoamerica)

Incas (South America)

City-States (East Africa)

City-States (Southeast Asia)

Comparisons in the Period from 1200-1450

Multiple Choice Practice for The Global Tapestry

Multiple Choice Questions

Multiple Choice Answers for  The Global Tapestry

Multiple Choice Answers

Trade Routes

Silk Roads

Indian Ocean Trade Routes

Contextualizing The Unit

Effects of Growth in Trade

Conclusion

Main Events

Major Trends Between 1200-1450

Review Time

Unit 2 Overview: Networks of Exchange

What are the Silk Roads?

Causes of Silk Road Trade

Caravanserai

Bills of Exchange

Banking Houses

Effects of the Silk Roads

Summary of Causes of Silk Roads

Summary of Effects of Silk Roads

Events That Occurred Along the Silk Roads

The Silk Roads

The Historical Influence of the Mongol Empire

Military Strategy: How the Mongols Conquered 🏹 

Post-Genghis Khan

Historical Developments of the Mongol Empire 💸

The Mongol Empire and the Making
of the Modern World

What Was the Indian Ocean Trade?

Why Was it Important?

Causes of Indian Ocean Trade

Lateen Sails

Dhow Ships

Astrolabe

Summary of Causes of Indian Ocean Trade

Effects of the Indian Ocean on Trade

Summary of Effects of Indian Ocean Trade

Exchange in the Indian Ocean

What Were The Trans-Saharan Trade Routes?

Formation of Diasporic Communities

New Technologies

Spread of Islam

Causes of Trans-Saharan Trade

Camel Saddles

Caravans

Expansion of Trans-Saharan Empires

Mali Empire

Ghana Empire

Songhai Empire

Trans-Saharan Trade Routes

Cultural Consequences of Connectivity

Cultural Effects of Trade Networks

Diffusion of Scientific/Technological Innovations

Famous Travelers

Cultural Effects of Trade 

Environmental Consequences of Connectivity

The Bubonic Plague (Black Death)

Crops: Bananas, Champa Rice, & Citrus

Negative Impacts on The Environment

Environmental Effects of Trade

Comparison of Economic Exchange

Similarities and Differences Amongst All Trade Networks

Here are some similarities and differences between these trade networks:

Similarities and Differences Among the Silk Road and Indian Ocean Trade

Similarities and Differences Among the Trans-Saharan Trade and Indian Ocean Trade

Similarities and Differences Among the Silk Road and Trans-Saharan Trade

Comparison in Trade from 1200-1450

Multiple Choice Practice for Networks of Exchange

Answers and Review for Multiple Choice Practice On Networks of Exchange

MC Answers and Review

Unit 3 Overview: Land-Based Empires

Contextualizing the Unit 

Major Trends Between 1450-1750

What is a Land-Based Empire?

Let’s meet the  

The Ming and Qing Dynasty in modern China 

The Tokugawa Shogunate in modern Japan

The Mughal Empire in modern India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh 

The Safavid Empire in modern Iran and Iraq 

The Ottoman Empire (some parts of the Ottoman Empire were in Europe) in modern Turkey, Egypt, Syria and Jordan 

The Songhai Empire 

French Empire 

Russian Empire 

Inca (Inka) 

Aztec Empire (also known as the Mexica, for the dominant cultural group within the empire)  

Thinking Thematically - Slides

AP World History: Modern 🌍

Resources

About Us

Resources

Student Wellness

Stay Connected

About Us

Resources

Student Wellness