First Semester Review for AP World Final Exam
Note: I am using many AP College Board® questions on the semester final. Thus, the first part of the review is
from AP College Board’s® own pamphlet. The later part is more specific. The point of this is to see where we
stand in regards to national exam preparation.
Understand why collapse of western Roman
Impact of nomadic migrations on AfroFoundations: 8000 BCE-600
empire
more
severe
than
in
eastern
empire
or
Eurasia and the Americas- Aztecs,
CE
Han China.
Compare caste system to other systems of
social inequality including slavery
Compare societies and cultures that include
cities with pastoral or nomadic societies
Compare the development of traditions and
institutions in major civilizations
Describe interregional trading systems- i.e.
Indian Ocean trade
Compare social and political structures of
early civilizations- Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus
Valley, Shang dynasty, Mesoamerican and
Andean South America
Mongols, Turks, Vikings, Arabs
Cause of plague pandemics in the 14th
century
Growth and role of cities- urbanization in
Song China and Aztec Empire for example
Use of cultural areas rather than states as
units of analysis- why in this period
Sources of change- nomadic migration
versus urban growth
World economic network?
Issues surrounding using term
“civilization” as organizing principle in
history
Most common source of change:
connection or diffusion versus
independent invention
Agricultural, pastoral, and foraging
societies and their demographic
characteristics (Africa, Americas,
Europe and Asia)
Emergence of agriculture and
technological change
Nature of village settlements
Impact of agriculture on the environment
600 CE- 1450 CE
Opportunities/constraints for elite women in
this period
Nature and causes of changes in the world
history framework leading up to 600 CE-1450
CE as a period
Emergence of new empires and political
systems
Compare Japanese and European feudalism
Continuities and breaks in this period- i.e.
Mongols’ impact
Rise of Islam in Eurasia and Africa
Islamic political structures- caliphate
Introduction of key stages of metal use
Arts, sciences and technology of Islamic world
Basic features of early civilizations in
different environments: culture, state and
social structure.
Classical civilizations: major political
developments in China, India and
Mediterranean.
Social and gender structures in Classical
civilizations
Major trading patterns among Classical
civilizations; contacts with other regions
Arts, sciences and technology of
Classical civilizations
Major belief systems in this time span:
Polytheism, Hinduism, Judaism,
Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and
Christianity
Collapse of empires (Han, Gupta,
western Roman)
Movements of peoples- Bantus, Huns,
Germans, Polynesians
Compare major religious and
philosophical systems
Compare roles of women in different
belief systems
Trans-Saharan trade, Indian Ocean trade, Silk
routes- shifts, development
Analyze the role and function of cities in
major societies
Compare Islam to Christianity
Analyze gender systems and changes, such
as impact of Islam
Compare the Aztec empire to that of the
Inca
Compare European and sub-Saharan
African contacts with the Islamic world
Missionary outreach of major religions
Specific Details
Contacts between major religions
Spread of Buddhism
Tang and Song economic revolutions and
initiatives of early Ming
Influence of China on surrounding areas
Nature of Viking expansionism
Arts, sciences and technology of China
General characteristics of early civilizations
Restructuring of European economic, social
and political institutions
The Great Schism
Muhammad
Social, cultural, economic and political patterns
in Amerindian world- Maya, Inca, Aztec
Characteristics of Hammurabi’s Code
Interaction of geography and climate
with development of human society
Major population changes resulting from
human and environmental factors.
Periodization in early human history
Nature and causes of changes associated
with this time span
Continuities and breaks within this time
span- i.e. river valley civilizations
transitioning to Classical civilizations
Compare developments in political and
social institutions in eastern and western
Europe
Nature of Arab expansionism
Persian Wars- results
Ibn Battuta’s travels
Characteristics of early Egypt
Characteristics of early Mesopotamia
Symbols associated with the various
religions
Byzantine Empire- nature of rule,
achievements
Islamic syncretism in Africa
Major tenets/ beliefs of the major religions
especially Christianity, Islam, and Judaism
Mongols-spread, impact on trade/ politics/
manufacturing
Smallpox effect on Mesoamerica
Classical civilizations- characteristics
Trans-Saharan trade products
Swahili- origins
Ottoman Turks- origins, early
characteristics
Silk Road- characteristics
Renaissance culture- uniqueness
Renaissance Italy
Phoenicians- characteristics
Incan- characteristics
Aztecs- characteristics
Indian Ocean Trade- characteristics, nature
Crusades- impacts on Europe/ Middle East
Rome compared to Han- PIRATES
Mayan urbanization characteristics
Leadership models compared 1000-1450
Impact of Plague (Black Death) on world
Women 1000-1450- roles, rights
Big ticket events/ movements that shaped
600-1450 timeframe
Samurai
Bantu Migrations- characteristics, impact of
spread
Social issues in early agricultural societies
Sub-Saharan economy 900-1450
Reasons for decline of major classical and
post-classical empires
Spread of religions through trade
Asian and European philosophies 10001450
Abbasid caliphate and fall, achievements
Marco Polo in the Khan’s court
Early feudal Japan, impact of Mongol threat
Ming treasure ships, Zheng Hu
Confucianism- characteristics
Age of Discovery, key people, technology
Western Roman and Eastern Roman Empire
(Byzantine) compared, reasons for split
Neoconfucianism- characteristics
Christian presence in Africa after Islam
Patriarchal gender systems- characteristics
Humanism
Writing systems
Crusades impact on trade
Rise of middle classes- why?
Spread of Christianity
Impact of Islamic expansion on Europe
Imperialism defined
Aryans- impact on India
Mayan- characteristics