AP European History
Ottawa Hills High School
Ms. Temple
School Phone: 419-536-5388 ext. 421
E-Mail: jtemple@ottawahillsschools.org
Course Description:
The AP European History course (1 credit, 1 year, 11th and 12th grade students) and the
accompanying examination in European History are considered the equivalent to a college
introductory course in European History. This study of European history from 1450 to present day
introduces students to the intellectual and cultural, diplomatic and political, as well as the economic
and social developments that played a fundamental role in shaping the world we live in today.
Students will develop a context for understanding contemporary institutions, the role of continuity
and change in present-day society and politics, and the evolution of forms of artistic expression and
intellectual discourse. The student will experience the principle themes in modern European
history, the analysis of historical evidence and its interpretation, and will practice the expression of
historical understanding in writing, along with an introduction to pertinent introduction to
historiography.
Summer reading and writing is required. This work is due Monday, August 6th each year in
hard copy to the instructor’s school mailbox and to turnitin.com utilizing the correct codes and
password provided in the summer reading letter.
Textbooks:
Western Civilization. Jackson J. Spielvogel. 7th edition. Thomson-Wadsworth, 2009.
Western Civilization: Sources, Images, and Interpretations, Volume I: to 1700. Dennis Sherman. 6th
Edition, McGraw Hill, 2004.
Western Civilization: Sources, Images, and Interpretations, Volume II: since 1660. Dennis Sherman. 6th
Edition, McGraw Hill, 2004. (basis for summer reading)
Western Civilization: Primary Source Reader Vol. II. Megan McLean. McGraw Hill, 2003.
Course Structure:
The AP European History course is structured in a seminar/lecture approach that provides
students with experience in the themes and content of European history, primary and secondary
source document interpretation, along with content relevant analytical practice in reading and
writing. Students are to come to class prepared and ready to engage in the topic of the day. Tests
and writing assignments are modeled after the AP Exam that is to be taken in the spring. Each
quarter includes a focus on the elements pertinent to the exam including but not limited to:
elements of objective and essay testing, primary and secondary source document interpretation,
and practice writing and analysis for the exam’s FRQs and DBQ.
Assignments:
There will be a variety of assessments in AP European History, all of which are
geared towards preparation for the May AP test. Your grade will depend on the your
performance on the following assessments:
1. Multiple Choice Tests
2. Free Response Questions (FRQs)
3. Document Based Questions (DBQs)
4. Reading Quizzes
5. Group work
6. Class Participation
There will be at least one graded assignment per week. Whether it is a chapter test, in class
DBQ, or a quiz over the previous night’s reading. Chapter tests, FRQs, and DBQs will all be
announced ahead of time, however, reading quizzes will not be announced. You can
expect at least one reading quiz per chapter. This will ensure that you are not only
keeping up with the outside reading but it will also help with the day’s lecture and
subsequent class discussions. This year, chapter notes should be taken during lecture and
as you read the textbook, however, you will not be turning them in for credit. Lectures are
designed to discuss in depth the most important parts of the chapter so quality note taking
is critical.
This course will also include a strong focus on visual sources including maps, charts,
graphs, along with art and the interpretation of art. Paintings, drawings, illustrations,
sculptures, architecture, and photography will be heavily integrated into the course
structure. Expect to see the aforementioned visual sources throughout the semester during
lectures and included on tests, quizzes, DBQs, and group work. Your ability to interpret
visual sources is a key component to success on the AP test.
Test corrections will occur before school, during lunch, or after school on the day(s)
set up by the instructor (usually the day or two after the test is passed back). Test
corrections WILL NOT occur during study halls, in other classes, or while there are other
classes are in session, no exceptions!
Grading Policy:
Your grade will be determined by the percentage of points you earn compared to the total points
offered during the term. The grading scale:
92-100% 82-91% 72-81% 64-71% Below 64% -
A
B
C
D
F
Topic Syllabus:
First Quarter
Chapter 11: The Later Middle Ages: Crisis and Disintegration in the Fourteenth Century.
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Black death & social crisis
War & political instability
Decline of the church
Cultural world of the 14th century
Society in an age of adversity
Chapter 12: Recovery and Rebirth: The Age of the Renaissance.
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Meaning & characteristics of the Italian Renaissance
Origins of Renaissance society
Italian states in the Renaissance
Intellectual Renaissance in Italy
Artistic Renaissance
European states in the Renaissance
Church un the Renaissance
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Humanism as a prelude to the Reformation
Martin Luther & the Reformation in Germany
Spread of the Protestant Reformation
Social impact of the Protestant Reformation
The Catholic Reformation
Politics & wars of religion in the 16th century
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Chapter 13: Reformation and Religious Warfare in the Sixteenth Century.
Chapter 14: Europe and the World: New Encounters, 1500-1800.
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Transition to a new world
News horizons: Portuguese & Spanish empires
Rivalry on the world stage
Toward a world economy
Impact of European expansion
Chapter 15: State Building and the Search for Order in the Seventeenth Century.
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Social Crises, war & rebellions
Absolutism in Western Europe
Absolutism in Central, Eastern & Northern Europe
Limited monarchy & republics
17th century European art & theater
Chapter 16: Toward a New Heaven and a New Earth: The Scientific Revolution and the
Emergence of Modern Science.
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Background of the Scientific Revolution
Revolution in Astronomy
Advances in medicine & chemistry
Women & modern science
Descartes, rationalism & new views of man
Scientific method & the spread of scientific knowledge
Tests:
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5 Objective/Subjective tests: multiple choice and FRQs
Reading quizzes (at least one per chapter)
Supplemental Readings: Background and primary source readings
 Completion of primary and secondary source readings along with visual
source interpretation and supplemental questions in Western Civilization;
Vol. I: Chapter 11-16 and Western Civilization; Vol. II: Chapter 17
Writing:
 Introduction to essay writing and commonly used task words and
phrases
 Introduction to essay rubrics, especially the DBQ rubric
 Introduction to the AP European DBQ (German peasant revolts)
 Partnered DBQ assignment (Elizabeth I)
 Take home DBQ assignment (Scientific Revolution)
Second Quarter
Chapter 17: The Eighteenth Century: An Age of Enlightenment.
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The Enlightenment, the philosophes & their ideas
Culture & society in the Enlightenment
Religion & the churches
Chapter 18: The Eighteenth Century: European States, International Wars, and Social
Change.
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18th century European states
Wars & diplomacy
Economic expansion & social change
Social order of the 18th century
Chapter 19: A Revolution in Politics: The Era of the French Revolution and Napoleon.
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Roots of the revolutionary era
American Revolution
Background to the French Revolution
The French Revolution
Age of Napoleon
Chapter 20: The Industrial Revolution and Its Impact on European Society.
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The Industrial Revolution in Great Britain
Spread of industrialization
Social impact of the Industrial Revolution
Chapter 21: Reaction, Revolution, and Romanticism, 1815-1850.
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The conservative order (1815-1830) – Concert of Europe
Ideologies of change: Liberalism, Nationalism & Early Socialism
Revolution & Reform (1830-1850)
Emergence of an ordered society
Culture in an age of reaction & revolution – Romanticism
Chapter 22: An Age of Nationalism and Realism, 1850-1871.
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Napoleon III’s France
National Unification: Italy & Germany
The nation-state in Mmd-19th century
Industrialization & the Marxist response
Science & culture in an age of Realism
Tests:
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6 Objective/Subjective tests: multiple choice and FRQs
Reading quizzes (at least one per chapter)
Supplemental Readings:
 Completion of primary and secondary source readings along with visual
source interpretation and supplemental questions in Western Civilization;
Vol. II- Chapters 19, 20, 21 and 22
Primary Source Document analysis:
 Focus on: bias/ point-of-view & how to determine them.
 Class discussion, group practice and individual writing
Writing:
 Two DBQs (Children in modern Europe, 19th century workers)
Third Quarter
Chapter 23: Mass Society in an "Age of Progress", 1871-1894.
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Growth of industrial prosperity
Emergence of mass society
Modern nation states: Western Europe in comparison to Central & Eastern Europe
Chapter 24: An Age of Modernity, Anxiety, and Imperialism, 1894-1914.
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The modern consciousness: intellectual & cultural developments
o Sigmund Freud
o Darwin
o Modernism in the arts
New political directions
o Women’s rights
o The Jews in modern Europe
o Liberalism transformed
o Austria-Hungary & nationalities
New Imperialism in Africa & Asia
International Rivalry & War – Bismarckian System
Chapter 25: The Beginning of the Twentieth-Century Crisis: War and Revolution.
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Road to W.W. I
World War I
War & revolution: Russia, Germany & Austria-Hungary
The peace settlement: Treaty of Versailles
Chapter 26: The Futile Search for a New Stability: Europe between the Wars, 1919-1939.
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Uncertain peace & the Great Depression
Status of the democratic states
Status of the authoritarian & totalitarian states
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Spain, dictatorship & civil war
Expansion of mass culture & mass leisure
Cultural & intellectual trends between the wars
Chapter 27: The Deepening of the European Crisis: World War II.
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Prelude to war (1933-1939)
World War II
The new order: Nazi empire and the Holocaust
War on the home front
Aftermath of the war: Cold War
Chapter 28: Cold War and a New Western World, 1945-1973.
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Development of the Cold War
Europe & decolonization: Africa, Middle East & Asia
Recovery & renewal in Europe
Post war society & culture in the western world
Tests:
 6 Objective/Subjective tests: multiple choice and FRQs
 Reading quizzes (at least one per chapter)
Supplemental Readings: Background and primary source readings
 Completion of primary and secondary source readings along with visual
source interpretation and supplemental questions in Western Civilization;
Vol. II – Chapters 23, 24, 25 ,26, 27
Primary Source Analysis:
 Review of the various categories of “documents,” their potential and limits
 The nature of authorship and its application to the DBQ
Writing:
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Two DBQs (Imperialism in Africa, Weimar Republic)
Fourth Quarter
Chapter 29: Protest and Stagnation: The Western World 1965-1985.
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A Culture of Protest
A Divided Western World
The Cold War: The Move to Détente
Society and Culture in the Western World
Chapter 30: After the Fall: The Western World in a Global Age (Since 1985)
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Toward a New Western Order
After the Cold War: New World Order or Age of Terrorism?
New Directions and New Problems in Western Society
Western Culture Today
The Digital Age
Toward a Global Civilization
Review for AP Test will include:
Unit 1: Primary Source Document Reviews and application to the DBQ
Unit 2: Art Review
 Power Point presentation on art history, schools and representative artists
Unit 3: Practice Multiple Choice Questions
Assessments:
 3 content review quizzes
Supplemental Readings:
 Completion of primary and secondary source readings along with visual
source interpretation and supplemental questions in Western Civilization;
Vol. II – Chapters 28 , 29 and 30
Writing:
 2 DBQs (Immigration in Europe, Western Europe)
 Final Project
Course Goals:
1. Take and “pass” the AP examination
2. Apply analysis, synthesis, and evaluation skills in writing concise interpretive essays.
3. Acquire the ability to deal with a high work load in a mature and diligent manner.
4. Understand the different types of historical interpretations
5. Acquire a broader perspective and understanding of the many historical periods of
European history (1400-post WWII).
Note: I strongly encourage all students to take the May 15th AP Test. The test may earn you college credit, can help you stand out in the
college admissions process, and will aid you in the transition to the college classroom and workload. For those who decide not to take the
test there will be an alternative assignment on the day of the test.