COURSE SYLLABUS
Introduction: The study of European history since 1450 introduces students to cultural, economic, political, and social
developments that played a fundamental role in shaping the world in which they live. Without this knowledge, we would
lack the context for understanding the development of contemporary institutions, the role of continuity and change in
present-day society and politics, and the evolution of current forms of artistic expression and intellectual discourse.
In addition to providing a basic narrative of events and movements, the goals of AP European History are to develop (a)
an understanding of some of the principal themes in modern European History, (b) an ability to analyze historical
evidence and historical interpretation, and (c) an ability to express historical understanding in writing. In order to
achieve these goals, this course focuses on nine specific historical thinking skills, as dictated by the College Board. These
skills are: Historical Causation, Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time, Periodization, Comparison,
Contextualization, Historical Argumentation, Appropriate Use of Relevant Historical Evidence, Interpretation, and
Synthesis.
Our study of European history will be broken into four major time periods: 1450-1648, 1648-1815, 1815-1914, and 1914Present. The course centers around five specific themes: Interaction of Europe and the World, Poverty and Prosperity,
Objective Knowledge and Subjective Visions, States and Other Institutions of Power, and the Individual and Society.
Throughout the course, we will examine and interpret the role of European intellectual, cultural, political, diplomatic,
economic, and social history within these themes and time periods.
The course will be divided into eleven units. Each unit is concluded with an assessment similar in format to the AP exam
(although on a smaller scale). Tests will include a multiple choice section coupled with short responses, long essay
questions, or document based questions. Students will also be required to complete several projects and take home
essays during the course. Throughout the year we will develop strategies and refine our skills in analyzing documents
and organizing responses to AP style questions (i.e. Multiple Choice, Lone Essay Questions, and DBQ’s).
Required Text: Spielvogel, Jackson J., Western Civilization. California: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 7th edition.
Supplementary Materials: A variety of supplementary primary and secondary sources will be distributed both in class
and through the class homework page.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Course Requirements: The following is a breakdown of the units of study covered in this course. Additionally, an
approximate breakdown of lessons is provided, as well as associated textbook pages. Specific focus questions are
provided at the beginning of each reading section. Readings must be completed by the day the lesson is taught in class.
Exact dates will be distributed in class and posted online (as much as possible). Please keep in mind that this is a
preliminary outline for the year and is subject to change and additional assignments may be assigned throughout the
year.
Unit 1: The Age of the Renaissance
6 Days
Lesson 1: Characteristics of the Italian Renaissance (338-349)
Lesson 2: Intellectual Renaissance in Italy (349-355)
Lesson 3: Artistic Renaissance (355-362)
Lesson 4: Church & State during the Renaissance (362-369)
Lesson 5: AP Skills: Thesis Writing / Document Analysis
Lesson 6: Packet Due / Assessment
Project: Renaissance Personages Interviews
Unit 2: The Age of Reformation & Discovery
8 Days
Lesson 1: Underlying & Immediate Causes of the Reformation (373-385)
Lesson 2: The Spread & Impact of the Reformation (386-395)
Lesson 3: The Catholic Counter Reformation (395-399)
Lesson 4: Crisis of Religion (399-406, 444-451)
Lesson 5: Discovery and Expansion (410-420)
Lesson 6: Impact of European Expansion (433-440)
Lesson 7: AP Skills: The DBQ
Lesson 8: Packet Due / Assessment
Project: Reformation Dinner Party
Unit 3: State Building in the 17th Century
5 Days
Lesson 1: The Age of Absolutism (451-466)
Lesson 2: Republics & Limited Monarchy (467-475)
Lesson 3: Impact of the English Civil War
Lesson 4: Society & Culture of the 17th Century (475-480)
Lesson 5: Packet Due / Assessment
DBQ (Take Home): Analyze the factors that contributed to the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) and assess the impact
of the war on seventeenth-century Europe.
Unit 4: Enlightenment & Continued Absolutism
7 Days
Lesson 1: Scientific Revolution (484-506)
Lesson 2: The Enlightenment (510-522)
Lesson 3: Culture & Society in the Age of Enlightenment (522-535)
Lesson 4: Political, Economic, & Social Change (539-550)
Lesson 5: Wars & Diplomacy (550-567)
Lesson 6: AP Skills: The Long Essay Question
Lesson 7: Packet Due / Assessment
Project: Enlightenment Salon
Unit 5: The French Revolution
4 Days
Lesson 1: Background & Early Phases of the French Revolution (575-584)
Lesson 2: The Radical Revolution & the Thermidorean Reaction (584-592)
Lesson 3: Age of Napoleon (592-600)
Lesson 4: Packet Due / Assessment
Project: Congress of Vienna Simulation
DBQ (Take Home): Evaluate the grievance of the Third Estate prior to the French Revolution of 1789, and analyze the
extent to which they were addressed during the first phase (the liberal phase) of the revolution.
Unit 6: Forces of Economic & Political Change
6 Days
Lesson 1: The Industrial Revolution & its Impact (605-612)
Lesson 2: Effects of the Industrial Revolution & Attempts to Reform (613-629)
Lesson 3: The Conservative Order vs. Ideologies of Change (633-646)
Lesson 4: Revolution & Reform through 1848 (646-656)
Lesson 5: Romanticism (657-662)
Lesson 6: Packet Due / Assessment
DBQ (In Class): Assess the extent to which nationalism affected European culture, politics, and the balance of power
during the nineteenth-century.
Unit 7: An Age of Nationalism & Realism
6 Days
Lesson 1: Liberal & Nationalist Movements in Europe (666-670)
Lesson 2: National Unification – Italy, Germany, Russia, & Austria (670-678)
Lesson 3: Nation Building & Reform (678-685)
Lesson 4: Industrialization & the Marxist Response (685-687)
Lesson 5: Science & Culture in the Age of Realism (687-695)
Lesson 6: Packet Due / Assessment
LEQ (Take Home): Analyze and identify the main characteristics of mass society as it emerged during the second half
of the nineteenth century.
Unit 8: Continued Move to Modernity
8 Days
Lesson 1: The Second Industrial Revolution & its Implications (699-708)
Lesson 2: Responses to Industrial Prosperity (709-721)
Lesson 3: Growth of Political Democracy in the West (722-728)
Lesson 4: Intellectual, Cultural, & Artistic Developments (732-742)
Lesson 5: New Political Directions & New Uncertainties (742-752)
Lesson 6: The New Imperialism – Africa, Asia, & India (753-761)
Lesson 7: International Rivalries & the Coming of War (761-765)
Lesson 8: Packet Due / Assessment
DBQ (In Class): Analyze how European views of non-European peoples and cultures reflected the intellectual changes
of the period from the 1760s to the 1910s.
Unit 9: World War I & Its Aftermath
6 Days
Lesson 1: Outbreak of War (769-773)
Lesson 2: the Conduct & Impact of Modern War (773-778)
Lesson 3: Conclusion of the War & Treaty of Versailles (796-801)
Lesson 4: The Russian Revolution – Causes (789-796)
Lesson 5: The Russian Revolution – Impacts (789-796)
Lesson 6: Packet Due / Assessment
Project: WWI / Treaty of Versailles Simulation
LEQ (Take Home): Compare and contrast the degree of success of treaties negotiated in Vienna (1814-1815) and
Versailles (1919) in achieving European stability.
Unit 10: The Failure of Stability, 1919 – 1945 8 Days
Lesson 1: Problems of the 1920s (804-812)
Lesson 2: Fascism in Germany & Italy (812-823)
Lesson 3: The Soviet State under Stalin (823-828)
Lesson 4: Culture of Interwar Years (828-838)
Lesson 5: Outbreak & Causes of War (838-854)
Lesson 6: Europe during the War (855-868)
Lesson 7: Allied Victory & Peace Settlement (869-873)
Lesson 8: Packet Due / Assessment
LEQ (In Class): Evaluate the extent to which the lives of women maintained continuity as well as experienced change
during the twentieth century.
Unit 11: Europe Since World War II
9 Days
Lesson 1: Cold War Tensions Arise (876-890)
Lesson 2: Political Changes in Europe (890-906)
Lesson 3: Inside the Iron Curtain
Lesson 4: Economic Revival & Attempts at Unity
Lesson 5: Political Implication of the End of the Cold War
Lesson 6: Collapse of Communism in the USSR & Eastern Europe
Lesson 7: Making of the European Union
Lesson 8: Modern Western Society & Culture
Lesson 9: Packet Due / Assessment
DBQ (In Class): Evaluate the responsibility of various nations for the Cold War.
AP European History Exam
May 6, 2016
Afternoon Session (12:00 pm)
Any time remaining class days will be used for review sessions to prepare for the exam. However, please keep in mind
that in order to be successful, it is imperative that you take time to study and review on your own as well.
Unit 12: Post AP Exam
Special topics and projects to be determined will be covered after the AP Exam. These topics will be selected based
on student interest. Please remember, that while there is no final exam in this course (for students who choose to
take the exam) Post AP topic assignments will still count towards your final grade in the class.