AP European History Key Concepts & Essential Questions (1st Term)
Unit 1—The Rise of Christianity & Nation States
 Key Concept: After the emergence of organized civilization, the Classical Period brought
profound political and cultural advancement that was shattered upon the demise of the Roman
Empire, ushering in the Dark and Middle Ages during which the power of the Roman Catholic
Church and feudalism provided structure to European society.
o Analyze the social, political, and religious characteristics of river valley civilizations.
o Explain the impact of Classical (Greek and Roman) culture and government on Western
Civilization.
o Trace the development of monotheistic Christianity, culminating with its influence on the
declining Roman and Byzantine Empires.
o Explain the emergence of Islam and Eastern Orthodox Christianity as belief systems.
o Analyze the emergence of the Roman Catholic Church as a unifying and suppressive
force in European society.
o Explain the economic and political structures of feudalism.

Key Concept: Medieval feudalism began to crumble as nation-states emerged due to the
leadership of strong, nationalistic, and expansionary Christian monarchs.
o Analyze the development of nation-states across Europe (including England, France,
Spain, Austria, and the Holy Roman Empire) as a result of nationalism and state interests.
o Evaluate the role of the Black Death and the Crusades in transforming European society.
Unit 2—The Renaissance
 Key Concept: The rediscovery of Classical works and scientific advancement changed many
Europeans’ views of their world.
o Evaluate the impact that the Renaissance revival of classical texts had on both society and
religion. (1.1 I)
o Examine how the invention of printing promoted the dissemination of ideas. (1.1 II)
o Analyze how Renaissance art incorporated new ideals and was used to promote personal,
political, and religious goals. (1.1 III)
Mini-Unit—Life in 15th/ 16th Century Europe
 Key Concept: European society and experiences of everyday life were increasingly shaped by
commercial and agricultural capitalism, notwithstanding the continued existence of medieval
social and economic structures.
o Analyze how economic change transformed social patterns while preserving hierarchy
and status. (1.4 I)
o Explain the agricultural lifestyle/plight of most Europeans, including the impact of
economic changes on rural production and power. (1.4 II)
o Explain the impact of population shifts and growing commerce on cities and their
political/social structures. (1.4 III)
o Evaluate the role of the family unit and gender roles on European society. (1.4 IV)
o Analyze the impact of popular culture, leisure activities, and folk ideas/ rituals on
communal ties and norms. (1.4 V)
Unit 3—The Protestant Reformation
 Key Concept: Religious pluralism challenged the concept of a unified Europe.
o Examine how the invention of printing promoted the dissemination of ideas. (1.1 II)
o Evaluate the impact of the Protestant Reformation fundamentally on theology, religious
institutions, culture, and attitudes toward wealth/prosperity. (1.2 I)
o Evaluate the impact of the Catholic Reformation fundamentally on theology, religious
institutions, culture, and attitudes towards wealth/prosperity. (1.2 I)
o Analyze how religious reform both increased state control of religious institutions and
provided justifications for challenging state authority. (1.2 II)
o Determine why conflicts among religious groups overlapped with political and economic
competition between states. (1.2 III)
Unit 4—The Age of Absolutes & the English Civil War
 Key Concept: The struggle for sovereignty within and among states resulted in varying degrees
of political centralization.
o Evaluate the role that the “sovereign state” and secular systems of law played on the
creation of new political institutions. (1.5 I)
o Analyze the impact of the competitive state system on patterns of diplomacy and warfare.
(1.5 II)
o Determine how competition for power between monarchs and corporate/ minority groups
produced varying distributions of governmental authority in European states. (1.5 III)

Key Concept: Different models of political sovereignty affected the relationship among states
and between states and individuals.
o Analyze the development of absolutism across Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. (2.1
I)
o Evaluate the impact that challenges to absolutism had in England and the Netherlands.
(2.1 II)
o Evaluate the impact of dynastic, state, and economic/ colonial interests on European
diplomacy. (2.1 III)
Unit 5—The Age of Discovery & Exploration
 Key Concept: Europeans explored and settled overseas territories, encountering and interacting
with indigenous populations.
o Explain the commercial and religious motives for European exploration and colonization.
(1.3 I)
o Analyze the impact of advances in navigation, cartography, and military technology on
European exploration. (1.3 II)
o Compare the varying methods (coercion and negotiation) of Europeans in establishing
overseas empires and trade networks. (1.3 III)
o Evaluate the impact of the Columbian Exchange on the Old World and the New World.
(1.3 IV)

Key Concept: The expansion of European commerce accelerated the growth of a worldwide
economic network.
o Analyze the development of the market economy of early modern Europe. (2.2 I)
o Explain how the European-dominated worldwide economic network contributed to
agricultural, industrial, and consumer revolutions in Europe. (2.2 II)
o Evaluate the impact of commercial rivalries on diplomacy between European states in the
early modern era. (2.2 III)
Unit 6—The Scientific Revolution & Age of Enlightenment
 Key Concept: The spread of Scientific Revolution concepts and practices and the
Enlightenment’s application of these concepts and practices to political, social, and ethical issues
led to an increased but not unchallenged emphasis on reason in European culture.
o Evaluate the extent to which new scientific knowledge challenged classical and religious
ideals. (1.1 IV)
o Analyze the impact of Enlightenment thought on prevailing patterns of thought with
respect to social order, government, and the role of faith. (2.3 I)
o Explain the role of new public venues and print media in disseminating Enlightenment
ideas. (2.3 II)
o Evaluate the extent to which new political and economic theories challenged absolutism
and mercantilism. (2.3 III)
o Explain how rational, enlightened analysis of religious practices led to “natural religion”
and the demand for religious toleration. (2.3 IV)