AP WORLD HISTORY SUMMER READING
Guns, Germs, and Steel
By Jared Diamond
PURPOSE
The book, Guns, Germs, and Steel is a wonderful book that explores macro-historical themes
from a “big history” point of view. As AP students, we will be called upon to look at historical
trends from a global perspective to a local perspective. This book is an excellent example of this
historical exercise. As we read this book, we need to find examples of each of the historical
themes.
AP World History is based on 5 historical themes.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Interaction between humans and the environment.
Development and interaction of cultures.
State-building, expansion, and conflict.
Creation, expansion, and interaction of economic systems.
Development and transformation of social structures.
INSTRUCTIONS:
AS YOU READ THE BOOK, HIGHLIGHT PASSAGES THAT CORRESPOND WITH THE 5
HISTORICAL THEMES IN THE COLORS INDICATED BELOW. I HAVE INCLUDED
EXAMPLES FOR EACH THEME. FOR EXAMPLE, IN DEVELOPMENT AND
INTERACTION OF CULTURES, YOU CAN HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING THAT PERTAINS
TO RELIGION, SCIENCE, OR ART. YOU DO NOT NEED TO FIND SOMETHING FOR
EACH LETTER UNDER A THEME. YOU MAY FOCUS ON ONE ELEMENT OF A
THEME, IF YOU CHOOSE.
YOU SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT COLORS HIGHLIGHTED IN
EACH CHAPTER. YOU SHOULD HAVE EACH COLOR HIGHLIGHTED SOMEWHERE.
IF YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE COLORS DUE TO THE COLORS OF HIGHLIGHTER
AVAILABLE TO YOU, YOU MAY DO SO, BUT BE SURE TO INDICATE WHICH COLOR
CORROSPONDS TO WHICH THEME.
5 Historical Themes
1.
2.
Interaction between humans and the environment (red, or pink)
a.
Demography and Disease
b.
Migration
c.
Patterns of Settlement
d.
Technology
Development and Interaction of Cultures (green)
a.
b.
c.
d.
Religions
Belief Systems, Philosophies,
and Ideologies
Science and Technology
The Arts and Architecture
3.
State-Building, Expansion and Conflict (blue)
a.
Political Structures and forms of
governance
b.
Empires
c.
Nations and nationalism
d.
Revolts and Revolutions
e.
Regional, Trans-regional, and
Global Structures and
Organizations
4.
Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems (purple)
a.
Agricultural and pastoral
production
b.
Trade and Commerce
c.
Labor Systems
d.
Industrialization
e.
Capitalism and Socialism
5.
Development and Transformation of Social Structures (yellow)
a.
Gender Roles and Relations
b.
Family and Kinship
c.
Racial and Ethnic Constructions
d.
Social and economic classes
QUESTIONS
If you have any questions, please contact me. My email is mkistner@bdcs.org. I will respond as
soon as I can.
THIS ASSIGNMENT IS DUE ON THE FIRST OFFICIAL DAY OF CLASS.