AP European History Long Essay Questions
**Note: This Long Essay Question test bank contains 8 pairs of cross-period questions that are
numbered 1-16 and address all 4 AP European History time periods. The question pairs are
organized by period and mirror the format of the College Board’s AP European History sample
exam questions.
Periods 1 & 2
Question 1. Many historians maintain that the Renaissance can be viewed as a turning point in
European society. Support, modify, or refute this interpretation, providing specific evidence to
justify your answer.
Key Concept: 1.1.I
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-5
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-11
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-1
Historical Thinking Skill: Periodization
Historical Thinking Skill: Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 2. Many historians maintain that the Enlightenment can be viewed as a turning point in
European society. Support, modify, or refute this interpretation, providing specific evidence to
justify your answer.
Key Concept: 2.3.I
Key Concept: 2.3.II
Key Concept: 2.3.III
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-7
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-1
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-4
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-9
Historical Thinking Skill: Periodization
AP European History Long Essay Questions
Historical Thinking Skill: Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Periods 2 & 3
Question 3. Evaluate the extent to which the emergence of Absolute monarchy contributed to
maintaining continuity as well as fostering change in the society and politics of Europe through
the 17th and 18th century. Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept: 2.1.I
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-2
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-3
Thematic Learning Objective: IS-7
Historical Thinking Skill: Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill: Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 4. Evaluate the extent to which the emergence of the “new imperialism” of the 19th
century contributed to maintaining continuity as well as fostering change in the society and
politics of Europe through the late 19th and early 20th century. Provide specific evidence to
justify your answer.
Key Concept: 3.5.I
Key Concept: 3.5.II
Key Concept: 3.5.III
Thematic Learning Objective: INT-1
Thematic Learning Objective: INT-11
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-6
Historical Thinking Skill: Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill: Historical Argumentation
AP European History Long Essay Questions
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Periods 2 & 3
Question 5. Evaluate the extent to which the French Revolution can be viewed as a turning point
in European history. Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept: 2.1.IV
Thematic Learning Objective: PP-10
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-3
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-1
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-4
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-7
Historical Thinking Skill: Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill: Periodization
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 6. Evaluate the extent to which the Industrial Revolution can be viewed as a turning
point in European history. Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept: 3.1.I
Key Concept: 3.1.II
Key Concept: 3.1.III
Thematic Learning Objective: PP-1
Thematic Learning Objective: PP-3
Thematic Learning Objective: PP-4
Thematic Learning Objective: PP-7
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-5
Thematic Learning Objective: IS-3
AP European History Long Essay Questions
Historical Thinking Skill: Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill: Periodization
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Periods 3 & 4
Question 7. Some historians argue that the Congress of Vienna and Concert of Europe were
effective means of establishing and maintaining international peace and stability throughout the
nineteenth century. Support, modify, or refute this stance, providing specific evidence to justify
your answer.
Key Concept: 3.4.I
Key Concept: 3.4.II
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-14
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-16
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-17
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-18
Historical Thinking Skill: Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill: Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 8. Some historians argue that the League of Nations was a dismal failure as a means of
establishing and maintaining international peace and stability. Support, modify, or refute this
stance, providing specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept: 4.1.II
Key Concept: 4.1.III
Key Concept: 4.2.II
Thematic Learning Objective: PP-8
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-6
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-14
AP European History Long Essay Questions
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-17
Historical Thinking Skill: Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill: Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Periods 1 & 4
Question 9. Evaluate the extent to which the Reformation reshaped the worldview of Europeans.
Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept: 1.3.I
Key Concept: 1.3.II
Key Concept: 1.3.III
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-2
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-11
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-3
Historical Thinking Skill: Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill: Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 10. Evaluate the extent to which the rise of fascism reshaped the worldview of
Europeans. Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept: 4.1.III
Key Concept: 4.2.II
Thematic Learning Objective: PP-8
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-9
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-6
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-8
AP European History Long Essay Questions
Thematic Learning Objective: IS-10
Historical Thinking Skill: Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill: Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Periods 1 & 3
Question 11. Evaluate the extent to which the Scientific Revolution altered Europeans’
understanding of the world around them and their interactions with the world. Provide specific
evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept: 1.1.IV
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-1
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-4
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-5
Thematic Learning Objective: IS-1
Historical Thinking Skill: Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill: Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 12. Evaluate the extent to which the ideological and political movements of the 19th
century altered Europeans’ understanding of the world around them and their interactions with
the world. Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept: 3.3.I
Key Concept: 3.3.III
Thematic Learning Objective: PP-8
Thematic Learning Objective: PP-14
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-1
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-4
AP European History Long Essay Questions
Thematic Learning Objective: IS-7
Historical Thinking Skill: Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill: Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Periods 2 & 4
Question 13. It can be argued that the wars of the French Revolution and Napoleon were the
most pivotal point in reshaping the political and social make-up of Europe. Support, modify, or
refute this concept, providing specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept: 2.1.IV
Key Concept: 2.1.V
Thematic Learning Objective: PP-10
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-3
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-9
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-5
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-17
Historical Thinking Skill: Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill: Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 14. It can be argued that World War I was the most pivotal point in reshaping the
political and social make-up of Europe. Support, modify, or refute this concept, providing
specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept: 4.1.I
Key Concept: 4.1.II
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-6
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-13
AP European History Long Essay Questions
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-14
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-18
Thematic Learning Objective: IS-8
Historical Thinking Skill: Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill: Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Periods 1 & 4
Question 15. Evaluate the extent to which the Age of Exploration contributed to maintaining
continuity as well as fostering change in the relationship between Europeans and the rest of the
world. Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept: 1.4.I
Key Concept: 1.4.III
Key Concept: 1.4.IV
Thematic Learning Objective: INT-6
Thematic Learning Objective: INT-11
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-5
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-15
Thematic Learning Objective: IS-10
Historical Thinking Skill: Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill: Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
AP European History Long Essay Questions
Question 16. Evaluate the extent to which the Cold War contributed to maintaining continuity as
well as fostering change in the relationship between Europeans and the rest of the world.
Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept: 4.1.IV
Thematic Learning Objective: INT-8
Thematic Learning Objective: INT-11
Thematic Learning Objective: PP-5
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-13
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-14
Historical Thinking Skill: Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill: Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill: Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence