Name _________________________
AP World History 2015: Summer Assignment
This is a college level course being offered to freshmen. It is important to understand that the
expectations for this class are higher than for a regular level course. The pace and rigor at which
you will be expected to learn will require effort and dedication. Time management and
organizational skills are important parts of success for all AP students.
The purpose of this summer assignment is to provide a frame work to begin our study of World
History. The following assignment is due on the first day of class and a test will be given on the
three readings, periodization terms, and AP designated map regions during the first week of
school. The assignment is broken into four parts. Links to the readings and some map resources
can be found at the following link https://sites.google.com/a/saintviator.com/mmartin/userguides
Summer Assignment Check List
Part 1: Periodization
_____1. Completed definitions and short answer
_____2. Reading of Periodization handout
Part 2: Readings found at the above link
_____3. Completed Reading #1
_____4. Completed definitions and charts for Reading #1
_____5. Completed Reading #2
_____6. Completed definitions, charts and short answers for Reading #2
_____7. Completed Reading #3
_____8. Completed definitions, charts and short answers for Reading #3
Part 3: Primary Sources
_____ 9. Completed reading
_____10. Completed answer primary source questions
Part 4: Map Activities
_____ 11. Viewing the AP Regions and maps found at the above link
_____12. Map activities
Part I: Periodization
Using the internet or other resources, define the following terms that we will reference throughout the
course.
1. Define the terms “B.C.” AND “A.D.”
2. Define the terms “B.C.E” and “C.E.”
3. Why would someone prefer the use of B.C.E over the use of B.C.?
4. Define the word century.
5. Explain what is meant by the use of “00’s” (example to say the 1900’s) when giving a date and
how it differs from the term century.
6. Define the term millennium.
7. Go to the link and refer to the AP World Course description to identify the six “periodizations”
that will be used in this course.
Time Frame
Description
Part 2: Readings, vocabulary, charts and short answers
Reading #1 definitions and charts
Define and/or give the significance of the following terms:
Paleolithic Age
Homo sapiens sapiens
Neolithic Age
Neolithic Revolution
Bronze Age
Slash and burn
agriculture
Tribal bands
Ҫatal Hüyük
Cuneiform
Nomads
Mesopotamia
Ziggurats
City-state
Hammurabi
Pharaoh
Pyramids
Ideograph
Oracle
Culture
Civilization
The Neolithic Revolution- Give several characteristics of each “age”
Paleolithic Age
EXAMPLE: Nomadic
Neolithic Age
EXAMPLE: Permanent/Semi-Perminant
Villages
As you read the section on Civilization, complete the following chart to characterize
civilizations. There may be more information in the reading than listed. The chart indicates
the minimum amount of information needed.
Name of Cities or
Civilizations
1.
List some characteristics of
Civilizations
1.
List ways civilizations
changed over time
1.
2.
2.
3.
2.
3.
4.
4.
5.
6.
3.
7.
8.
What are each of the following civilizations most noted for (i.e. what is their significance,
and what are the names if any for the individual civilizations that developed there)?
Tigris-Euphrates
Civilization
EXAMPLE:
First civilization,
writing, code of laws,
elaborate architecture.
City planning, pottery,
Literature- Epic of
Gilgamesh
MesopotamiaSumer, Ur, Babylon,
Asyria, Nineveh
Egyptian
Civilization
Great Cities of the
Indus Valley
Early Civilization in
China
Reading #2 definitions, charts and short answers
Define and/or give the significance of the following terms:
Zhou
Feudalism
Mandate of Heaven
Shi Huangdi
Confucius
Daoism
Legalism
Great Wall
As you read the section on Political Institutions, complete the following chart summarizing
government traditions established during China’s classical period. There may be more
information in the reading than listed. The chart indicates the minimum amount of
information needed.
Strong Bureaucracy
1. EXAMPLE: Size- 130,000 bureaucrats-
Role of the State
1.
0.2 percent of the population
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.
As you read the section on Religion and Culture, complete the following chart summarizing
the political and social philosophy of Confucianism and Daoism. There may be more
information in the reading than listed. The chart indicates the minimum amount of
information needed.
Political and Social Philosophy
Confucianism
Daoism
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
Reading #2 Short Answers- answer the following in complete sentences.
1. What characteristics defined the civilization that developed in China under the Zhou, Qin, and
Han?
2. How did the development of new technology change Han society? Include what the new
technology was and what it specifically changed in society.
3. What circumstances led to the overthrow of the Han in 9C.E. and in 220 C.E.?
Reading #3 definitions charts, and short answers
Define and/or give the significance of the following terms:
Buddha
Alexander the Great
Aryans
Sanskrit
Vedas
Mahabharata
Ramayana
Upanishads
Varnas
Untouchables
Indra
Chandragupta Maurya
Maurya dynasty
Ashoka
Dharma
Gupta dynasty
Kautilya
Gurus
Karma
Reincarnation
Nirvana
Kamasutra
Scholar-gentry
Shiva
Vishnu
As you read the section on Religion and Culture, complete the following chart summarizing
the origins and traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. There may be more information in
the reading than listed. The chart indicates the minimum amount of information needed.
Hinduism
Buddhism
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.
As you read the section on Indian Influences and Comparative features, complete the
following chart comparing classical civilization in India and China.
India
Religion
Politics
Social
Culture
China
Reading #3 Short Answers- answer the following in complete sentences.
1. What was the impact of Maurya and Gupta rulers on the development of India during the classical era?
2. Why did the caste system develop and how is it perpetuated?
3. How did Buddhism influence Asoka’s rule?
4. What were some advances of the Gupta dynasty?
5. How was Aryan society organized?
Part 3: Primary Source Questions
Chapter 1- Primary Source: Code of Hammurabi- Read the excerpt at the link then answer the
questions.
1. What is the code of Hammurabi and why is it considered so important?
2. What happens to someone who harbors a runaway slave?
3. Are there any business-related laws here? If so what ones?
4. Would you say that women have any rights, according to Hammurabi's code? Why or
why not?
5. What happens if someone lies in court?
6. Would you say that the laws are "fair"? Why or why not?
Chapter 2- Primary Source: The Analects - Read the excerpt at the link then answer the
questions.
1. What are the Anelects?
2. According to Confucius, what is the basis of a stable society?
3. What behaviors or attitudes does Confucius consider virtuous?
4. According to Confucius, what is the purpose of being virtuous?
Chapter 3- Primary Sources: Hindu Creation Myth and the Caste System- Read the excerpt at
the link then answer the questions.
1. According to these documents, how was the universe created?
2. According to these documents, why was the caste system created?
3. How did the caste system affect Indian society?
Part 4: Map Activities
Using the readings, links, internet or other resources, complete the following maps.
Map 1- AP Regional Designations
Using Colored pencils, neatly color code or pattern the following locations and mark the map key. Stripe areas of regional overlap.
_____ North America
_____Middle East
_____ Central Asia
_____South East Asia
_____ East Asia
_____Oceania
_____ South Asia
_____ Western Europe
_____ Eastern Europe
_____ North Africa
_____ West Africa
_____ East Africa
_____ Central Africa
_____ Southern Africa
_____ Latin America (including Mesoamerica & Caribbean)
Map 2- World Physical
Using Colored pencils, neatly color code or pattern (mountains and deserts) & Label (oceans and rivers) mark the map key.
_____ Arabian Desert
_____Sahara Desert
_____ Congo River
_____ Nile River
_____ Gobi Desert
_____Ganges River
_____Amazon River
_____ Atlantic Ocean
_____ Pacific Ocean
_____ Indian Ocean
_____ Arctic Ocean
_____ Alps
_____ Hunag He River
_____ Mediterranean Sea _____ Caribbean Sea
_____ Andes Mountains
_____ Himalayans
_____ Appalachians Mountains
_____ Ural Mountains
_____ Tigris & Euphrates Rivers
_____ Carthage
_____ Origin and spread of the
Bantu (Bantu Migration- see link)
_____ Nubia
_____ Nubian Desert
_____Sahara Desert
_____Libyan Desert
_____ Nile Delta
_____ Nile River
_____ Thebes
_____Memphis
Using Colored pencils, neatly color
code or pattern and label the
following locations and mark the
map key.
Map 3-Africa
MAP 4- Mesopotamia
Using Colored pencils, neatly complete the map and key
_____ Mesopotamia (Color Code)
_____Syrian Desert (Color and Label)
_____ Babylon (mark with a symbol)
_____Tigris (Draw and Label)
_____Arabian Desert (Color and Label)
_____ Ur (mark with a symbol)
_____ Euphrates (Draw and Label)
_____ Red Sea (Label)
_____ Sumer (mark with a symbol)
_____ Mediterranean (Label)
_____ Persian Gulf (Label)
_____Jerusalem (mark with a symbol)
MAP 5- South Asia
Using Colored pencils, neatly complete the map and key
_____ Mohenjo-Daro (mark with a symbol)
_____ Harappa (mark with a symbol)
_____ Deccan Plateau outline and label
_____Himalayan Mountains (color code and label)
_____ Hindu Kush Mountains
_____ Ganges River (color code and label)
_____Indus River (color code and label)
_____ Mauryan Empire at its height (Outline and color code)
_____Gupta Empire and areas under its influence (Outline and
color code)
MAP 6-East Asia
Using Colored pencils, neatly
complete the map and key
Label
_____ Huang He River
_____ Yangtze River
_____Pacific Ocean (label)
Gobi Desert (outline and label)
Mark with symbols in different
colors
_____Himalayan Mountains
_____Tain Shan Mountains
Outline and color code
_____Later Zhou Kingdom
_____Qin Empire
____Han Empire