AP World History
Artifact Portfolio Project
Overview: The study of history is almost entirely a study of what people left behind for historians to discover,
observe, and analyze. The things left behind, which we call “artifacts,” include physical objects, written
documents, and works of art. Historians use artifacts to help determine exactly what happened in the past, what
caused certain events or trends to occur, what effect those events or trends produced, and to try to link the present
with the past. This project will require you to think and act like a historian as you build your knowledge of World
History.
Definition: Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “artifact” as:
“something created by humans usually for a practical purpose especially an object remaining from a particular period; or
something characteristic of or resulting from a particular human institution, trend, period, or individual.”
Grading: Your portfolios will be graded each quarter based on the attached rubric. You will complete your
portfolio in the 4th quarter. As such, your completed portfolio will be a large portion of your project grade for the
4th quarter. You are permitted to attempt to improve your portfolio each quarter in order to improve your portfolio
grade from one quarter to the next.
Instructions:
1) Each quarter you will select 4 artifacts from the period(s) covered in AP World History class that
particular quarter. The artifacts must meet the parameters of the definition provided above.
2) Artifacts can be anything you deem to have a role in shaping World History during the periods covered in
class. You are not limited at all by the artifacts mentioned in your textbook or other assigned readings.
You are free to discover and research additional artifacts you feel are important to the study of World
History.
3) Artifacts can be physical objects, historical documents, works of art, or even non-tangible things like ideas
or theories. However, although humans are “something created by humans,” people CANNOT be artifacts.
4) The artifact must come from the period(s) covered during the particular quarter the portfolio is due to be
graded.
5) You must provide a picture or some other visual image of the artifact. The picture can be a modern
example of the historical object.
6) You must provide a description of each artifact.
7) You must explain why the artifact is important to the study of World History as well as an important
example of the historical period during which it was created or produced.
8) You must identify and explain how the artifact relates to at LEAST TWO of the “SPICE” World History
themes.
9) You may use a written presentation of each of your artifacts similar to the example attached or you may
come up with a portfolio of your own design. While creativity in presentation is rewarded, the historical
analysis of your artifacts is the most important aspect of this project.
10) The AP World History class consists of the study of 6 historical periods; therefore your final portfolio will
consist of historical analysis of 24 artifacts you deem important to World History.